Hundreds of Irish football fans are set to miss tonight's crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Ireland's women's hockey squad earned a scoreless draw with the world's number six New Zealand (0-0) in their rain-delayed encounter at the Women's Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Rome this morning (10am Irish time).

Irish striker Robbie Keane has criticised the World Cup organisers for the manner in which they conduct random drug tests after matches.

Spain's 3-2 victory over South Africa confirmed top spot in Group B for them and a second-round clash against the Republic of Ireland.

Maurice O'Connell, the former Governor of the Central Bank, has been appointed to carry out a thorough investigation into the workings of the Football Association of Ireland.

Mick McCarthy will today learn the scale of the challenge awaiting the Republic of Ireland and at the World Cup finals as the seedings are announced.

Liverpool’s strike force came good as a Michael Owen hat-trick and goals from Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey secured a vital win for England over Germany in their World Cup Qualifier in Munich.

RIVALDO has warned that he could retire from international football if he is not part of the plans for the 2006 World Cup.

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.

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

England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup will focus on developing the game across the world and will cost an estimated £15m (€18m), the Football Association’s board members were told today.

Ireland must conquer the “step-up in psychological pressure” to become genuine World Cup contenders, according to Shane Horgan.

Paul O’Connell believes the good form of the Irish provinces in Europe has helped the players to get over their disappointing exit from the World Cup last October.

THREE senior FIFA officials who will vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids allegedly took bribes in the 1990s, according to the BBC’s Panorama.

LORD TRIESMAN’S alleged comments about England’s rival bidders for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup are to come under further scrutiny after football’s world governing body announced last night that the FIFA ethics committee will investigate the statements.

The Irish Women’s Rugby Football Union (IWRFU) has welcomed the International Rugby Board’s confirmation of the introduction of the first Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan knows which manager he would rather be playing for on Saturday in the World Cup play-off as he lauded Giovanni Trapattoni’s Italian system of being hard to beat.

The draw makes Ireland's summer tour all the more intriguing