Africa

Canadian broadcaster TSN says first round World Cup matches have produced outstanding ratings.

The stadium where Sunday's African Champions' League will be decided could be banned from staging matches next year after crowd violence there in October, officials said.

Germany has added weight to its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup finals by naming Franz Beckenbauer as head of their application.

South African soccer officials have reacted with delight to Nigeria's decision to withdraw their bid to host the World Cup finals in 2006 and instead support the South African bid.

Morocco's King Hassan has named former minister Driss Benhima as head of the National World Cup Committee (NWCC) to lobby for hosting the world soccer finals in Morocco in 2006.

South Africa and Morocco submitted bids to the African Soccer Confederation (CAF) over the weekend to stage the 2006 World Cup, the confederation's chief executive said.

Soccer legend Pele has confirmed his support for South Africa's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, saying he thought Brazil could be ready to stage the finals four years later.

Soccer legend Pele has confirmed his support for South Africa's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, saying he thought Brazil could be ready to stage the finals four years later.

Soccer legend Pele has confirmed his support for South Africa's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, saying he thought Brazil could be ready to stage the finals four years later.

The decision on where soccer's 2006 World Cup Finals will take place has been postponed by four months, world governing body FIFA has announced.

A vice-president of world soccer governing body FIFA has blasted the decision to delay the vote on who will win the battle to host the 2006 World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has made his clearest statement yet as to who he believes should win the race to host the 2006 World Cup.

South Africa will be the first of five countries to present their official bids to host the 2006 World Cup finals.

Those countries hoping to host soccer's 2006 World Cup have begun presenting their official bids to governing body FIFA.

Germany and Brazil will officially join the race to host the 2006 World Cup today when they submit their bids to FIFA.

The trial of four Germans accused of beating a French policeman almost to death at last year's World Cup finals will not affect Germany's bid to host the tournament in 2006, German Football Federation (DFB) President Egidius Braun has said.

South African soccer officials, confident of the quality of their bid, have revealed why they think they should host the 2006 World Cup.

Morocco have staked their claim to be Africa's first choice for the 2006 World Cup.