Australia’s chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup have been boosted after Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy was appointed to the World Cup organising committee.

Rock band Embrace have been chosen to record England's official football World Cup song.

Two of Ireland's potential World Cup qualifier opponents have been in action against each other today.

Brazil 1-0 Germany

Mexico 0 USA 2

Sweden 2 Senegal 1

Senegal 3 Uruguay 0

Sas goals shocks Brazil

England 1 Sweden 1

Estonia U21 0 Rep of Ireland U21 3 (Jim Goodwin 88)

The Omega Mission Hills World Cup will return to the calendar in 2011 as a biennial event, with a record prize fund of $7.5m.

"A leader, a warrior, a gentleman - Paul O'Connell has played his last for Ireland."

Mike Tindall has been reinstated in England’s elite player squad and had a £25,000 (€29,124) fine reduced to £15,000 (€17,475) after an appeal against the punishment meted out for his off-field World Cup behaviour.

Paul the octopus, which won unlikely worldwide fame correctly predicting a host of World Cup matches, has died, his owners said today.

German organisers have played down trouble involving England fans in Stuttgart and insisted the scale of the problem is small compared to the numbers of supporters at the World Cup overall.

Australia’s World Cup hopes could be dealt a severe blow with vice-captain Toutai Kefu a doubt because of a shoulder injury, according to media reports.

Ulster scrum-half Neil Doak was the only uncapped player named in Ireland’s 2003 Rugby World Cup squad when it was announced this morning at Lansdowne Road.

Australia national team coach Frank Farina has fired a warning shot at Premiership clubs over the availability of his players for World Cup duty.

FIFA has announced that two options have emerged as the most likely dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – and both are in the winter.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar looks set to be played in November after Fifa’s secretary general stated that the tournament “will not be in June or July”.