Brazil have will face Canada and Venezuela in two international friendlies ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Argentina in June.

Ireland's players are to donate their match fees from two World Cup qualifiers to the New York firefighters tonight.

JAPAN have been backed in their bid to host the 2011 World Cup by Martin Johnson and Nick Farr-Jones.

Australia today completed a comprehensive and almost inevitable triumph over India to become the first side to lift the World Cup three times.

Brian O'Driscoll believes Ireland can back up their World No.1 ranking by winning the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Declan Kidney will be closely watching Wales' game against Samoa on Friday and Scotland's clash with South Africa on Saturday as Ireland sweat on their rankings for the Rugby World Cup draw.

Former Munster and Irish flanker Alan Quinlan has expressed his concern that Ireland’s lacklustre 2007 World Cup campaign could reoccur in New Zealand over the coming weeks.

A war of words has broken out at the highest level of FIFA over criticism of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid due to extreme temperatures in the country in June and July.

Ireland remain in 15th place in the latest FIFA World Rankings while Northern Ireland edge up two places to 112th.

England today issued a warning that international rugby could run out of money within five years.

Leading positions after the first round (fourballs) of the World Golf Championships-EMC World Cup at Vista Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, today (par 72):

Ireland captain William Porterfield has accused the International Cricket Council of endangering the integrity of the World Cup as well as damaging the development of the game worldwide after it was decided the 2015 World Cup would be closed to associate members.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has defended the 2010 World Cup from criticism over empty seats and poor refereeing standards.

The Iraq Football Association have sacked coach Adnan Hamad following the team’s failure to progress to the final round of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

468 samples were collected from players from the 20 nations involved.

Former Italian World Cup winner Marco Tardelli is backing Inter Milan to win Irish fans over when they line out in the upcoming Dublin Super Cup.

Jose Antonio Reyes has received a boost ahead of the FA Cup final by being named in the Spain squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

England’s 2018 World Cup bid team have faxed letters of apology to the Spanish and Russian football associations as well as FIFA following comments alleged to have been made by Football Association chairman David Triesman, it is understood.