<p>Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas is the most successful football export the Central American country has produced and his quiet but determined leadership will be central to his nation's hopes in Russia.</p>

<p>While several of the generations who reached the last eight of the World Cup four years ago have enjoyed lengthy careers in Europe and, before them, Paulo Wanchope made a mark in England, none has achieved as much as the Real Madrid goalkeeper.</p>

<p>Navas has two Champions League titles and a Spanish league title to his name with Real and despite constant suggestions that Zinedine Zidane might be looking elsewhere for another keeper the Costa Rican has kept his spot.</p>

<p>His ability to put aside these doubts and the frequent unfavourable comparisons to Spain's Manchester United keeper David De Gea, who was once lined up to replace him, is no surprise to those who know Navas's background and the adversity he handled so well on his way to the top.</p>

<p>Navas was born in the town of San Isidro in the agricultural Perez Zeledon region in the south of Costa Rica, to working-class parents.</p>

<p>When his mother and father emigrated to the United States, he was brought up by his grandfather and his early football experience was tough, with his local team Municipal Club Perez Zeledon rejecting him as being too small.</p>

<p>He was forced to leave behind his small rural hometown and move to the capital San Jose at the age of 14 as he sought to get his opportunity with the country's most successful club, Deportivo Saprissa.</p>

<p>At Saprissa, now 1.85 metres tall, the deeply Catholic Navas won six domestic league titles and the CONCACAF Champions League before moving to Albacete in Spain's second division, then Levante.</p>

<p>His superb performances for Costa Rica in the 2014 World Cup won him worldwide recognition and persuaded Real to pay his buy-out fee to Levante and bring him to the Bernabeu.</p>

<p>Despite the doubters, he has been a big part of a golden era for Real in European competition, cementing his status as one of the most successful players to emerge from Central America.</p>


Keylor Navas superb performances for Costa Rica in the 2014 World Cup won him worldwide recognition

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas is the most successful football export the Central American country has produced and his quiet but determined leadership will be central to his nation's hopes in Russia. While several of the generations who reached the last eight of the World Cup four years ago have enjoyed lengthy careers in Europe and, before them, Paulo Wanchope made a mark in England, none has achieved as much as the Real Madrid goalkeeper. Navas has two Champions League titles and a Spanish league title to his name with Real and despite constant suggestions that Zinedine Zidane might be looking elsewhere for another keeper the Costa Rican has kept his spot. His ability to put aside these doubts and the frequent unfavourable comparisons to Spain's Manchester United keeper David De Gea, who was once lined up to replace him, is no surprise to those who know Navas's background and the adversity he handled so well on his way to the top. Navas was born in the town of San Isidro in the agricultural Perez Zeledon region in the south of Costa Rica, to working-class parents. When his mother and father emigrated to the United States, he was brought up by his grandfather and his early football experience was tough, with his local team Municipal Club Perez Zeledon rejecting him as being too small. He was forced to leave behind his small rural hometown and move to the capital San Jose at the age of 14 as he sought to get his opportunity with the country's most successful club, Deportivo Saprissa. At Saprissa, now 1.85 metres tall, the deeply Catholic Navas won six domestic league titles and the CONCACAF Champions League before moving to Albacete in Spain's second division, then Levante. His superb performances for Costa Rica in the 2014 World Cup won him worldwide recognition and persuaded Real to pay his buy-out fee to Levante and bring him to the Bernabeu. Despite the doubters, he has been a big part of a golden era for Real in European competition, cementing his status as one of the most successful players to emerge from Central America.

FIFA 2018: Keylor Navas' determined leadership will be central to Costa Rica's hopes in Russia

<p>FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on earth will start from June 14 but the craze has already begun all around the world. The 21st edition of football World Cup is hosted by Russia, will be keenly followed by thousands of fans around the world.</p>

<p>The football frenzy has reached to even non participating countries, for example, Bangladesh. A country which is currently working to strengthen its football association "Bangladesh national football team" has involved in a unique way to involve in the FIFA 2018.</p>

<p>Flagmakers in Bangladesh are doing a roaring trade week ahead of the World Cup, but no-one is interested in the home nation's colours -- the money is all on pennants for Lionel Messi's Argentina and Neymar's Brazil.</p>

<p>Textile printer Kamal Hossain owns one of the scores of small, hot, sweaty workshops in the Merajnagar district of capital Dhaka, working flat-out to produce flags and pennants for the local market ahead of the tournament in Russia.</p>

<p>"For the last two months I have been working non-stop," said Hossain.</p>

<p>"There are days when I do not even get two hours of sleep," added the 40-year-old, barely lifting his head from his screen-printing machine.</p>

<p>Bangladesh is traditionally cricket territory, but every four years the country of 160 million people -- whose national team is ranked 197th out of 202 in the world by FIFA -- goes World Cup crazy.</p>

<p>Flags in the colours of Argentina and Brazil take over the streets, and printers in Merajnagar are expecting to produce hundreds of thousands before the tournament starts in Moscow on June 14.</p>

<p>Homes have been converted into makeshift printing and sewing plants as orders pour in from across the country.</p>

<p>"Every day we're printing and making thousands of flags. Today we've already printed 11,000 Argentina pennants," said Hossain.</p>

<p><strong>- Maradona to Messi -</strong></p>

<p>Fans across Bangladesh hold flag-waving processions to honour their favourite team. Last week, a video of supporters marching with a 200 metre-long Argentina flag in the northwestern town of Madarganj went viral on social media.</p>

<p>The impoverished country first saw live World Cup matches in 1982.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But it was the 1986 tournament, when Diego Maradona single-handedly helped Argentina win the trophy, that cemented football into the Bangladesh psyche -- along with a new favourite team.</p>

<p>"The craze for Argentina is still going strong, Maradona is gone but Messi is the new superstar," said Faruq Mia, a flag hawker who came from neighbouring Narayanganj district to stock up.</p>

<p>Mia bought 500 flags last week, made a big profit and so needs 500 more. He will be cheering for Argentina.</p>

<p>Factory owner Selim Howlader expects to sell several hundred thousand flags as "World Cup fever came early in the country, months before kickoff".</p>

<p>"In 2014, I sold more than 80,000 flags. Most of them were sold during the World Cup or just days before kickoff. Now I am selling 2,000-2,500 big flags and 10,000 pennants a day and the World Cup is still weeks away," said the happy 33-year-old businessman.</p>

<p>Howlader employs 25 workers and said about 2,000 people in all are working in Merajnagar's flag factories.</p>

<p><strong>- Long hours -</strong></p>

<p>Messi and Neymar's teams dominate by far Howlader's order list. "Argentina and Brazil are the two most popular teams in Bangladesh," he said.</p>

<p>"I have even got orders to make 50-foot long Argentine flags. These two teams have the most supporters in our country. Germany, Spain and Portugal are the other popular teams."</p>

<p>Some four million people work in Bangladesh's 4,500 apparel factories, who provide billions of dollars worth of clothes to top retailers around the world.</p>

<p>But experts and rights groups say that while there has been progress in improving conditions for garment workers in the country, they still often face long hours, dangerous working environments and dismally low pay.</p>

<p>The flag boom means extra income for poor workers like Nargis Akhter, 28, and her husband Mohammad Iqbal who work in Howlader's factory.</p>

<p>"On an average every day we make 3,000 taka ($35)," said Iqbal. An average garment factory pays about $70 for an entire month's work -- among the world's lowest wages for such a job.</p>

<p>"I wish the craze for flags would go on for many more months," said Akhter, with a smile.</p>


Flagmakers in Bangladesh are doing a roaring trade week ahead of the World Cup

FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on earth will start from June 14 but the craze has already begun all around the world. The 21st edition of football World Cup is hosted by Russia, will be keenly followed by thousands of fans around the world. The football frenzy has reached to even non participating countries, for example, Bangladesh. A country which is currently working to strengthen its football association "Bangladesh national football team" has involved in a unique way to involve in the FIFA 2018. Flagmakers in Bangladesh are doing a roaring trade week ahead of the World Cup, but no-one is interested in the home nation's colours -- the money is all on pennants for Lionel Messi's Argentina and Neymar's Brazil. Textile printer Kamal Hossain owns one of the scores of small, hot, sweaty workshops in the Merajnagar district of capital Dhaka, working flat-out to produce flags and pennants for the local market ahead of the tournament in Russia. "For the last two months I have been working non-stop," said Hossain. "There are days when I do not even get two hours of sleep," added the 40-year-old, barely lifting his head from his screen-printing machine. Bangladesh is traditionally cricket territory, but every four years the country of 160 million people -- whose national team is ranked 197th out of 202 in the world by FIFA -- goes World Cup crazy. Flags in the colours of Argentina and Brazil take over the streets, and printers in Merajnagar are expecting to produce hundreds of thousands before the tournament starts in Moscow on June 14. Homes have been converted into makeshift printing and sewing plants as orders pour in from across the country. "Every day we're printing and making thousands of flags. Today we've already printed 11,000 Argentina pennants," said Hossain. - Maradona to Messi - Fans across Bangladesh hold flag-waving processions to honour their favourite team. Last week, a video of supporters marching with a 200 metre-long Argentina flag in the northwestern town of Madarganj went viral on social media. The impoverished country first saw live World Cup matches in 1982. But it was the 1986 tournament, when Diego Maradona single-handedly helped Argentina win the trophy, that cemented football into the Bangladesh psyche -- along with a new favourite team. "The craze for Argentina is still going strong, Maradona is gone but Messi is the new superstar," said Faruq Mia, a flag hawker who came from neighbouring Narayanganj district to stock up. Mia bought 500 flags last week, made a big profit and so needs 500 more. He will be cheering for Argentina. Factory owner Selim Howlader expects to sell several hundred thousand flags as "World Cup fever came early in the country, months before kickoff". "In 2014, I sold more than 80,000 flags. Most of them were sold during the World Cup or just days before kickoff. Now I am selling 2,000-2,500 big flags and 10,000 pennants a day and the World Cup is still weeks away," said the happy 33-year-old businessman. Howlader employs 25 workers and said about 2,000 people in all are working in Merajnagar's flag factories. - Long hours - Messi and Neymar's teams dominate by far Howlader's order list. "Argentina and Brazil are the two most popular teams in Bangladesh," he said. "I have even got orders to make 50-foot long Argentine flags. These two teams have the most supporters in our country. Germany, Spain and Portugal are the other popular teams." Some four million people work in Bangladesh's 4,500 apparel factories, who provide billions of dollars worth of clothes to top retailers around the world. But experts and rights groups say that while there has been progress in improving conditions for garment workers in the country, they still often face long hours, dangerous working environments and dismally low pay. The flag boom means extra income for poor workers like Nargis Akhter, 28, and her husband Mohammad Iqbal who work in Howlader's factory. "On an average every day we make 3,000 taka ($35)," said Iqbal. An average garment factory pays about $70 for an entire month's work -- among the world's lowest wages for such a job. "I wish the craze for flags would go on for many more months," said Akhter, with a smile.

