The qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ have already got underway in Oceania, South America, Africa and Asia, and will continue this year with some very interesting encounters. In addition the CONCACAF region begins its first preliminary games in February. We will have to wait a little longer, until August, to see how all the European sides are measuring up in their quest to take their place at world football's vanguard tournament. You can check out all the fixtures, results and Group standings at FIFA.com.
The biggest date in the sporting calendar comes in August. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will have a very special section on our website which will cover in great detail both the Men's and Women's Olympic Football Tournaments from 6 to 23 August. Our own correspondents will be close to all the action, right alongside the stars. The battle to succeed 2004 winners Argentina and the United States promises to be fierce.
2008 is going to be a very special year in the women's game as it sees the launch of a new competition: the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup which takes place between 28 October and 16 November in New Zealand. Also, the fourth FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup will be held in Chile, from 19 November to 7 December.
In addition, this year sees the return of Futsal. From 1 to 19 October Brazil will play host to the sixth FIFA Futsal World Cup, where Spain will be looking to secure their third successive title...if they can get past the host nation. The tournament fills the gap for the South Americans left by the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which this year leaves Copacabana behind to pay a visit to the beaches of Marseilles from 17 to 27 July.
2008 closes with the latest FIFA Club World Cup in Japan from 12 to 21 December. Around that time, the next FIFA World Player Gala will be held, where we will find out who will inherit the golden crown worn throughout this year by Kaka and Marta.