Germany 2006: The interviews
Over the course of Germany 2006, FIFAworldcup.com tracked down the biggest names in the game, from legends like Michel Platini and Pele to the stars of the finals themselves, and sought out their opinions on the big event. See again what they had to tell us…

World Cup in Africa, moral obligation-FIFA (The Ghanaian Chronicle)
FIFA PRESIDENT, Sepp Blatter has said taking the World Cup to Africa was a moral obligation, and looking ahead to the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Italy conquer world as Germany win friends
Football’s most prized Trophy may be in Italian hands but Marcello Lippi’s Azzurri were not the only ones celebrating after a FIFA World Cup where both the players and their German hosts gave football lovers so much to smile about…

Portugal have cause for pride
Portugal returned home as heroes after reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years. FIFAworldcup.com reflects on their campaign in Germany…

World sport (The West Australian)
Playing against the likes of Brazil and Argentina could be part of New Zealand’s build-up for the under-20 soccer World Cup. The New Zealanders on Wednesday booked their berth for the finals in Canada in June and July by topping the seven-nation Oceania qualifying tournament in Auckland.

World sport (The West Australian)
Playing against the likes of Brazil and Argentina could be part of New Zealand’s build-up for the under-20 soccer World Cup. The New Zealanders on Wednesday booked their berth for the finals in Canada in June and July by topping the seven-nation Oceania qualifying tournament in Auckland.

Four of the best for Italy
Italy achieved their fourth world crown by going back to basics as a united squad of 23 coped superbly with the loss of key defender Alessandro Nesta to become the second most successful nation in FIFA World Cup history…

NZ Soccer eyes Brazil, Argentina cup build-up (Stuff)
Playing against the likes of Brazil and Argentina could be part of New Zealand’s build-up for the under-20 soccer World Cup.

South Africa: Crime May Be Own Goal That Bedevils SA’s World Cup (AllAfrica.com)
CRIME-weary South Africans now list crime as the greatest disadvantage that hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup will bring.

World Cup ‘will boost whole of Africa’ (News Interactive)
SOUTH African President Thabo Mbeki pledged overnight to ensure the first ever soccer World Cup to be staged on African soil would benefit the whole of the world’s poorest continent.

Correction: Homeless-World-Cup story (AP via Yahoo! News)
In a Sept. 24 story about a Homeless World Cup soccer tournament, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Adam Banda, who played on the British team, was recovering from substance abuse. Banda says he was never a substance abuser.

New Zealand qualifies for under-20 World Cup (Slam! Sports)
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) - Fulham midfielder Chris James missed two penalties before scoring a second half goal Wednesday to give New Zealand a 1-0 win over New Caledonia and a place in the finals of the under-20 soccer World Cup.

World Cup in Africa, moral obligation-FIFA (The Ghanaian Chronicle)
FIFA PRESIDENT, Sepp Blatter has said taking the World Cup to Africa was a moral obligation, and looking ahead to the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Nike May Oust Adidas as German Soccer Team Sponsor (Update2) (Bloomberg.com)
Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) — Nike Inc., taking on Adidas AG in its home market of Germany, may take over as the official uniform supplier to the country’s soccer team.

Auf Wiedersehen Germany - Wamkelekele eMzansi Africa
Germany was the perfect host for the 2006 FIFA World Cup , offering a warm, friendly face to the entire world. Now the mantle of hosting world football’s greatest event passes to South Africa…

2006 World Cup striker set for Stoke City move? (fansfc.com)
The 26-year-old forward was last on the books of David Beckham’s new club, the Los Angeles Galaxy and has also played for the Metrostars, Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.

German Beer Sales Up in 2006, Thanks Partially to World Cup (Beverage World)
BERLIN: German breweries sold 1.4 percent more beer in 2006 than a year earlier, partially due to a hot summer and the soccer World Cup, according to a report Monday from the Federal Statistics Office.

Germany 2006: The award winners
Take a look back at the players and teams who claimed the awards on offer at the 2006 FIFA World Cup…

2010 World Cup pirated goods seized in KZN (Independent Online)
The customs branch of the SA Revenue Service says that they have confiscated kit bags, socks, ID card holders and soccer balls worth R2-million that illegally bore the 2010 Fifa World Cup logo.

MLS Introduces Qualification Procedure for 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (OurSports Central)
NEW YORK (Tuesday, January 30, 2007) - Major League Soccer today announced details regarding qualification for the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Only eight MLS teams will enter the U.S. Open Cup during tournament play, but all 12 U.S.-based teams will be eligible to enter and win the tournament when it kicks off in June.

Italian triumph rekindles love affair
Italy’s footballers went into the 2006 FIFA World Cup against the difficult backdrop of a match-fixing scandal yet ended up rekindling their nation’s love for the beautiful game…

Auf Wiedersehen Germany - Wamkelekele eMzansi Africa
Germany was the perfect host for the 2006 FIFA World Cup , offering a warm, friendly face to the entire world. Now the mantle of hosting world football’s greatest event passes to South Africa…

World Cup in Africa, moral obligation-FIFA (The Ghanaian Chronicle)
FIFA PRESIDENT, Sepp Blatter has said taking the World Cup to Africa was a moral obligation, and looking ahead to the 2010 finals in South Africa.

MLS Introduces Qualification Procedure for 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (OurSports Central)
NEW YORK (Tuesday, January 30, 2007) - Major League Soccer today announced details regarding qualification for the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Only eight MLS teams will enter the U.S. Open Cup during tournament play, but all 12 U.S.-based teams will be eligible to enter and win the tournament when it kicks off in June.

AC Milan acquires soccer great Ronaldo (AP via Yahoo! News)
Ronaldo’s farewell to Real Madrid didn’t include any fond words for coach Fabio Capello. The World Cup’s all-time leading scorer left Madrid for AC Milan on Tuesday, returning to Italy’s Serie A for a reported $9.73 million transfer fee. The 30-year-old Brazil striker will join Milan until 2008 the same length as the remainder of his contract at Madrid.

World Cup ‘will boost whole of Africa’ (News Interactive)
SOUTH African President Thabo Mbeki pledged overnight to ensure the first ever soccer World Cup to be staged on African soil would benefit the whole of the world’s poorest continent.

Germany 2006: The award winners
Take a look back at the players and teams who claimed the awards on offer at the 2006 FIFA World Cup…