FIFA 2018: Here is how Bangladesh is preparing for the World Cup

<p>In 2014, Mario Gotze scored the dream goal in the extra time of football World Cup final against Argentina and helped the team to clinch one the most decorated trophies in sports and sealed Germany's fourth World Cup. The World Cup winner has not been included in the provisional squad of Germany for FIFA 2018.</p>

<p>Mario Gotze had the potential of a lot more but injuries and health issues&nbsp;reduced the shine and lustre of 'once in a century talent.'&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the year 2017, Gotze suffered a rare metabolic issue known as myopathy. It is a muscle disorder which causes weight gain and fatigue. The muscle disorder caused a continuous decline in Gotze's performance. In last four season, Mario Gotze has scored just 15 and assisted ten goals in a total of 67 Bundesliga games.</p>

<p>When he scored the winning goal for Germany it was assumed that his career has been amplified and he entered to play club games with Ballon d'Or aspirations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The football fraternity has seen rise and fall of many footballers but the most heartbreaking is the Mario Gotze's decline.</p>

<p>The poor performance&nbsp;of Gotze has led his exit from the upcoming football World Cup, which is scheduled from June 14.</p>

<p>Even today, if someone will type&nbsp;his name on the internet, the mesmerising clips of his World Cup goal will appear. Let's relive those moments again.</p>

<p><em>Watch the video:</em></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/DFB_Team_EN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DFB_Team_EN</a> won the <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWorldCup</a> with this extra time beauty by Mario Gotze! What's everyones predictions for the winning team this year? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldcup2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#worldcup2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCupAtTheRegency?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCupAtTheRegency</a> tickets here >> <a href="https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV">https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCupAtTheAmbler?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCupAtTheAmbler</a> tickets here >> <a href="https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc">https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/0qdcyGUNae">pic.twitter.com/0qdcyGUNae</a></p>
— Sedulo Manchester (@SeduloMCR) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeduloMCR/status/994540143683031040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Here is the provisional squad list:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Goalkeepers:</strong> Bernd Leno, Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp</p>

<p><strong>Defenders:</strong> Jerome Boateng, Matthias Ginter, Jonas Hector, Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich, Marvin Plattenhardt, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule, Jonathan Tah</p>

<p><strong>Midfielders:</strong> Julian Brandt, Julian Draxler, Leon Goretska, Ilkay Gundogan, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Sebastian Rudy, Leroy Sane</p>

<p><strong>Strikers:</strong> Mario Gomez, Thomas Muller, Nils Petersen, Marco Reus, Timo Werner</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here it is! ? The provisional <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DieMannschaft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DieMannschaft</a> squad for the 2018 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a>! ??? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZSMMN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZSMMN</a> <a href="https://t.co/7HxNQaeU8s">pic.twitter.com/7HxNQaeU8s</a></p>
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/DFB_Team_EN/status/996346205482430464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In 2014, Mario Gotze scored the dream goal in the extra time of football World Cup final against Argentina and sealed Germany's fourth World Cup

In 2014, Mario Gotze scored the dream goal in the extra time of football World Cup final against Argentina and helped the team to clinch one the most decorated trophies in sports and sealed Germany's fourth World Cup. The World Cup winner has not been included in the provisional squad of Germany for FIFA 2018. Mario Gotze had the potential of a lot more but injuries and health issues reduced the shine and lustre of 'once in a century talent.' In the year 2017, Gotze suffered a rare metabolic issue known as myopathy. It is a muscle disorder which causes weight gain and fatigue. The muscle disorder caused a continuous decline in Gotze's performance. In last four season, Mario Gotze has scored just 15 and assisted ten goals in a total of 67 Bundesliga games. When he scored the winning goal for Germany it was assumed that his career has been amplified and he entered to play club games with Ballon d'Or aspirations. The football fraternity has seen rise and fall of many footballers but the most heartbreaking is the Mario Gotze's decline. The poor performance of Gotze has led his exit from the upcoming football World Cup, which is scheduled from June 14. Even today, if someone will type his name on the internet, the mesmerising clips of his World Cup goal will appear. Let's relive those moments again. Watch the video: @DFB_Team_EN won the @FIFAWorldCup with this extra time beauty by Mario Gotze! What's everyones predictions for the winning team this year? #worldcup2018 #WorldCupAtTheRegency tickets here >> https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV #WorldCupAtTheAmbler tickets here >> https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc pic.twitter.com/0qdcyGUNae — Sedulo Manchester (@SeduloMCR) May 10, 2018 × Here is the provisional squad list: Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno, Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp Defenders: Jerome Boateng, Matthias Ginter, Jonas Hector, Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich, Marvin Plattenhardt, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule, Jonathan Tah Midfielders: Julian Brandt, Julian Draxler, Leon Goretska, Ilkay Gundogan, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Sebastian Rudy, Leroy Sane Strikers: Mario Gomez, Thomas Muller, Nils Petersen, Marco Reus, Timo Werner Here it is! ? The provisional #DieMannschaft squad for the 2018 #WorldCup! ??? #ZSMMN pic.twitter.com/7HxNQaeU8s — Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) May 15, 2018 ×

He won't be there at FIFA 2018 but let's relive Mario Gotze's winning goal from 2014

<p>Iceland made a history by qualifying for the 21st edition of FIFA World Cup and the football fraternity might witness the rise of small nations with Panama, Peru, Egypt heading out against the big guns with Iceland leading the charge.</p>

<p>A country with less than 4 million population which has little land space and fewer facilities and to top it all is almost always covered in snow, just made it to the World Cup final in Russia.</p>

<p>If you are surprised how the country made it to the world's biggest football stage in Russia, look no further than Euro 2016 when eleven brave Icelanders ejected Wayne Rooney's England from the European stage.</p>

<p>Iceland have been placed in group D and will play their first match against Argentina and rest other games with Croatia and Nigeria and the Iceland team has the potential to stun Messi's Argentina in their opening match, just like Italia 90 when Maradona's men were blasted out by Roger Milla's Cameroon.</p>

<p>Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has played an integral role in Iceland reaching Russia 2018. He was named Icelandic Player of the Year for continuous five seasons. In an interview, he said: "We're looking forward to seeing the thunderclap in Russia”.</p>

<p><strong>What is the thunderclap?</strong></p>

<p>It is the magnificence of the Viking Clap which has captivated audiences from all over the world, Iceland supporters performing the 'thunderclap' is an extraordinary sight to watch.</p>

<p>A noisy and visually spectacular display of synchronicity and passion, it has the ability to give those watching – and those taking part real-time goosebumps.</p>

<p>For a small nation like Iceland, it was extremely difficult to qualify in the biggest sporting events on earth and only the arrival is worth celebrating and the celebration is incomplete without the Viking Chant.</p>

<p><em>Here is the video of the famous Viking Chant a.k.a. 'thunderclap' :</em></p>

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uJ_fh_Ks9QY" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


A noisy and visually spectacular display of synchronicity and passion, it has the ability to give those watching – and those taking part real-time goosebumps

Iceland made a history by qualifying for the 21st edition of FIFA World Cup and the football fraternity might witness the rise of small nations with Panama, Peru, Egypt heading out against the big guns with Iceland leading the charge. A country with less than 4 million population which has little land space and fewer facilities and to top it all is almost always covered in snow, just made it to the World Cup final in Russia. If you are surprised how the country made it to the world's biggest football stage in Russia, look no further than Euro 2016 when eleven brave Icelanders ejected Wayne Rooney's England from the European stage. Iceland have been placed in group D and will play their first match against Argentina and rest other games with Croatia and Nigeria and the Iceland team has the potential to stun Messi's Argentina in their opening match, just like Italia 90 when Maradona's men were blasted out by Roger Milla's Cameroon. Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has played an integral role in Iceland reaching Russia 2018. He was named Icelandic Player of the Year for continuous five seasons. In an interview, he said: "We're looking forward to seeing the thunderclap in Russia”. What is the thunderclap? It is the magnificence of the Viking Clap which has captivated audiences from all over the world, Iceland supporters performing the 'thunderclap' is an extraordinary sight to watch. A noisy and visually spectacular display of synchronicity and passion, it has the ability to give those watching – and those taking part real-time goosebumps. For a small nation like Iceland, it was extremely difficult to qualify in the biggest sporting events on earth and only the arrival is worth celebrating and the celebration is incomplete without the Viking Chant. Here is the video of the famous Viking Chant a.k.a. 'thunderclap' : ×

World Cup: Messi's Argentina to face Iceland's 'Vikings' in Russia

<h2>WION's pick of the week</h2>

<p title="Watch: Marcelo's son Enzo Vieira stuns Real Madrid players with impressive head tennis show"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-marcelos-son-enzo-vieira-stuns-real-madrid-players-with-impressive-head-tennis-show-137516">Watch: Marcelo's son Enzo Vieira stuns Real Madrid players with impressive head tennis show</a></p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0 padding:0 4px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BizrITqABnM/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">Orgulho do papai!! ? @enzoalvesv Isso aqui é uma familia!!! @realmadrid ❤️⚽️</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px line-height:17px margin-bottom:0 margin-top:8px overflow:hidden padding:8px 0 7px text-align:center text-overflow:ellipsis white-space:nowrap">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marcelotwelve/" style=" color:#c9c8cd font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px" target="_blank"> Marcelo Vieira Jr.</a> (@marcelotwelve) on <time datetime="2018-05-15T18:04:53+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px line-height:17px">May 15, 2018 at 11:04am PDT</time></p>
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<p>In 1983, the original Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from the display window and never recovered</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/opinion-kl-rahul--a-rejuvenated-and-repackaged-batting-power-house-137938">Opinion: KL Rahul – A rejuvenated and repackaged batting power house</a></p>

<p>KL Rahul has been a treat to watch and I am sure that going forward he would play an all-important role for India in all formats of the game</p>

<h5 title="Watch: AB de Villiers' Spiderman-like stunt to dismiss Alex Hales"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/opinion-after-nadal--federer-who-will-be-the-next-atp-superstar-137606">Opinion: After Nadal & Federer, who will be the next ATP superstar?</a></h5>

<p>It has been a decade now that men's Tennis is waiting for its next superstar</p>

<h5 title="Shivangi Pathak becomes youngest woman to scale Mt Everest"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/shivangi-pathak-becomes-youngest-woman-to-scale-mt-everest-137997">Shivangi Pathak becomes youngest woman to scale Mt Everest</a></h5>

<p>Shivangi said that she inspired by Arunima Sinha, who was the first Indian amputee to scale the nearly 29,000 ft peak</p>

<p><img alt="Shivangi Pathak.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/sports/Shivangi%20Pathak.jpg" width="720" /></p>

<h5 title="Meet the top four teams of IPL 2018 "><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/meet-the-top-four-teams-of-ipl-2018--138479">Meet the top four teams of IPL 2018</a></h5>

<p><img alt="Kane Williamson, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Ajinkya Rahane.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/sports/Kane%20Williamson%2C%20MS%20Dhoni%2C%20Dinesh%20Karthik%2C%20Ajinkya%20Rahane.jpg" width="720" /></p>

<h5 title="'It is a difficult day,' says teary-eyed Andres Iniesta during farewell ceremony"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/'it-is-a-difficult-day,'-says-teary-eyed-andres-iniesta-during-farewell-ceremony-138614">'It is a difficult day,' says teary-eyed Andres Iniesta during farewell ceremony</a></h5>

<p>Andres Iniesta bid farewell to his boyhood club FC Barcelona. He has spent all of his senior career at Camp Nou & has lifted 32 trophies</p>

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<h2>FIFA 2018</h2>

<p title="FIFA 2018: World Cup fever inspires Panini stickers craze"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-world-cup-fever-inspires-panini-stickers-craze-138377">FIFA 2018: World Cup fever inspires Panini stickers craze</a></p>

<p>Created in 1960 by the four Panini brothers, the business has an exclusive contract with world football's governing body FIFA and its first World Cup album dates back to 1970</p>

