Latin America

Plans to cut the number of African countries bidding for the 2006 World Cup from five to just one strong candidate have been delayed, officials said on Tuesday.

The head of the Brazilian football federation has insisted that his country's economic crisis would not affect its bid for the 2006 World Cup.

Germany's bid to host the soccer World Cup in 2006 has received a boost after the Finance Ministry declared it would not tax the huge revenue the tournament would generate.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made a formal appeal to FIFA, and to the presidents of the five other soccer confederations, for the 2006 World Cup finals to be awarded to Africa.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has strongly denied corruption claims of a cash-for-votes scandal made in a sensational new book.

South Africa`s 2006 World Cup bid committee said it was vital for the future of soccer as a sport and the World Cup as a multi-billion dollar business that the African continent stage the finals in seven years' time.

"Morocco is officially a candidate for the World Cup finals in 2006," Youth and Sports Minister Ahmed Moussaoui stated yesterday.

Egypt has confirmed it is out of the race to host soccer's World Cup in 2006, leaving six nations competing to stage the finals.

Nigeria withdrew their bid to host the World Cup Finals in 2006 to help South Africa win the right to stage the tournament, Nigerian sports minister Emeka Omeruah.

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.

Inspired by the ground breaking success of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in

Brazilian soccer legend Pele has confirmed he has been in discussions with Media Partners over the possibility of forming a Brazilian Super League.

Brazil's soccer chiefs have leapt to the defence of their bid for the 2006 World Cup finals after Pele said the campaign was a waste of time.

Organisers of soccer's Women's World Cup say they are on course to top 500,000 ticket sales before the event kicks-off in June.

Pele has renewed his attack on Brazil's 2006 World Cup bid as he claimed the president of the country's football federation was talking nonsense.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it will not make a choice this weekend between the two African countries bidding to host the 2006 World Cup.