a1118868 wrote:

Posted: Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:47:53 AM


I'm sure the vast majority of people who have better things to think about don't realise that at 8.00am Eastern tomorrow, the qualifiers for Brazil 2014 kick off in Couva, on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. I thought I'd start this thread for discussion about the qualifying process (fully aware that it will probably sink into the depths of the board for at least the next month or so before the preliminary draw ceremony in late July). The OP will set out in brief the qualifying process for each confederation and a summary of results so far. I'll try to edit it to stay as up to date as possible. The substantive discussion of results etc can come later.

AFC: Asia (4.5 qualification slots)

Round 1 (Winners advance to round 2)
Malaysia v Chinese Taipei
Bangladesh v Pakistan
Cambodia v Laos
Sri Lanka v Philippines
Afghanistan v Palestine
Vietnam v Macau
Nepal v Timor Leste
Mongolia v Myanmar

Round 2 (Winners advance to round 3)
Thailand v Afghanistan/Palestine
Lebanon v Bangladesh/Pakistan
China PR v Cambodia/Laos
Turkmenistan v Indonesia
Kuwait v Sri Lanka/Philippines
Oman v Mongolia/Myanmar
Saudi Arabia v Hong Kong
Iran v Maldives
Syria v Tajikistan
Qatar v Vietnam/Macau
Iraq v Yemen
Singapore v Malaysia/Chinese Taipei
Uzbekistan v Kyrgyzstan
UAE v India
Jordan v Nepal/Timor Leste

Round 3 (Top 2 of each group advance to round 4)
- 5 groups of 4 teams.
- Teams to enter at this stage:
Australia
Bahrain
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic

Round 4 (Top 2 of each group qualify for World Cup, 3rd advances to round 5)
- 2 groups of 5 teams

Round 5 (Winner to progress to intercontinental playoff)
- The 3rd placed teams from Round 4 play over 2 legs.



CAF: Africa (5 qualification slots)

Round 1 (Winners to advance to round 2)
- 12 matches played over 2 legs.
- 24 lowest ranked nations (July 2011 world rankings) to enter at this stage.

Round 2 (Group winners to advance to round 3)
- 10 groups of 4 teams.
- 28 highest ranked nations (July 2011 world rankings) to enter at this stage.

Round 3 (Winners qualify for World Cup)
- 5 matches played over 2 legs.



UEFA: Europe (13 qualification slots)

Round 1 (Group winners qualify for World Cup, 8 best runners-up advance to round 2)
- 8 groups of 6 teams and 1 group of 5 teams.

Round 2 (Winners qualify for World Cup)
- 4 matches played over 2 legs.



OFC: Oceania (0.5 qualification slots)

Round 1, Pacific Games (Top 3 finishers advance to round 2)
- Tournament played in New Caledonia, to comprise 3 groups of 4 teams followed by knockout stages.
- Teams to enter at this stage:
American Samoa
Cook Islands
Fiji
New Caledonia
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tahiti
Tonga
Vanuatu
- Kiribati and Tuvalu to take part in tournament but not eligible to progress to round 2.

Round 2 (Group winner to advance to intercontinental playoff)
- 1 group of 4 teams.
- New Zealand to enter at this stage.



CONCACAF: North America (3.5 qualification slots)

Round 1 (Winners advance to round 2)
Montserrat v Belize (first leg: Montserrat 2-5 Belize)
Anguilla v Dominican Republic
US Virgin Islands v British Virgin Islands
Aruba v St Lucia
Bahamas v Turks and Caicos Islands

Round 2 (Group winners to advance to round 3)
- 6 groups of 4 teams.
- Teams to enter at this stage:
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Bermuda
Canada
Cayman Islands
Curacao
Dominica
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Nicaragua
Panama
Puerto Rico
St Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago

Round 3 (Top 2 of each group advance to round 4)
- 3 groups of 4 teams.
- Teams to enter at this stage:
Costa Rica
Cuba
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
USA

Round 4 (Top 3 qualify for World Cup, 4th advances to intercontinental playoff)
- 1 group of 6 teams.



CONMEBOL: South America (4.5 qualification slots)

Round 1 (Top 4 qualify for World Cup, 5th advances to intercontinental playoff)
- 1 group of 9 teams.
- Brazil qualify automatically as host and will not take part.

a1118868 wrote:
So imo, the major talking points from our perspective are the following:

Australia's path

Much the same as last time for us, need to negotiate a 4 team group made up from the last 20 in qualifying, and finish top 2, followed by a 5 team group from the last 10 survivors in Asia. The only point of slight difference is how the teams are seeded for our first group stage - this time around it will be done by FIFA ranking in July 2011. When the July rankings are released, this will make more sense but as it stands it would leave China in pot 1 with us, which means we would definitely avoid them in our first group.

However, it would also leave very dangerous floaters like Saudi Arabia and North Korea floating in the lower pots, giving a definite opportunity for an ugly group of death (a bit like we had last time, in fact).