<h5 title="Throwback to Luis Suarez's biting Chiellini in FIFA 2014: 'Anyone got a toothpick, Chiellini stuck in my teeth'"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/throwback-to-luis-suarezs-biting-chiellini-in-fifa-2014-anyone-got-a-toothpick-chiellini-stuck-in-my-teeth-138134">Throwback to Luis Suarez's biting Chiellini in FIFA 2014: 'Anyone got a toothpick, Chiellini stuck in my teeth'</a></h5>

<p>Luis Suarez took a nibble from Italy's Giorgio Chiellini shoulder and was suspended for four months from all football-related activities</p>

<h5 title="FIFA 2018: Italy not going to World Cup but World Cup comes to Italy"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italy-not-going-to-world-cup-but-world-cup-comes-to-italy-136933">FIFA 2018: Italy not going to World Cup but World Cup comes to Italy</a></h5>

<p>The eliminated Azzurri will not brighten the tournament, but Italians will still make the cup shine</p>

<h5 title="England defender Mawson ruled out of FIFA World Cup
"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/england-defender-mawson-ruled-out-of-fifa-world-cup-137085">England defender Mawson ruled out of FIFA World Cup</a></h5>

<p>The 24-year-old was yet to make his England debut but was called up by manager Gareth Southgate for friendlies in March</p>

<h5 title="Mario Gotze ruled out of Germany's squad for FIFA 2018"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/mario-gotze-ruled-out-of-germanys-squad-for-fifa-2018-137132">Mario Gotze ruled out of Germany's squad for FIFA 2018</a></h5>

<p>Mario Gotze has been ruled out of Germany's squad for the upcoming edition of football World Cup</p>

<h5 title="He won't be there at FIFA 2018 but let's relive Mario Gotze's winning goal from 2014"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-from-world-cup-winning-goal-scorer-to-world-cup-squad-absentee-lets-relive-mario-gotze-dream-goal-of-fifa-2014-137366">He won't be there at FIFA 2018 but let's relive Mario Gotze's winning goal from 2014</a></h5>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/DFB_Team_EN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DFB_Team_EN</a> won the <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWorldCup</a> with this extra time beauty by Mario Gotze! What's everyones predictions for the winning team this year? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldcup2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#worldcup2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCupAtTheRegency?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCupAtTheRegency</a> tickets here >> <a href="https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV">https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCupAtTheAmbler?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCupAtTheAmbler</a> tickets here >> <a href="https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc">https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/0qdcyGUNae">pic.twitter.com/0qdcyGUNae</a></p>
— Sedulo Manchester (@SeduloMCR) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeduloMCR/status/994540143683031040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-england-fans-warned-over-flag-waving-at-world-cup-in-russia-137434">FIFA 2018: England fans warned over flag-waving at World Cup in Russia</a></p>

<p>Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year</p>

<h5 title="Neymar's foot injury worries him, as he prepares to return"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/neymars-foot-injury-worries-him-as-he-prepares-to-return-137618">Neymar's foot injury worries him, as he prepares to return</a></h5>

<p>He has been out of action since spraining his ankle and fracturing his fifth metatarsal on Feb. 25, which led him to undergo surgery in Brazil</p>

<h5 title="FIFA 2018: Argentina apologises for manual on seducing Russian women"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-argentina-apologises-for-manual-on-seducing-russian-women-137639">FIFA 2018: Argentina apologises for manual on seducing Russian women</a></h5>

<p>More than 40,000 Argentines have bought tickets for matches in the tournament that kicks off in Moscow on June 14</p>

<h2>Football</h2>

<p title="Chelsea players celebrate FA Cup victory against Manchester United"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/chelsea-players-celebrate-fa-cup-victory-against-manchester-united-138430">Chelsea players celebrate FA Cup victory against Manchester United</a></p>

<p>Antonio Conte's team held on for a 1-0 win over United at Wembley as Eden Hazard's first-half penalty was followed by a determined defensive display from the Blues after the interval</p>

<h5 title="Michael Carrick makes immediate switch to coaching role at Manchester United"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-carrick-makes-immediate-switch-to-coaching-role-at-manchester-united-137029">Michael Carrick makes immediate switch to coaching role at Manchester United</a></h5>

<p>Michael Carrick is making an immediate switch from Manchester United's playing squad to the coaching team in time for Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea</p>

<h2>Cricket</h2>

<p title="Cameron Bancroft been cleared to play club cricket "><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/cameron-bancroft-been-cleared-to-play-club-cricket--137063">Cameron Bancroft been cleared to play club cricket</a></p>

<p>Cameron Bancroft has been cleared to play club cricket in Western Australia</p>

<h5 title="'Proper big dog' coming to County, Moeen Ali on Virat Kohli"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/proper-big-dog-coming-to-county-moeen-ali-on-virat-kohli-137462">'Proper big dog' coming to County, Moeen Ali on Virat Kohli</a></h5>

<p>Moeen and his compatriot Chris Woakes are playing under Kohli for the Bangalore in IPL</p>

<h5 title="ICC may consider scrapping toss in Test cricket"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-may-consider-scrapping-toss-in-test-cricket-137768">ICC may consider scrapping toss in Test cricket</a></h5>

<p>Latest reports suggest that the ICC committee is ready to re-enter the topic</p>

<h2>Tennis</h2>

<h5 title="Italian Open: Elina Svitolina outplays Simona Halep to defend title"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italian-open-elina-svitolina-outplays-simona-halep-to-defend-title-138443">Italian Open: Elina Svitolina outplays Simona Halep to defend title</a></h5>

<p>Elina Svitolina successfully defended her&nbsp;Italian&nbsp;Open&nbsp;title on Sunday with a dominant 6-0 6-4 victory over an out-of-sorts Simona Halep</p>

<h5 title="Italian Open: Rafael Nadal wins eighth Rome Masters title after stunning comeback"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italian-open-rafael-nadal-wins-eighth-rome-masters-title-after-stunning-comeback-138468">Italian Open: Rafael Nadal wins eighth Rome Masters title after stunning comeback</a></h5>

<p>Rafael Nadal won the Rome Masters for the eighth time as he defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev</p>

<h5 title="Watch: Czech tennis player Pliskova 'smashes' umpire's chair"><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-karolina-pliskova-smashes-umpires-chair-after-losing-to-maria-sakkari-at-italian-open-137500">Watch: Czech tennis player Pliskova 'smashes' umpire's chair</a></h5>

<p>Pliskova was furious when 42nd-ranked Sakkari was given the advantage and also a breakpoint at a crucial stage of the match</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Holy moly Pliskova is the real MVP! Well done, she was right about that call! it was 10km in! <a href="https://t.co/YgJ5MHgmYo">pic.twitter.com/YgJ5MHgmYo</a></p>
— LorenaPopa? ??‍♀️ (@popalorena) <a href="https://twitter.com/popalorena/status/996735228394835969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italys-elia-viviani-wins-giro-ditalia-13th-stage-138029">Italy's Elia Viviani wins Giro d'Italia 13th stage</a></p>

<p>Italy's Elia Viviani of the Quick Step team dominated a sprint finish for the Giro d'Italia 13th stage</p>


Weekly compilation of sports and other related news (May 14 to May 20)

WION's pick of the week Watch: Marcelo's son Enzo Vieira stuns Real Madrid players with impressive head tennis show Orgulho do papai!! ? @enzoalvesv Isso aqui é uma familia!!! @realmadrid ❤️⚽️ A post shared by Marcelo Vieira Jr. (@marcelotwelve) on May 15, 2018 at 11:04am PDT × FIFA 2018: Do you know that first FIFA trophy was stolen and never recovered In 1983, the original Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from the display window and never recovered × × Opinion: KL Rahul – A rejuvenated and repackaged batting power house KL Rahul has been a treat to watch and I am sure that going forward he would play an all-important role for India in all formats of the game Opinion: After Nadal & Federer, who will be the next ATP superstar? It has been a decade now that men's Tennis is waiting for its next superstar Shivangi Pathak becomes youngest woman to scale Mt Everest Shivangi said that she inspired by Arunima Sinha, who was the first Indian amputee to scale the nearly 29,000 ft peak Meet the top four teams of IPL 2018 'It is a difficult day,' says teary-eyed Andres Iniesta during farewell ceremony Andres Iniesta bid farewell to his boyhood club FC Barcelona. He has spent all of his senior career at Camp Nou & has lifted 32 trophies × FIFA 2018 FIFA 2018: World Cup fever inspires Panini stickers craze Created in 1960 by the four Panini brothers, the business has an exclusive contract with world football's governing body FIFA and its first World Cup album dates back to 1970 Throwback to Luis Suarez's biting Chiellini in FIFA 2014: 'Anyone got a toothpick, Chiellini stuck in my teeth' Luis Suarez took a nibble from Italy's Giorgio Chiellini shoulder and was suspended for four months from all football-related activities FIFA 2018: Italy not going to World Cup but World Cup comes to Italy The eliminated Azzurri will not brighten the tournament, but Italians will still make the cup shine England defender Mawson ruled out of FIFA World Cup The 24-year-old was yet to make his England debut but was called up by manager Gareth Southgate for friendlies in March Mario Gotze ruled out of Germany's squad for FIFA 2018 Mario Gotze has been ruled out of Germany's squad for the upcoming edition of football World Cup He won't be there at FIFA 2018 but let's relive Mario Gotze's winning goal from 2014 @DFB_Team_EN won the @FIFAWorldCup with this extra time beauty by Mario Gotze! What's everyones predictions for the winning team this year? #worldcup2018 #WorldCupAtTheRegency tickets here >> https://t.co/WP8KRD9MhV #WorldCupAtTheAmbler tickets here >> https://t.co/8REtlUfSbc pic.twitter.com/0qdcyGUNae — Sedulo Manchester (@SeduloMCR) May 10, 2018 × FIFA 2018: England fans warned over flag-waving at World Cup in Russia Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year Neymar's foot injury worries him, as he prepares to return He has been out of action since spraining his ankle and fracturing his fifth metatarsal on Feb. 25, which led him to undergo surgery in Brazil FIFA 2018: Argentina apologises for manual on seducing Russian women More than 40,000 Argentines have bought tickets for matches in the tournament that kicks off in Moscow on June 14 Football Chelsea players celebrate FA Cup victory against Manchester United Antonio Conte's team held on for a 1-0 win over United at Wembley as Eden Hazard's first-half penalty was followed by a determined defensive display from the Blues after the interval Michael Carrick makes immediate switch to coaching role at Manchester United Michael Carrick is making an immediate switch from Manchester United's playing squad to the coaching team in time for Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea Cricket Cameron Bancroft been cleared to play club cricket Cameron Bancroft has been cleared to play club cricket in Western Australia 'Proper big dog' coming to County, Moeen Ali on Virat Kohli Moeen and his compatriot Chris Woakes are playing under Kohli for the Bangalore in IPL ICC may consider scrapping toss in Test cricket Latest reports suggest that the ICC committee is ready to re-enter the topic Tennis Italian Open: Elina Svitolina outplays Simona Halep to defend title Elina Svitolina successfully defended her Italian Open title on Sunday with a dominant 6-0 6-4 victory over an out-of-sorts Simona Halep Italian Open: Rafael Nadal wins eighth Rome Masters title after stunning comeback Rafael Nadal won the Rome Masters for the eighth time as he defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev Watch: Czech tennis player Pliskova 'smashes' umpire's chair Pliskova was furious when 42nd-ranked Sakkari was given the advantage and also a breakpoint at a crucial stage of the match Holy moly Pliskova is the real MVP! Well done, she was right about that call! it was 10km in! pic.twitter.com/YgJ5MHgmYo — LorenaPopa? ??‍♀️ (@popalorena) May 16, 2018 × Italy's Elia Viviani wins Giro d'Italia 13th stage Italy's Elia Viviani of the Quick Step team dominated a sprint finish for the Giro d'Italia 13th stage

