TheRepublic.com - 2014 FIFA World Cup News

Germany's Volker Finke appointed coach of Cameroon

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:17:15 -0400

DOUALA, Cameroon - Volker Finke has been appointed coach of the Cameroon national team to replace Jean-Paul Akono, taking charge of the struggling African power.

Rosicky, Cech in Czech squad for Italy qualifier

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:51:15 -0400

PRAGUE - Midfielder Tomas Rosicky and goalkeeper Petr Cech have been included in the Czech Republic squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Italy next month.

Japan's Honda, Kagawa picked for WCup qualifier

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:20:24 -0400

TOKYO - Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa were picked Thursday in Japan's 26-man squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Australia next month.

Korea, Japan dominance eroded in Asian football

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:18:28 -0400

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea and Japan's domination of eastern Asian football is being further eroded, judging by the make-up of the quarterfinalists in this season's Asian Champions League.

Neill back with 2 other veterans for Australia

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:56:39 -0400

SYDNEY - Veterans Lucas Neill, Josh Kennedy and Sasa Ognenovski were recalled to Australia's 26-man squad on Thursday for World Cup Asian qualifying matches in June against Japan, Jordan and Iraq.

Austria picks Marko Arnautovic despite club ban

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:19:53 -0400

VIENNA - Austria midfielder Marko Arnautovic was selected Wednesday for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sweden in June despite not playing club football since being banned by Werder Bremen in April for speeding.

A-League to extend season into May for 2013-14

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:42:40 -0400

SYDNEY - The A-League season will extend into May for the first time in 2013-14 in a move designed to bring Australia more into line with European competitions and to give domestic players as much preparation as possible for the World Cup.

FFA chief: "not a disaster" if Aussies miss WCup

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:13:35 -0400

SYDNEY - Australian football's leading administrator says it won't be "a disaster" if Australia fails to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Organizers admit to problems at Confed Cup stadium

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:33:26 -0400

BRASILIA, Brazil - Brazilian organizers acknowledge there were setbacks in the inauguration of the stadium which will host the opener of the Confederations Cup, vowing to try to fix the problems in time for the second and final test event at the venue next Sunday.

Klinsmann envisions Donovan return - just not now

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:35:01 -0400

NEW YORK - Jurgen Klinsmann envisions Landon Donovan returning to the U.S. national team. He's just not sure when.

Brazil to deliver last stadium ahead of Confed Cup

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:45:21 -0400

SAO PAULO - Brazil is set to deliver the last stadium for the Confederations Cup only a few weeks before the start of the World Cup warm-up tournament.

Drogba again left out of Ivory Coast squad

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:33:09 -0400

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - Didier Drogba has again been left out of the Ivory Coast squad for two World Cup qualifiers next month.

Brazil says new robots to be used in Confed Cup

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:54:59 -0400

SAO PAULO - The Brazilian government says some of the security robots bought to improve public safety during the 2014 World Cup will be ready for the Confederations Cup in June.

Donovan left off squad for World Cup qualifiers

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:48:42 -0400

CHICAGO - Landon Donovan was left off the 29-man U.S. squad for a training camp ahead of a trio of World Cup qualifiers next month. But American coach Jurgen Klinsmann anticipates he will rejoin the team at some unspecified point.

6 stadiums ready for Confederations Cup

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:14:51 -0400

RIO DE JANEIRO - Ready or not, the warm-up for next year's World Cup - the Confederations Cup - begins in a month at six stadiums across Brazil.

Column: Love or hate Beckham, he can't be ignored

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:52:40 -0400

Like his former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, David Beckham has picked the right time and best way to retire - as a winner and before the worst ravages of age became painfully apparent.

Ronaldinho still hopeful of making 2014 WCup team

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:06:27 -0400

SAO PAULO - Ronaldinho hasn't given up hope of playing for Brazil at the 2014 World Cup despite not being included in the Confederations Cup squad.

Ups and downs in David Beckham's career

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:27:11 -0400

LONDON - Some up and downs in the career of David Beckham, who said Thursday he would retire from football at the end of the season:

Seattle man posted video before dying on highway

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:13:35 -0400

PORTLAND, Oregon - A final video of Richard Swanson shows him smiling and happy to be at the ocean as he prepared to dribble a soccer ball along Oregon's coastal road on a planned 10,000-mile walk to Brazil. It was the same coastal road where he was fatally hit by a pickup truck, just an hour after posting the video on Facebook.

Valcke says no danger of Sao Paulo being booted

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:18:30 -0400

RIO DE JANEIRO - A day after he warned that Sao Paulo could be kicked out of next year's World Cup because of construction delay in building its stadium, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke guaranteed on Wednesday that Brazil's largest city would remain a host venue for football's biggest event.

Ronaldinho left out of Brazil's Confed Cup team

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:20:33 -0400

SAO PAULO - Ronaldinho and Kaka have been left out of Brazil's team for the Confederations Cup in June.

Corinthians tops Santos 2-1 in 1st Sao Paulo final

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:42:17 -0400

SAO PAULO - Corinthians scored a goal in each half Sunday to defeat three-time defending champion Santos 2-1 in the first leg of the Sao Paulo state championship final, one of Brazil's most traditional regional tournaments.

FIFA 'reevaluating' Brazilian version of vuvuzela

Fri, 10 May 2013 19:53:28 -0400

SAO PAULO - The days of the caxirola, Brazil's version of the vuvuzela, may be over even before the Confederations Cup begins in June.

FIFA concerned with problems at Sao Paulo stadium

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:12:39 -0400

SAO PAULO - FIFA again expressed its concern with Brazil's preparations for the 2014 World Cup after local organizers said Tuesday they are facing challenges to meet the deadline for the stadium which will host the tournament's opening game in Sao Paulo.

South Africa-CAR qualifier moved to Cameroon

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:11:28 -0400

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Football Association says next month's World Cup qualifier against Central African Republic has been moved to Cameroon for safety reasons.