All the World Cup 2006 News

World Cup 2006 round-up

The battle to qualify for the 2006 World Cup intensified on Saturday as several of Europe's biggest footballing nations asserted their authority.

England, Sweden, Croatia, Denmark, Poland, Holland and Italy all recorded comfortable victories to enhance their prospects for reaching the finals in Germany.

The Republic of Ireland conceded a late equaliser in Israel to drop two points but France could not take advantage, being held 0-0 at home to Switzerland.

And it was a miserable day for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as they all slipped to defeats that gives them a mountain to climb to secure qualification.

Brussels probes World Cup ticketing

The European Commission may launch an investigation into allegations that the ticketing arrangements for next year's football World Cup unfairly favour Mastercard holders.

A spokesperson confirmed this weekend that Neelie Kroes, the competition commissioner in Brussels, would consider taking action after receiving a formal complaint about the exclusive deal between Fifa, football's ruling body, and the credit card firm, an official World Cup sponsor.

Germany promises hassle-free booking for World Cup in 2006

Taking a cue from the successful 2000 Olympics in Australia, the German National Tourist Board has moved quickly to ensure that football fans can get their hotel bookings for the World Cup in 2006.

Travel and transport arrangements are always the most chaotic part of these mega-sports events. Travel agents and incentive houses need to package them into their brochures at least a year ahead but often face huge difficulties getting rooms and airline seats, largely because of bad organisation by the host countries.

Workshop for FIFA World Cup referees

The world?s finest officials will be on show in Germany in the summer of 2006 as they endeavour to make the 18th FIFA World Cup a model of its kind.

To this end, 12 February 2005 marked the start in the selection process to unearth the all important men in black. Some 46 referees from all six FIFA confederations, named by the world governing body in January 2005 as would-be officials for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, gathered for an initial five-day course in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt.

The location will also be the effective headquarters for the 33rd participating team at the FIFA World Cup finals.

FIFA to examine betting in wake of German scandal

Betting in football will be at the top of the agenda at next month's meeting of FIFA's executive committee as the sport's governing body looks for ways to prevent further match-fixing scandals.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, in Frankfurt to open a referees' workshop, said the sport had to take heed of the corruption case that has engulfed German football.

"The German case is a warning shot," Blatter told German magazine Der Spiegel in a interview on Sunday.

Taeguk Warriors soaring

Korea Republic again proved their pedigree following a straightforward 2-0 win over Kuwait at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in the opening round of the qualifying finals for 2006 Germany.

It is interesting to note that the Taeguk Warriors, despite their inconsistent performances over the years, have qualified for every FIFA World Cup finals since 1986. They suffered an early exit in the 1996 Asian Cup following a notorious 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Iran, but they then emerged a different team only one year later in their qualifying campaign for 1998 France, booking an early berth after a string of convincing displays. They disappointed again in the 2000 Asian Cup with a third place finish, but under legendary Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, they made history in the 2002 FIFA World Cup with a milestone semi-final finish.

Go-ahead for FIFA World Cup parties everywhere

Spectacular 2006 FIFA World Cup? parties and open-air festivals will be the order of the day following a ground-breaking agreement covering match coverage on giant screens, officially termed "public viewing". Infront Sports & Media AG and FIFA have agreed guidelines fundamentally permitting all non-commercial organisations, and specifically cities, towns and other communities, to broadcast TV images without paying licence fees.

An Infront Sports & Media AG news release on 20 January 2005 announced details of the guidelines.

Hanover stadium refit completed

After a two-year construction phase, renovation work at the Arena in Hanover is complete, bringing the number of ready-to-use 2006 FIFA World Cup? stadiums up to six. Following a ?63 million modernisation programme, the former Niedersachsenstadion now fulfils the strict criteria required to earn the official designation "FIFA World Cup stadium Hanover". The football-only stadium makes its debut on the international stage at the FIFA Confederations Cup on 16 June 2005 with the group meeting between Mexico and Japan. Two further tournament fixtures follow, the first-round clash between Mexico and Brazil and the second semi-final.

Ukraine take one giant step closer to Germany

Ukraine can begin to entertain serious thoughts of qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany? after marching to a 2-0 victory in Albania, while their closest rivals in Group 2, Denmark, went down 2-1 away to European champions Greece.

Comfortable leaders of their group, Oleg Blokhin's young Ukraine have now recorded four wins and two draws, and with this new triumph proved they are not reliant on the talents of Andriy Shevchenko alone. The AC Milan striker had scored four of the team's nine goals in qualifying so far, but it was Rusol who put them ahead in Tirana on the half-hour mark tonight, and Gusin secured the three points on 59 minutes against an Albanian outfit that nonetheless fought hard right to the end.

USA, Mexico survive edgy openers to start strong

Both the United States and Mexico managed slim 2-1 wins in their respective debuts in the final, six-team CONCACAF qualifying round for Germany 2006.

As Arena's Americans were edging uncomfortably past tricky Trinidad & Tobago in 90-degree temperatures in sizzling Port of Spain, regional royalty Mexico - under the tutelage of former Argentine international Ricardo Lavolpe ? had their troubles against rising side Costa Rica on the road. Meanwhile, outsiders Panama earned a point for pride against fellow underdogs Guatemala in front of a big crowd at home in the capital.