WION Sports News: Top sports results this week

<p>Between eight and ten million packets a day, each with five cards, perhaps including the coveted ones of Lionel Messi, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo -- as World Cup fever builds the Panini sticker factory in Italy is working flat out.</p>

<p>With Panini, Italy are guaranteed not to miss out on the World Cup in Russia even if their team will not be competing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Created in 1960 by the four Panini brothers, the business has an exclusive contract with world football's governing body FIFA and its first World Cup album dates back to 1970.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Panini World Cup stickers are back baybay! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Panini?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Panini</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/cFv3IqdviZ">pic.twitter.com/cFv3IqdviZ</a></p>
— The Adamantium (@AdamRHarrison) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamRHarrison/status/997954081808269312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Over the past 50 years the principle has never changed -- you open, stick and exchange cards.</p>

<p>"It's the simplicity that pays. Panini has never been in crisis because it's a simple game enjoyed by parents and children," Simona Spiaggia, head of production at the factory in Modena in central Italy told AFP.</p>

<p>Even four-time champions' Italy's absence from the World Cup for the first time in 60 years has not dented booming sales.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Get Your 2018 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Panini?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Panini</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFA</a> 365 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Stickers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Stickers</a> Special Collectors Package w/72 Page Album! World's Biggest Soccer Football Stars!! <a href="https://t.co/q3Ljf4nwCz">https://t.co/q3Ljf4nwCz</a></p>
— ?MilanLegends.com⚫️ (@TheMilanLegends) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMilanLegends/status/998096276574101504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>"No, it's marginal," continues Spiaggia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We produce for the entire world, apart from a part of Latin American because we have another factory in Brazil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But for the rest of the world, everything is done here. So Italy represents just a small part."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Iker <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Casillas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Casillas</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Spain?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Spain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EURO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EURO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Panini?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Panini</a> stickers 2002-2016 <a href="https://t.co/0gVT4OUuKk">pic.twitter.com/0gVT4OUuKk</a></p>
— Stickerpedia (@Stickerpedia1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stickerpedia1/status/998083268338704384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Since last January the machines which have remained unchanged since the 1960s, cut, mix and package at a faster rate than normal with the number of factory employees having jumped from 130 to 240 to keep pace with demand.</p>

<p>"We have production peaks every two years with the European championships and the World Cup. But that of the World Cup is a little higher," said Spiaggia.</p>

<p>And despite other partnership deals, notably with Disney, and inroads into cycling and basketball, football "still represents the largest part of our business," she said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I've a swap request for my PANINI STICKER ALBUM: You have: Stickers 'Egypt','João Mário','Mitchell Langerak','Bailey Wright','Aaron Mooy'<br />
You want: Stickers 'Korea Republic','Kim Younggwon','Ki Sungyueng','Lee Chungyong','Hwang Heechan' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PaniniStickerAlbum?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PaniniStickerAlbum</a><a href="https://t.co/klO0AtYYh3">https://t.co/klO0AtYYh3</a></p>
— Mazen Mohamed Aly ™ (@MazenMohamedAly) <a href="https://twitter.com/MazenMohamedAly/status/998007928224444417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Even competition from internet collections has not yet threatened or diminished the appeal of the traditional paper album.</p>

<p>"We're going forward with on-line. But it's a bit like books, some move to e-books, others will always prefer paper and that's the same for our collectors."</p>

<p>Fans will be searching avidly for stars including Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo, stickers which may seem rarer but which are in fact not.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">And so it begins. Worst parenting I've ever done. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Panini?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Panini</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Stickers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Stickers</a> <a href="https://t.co/jkwvzqKZIF">pic.twitter.com/jkwvzqKZIF</a></p>
— Jarlath Regan (@Jarlath) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jarlath/status/997967382973906944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>"If they're rare it's because they are more sought after," explained Spiaggia. "There are fewer in circulation because they're not being exchanged, but not at the start."</p>

<p>In the end it's all down to chance and the shuffle of the machines. That is one thing that has changed from the early days when the mix was done with a shovel by throwing the stickers against the wall.</p>


Created in 1960 by the four Panini brothers, the business has an exclusive contract with world football's governing body FIFA and its first World Cup album dates back to 1970

Between eight and ten million packets a day, each with five cards, perhaps including the coveted ones of Lionel Messi, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo -- as World Cup fever builds the Panini sticker factory in Italy is working flat out. With Panini, Italy are guaranteed not to miss out on the World Cup in Russia even if their team will not be competing. Created in 1960 by the four Panini brothers, the business has an exclusive contract with world football's governing body FIFA and its first World Cup album dates back to 1970. Panini World Cup stickers are back baybay! #Panini #WorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/cFv3IqdviZ — The Adamantium (@AdamRHarrison) May 19, 2018 × Over the past 50 years the principle has never changed -- you open, stick and exchange cards. "It's the simplicity that pays. Panini has never been in crisis because it's a simple game enjoyed by parents and children," Simona Spiaggia, head of production at the factory in Modena in central Italy told AFP. Even four-time champions' Italy's absence from the World Cup for the first time in 60 years has not dented booming sales. Get Your 2018 #Panini #FIFA 365 #Stickers Special Collectors Package w/72 Page Album! World's Biggest Soccer Football Stars!! https://t.co/q3Ljf4nwCz — ?MilanLegends.com⚫️ (@TheMilanLegends) May 20, 2018 × "No, it's marginal," continues Spiaggia. "We produce for the entire world, apart from a part of Latin American because we have another factory in Brazil. "But for the rest of the world, everything is done here. So Italy represents just a small part." Iker #Casillas#Spain #WorldCup #EURO #Panini stickers 2002-2016 pic.twitter.com/0gVT4OUuKk — Stickerpedia (@Stickerpedia1) May 20, 2018 × Since last January the machines which have remained unchanged since the 1960s, cut, mix and package at a faster rate than normal with the number of factory employees having jumped from 130 to 240 to keep pace with demand. "We have production peaks every two years with the European championships and the World Cup. But that of the World Cup is a little higher," said Spiaggia. And despite other partnership deals, notably with Disney, and inroads into cycling and basketball, football "still represents the largest part of our business," she said. I've a swap request for my PANINI STICKER ALBUM: You have: Stickers 'Egypt','João Mário','Mitchell Langerak','Bailey Wright','Aaron Mooy' You want: Stickers 'Korea Republic','Kim Younggwon','Ki Sungyueng','Lee Chungyong','Hwang Heechan' #PaniniStickerAlbumhttps://t.co/klO0AtYYh3 — Mazen Mohamed Aly ™ (@MazenMohamedAly) May 20, 2018 × Even competition from internet collections has not yet threatened or diminished the appeal of the traditional paper album. "We're going forward with on-line. But it's a bit like books, some move to e-books, others will always prefer paper and that's the same for our collectors." Fans will be searching avidly for stars including Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo, stickers which may seem rarer but which are in fact not. And so it begins. Worst parenting I've ever done. #Panini #WorldCup #Stickers pic.twitter.com/jkwvzqKZIF — Jarlath Regan (@Jarlath) May 19, 2018 × "If they're rare it's because they are more sought after," explained Spiaggia. "There are fewer in circulation because they're not being exchanged, but not at the start." In the end it's all down to chance and the shuffle of the machines. That is one thing that has changed from the early days when the mix was done with a shovel by throwing the stickers against the wall.

FIFA 2018: World Cup fever inspires Panini stickers craze

<p>The madness has begun for one of the biggest sporting events on earth -&nbspfootball World Cup. FIFA 2018 is the 21st edition of football World Cup which is being hosted by Russia and will start from June 14.</p>

<p>The winner will be awarded the famous gold trophy. Since, the inception of&nbspFIFA World Cup association football tournament in 1930, two trophies have been used, the first is the Jules Rimet Trophy from 1930 to 1970 and the other is the FIFA World Cup Trophy which has been passed down since 1974.</p>

<p>The question most football fanatics cannot fathom is why was trophy changed in 1974?</p>

<p>Jules Rimet Trophy was originally named 'Victory' because the Cup was supported by a winged figure representing Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory but later was renamed in the honour of former FIFA president Jules Rimet.</p>

<p>It was made of gold plated sterling silver and lapis lazuli and depicted Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.</p>

<p>Designed by Abel Lafleur, a French sculptor, the trophy stood 35 centimetres high and weighed 3.8 kilograms.</p>

<p>On 20 March 1966, four months before the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen during a public exhibition at Westminster Central Hall. Although, seven days later the trophy was somehow recovered from south London.</p>

<p>But the fate of the famous trophy did not last long&nbspafter Brazil won the World Cup in 1970 and the trophy was kept on the display at the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janerio.&nbsp</p>

<p>In 1983, the original Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from the display window and never recovered. It is believed that the trophy was melted and sold. Only the original base was recovered which is kept at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich.</p>

<p>Later, the trophy was replaced in the year 1974 by the famous hand-and-ball sculpture which was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga. The trophy stands 36.5 centimetres tall and is made of 5 kg of gold.</p>

<p>West Germany became the first nation to win the new trophy in 1974 beating Holland in a thrilling final at home.&nbsp</p>

<p>This time, defending champions Germany will join hosts Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia and Uruguay.</p>


In 1983, the original Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from the display window and never recovered

The madness has begun for one of the biggest sporting events on earth -&nbspfootball World Cup. FIFA 2018 is the 21st edition of football World Cup which is being hosted by Russia and will start from June 14. The winner will be awarded the famous gold trophy. Since, the inception of&nbspFIFA World Cup association football tournament in 1930, two trophies have been used, the first is the Jules Rimet Trophy from 1930 to 1970 and the other is the FIFA World Cup Trophy which has been passed down since 1974. The question most football fanatics cannot fathom is why was trophy changed in 1974? Jules Rimet Trophy was originally named 'Victory' because the Cup was supported by a winged figure representing Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory but later was renamed in the honour of former FIFA president Jules Rimet. It was made of gold plated sterling silver and lapis lazuli and depicted Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Designed by Abel Lafleur, a French sculptor, the trophy stood 35 centimetres high and weighed 3.8 kilograms. On 20 March 1966, four months before the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen during a public exhibition at Westminster Central Hall. Although, seven days later the trophy was somehow recovered from south London. But the fate of the famous trophy did not last long&nbspafter Brazil won the World Cup in 1970 and the trophy was kept on the display at the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janerio. In 1983, the original Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from the display window and never recovered. It is believed that the trophy was melted and sold. Only the original base was recovered which is kept at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. Later, the trophy was replaced in the year 1974 by the famous hand-and-ball sculpture which was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga. The trophy stands 36.5 centimetres tall and is made of 5 kg of gold. West Germany became the first nation to win the new trophy in 1974 beating Holland in a thrilling final at home. This time, defending champions Germany will join hosts Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia and Uruguay.

