2014 FIFA World Cup news and stories by mail.com

2014 FIFA World Cup

Harnik back in Austria squad for WCup qualifiers
Striker Martin Harnik will return to the Austria team for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Faeroe Islands and Ireland. Harnik, who was out ...
Fabio Capello names squad for Russia qualifier
Russia coach Fabio Capello has named a 27-man provisional squad for this month's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland and a friendly game with ...
CAS strips Sudan of World Cup qualifier win
Sudan lost top spot in its 2014 World Cup qualifying group on Monday after sport's highest court stripped the country of its victory against Zambia ...
France to seek change for Benzema's court date
France will ask to change Karim Benzema's court day because it coincides with a World Cup qualifier against Spain. France coach Didier Deschamps told ...
FIFA bans Peru's Sanchez for 2 years for doping
FIFA suspended Joel Sanchez for two years on Friday after the Peru midfielder tested positive for a banned substance at a 2014 World Cup qualifier.
Benzema to face court on day France plays Spain
France striker Karim Benzema will appear in a Madrid court on charges of reckless driving on the same day his side hosts Spain in an all-important ...
FIFA approves 4th goal-line technology system
A fourth goal-line technology system is competing for selection at the 2014 World Cup after FIFA licensed the GoalControl-4D project on Friday.
FIFA licenses Cairos as 3rd goal-line tech project
Goal-line technology system Cairos was licensed by FIFA on Monday as the third candidate for use at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Cairos, a German ...
FIFA says goal-line technology to be used at WCup
FIFA committed Tuesday to using goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and could have four systems competing for selection. FIFA said ...
Germany to play Paraguay in friendly in August
Germany will meet Paraguay in a friendly in Kaiserslautern on Aug. 14. Germany coach Joachim Loew says the game at the Fritz-Walter-Stadium "is a ...
FIFA announces Confederations Cup prize money
FIFA will pay $4.1 million in prize money to the Confederations Cup winner, and Tahiti is guaranteed $1.7 million from the June 15-30 tournament.
Nigeria soars in FIFA rankings led by Spain
African champion Nigeria has risen 22 places in the latest FIFA rankings, which is led by World Cup champion Spain. Nigeria moved up to No. 30 after ...
South Korean footballer to get Olympic medal
A South Korean footballer who inflamed tensions with Japan by displaying a political banner after the third-place match at the London Olympics will ...
FIFA bans Canada forward Occean for 6 matches
FIFA has ordered Canada forward Olivier Occean to serve a six-match ban after being sent off and then insulting the referee during a World Cup ...
Brazil loses to England for first time in 23 years
Presiding over Brazil's first loss to England in 23 years caused Luiz Felipe Scolari little concern. In fact, the returning coach saw Wednesday's 2-1 ...
Defeat for Scolari on return as Brazil coach
Luiz Felipe Scolari and Ronaldinho endured disappointing returns to international football as Brazil lost 2-1 to England, while Spain, Germany and ...
Scolari expects more fun, relaxed time with Brazil
After only a day back with the Brazil squad, Luis Felipe Scolari already senses it will be more fun this time. Although expectations are rising back ...
AC Milan strikers lead Italy against Netherlands
Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy had a dream start as AC Milan's new strike force. Now they are looking to take the chemistry to the ...
FIFA upholds sanctions in Hungary, Bulgaria case
FIFA has upheld sanctions imposed on Hungary and Bulgaria for anti-Semitic and racist behavior by fans. FIFA says both teams will play home World Cup ...
Match-fixing probe: 680 suspicious games worldwide
Organized crime gangs have fixed or tried to fix hundreds of soccer matches around the world in recent years, including World Cup and European ...
Scolari begins repair job with stuttering Brazil
Luiz Felipe Scolari begins his mission to restore Brazil's flagging fortunes ahead of next year's World Cup with a glamor match against England on ...
Hodgson wants Scolari's Brazil squad quandaries
The selection dilemmas Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari faces ahead of Wednesday's friendly at Wembley are ones England counterpart Roy Hodgson wants.
Fernando Torres left off Spain squad for friendly
Fernando Torres was left off the Spain squad Friday for the team's upcoming friendly with Uruguay. Last year, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque dropped ...
Portugal seeks return to form against Ecuador
Portugal coach Paulo Bento says he wants next week's friendly against Ecuador to spark a return to form for the Euro 2012 semifinalist after a string ...
Gomez back in Germany squad for France friendly
Mario Gomez is back in Germany's squad for Wednesday's friendly against France in Paris. Germany coach Joachim Loew announced the squad on Friday, ...