Spain captain Iker Casillas insists his side will be “humble” and “prudent” heading into this summer’s World Cup despite being one of the favourites to win the tournament.

All the horses and the majority of trainers have now jetted in for tomorrow’s Dubai World Cup meeting, although Aidan O’Brien has yet to make the trip to the Gulf.

IRELAND’S cricketers will discover their World Cup fate inside the next three days as intense lobbying continues in a bid to convince the International Cricket Council (ICC) to allow them a chance to qualify in four years’ time.

AUSTRALIA skipper Stirling Mortlock has promised the country’s fans that his team will do everything within their power to bring back the Webb Ellis Trophy for a record third time.

Brazilian legend Pele has been admitted to hospital in Paris.

Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick has ruled out England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup involving any of the other home nations.

FIFA have been forced to cancel the spectacular opening gala planned for the World Cup in Berlin in June due to fears it would damage the pitch.

Football Association chiefs insist they will be “seriously disappointed” if World Cup organisers this week reject Sven-Goran Eriksson’s bid to have the date of the final squad deadline delayed.

Stuart Lancaster has backed his Leinster double winners to lay down a big marker for Ireland’s World Cup hopes next year when they take on Australia over three Tests this summer.

BRIAN CARNEY’S return to rugby league is set to provide Ireland with a major boost for the end-of-season European Nations Cup.

England will face a two-legged play-off against either Belarus or Ukraine if they need a play-off to reach next year’s World Cup finals in Japan and Korea.

Ireland will conclude a busy World Cup warm-up schedule next year by tackling England at Twickenham.

Guus Hiddink has promised an up-and-at-them approach to tomorrow’s opener against Poland in Busan.

Sven-Goran Eriksson is being targeted by South Africa to coach the side when they host the 2010 World Cup.

"It was a sad and unpleasant moment for me."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to expand the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026 is set to be rubber-stamped at a meeting of the FIFA Council in Zurich today.

The Argentinian Football Association have announced they will not name a new coach to succeed Diego Maradona until October at the earliest.

The Republic of Ireland would almost certainly not be able to challenge FIFA in the Court of Arbitration for Sport over replaying the World Cup play-off with France.

AC Milan legend George Weah has urged his former club to do everything possible to sign Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal.

FIFA World Cup organisers have condemned a company urging football fans to buy stab vests before arriving in South Africa, claiming the move is a “money-making ploy” that will taint the major 32-nation event.