FIFA 2018: Do you know that first FIFA trophy was stolen and never recovered

<p>Police chiefs have urged England fans attending the World Cup not to display the flag of St George over fears it will be seen as antagonistic to their Russian hosts.</p>

<p>Mark Roberts of the National Police Chiefs' Council is heading to Russia with a team of fellow officers to work with their Russian counterparts to protect up to 10,000 England fans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think people need to be really careful with flags. It can come across as almost imperialistic... and can cause antagonism," Roberts, the national lead for football policing, told Britain's Times newspaper.</p>

<p>"We really urge some caution about people putting flags out and waving them about in public.</p>

<p>"We would not expect people to come across to this country, get drunk and drape flags on the Cenotaph (the memorial to Britain's national war dead) so we need to extend the same courtesy when we go abroad."</p>

<p>After Russian hooligans attacked England fans in Marseilles in 2016, they posted photos of dozens of "captured" St George's flags, the report said.</p>

<p>Roberts warned fans to be particularly careful in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, which hosts England's opening game against Tunisia on June 18.</p>

<p>Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year. Britain has blamed Russia for the attempted murder, a charge that Moscow has strongly denied.</p>


Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year

Police chiefs have urged England fans attending the World Cup not to display the flag of St George over fears it will be seen as antagonistic to their Russian hosts. Mark Roberts of the National Police Chiefs' Council is heading to Russia with a team of fellow officers to work with their Russian counterparts to protect up to 10,000 England fans. "I think people need to be really careful with flags. It can come across as almost imperialistic... and can cause antagonism," Roberts, the national lead for football policing, told Britain's Times newspaper. "We really urge some caution about people putting flags out and waving them about in public. "We would not expect people to come across to this country, get drunk and drape flags on the Cenotaph (the memorial to Britain's national war dead) so we need to extend the same courtesy when we go abroad." After Russian hooligans attacked England fans in Marseilles in 2016, they posted photos of dozens of "captured" St George's flags, the report said. Roberts warned fans to be particularly careful in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, which hosts England's opening game against Tunisia on June 18. Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year. Britain has blamed Russia for the attempted murder, a charge that Moscow has strongly denied.

FIFA 2018: England fans warned over flag-waving at World Cup in Russia

<p>Mario Gotze has been ruled out of Germany's squad for the upcoming edition of football World Cup.</p>

<p>Gotze scored the winner in the extra time of FIFA 2014 to seal Germany's fourth World Cup.</p>

<p>On the other hand, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been named in the squad, despite being out of action since September 2017 due to a foot injury.</p>

<p>Germany are in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea, and play their first match on Sunday, 17 June.</p>

<p>"Manuel is getting back into full training this week at Bayern Munich, that assures us that he can tolerate the full load in the training camp," said manager Joachim Low whose contract has been extended until 2022.</p>

<p>He further added, "Then we want to get a full idea, talk to him frankly and honestly, asking 'is it possible to play at the World Cup?'"</p>

<p>Here is the provisional squad list:</p>

<p><strong>Goalkeepers:</strong> Bernd Leno, Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp</p>

<p><strong>Defenders:</strong> Jerome Boateng, Matthias Ginter, Jonas Hector, Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich, Marvin Plattenhardt, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule, Jonathan Tah</p>

<p><strong>Midfielders:</strong> Julian Brandt, Julian Draxler, Leon Goretska, Ilkay Gundogan, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Sebastian Rudy, Leroy Sane</p>

<p><strong>Strikers:</strong> Mario Gomez, Thomas Muller, Nils Petersen, Marco Reus, Timo Werner</p>


Mario Gotze has been ruled out of Germany's squad for the upcoming edition of football World Cup

Mario Gotze has been ruled out of Germany's squad for the upcoming edition of football World Cup. Gotze scored the winner in the extra time of FIFA 2014 to seal Germany's fourth World Cup. On the other hand, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been named in the squad, despite being out of action since September 2017 due to a foot injury. Germany are in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea, and play their first match on Sunday, 17 June. "Manuel is getting back into full training this week at Bayern Munich, that assures us that he can tolerate the full load in the training camp," said manager Joachim Low whose contract has been extended until 2022. He further added, "Then we want to get a full idea, talk to him frankly and honestly, asking 'is it possible to play at the World Cup?'" Here is the provisional squad list: Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno, Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp Defenders: Jerome Boateng, Matthias Ginter, Jonas Hector, Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich, Marvin Plattenhardt, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule, Jonathan Tah Midfielders: Julian Brandt, Julian Draxler, Leon Goretska, Ilkay Gundogan, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Sebastian Rudy, Leroy Sane Strikers: Mario Gomez, Thomas Muller, Nils Petersen, Marco Reus, Timo Werner

Mario Gotze ruled out of Germany's squad for FIFA 2018

<p>Brazil's star striker Neymar admits "fear" ahead of his return for the World Cup after a lengthy layoff following surgery for a broken bone in his foot.</p>

<p>In an interview published Friday on former Brazil legend Zico's YouTube channel, Neymar said he is in a race against time to get mentally ready for the tournament in Russia.</p>

<p>"Everything's going well, thank God, but there's always this fear when you come back and I need to get rid of that fear as soon as possible to arrive at the World Cup," the 26-year-old, who has been out since the end of February, said.</p>

<p>The interview with Zico, a great from Brazil's 1980s team, took place last week, just before Neymar returned to France, where he is expected to restart training shortly with Paris Saint-Germain.</p>

<p>He still hopes to be completely rehabilitated by the June 14 start of the World Cup. Brazil's opening game is against Switzerland on June 17.</p>

<p>"The idea is that he can return to working on the field from next week provided that he responds favorably to tomorrow's test," Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told selected media, including AFP, in Paris.</p>

<p>Neymar said that at first his return to competitive levels was "complicated. I was always afraid of making complete movements and I'd end up compensating".</p>

<p>The star also lauded his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, who is just 19, as "the best in the world for his age".</p>

<p>"He's a phenomenon. I've already told (Brazil midfielder) Casemiro that he'll have to take care of him" if Brazil face France in Russia.</p>

<p>&nbsp</p>


In an interview published Friday on former Brazil legend Zico's YouTube channel, Neymar said he is in a race against time to get mentally ready for the tournament in Russia

Brazil's star striker Neymar admits "fear" ahead of his return for the World Cup after a lengthy layoff following surgery for a broken bone in his foot. In an interview published Friday on former Brazil legend Zico's YouTube channel, Neymar said he is in a race against time to get mentally ready for the tournament in Russia. "Everything's going well, thank God, but there's always this fear when you come back and I need to get rid of that fear as soon as possible to arrive at the World Cup," the 26-year-old, who has been out since the end of February, said. The interview with Zico, a great from Brazil's 1980s team, took place last week, just before Neymar returned to France, where he is expected to restart training shortly with Paris Saint-Germain. He still hopes to be completely rehabilitated by the June 14 start of the World Cup. Brazil's opening game is against Switzerland on June 17. "The idea is that he can return to working on the field from next week provided that he responds favorably to tomorrow's test," Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told selected media, including AFP, in Paris. Neymar said that at first his return to competitive levels was "complicated. I was always afraid of making complete movements and I'd end up compensating". The star also lauded his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, who is just 19, as "the best in the world for his age". "He's a phenomenon. I've already told (Brazil midfielder) Casemiro that he'll have to take care of him" if Brazil face France in Russia.

Neymar Jr feels 'fear' ahead of his return for FIFA 2018

<p>The spat over Saudi Arabia's refusal to support a Moroccan bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 World Cup tells the tale of the rise of individual country nationalism at the expense of Arab solidarity, Saudi determination to safeguard its alliance with the United States at whatever cost, and creeping Saudi and UAE efforts to strongarm countries into supporting their 11-month old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar.</p>

<p>In the latest round of the spat, Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority and a close associate of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, broke with the decades-old, often farcical, principle of Arab solidarity, by suggesting that the kingdom would support a US-led rather than a Moroccan bid for the 2026 World Cup.</p>

<p>Adopting a Saudi Arabia First approach, Mr. Al-Sheikh noted that the United States "is our biggest and strongest ally." He recalled that when the World Cup was played in 1994 in nine American cities, the US "was one of our favourites. The fans were numerous, and the Saudi team achieved good results."</p>

<p>In an earlier tweet, Mr&nbsp;Al-Sheikh, noting that none of the contenders for the 2026 bid had sought Saudi support, said that "if someone ever asks, we will look for Saudi Arabia’s interests first."</p>

<p>Mr&nbsp;Al-Sheikh's Saudi Arabia First stance reflected Prince Mohammed's efforts to emphasise Saudi nationalism as a compliment, if not replacement of religion as his regime’s legitimising ideology.</p>

<p>Applying the principle to soccer, takes on added significance given the fact that few other things parallel the depth of emotion that religion evokes in what is a soccer-crazy part of the world.</p>

<p>Underscoring the importance of soccer, Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, in one of his first public acts after being released from three months of detention in Riyadh's Ritz Carlton hotel and in a demonstration of fealty to Prince Mohammed, donated in February $533,000 to Saudi soccer club Al-Hilal FC.</p>

<p>Prince Alwaleed, who was among the more recalcitrant of the hundreds of members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family, senior officials, and prominent businessmen detained last November in what amounted to a power and asset grab under the mum of an anti-corruption campaign, said the donation was in response to a call by the government.</p>

<p>Mr. Al-Sheikh's apparent support for a joint US-Canadian-Mexican bid to co-host the 2026 World Cup followed a veiled threat by President Donald J. Trump, in violation of guidelines regarding the political influence of world soccer body FIFA, against nations that may oppose the US-led proposition.</p>

<p>Morocco is the US-led bid's only competitor. FIFA is scheduled to choose the 2026 host on June 13.</p>

<p>"The US&nbsp;has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?" Mr. Trump said on Twitter.</p>

<p>"We will be watching very closely, and any help they can give us in that bid we would appreciate," Mr. Trump added, implicitly linking support for the US-led bid to trade issues.</p>

<p>In his own tweets, Mr. Al-Sheikh made clear that Saudi support for the US-led bid was about more than preserving the kingdom's alliance with the United States.</p>

<p>He suggested that it was yet another indication of an attempt to strongarm countries into supporting the boycott of Qatar that has failed to garner international support and punish those who opposed it.</p>

<p>Morocco, despite close security, military and economic ties to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has refused to take sides in the Gulf conflict and has offered to mediate. As Qatar was scrambling last June to ensure food imports in the days that immediately followed the declaration of the boycott and the cutting of land, air and sea links, Morocco sent several planeloads of supplies to the Gulf state.</p>

<p>"Some people went astray. If you want to support, you should seek it in Riyadh. What you are doing is wasting your time. Now ask the pseudo-state to help you. A message from the Gulf to the Ocean," Mr. Al-Sheikh tweeted several weeks ago, referring to Qatar in derogatory terms and the fact that Morocco’s shores are on the Atlantic Ocean.</p>

<p>Adding insult to injury, Mr. Al-Sheikh posted his tweet at the very moment that his aide and namesake, Talal Al Sheikh, was meeting in the Moroccan capital of Rabat with the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, Faouzi Lekjaa.</p>

<p>The linking of Saudi Arabia’s position on the World Cup came on the heels of the kingdom’s efforts to force prominent, multi-national financial institutions to take sides in the Gulf dispute. The Saudi push persuaded JP Morgan and HSBC to refrain from participating last month in a $12 billion Qatari bond sale.</p>

<p>The Saudi-Moroccan spat is the latest incident in which the World Cup has become a battleground in the Gulf crisis.</p>

<p>In an indication of the importance, Gulf leaders attribute to Qatar’s ability to garner soft power with its hosting of the 2022 World Cup, Dubai security chief Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan suggested in October that the UAE-Saudi-led boycott would be lifted if the Gulf state surrendered its hosting rights.</p>

