Nike reacts to bad publicity of Ronaldo's blister issue

Sports products manufacturer Nike, the supplier of cleats for Brazils national football team striker Ronaldo, released an official statement on Tuesday about the player's blister issue.

Ruling enables police to strip search fans

German police will have the right to strip-search even those World Cup fans heading to stadiums whose behaviour gives them no specific grounds for suspicion, sports news agency SID reported on Tuesday.

Blatter, Annan looking for World Cup to unite people

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan want the World Cup to help people around the world come together.

Chilly Germany poised to open World Cup

The Ecuadoreans have colds. The Angolans are shivering. Trinidad and Tobago players stuffed their hands deep in their pockets as they took the field for an exhibition game.

Computer says Czechs will win Cup

Electronic Arts, using the simulation engine from its 2006 FIFA World Cup video game, has the Czechs defeating Brazil 2-1 in the final.

Sex industry stirs debate ahead of World Cup

The German capital’s largest legal brothel, the four-story Artemis near the Olympic stadium, is ready for the hordes of mostly male soccer fans from around the world who are flooding the city for the start later this week of the World Cup tournament.

World Cup has hurricane contingency plans

World Cup tickets almost sold out

All tickets for the World Cup, which kicks off in Munich on Friday, are expected to be sold despite a limited number going on sale after late returns from some soccer associations, Franz Beckenbauer said on Tuesday.

Adidas-Puma feud to play out at World Cup

Argentina versus Ivory Coast will not be a must-see World Cup game for most Germans but in the small town of Herzogenaurach a decades-old feud will be played out on the pitch when they meet on Saturday in Hamburg.

Sheep, frog, and disgraced MP sing for Sven

Singing sheep, a "crazy" cartoon frog and a disgraced former MP -- the English may not lift the trophy but when it comes to the World Cup pop charts, they are hard to beat.

Paraguay accused of selling tickets for England game to touts

Paraguay, England's first opponents in the World Cup, have been accused of selling nearly half of their tickets for Saturday's match to touts who are charging fans up to 645 pounds (1,200 dollars) a seat.

Iranian president may visit team in Germany

If Iran's World Cup team advances out of the first round, the nation's controversial president might be on hand for the rest of its games.