DUTCHMAN Arie Haan, China’s newly appointed national football coach, spelled out his ambition last night to take the world’s most populous nation to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

BRAZIL left-back Roberto Carlos has announced his international retirement.

A new world record has been set for the sale of a football programme in Britain.

The 2011 World Cup final looks set to be a battle of the hemispheres following Ireland’s 15-6 upset of Australia at Eden Park.

Rugby World Cup chiefs have stressed that all 48 matches of this year's tournament will take place in New Zealand.

Former England and Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson intends to fulfil his current contract with Mexico until after the 2010 World Cup despite speculation linking the Swede with the vacant post at Portsmouth.

Harry Kane's hat-trick inspired England to their biggest ever World Cup win as Gareth Southgate's men sealed progress to the last 16 with a 6-1 demolition of Panama that puts their rivals on notice.

SPORTS Minister Leo Varadkar last night offered the full backing of his department to Cricket Ireland’s efforts to overturn their removal from the 2015 World Cup.

Marcello Lippi once had the luxury of Zinedine Zidane as his star midfielder at Juventus. But now the Italy coach must find a way to stop the France captain capping a glorious career with victory in Sunday’s World Cup final.

The ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier (WWCQ) will be played in Lahore, Pakistan, between 18 and 24 November, it was confirmed today.

Marco Botti’s Gitano Hernando will not run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Ronan O'Gara has ruled out joining the French coaching setup for the World Cup.

Former France captain Marcel Desailly is confident Les Bleus can claim their second World Cup title on Sunday.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is committed to standing for a fifth term in office, despite another turbulent year which has seen his leadership questioned time and again.

ANY lingering doubt over England’s participation in this year’s Rugby World Cup was removed yesterday when the players agreed to formally sign up for the tournament.

Brian O’Driscoll will flex his superstar muscle to boost Ireland’s battle to host Rugby World Cup 2023.

The England 2018 World Cup bid team made a determined effort to win over former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner and “often accommodated his wishes, in apparent violation of bidding rules”, the Garcia report has found.

David Strettle and Mike Tindall could both be ruled out of World Cup contention today when England boss Brian Ashton assesses his casualty list.