<p>That may have been an overstatement by the notoriously bombastic law enforcement official, but nonetheless reflected thinking about the political importance of sports in Qatar and among its detractors.</p>

<p>The Saudi-Moroccan spat goes, however, beyond the political significance of soccer in the Gulf. It symbolizes the end of a post-colonial era in the Middle East in which Arab states look out for their individual interests rather than perceive themselves as a true bloc in anything but name. That may be a healthy development, albeit one that promises even greater fracturing in an already deeply divided part of the world.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


A Saudi Moroccan soccer spat speaks volumes about the depth of change in the Arab world

The spat over Saudi Arabia's refusal to support a Moroccan bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 World Cup tells the tale of the rise of individual country nationalism at the expense of Arab solidarity, Saudi determination to safeguard its alliance with the United States at whatever cost, and creeping Saudi and UAE efforts to strongarm countries into supporting their 11-month old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar. In the latest round of the spat, Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority and a close associate of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, broke with the decades-old, often farcical, principle of Arab solidarity, by suggesting that the kingdom would support a US-led rather than a Moroccan bid for the 2026 World Cup. Adopting a Saudi Arabia First approach, Mr. Al-Sheikh noted that the United States "is our biggest and strongest ally." He recalled that when the World Cup was played in 1994 in nine American cities, the US "was one of our favourites. The fans were numerous, and the Saudi team achieved good results." In an earlier tweet, Mr Al-Sheikh, noting that none of the contenders for the 2026 bid had sought Saudi support, said that "if someone ever asks, we will look for Saudi Arabia’s interests first." Mr Al-Sheikh's Saudi Arabia First stance reflected Prince Mohammed's efforts to emphasise Saudi nationalism as a compliment, if not replacement of religion as his regime’s legitimising ideology. Applying the principle to soccer, takes on added significance given the fact that few other things parallel the depth of emotion that religion evokes in what is a soccer-crazy part of the world. Underscoring the importance of soccer, Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, in one of his first public acts after being released from three months of detention in Riyadh's Ritz Carlton hotel and in a demonstration of fealty to Prince Mohammed, donated in February $533,000 to Saudi soccer club Al-Hilal FC. Prince Alwaleed, who was among the more recalcitrant of the hundreds of members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family, senior officials, and prominent businessmen detained last November in what amounted to a power and asset grab under the mum of an anti-corruption campaign, said the donation was in response to a call by the government. Mr. Al-Sheikh's apparent support for a joint US-Canadian-Mexican bid to co-host the 2026 World Cup followed a veiled threat by President Donald J. Trump, in violation of guidelines regarding the political influence of world soccer body FIFA, against nations that may oppose the US-led proposition. Morocco is the US-led bid's only competitor. FIFA is scheduled to choose the 2026 host on June 13. "The US has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?" Mr. Trump said on Twitter. "We will be watching very closely, and any help they can give us in that bid we would appreciate," Mr. Trump added, implicitly linking support for the US-led bid to trade issues. In his own tweets, Mr. Al-Sheikh made clear that Saudi support for the US-led bid was about more than preserving the kingdom's alliance with the United States. He suggested that it was yet another indication of an attempt to strongarm countries into supporting the boycott of Qatar that has failed to garner international support and punish those who opposed it. Morocco, despite close security, military and economic ties to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has refused to take sides in the Gulf conflict and has offered to mediate. As Qatar was scrambling last June to ensure food imports in the days that immediately followed the declaration of the boycott and the cutting of land, air and sea links, Morocco sent several planeloads of supplies to the Gulf state. "Some people went astray. If you want to support, you should seek it in Riyadh. What you are doing is wasting your time. Now ask the pseudo-state to help you. A message from the Gulf to the Ocean," Mr. Al-Sheikh tweeted several weeks ago, referring to Qatar in derogatory terms and the fact that Morocco’s shores are on the Atlantic Ocean. Adding insult to injury, Mr. Al-Sheikh posted his tweet at the very moment that his aide and namesake, Talal Al Sheikh, was meeting in the Moroccan capital of Rabat with the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, Faouzi Lekjaa. The linking of Saudi Arabia’s position on the World Cup came on the heels of the kingdom’s efforts to force prominent, multi-national financial institutions to take sides in the Gulf dispute. The Saudi push persuaded JP Morgan and HSBC to refrain from participating last month in a $12 billion Qatari bond sale. The Saudi-Moroccan spat is the latest incident in which the World Cup has become a battleground in the Gulf crisis. In an indication of the importance, Gulf leaders attribute to Qatar’s ability to garner soft power with its hosting of the 2022 World Cup, Dubai security chief Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan suggested in October that the UAE-Saudi-led boycott would be lifted if the Gulf state surrendered its hosting rights. That may have been an overstatement by the notoriously bombastic law enforcement official, but nonetheless reflected thinking about the political importance of sports in Qatar and among its detractors. The Saudi-Moroccan spat goes, however, beyond the political significance of soccer in the Gulf. It symbolizes the end of a post-colonial era in the Middle East in which Arab states look out for their individual interests rather than perceive themselves as a true bloc in anything but name. That may be a healthy development, albeit one that promises even greater fracturing in an already deeply divided part of the world. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Saudi Moroccan soccer spat symbolises the Arab world’s new politics

<p>Russia's domestic security service said on Friday it had thwarted an Islamic State(IS) plan to carry out a series of high-profile attacks in the Moscow area, where soccer World Cup matches are due to take place this summer.</p>

<p>The FSB security service said it had cut short the activity of what it called a four-man IS&nbspsleeper cell which was taking instructions from someone in Syria via the Telegram messenger service.</p>

<p>It did not provide details of when the attacks were meant to take place or what the precise targets were.</p>

<p>Russia, whose military is helping the Syrian government fight rebel forces, is hosting the FIFA soccer World Cup from June 14-July 15 and is increasing security measures.</p>

<p>The sleeper cell originally came from Siberia, the FSB said in a statement, and 20 people were detained in a related special operation in the town of Novy Urengoy around 2,300 km (1,400 miles) northeast of Moscow.</p>

<p>Searches in Novy Urengoy had found extremist Islamic State propaganda, the FSB said.</p>


Searches in Novy Urengoy had found extremist Islamic State propaganda, the FSB said.

Russia's domestic security service said on Friday it had thwarted an Islamic State(IS) plan to carry out a series of high-profile attacks in the Moscow area, where soccer World Cup matches are due to take place this summer. The FSB security service said it had cut short the activity of what it called a four-man IS&nbspsleeper cell which was taking instructions from someone in Syria via the Telegram messenger service. It did not provide details of when the attacks were meant to take place or what the precise targets were. Russia, whose military is helping the Syrian government fight rebel forces, is hosting the FIFA soccer World Cup from June 14-July 15 and is increasing security measures. The sleeper cell originally came from Siberia, the FSB said in a statement, and 20 people were detained in a related special operation in the town of Novy Urengoy around 2,300 km (1,400 miles) northeast of Moscow. Searches in Novy Urengoy had found extremist Islamic State propaganda, the FSB said.

Ahead of World Cup soccer, Russia says Islamic State attacks thwarted

<p>Britain threatened on Tuesday to pull out of the soccer World Cup in Russia if Moscow was shown to be behind the mysterious illness that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-russian-spy-sergei-skripal-daughter-ill-after-exposure-to-unidentified-substance-in-britain-34897" target="_blank">struck down</a> a Russian former double agent convicted of betraying dozens of spies to British intelligence.</p>

<p>Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson named Sergei Skripal, once a colonel in Russia&#39;s GRU military intelligence service, and his daughter, Yulia, as the two people who were found unconscious on Sunday on a bench outside a shopping centre in southern England.</p>

<p>Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter were exposed to what police said was an unknown substance in the English city of Salisbury. Both are still critically ill in intensive care.</p>

<p>&quot;We don&#39;t know exactly what has taken place in Salisbury, but if it&#39;s as bad as it looks, it is another crime in the litany of crimes that we can lay at Russia&#39;s door,&quot; Johnson told the British parliament.</p>

<p>&quot;It is clear that Russia, I&#39;m afraid, is now in many respects a malign and disruptive force, and the UK is in the lead across the world in trying to counteract that activity.&quot;</p>

<p>If Moscow was shown to be behind Skripal&#39;s illness, Johnson said, it would be difficult to see how Britain could attend the World Cup in Russia in June and July.</p>

<p>England is the only British national team to have qualified for the tournament, which is held every four years.</p>

<p>A previous British inquiry said President Vladimir Putin probably approved the 2006 murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in Litvinenko&#39;s killing.</p>

<p>Litvinenko, 43, an outspoken critic of Putin who fled Russia for Britain six years before he was poisoned, died after drinking green tea laced with the rare and very potent radioactive isotope at London&rsquo;s Millennium Hotel.</p>

<p>It took some time for British doctors to discern the cause of Litvinenko&#39;s illness.</p>

<p>His murder sent Britain&#39;s relations with Russia to what was then a post-Cold War low. Relations suffered further from Russia&#39;s annexation of Crimea and military backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebels trying to topple him.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>RUSSIAN DOUBLE AGENT</strong></p>

<p>While the British authorities said there was no known risk to the public from the unidentified substance, they sealed off the area where Skripal was found, a pizza restaurant called Zizzi and the Bishop&#39;s Mill pub in the centre of Salisbury.</p>

<p>Some investigators at one point wore yellow chemical suits, though most police at the scene did not.</p>

<p>Skripal, who passed the identity of dozens of spies to the MI6 foreign intelligence agency, was given refuge in Britain after he was exchanged in 2010 for Russian spies caught in the West as part of a Cold War-style spy swap at Vienna airport.</p>

<p>The Kremlin said it was ready to cooperate if Britain asked it for help investigating the incident with Skripal.</p>

<p>Calling it a &quot;tragic situation,&quot; Putin&#39;s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin had no information about the incident.</p>

<p>Asked to respond to British media speculation that Russia had poisoned Skripal, Peskov said: &quot;It didn&#39;t take them long.&quot;</p>

<p>Russia&#39;s embassy in London said the incident was being used to demonise Russia and that it was seriously concerned by British media reporting of the Skripal incident.</p>

<p>Russia&rsquo;s foreign spy service, known as the SVR, said it had no comment to make. Russia&rsquo;s foreign ministry, and the Russian counter-intelligence service, the FSB, did not immediately respond to questions submitted by Reuters about the case.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>FROM MOSCOW TO SALISBURY</strong></p>

<p>Skripal was arrested in 2004 by Russia&#39;s Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of betraying dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006 after a secret trial.</p>

<p>Skripal, who was shown wearing a track suit in a cage in court during the sentencing, had admitted betraying agents to MI6 in return for money, some of it paid into a Spanish bank account, Russian media said at the time.</p>

<p>But he was pardoned in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev as part of a swap to bring 10 Russian agents held in the United States back to Moscow.</p>

<p>The swap, one of the biggest since the Cold War ended in 1991, took place on the tarmac of Vienna airport where a Russian and a U.S. jet parked side by side before the agents were exchanged.</p>

<p>One of the Russian spies exchanged for Skripal was Anna Chapman. She was one of 10 who tried to blend into American society in an apparent bid to get close to power brokers and learn secrets. They were arrested by the FBI in 2010.</p>

<p>The returning spies were greeted as heroes in Moscow. Putin, himself a former KGB officer, sang patriotic songs with them.</p>

<p>Skripal, though, was cast as a traitor by Moscow. He is thought to have done serious damage to Russian spy networks in Britain and Europe.</p>

<p>The GRU spy service, created in 1918 under revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, is controlled by the military general staff and reports directly to the president. It has spies spread across the world.</p>

<p>Since emerging from the John le Carre world of high espionage and betrayal, Skripal lived modestly in Salisbury and kept out of the spotlight until he was found unconscious on Sunday at 1615 GMT.</p>

<p>Wiltshire police said a small number of emergency services personnel were examined immediately after the incident and all but one had been released from hospital.</p>

<p>Skripal&#39;s wife died shortly after her arrival in Britain from &quot;disseminated endometrial carcinoma,&quot; the Guardian newspaper reported. His son died on a recent visit to Russia.</p>

<p>A white and yellow police forensics tent covered the bench where Skripal was taken ill.</p>


The World Cup this year is being held in Russia

Britain threatened on Tuesday to pull out of the soccer World Cup in Russia if Moscow was shown to be behind the mysterious illness that struck down a Russian former double agent convicted of betraying dozens of spies to British intelligence. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson named Sergei Skripal, once a colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence service, and his daughter, Yulia, as the two people who were found unconscious on Sunday on a bench outside a shopping centre in southern England. Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter were exposed to what police said was an unknown substance in the English city of Salisbury. Both are still critically ill in intensive care. "We don't know exactly what has taken place in Salisbury, but if it's as bad as it looks, it is another crime in the litany of crimes that we can lay at Russia's door," Johnson told the British parliament. "It is clear that Russia, I'm afraid, is now in many respects a malign and disruptive force, and the UK is in the lead across the world in trying to counteract that activity." If Moscow was shown to be behind Skripal's illness, Johnson said, it would be difficult to see how Britain could attend the World Cup in Russia in June and July. England is the only British national team to have qualified for the tournament, which is held every four years. A previous British inquiry said President Vladimir Putin probably approved the 2006 murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in Litvinenko's killing. Litvinenko, 43, an outspoken critic of Putin who fled Russia for Britain six years before he was poisoned, died after drinking green tea laced with the rare and very potent radioactive isotope at London’s Millennium Hotel. It took some time for British doctors to discern the cause of Litvinenko's illness. His murder sent Britain's relations with Russia to what was then a post-Cold War low. Relations suffered further from Russia's annexation of Crimea and military backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebels trying to topple him. RUSSIAN DOUBLE AGENT While the British authorities said there was no known risk to the public from the unidentified substance, they sealed off the area where Skripal was found, a pizza restaurant called Zizzi and the Bishop's Mill pub in the centre of Salisbury. Some investigators at one point wore yellow chemical suits, though most police at the scene did not. Skripal, who passed the identity of dozens of spies to the MI6 foreign intelligence agency, was given refuge in Britain after he was exchanged in 2010 for Russian spies caught in the West as part of a Cold War-style spy swap at Vienna airport. The Kremlin said it was ready to cooperate if Britain asked it for help investigating the incident with Skripal. Calling it a "tragic situation," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin had no information about the incident. Asked to respond to British media speculation that Russia had poisoned Skripal, Peskov said: "It didn't take them long." Russia's embassy in London said the incident was being used to demonise Russia and that it was seriously concerned by British media reporting of the Skripal incident. Russia’s foreign spy service, known as the SVR, said it had no comment to make. Russia’s foreign ministry, and the Russian counter-intelligence service, the FSB, did not immediately respond to questions submitted by Reuters about the case. FROM MOSCOW TO SALISBURY Skripal was arrested in 2004 by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of betraying dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006 after a secret trial. Skripal, who was shown wearing a track suit in a cage in court during the sentencing, had admitted betraying agents to MI6 in return for money, some of it paid into a Spanish bank account, Russian media said at the time. But he was pardoned in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev as part of a swap to bring 10 Russian agents held in the United States back to Moscow. The swap, one of the biggest since the Cold War ended in 1991, took place on the tarmac of Vienna airport where a Russian and a U.S. jet parked side by side before the agents were exchanged. One of the Russian spies exchanged for Skripal was Anna Chapman. She was one of 10 who tried to blend into American society in an apparent bid to get close to power brokers and learn secrets. They were arrested by the FBI in 2010. The returning spies were greeted as heroes in Moscow. Putin, himself a former KGB officer, sang patriotic songs with them. Skripal, though, was cast as a traitor by Moscow. He is thought to have done serious damage to Russian spy networks in Britain and Europe. The GRU spy service, created in 1918 under revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, is controlled by the military general staff and reports directly to the president. It has spies spread across the world. Since emerging from the John le Carre world of high espionage and betrayal, Skripal lived modestly in Salisbury and kept out of the spotlight until he was found unconscious on Sunday at 1615 GMT. Wiltshire police said a small number of emergency services personnel were examined immediately after the incident and all but one had been released from hospital. Skripal's wife died shortly after her arrival in Britain from "disseminated endometrial carcinoma," the Guardian newspaper reported. His son died on a recent visit to Russia. A white and yellow police forensics tent covered the bench where Skripal was taken ill.

England threatens to pull out of Football World Cup if Russia behind spy's mysterious illness

<p>Former Manchester City and Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini said that he would like to coach Italy&#39;s national team, describing the possibility as an honour.</p>

<p>The job has been vacant since Gian Piero Ventura was sacked in November following Italy&#39;s failure to qualify for the World Cup and Carlo Ancelotti, another potential candidate, has already said he is not interested at the moment.</p>

<p>Mancini, a gifted forward in his playing days, won a surprisingly modest 36 caps for Italy and never played at a World Cup, although was an unused member of the 1990 squad.</p>

<p>&quot;I have a dream, which is to win as a coach something I never won as a player: the World Cup,&quot; the 53-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport.</p>

<p>&quot;I have worked at big clubs and won. It&#39;s beautiful to coach the national team. It would be an honour, a source of pride -- and winning the European championship or World Cup even more so.&quot;</p>

<p>Mancini, coach of Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, said that the long periods without seeing his players -- something many national team coaches complain about -- would not be a problem.</p>

<p>&quot;I&#39;ve worked on the pitch as a player and coach every day for 40 years,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#39;m still young - I can go back to club football after the national team.&quot;</p>


The job has been vacant since Gian Piero Ventura was sacked in November following Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup

Former Manchester City and Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini said that he would like to coach Italy's national team, describing the possibility as an honour. The job has been vacant since Gian Piero Ventura was sacked in November following Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup and Carlo Ancelotti, another potential candidate, has already said he is not interested at the moment. Mancini, a gifted forward in his playing days, won a surprisingly modest 36 caps for Italy and never played at a World Cup, although was an unused member of the 1990 squad. "I have a dream, which is to win as a coach something I never won as a player: the World Cup," the 53-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have worked at big clubs and won. It's beautiful to coach the national team. It would be an honour, a source of pride -- and winning the European championship or World Cup even more so." Mancini, coach of Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, said that the long periods without seeing his players -- something many national team coaches complain about -- would not be a problem. "I've worked on the pitch as a player and coach every day for 40 years," he said. "I'm still young - I can go back to club football after the national team."

Would be an honour to coach Italy: Mancini

<p>2006 World Champions Italy failed to qualify for next World Cup in Russia after they were held to a goalless draw by Sweden at the San Siro in Milan on Monday night.</p>

<p>Sweden qualified for the next World Cup with a 1-0 aggregate win.</p>

<p>The Italians did not enter the first World Cup in 1930 but apart from the 1958 finals in Sweden, they have played in every World Cup. This will be the first time in 60 years the football fraternity will miss the Italians at&nbsp;the World Cup.</p>

<p>The Italian show was especially bitter for the 74,000 fans at the San Siro who had come to cheer their team into the final but it was not be!</p>

<p>Amid the gloom, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, 39, capped 175-times quit the game saying: &quot;I&#39;m not sorry for myself but all of Italian football. We failed at something which also means something on a social level. There&#39;s regret at finishing like that, not because time passes.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;It&#39;s the only regret I have. Not stopping, because time passes and it&#39;s normal. I regret just that my final match with the national side coincides with an elimination,&quot; the legendary goalkeeper said.</p>

<p>&quot;I leave a squad of talent that will have their say, including (Gianluigi) Donnarumma and (Mattia) Perin. I embrace all those who have supported me,&quot; Buffon said in the end.</p>

<p>Andrea Barzagli and midfielder Daniele de Rossi winners in 2006 also quit the game.</p>

<p>&quot;It&#39;s the biggest disappointment of my life from a sporting point of view... I can&#39;t find my words,&quot; Barzagli said.</p>

<p>The Italian press did not take the &quot;no show&quot; very well, with sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport running a headline: &quot;Italy, this is the apocalypse&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;Wasted chances, a bit of bad luck but zero goals in 180 minutes against the Swedes, who will go to Russia,&quot; Gazzetta commented.</p>


Sweden qualified the next World Cup with a 1-0 aggregate win.

2006 World Champions Italy failed to qualify for next World Cup in Russia after they were held to a goalless draw by Sweden at the San Siro in Milan on Monday night. Sweden qualified for the next World Cup with a 1-0 aggregate win. The Italians did not enter the first World Cup in 1930 but apart from the 1958 finals in Sweden, they have played in every World Cup. This will be the first time in 60 years the football fraternity will miss the Italians at the World Cup. The Italian show was especially bitter for the 74,000 fans at the San Siro who had come to cheer their team into the final but it was not be! Amid the gloom, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, 39, capped 175-times quit the game saying: "I'm not sorry for myself but all of Italian football. We failed at something which also means something on a social level. There's regret at finishing like that, not because time passes." "It's the only regret I have. Not stopping, because time passes and it's normal. I regret just that my final match with the national side coincides with an elimination," the legendary goalkeeper said. "I leave a squad of talent that will have their say, including (Gianluigi) Donnarumma and (Mattia) Perin. I embrace all those who have supported me," Buffon said in the end. Andrea Barzagli and midfielder Daniele de Rossi winners in 2006 also quit the game. "It's the biggest disappointment of my life from a sporting point of view... I can't find my words," Barzagli said. The Italian press did not take the "no show" very well, with sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport running a headline: "Italy, this is the apocalypse". "Wasted chances, a bit of bad luck but zero goals in 180 minutes against the Swedes, who will go to Russia," Gazzetta commented.

Italy fails to qualify for next World Cup, Buffon quits

<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/want-to-make-india-global-manufacturing-hub-modi-24108">Want to make India global manufacturing hub: Modi at ASEAN</a></strong></p>

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that he wants to make India a global manufacturing hub and Indian youngsters job creators while speaking at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Manila.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-pollution-supreme-court-issues-notices-to-center-state-govts-24105"><strong>Air pollution: Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, state govts</strong></a></p>

<p>The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Center, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi governments on the petition on stubble burning and dust pollution. Stating that it&#39;s an emergency situation, the Supreme Court sought expeditious action from the authorities.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/now-indigo-woman-flyer-falls-off-wheelchair-24106"><strong>Now, Indigo woman flyer falls off wheelchair</strong></a></p>

<p>A woman flyer with Indigo fell off her wheelchair as she was being pushed towards her plane.&nbsp;The airline said her wheelchair got stuck in a &quot;deep crack&quot; on the tarmac, that she &quot;lost balance&quot; and &quot;fell off her wheelchair&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-hits-iran-iraq-border-area-at-least-65-dead-24060">Iran-Iraq earthquake: Death toll rises to 332</a></strong></p>

<p>At least 332 people were killed in Iran and Iraq when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the region on Sunday, state media in the two countries said, and rescuers were searching for dozens trapped under rubble in the mountainous area.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/football/one-last-chance-for-italy-to-qualify-for-world-cup-24103"><strong>One last chance for Italy to qualify for Football World Cup</strong></a></p>

<p>Beleaguered Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura said his team would try to qualify for the World Cup by &ldquo;playing football&rdquo; after their ill-tempered playoff first leg against Sweden.</p>


Want to make India global manufacturing hub: Modi at ASEAN Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that he wants to make India a global manufacturing hub and Indian youngsters job creators while speaking at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Manila. Air pollution: Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, state govts The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Center, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi governments on the petition on stubble burning and dust pollution. Stating that it's an emergency situation, the Supreme Court sought expeditious action from the authorities. Now, Indigo woman flyer falls off wheelchair A woman flyer with Indigo fell off her wheelchair as she was being pushed towards her plane. The airline said her wheelchair got stuck in a "deep crack" on the tarmac, that she "lost balance" and "fell off her wheelchair". Iran-Iraq earthquake: Death toll rises to 332 At least 332 people were killed in Iran and Iraq when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the region on Sunday, state media in the two countries said, and rescuers were searching for dozens trapped under rubble in the mountainous area. One last chance for Italy to qualify for Football World Cup Beleaguered Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura said his team would try to qualify for the World Cup by “playing football” after their ill-tempered playoff first leg against Sweden.

WION Evening News Brief, November 13, 2017

<p>Tim Cahill scored twice, including the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/iceland-smallest-nation-to-qualify-for-world-cup-football-488">extra-time winner, as Australia kept their World Cup hopes</a> alive with a 2-1 victory over Syria in the second leg of the Asian playoff on Tuesday (October 10).</p>

<p>The 3-2 aggregate victory sends the Socceroos into an intercontinental playoff in November against the fourth-placed team in North and Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) qualifying with a World Cup spot on the line.</p>

<p>Cahill scored Australia&#39;s opener with a trademark header in the 13th minute but it was not until 96 minutes later that he kept alive his country&#39;s hopes of a fourth successive appearance at the World Cup finals with his 50th international goal.</p>

<p>Syria, who had to play all their &quot;home&quot; qualifiers in Malaysia because of the security situation in their war-torn nation, fought until the very end of the match but ultimately came up short in their bid for a maiden World Cup spot.</p>


The 3-2 aggregate victory sends the Socceroos into an intercontinental playoff in November

Tim Cahill scored twice, including the extra-time winner, as Australia kept their World Cup hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Syria in the second leg of the Asian playoff on Tuesday (October 10). The 3-2 aggregate victory sends the Socceroos into an intercontinental playoff in November against the fourth-placed team in North and Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) qualifying with a World Cup spot on the line. Cahill scored Australia's opener with a trademark header in the 13th minute but it was not until 96 minutes later that he kept alive his country's hopes of a fourth successive appearance at the World Cup finals with his 50th international goal. Syria, who had to play all their "home" qualifiers in Malaysia because of the security situation in their war-torn nation, fought until the very end of the match but ultimately came up short in their bid for a maiden World Cup spot.

Australia's Tim Cahill ends Syria's World Cup dream

<p>FIFA&#39;s ruling council on Tuesday unanimously approved an expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026, with a format of 16 groups of three nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a 48-team #WorldCup as of 2026: 16 groups of 3 teams,&quot; a tweet from FIFA&#39;s official account said.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a 48-team <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash">#WorldCup</a> as of 2026:<br />
16 groups of 3 teams. Details to follow after the meeting.</p>
&mdash; FIFA Media (@fifamedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/fifamedia/status/818753191449948160">January 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The decision marks a major coup for the body&#39;s president Gianni Infantino who has made enlarging football&#39;s showcase event the centrepiece of his young administration.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The controversial proposal has faced criticism from some of the sport&#39;s most powerful voices, including warnings that it would dilute the quality of play and overburden already exhausted players. &nbsp;</p>

<p>But Infantino had in recent weeks voiced confidence that his flagship project would be approved.</p>

<p>While noting that a bigger tournament would bring in more money, the FIFA chief has also argued that more World Cup berths would help drive football&#39;s global growth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Africa and Asia could be the big winners in a larger format with a rise in their number of places, currently at 5 and 4.5 respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But in order to smooth over scepticism about World Cup reform within UEFA, it is likely that Europe will also see its allotments rise above the current 13 places.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


The controversial proposal has faced warnings that it would dilute the quality of play and overburn already exhausted players

FIFA's ruling council on Tuesday unanimously approved an expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026, with a format of 16 groups of three nations. "The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a 48-team #WorldCup as of 2026: 16 groups of 3 teams," a tweet from FIFA's official account said. The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a 48-team #WorldCup as of 2026: 16 groups of 3 teams. Details to follow after the meeting. — FIFA Media (@fifamedia) January 10, 2017 × The decision marks a major coup for the body's president Gianni Infantino who has made enlarging football's showcase event the centrepiece of his young administration. The controversial proposal has faced criticism from some of the sport's most powerful voices, including warnings that it would dilute the quality of play and overburden already exhausted players. But Infantino had in recent weeks voiced confidence that his flagship project would be approved. While noting that a bigger tournament would bring in more money, the FIFA chief has also argued that more World Cup berths would help drive football's global growth. Africa and Asia could be the big winners in a larger format with a rise in their number of places, currently at 5 and 4.5 respectively. But in order to smooth over scepticism about World Cup reform within UEFA, it is likely that Europe will also see its allotments rise above the current 13 places. (AFP)

Football: FIFA approves 48 teams for World Cup 2026

<p>Saudi authorities said on Sunday they had foiled a plot to bomb a football stadium during a World Cup qualifying match and dismantled two &quot;terrorist&quot; cells linked to the Islamic State group.</p>

<p>The interior ministry said in a statement that four suspects from each cell had been arrested.</p>

<p>One of the cells had planned to park a bomb-laden vehicle outside Al-Jawhara stadium in the Red Sea city of Jeddah during an October 11 World Cup 2018 qualifying football match between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said.</p>

<p>Its members were two Pakistanis, a Syrian, and a Sudanese, the ministry said, without providing further details of the plot or arrests.</p>

<p>The other group had been plotting attacks against security forces and its members had received orders from an IS leader in Syria, the ministry said.</p>

<p>Its alleged members were based in Shaqra, northwest of Riyadh, and are all Saudis, the ministry statement said, adding that the suspects had all confessed.</p>

<p>Six other Saudis were detained and were being questioned over alleged links to the cell, it said.</p>

<p>Since late 2014, IS has claimed a series of bombings and shootings against Shiites in the Sunni-majority kingdom, as well against security forces.</p>

<p>In another statement, the interior ministry published a list of nine suspects -- eight Saudis and a Bahraini, wanted for their alleged involvement in &quot;terrorist&quot; acts in the eastern provinces of Qatif and Dammam, home to most of the kingdom&#39;s Shiite minority population.</p>

<p>The suspects were allegedly involved in attacks against civilians and members of the security forces, the statement said.</p>

<p>It urged the suspects to surrender and offered financial rewards for those who could provide information leading to their arrests.</p>

<p>Eastern areas have seen repeated security incidents since 2011, when a wave of protests began among Shiites demanding reform in the Sunni-majority kingdom.</p>

<p>IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks against Saudi Arabia, which belongs to the US-led coalition bombing the jihadists in Syria and Iraq.</p>

<p>In July authorities arrested 19 people, including 12 Pakistanis, in connection with three suicide bombings on July 4 including one near the Prophet&#39;s Mosque in Medina in which four people died.</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


The World Cup 2018 qualifying football match was in the city of Jeddah

Saudi authorities said on Sunday they had foiled a plot to bomb a football stadium during a World Cup qualifying match and dismantled two "terrorist" cells linked to the Islamic State group. The interior ministry said in a statement that four suspects from each cell had been arrested. One of the cells had planned to park a bomb-laden vehicle outside Al-Jawhara stadium in the Red Sea city of Jeddah during an October 11 World Cup 2018 qualifying football match between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said. Its members were two Pakistanis, a Syrian, and a Sudanese, the ministry said, without providing further details of the plot or arrests. The other group had been plotting attacks against security forces and its members had received orders from an IS leader in Syria, the ministry said. Its alleged members were based in Shaqra, northwest of Riyadh, and are all Saudis, the ministry statement said, adding that the suspects had all confessed. Six other Saudis were detained and were being questioned over alleged links to the cell, it said. Since late 2014, IS has claimed a series of bombings and shootings against Shiites in the Sunni-majority kingdom, as well against security forces. In another statement, the interior ministry published a list of nine suspects -- eight Saudis and a Bahraini, wanted for their alleged involvement in "terrorist" acts in the eastern provinces of Qatif and Dammam, home to most of the kingdom's Shiite minority population. The suspects were allegedly involved in attacks against civilians and members of the security forces, the statement said. It urged the suspects to surrender and offered financial rewards for those who could provide information leading to their arrests. Eastern areas have seen repeated security incidents since 2011, when a wave of protests began among Shiites demanding reform in the Sunni-majority kingdom. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks against Saudi Arabia, which belongs to the US-led coalition bombing the jihadists in Syria and Iraq. In July authorities arrested 19 people, including 12 Pakistanis, in connection with three suicide bombings on July 4 including one near the Prophet's Mosque in Medina in which four people died. (AFP)

Saudi says foiled plan to bomb football stadium

German football legend Franz Beckenbauer will be probed by Swiss prosecutors for alleged corruption during the bidding process to host the 2006 World Cup.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The World Cup winner is suspected of money laundering and breach of trust, according to German news website Spiegel Online.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
But the&nbsp;Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) did not confirm whether they would investigate him for suspected money laundering.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
An OAG spokeswoman said more details will be divulged later in the day.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Beckenbauer has maintained his innocence, although he admitted in 2015 that he made a mistake during the bidding process. But he said he didn&#39;t buy votes to help Germany host the 2006 World Cup.<br />
<br />
The 70-year-old was heading the organising committee responsible for Germany hosting the 2006 World Cup.<br />
<br />
In October 2016,&nbsp;Spiegel Online had alleged that German Football Association (DFB) had created a slush fund of 6.7 million Euros to buy votes during the bidding process.<br />
<br />
He is only one of two people in history to lift football World Cup as a player and a manager.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(WION with inputs from agencies)

A German news website had recently accused the football legend of money laundering during the country's bid to host the 2006 edition

German football legend Franz Beckenbauer will be probed by Swiss prosecutors for alleged corruption during the bidding process to host the 2006 World Cup. The World Cup winner is suspected of money laundering and breach of trust, according to German news website Spiegel Online. But the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) did not confirm whether they would investigate him for suspected money laundering. An OAG spokeswoman said more details will be divulged later in the day. Beckenbauer has maintained his innocence, although he admitted in 2015 that he made a mistake during the bidding process. But he said he didn't buy votes to help Germany host the 2006 World Cup. The 70-year-old was heading the organising committee responsible for Germany hosting the 2006 World Cup. In October 2016, Spiegel Online had alleged that German Football Association (DFB) had created a slush fund of 6.7 million Euros to buy votes during the bidding process. He is only one of two people in history to lift football World Cup as a player and a manager. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Beckenbauer to be probed for 2006 World Cup bid 'graft'