New African system

The notoriously unpredictable African qualifying process has an added degree of spice this time around, as their 5 qualifiers will all be determined by a 2 legged playoff at the final stage. This means a total of 11 qualifiers (4 in Europe and 2 in intercontinental playoffs) will be decided over 2 legs. Which I personally love, as long as it's not my team giving me a heart attack.

Playoff seeding

FIFA have, once again, in their infinite wisdom remained completely silent on whether the European playoffs will be seeded. After what happened last time, this is disgusting and unfair. I was happy to give them the benefit of the doubt last time around, but the issue has now been given global attention and FIFA's silence on this issue smacks of arrogance and corruption. All teams deserve to know the rules they are playing by from day one.

6 South American teams?
Amazingly, 60% of the confederation could end up in the World Cup. Personally, I don't mind this. There is plenty of strength in depth in the region and the more local flavour given to the World Cup the better.

Would love to hear anyone else's thoughts/reactions.

Preliminary draw takes place in the early hours of July 31 Australian time, after which the Road to Brazil will really take shape and this thread will probably be a lot more relevant.

There's no point it'd be dry for months on end between qualifiers.

Already have started to plan my trip of America and South America. Going to be in Brazil during the tournament with or without tickets. Best place for a World Cup.

Already have started to plan my trip of America and South America. Going to be in Brazil during the tournament with or without tickets. Best place for a World Cup.

:lol:

It doesn't deserve to be stickied.

On that note, I wonder if we'll get a seperate Euro 2012 sub forum.. Doubt it.

We didn't have a sub-forum for Euro '08...don't think there'd be one for '12 either.

This. WF doesn't get enough traffic to warrant another sub forum that could easily be handled in WF imo.

We didn't have a sub-forum for Euro '08...don't think there'd be one for '12 either.

FIFA panel looks to improve 2014 World Cup

Graham Dunbar
October 30, 2010 - 7:59AM

A new FIFA task force will suggest ways of improving football at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Friday he wants "a more attractive World Cup" than the one he saw in South Africa, where seven of 64 matches ended goalless - including six in a cautiously played opening phase.

Called "Task Force Football 2014," its brief will include looking at new ways to decide group-stage matches and how games are refereed.

The panel will include members of existing FIFA committees and will mirror the one set up after the low-scoring 1990 World Cup in Italy, Blatter said.

"In 1990, football was not at its best level. Twenty years later we are doing it again," he said after a two-day executive committee meeting.

FIFA also wants fans to see improved ticket operations at the next World Cup.

The ruling executive approved the creation of a FIFA company to have "stronger control" over ticketing, which was widely criticised in South Africa.

FIFA said in a statement it wants to ensure "clearer allocation of tasks and decision-making power" between the local organising committee and British-based company MATCH, which had exclusive rights to distribute World Cup tickets.

Group matches were played with thousands of empty seats in most stadiums, yet FIFA and MATCH directors Jaime and Enrique Byrom failed to explain why.

Blatter said he will check Brazil's World Cup preparations after FIFA completes investigations into alleged bribery and collusion in bidding for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

"In the third week in November I will be visiting Brazil and I hope to shake hands with the newly elected president," he said.

Dilma Rousseff and Jose Serra are candidates contesting an election Sunday to succeed President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

In other decisions:

- The 2011 FIFA Congress in Zurich was scheduled to take place May 31-June 1, when national members are set to vote in their own presidential election. Blatter will seek a fourth term in office though no challenger has yet been confirmed.

- Prize money of $US7.6 million will be paid to teams at the 2011 Women's World Cup, an increase of $US1.2 million. The tournament is played June 26-July 17 in Germany.

- FIFA approved an additional $US2 million in funding for Pakistan's federation to renovate football infrastructure damaged by floods.

© 2010 AP


http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/fifa-panel-looks-to-improve-2014-world-cup-20101030-177t9.html

Brazil: Rio violence will not affect World Cup
Reuters - 1 hours ago
More News on...
Home BetWorld Cup 2010 BetBrazil BetBet £10 get £20 FreeRIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Brazilian football authorities have promised that the 2014 World Cup will take place in a "climate of normality" despite this week's violence between police and drug gangs in Rio de Janeiro.

Organisers of the 2016 Olympic Games in the city also expressed their faith in security measures.

At least 30 people have been killed this week in Rio in five consecutive days of fighting.

The city will be a key venue when Brazil stages the 2014 World Cup and is widely tipped to host the final at the Maracana. Two years later, it will become the first South American city to host the Olympics.

"I ratify the confidence in the public authorities and recognise the effort by the state government of Rio de Janeiro with the aim of reducing urban violence," said Brazilian Football Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira in a statement.

"It can be seen that society is reacting strongly against the incidents provoked by criminals, in a demonstration that public opinion supports the security policies.

"As a consequence, I can assure the sporting community that host city Rio de Janeiro will have the climate of normality necessary to stage the Confederations Cup in 2013 and the World Cup in 2014."

Brazilian authorities have claimed that recent attacks by drugs gangs are a desperate response at police efforts to take control of their turf in more than a dozen slum areas.

The local organising committee of the Rio Olympics also promised a trouble-free games.

"The Rio 2016 committee has full confidence in the security plans which have been elaborated jointly with the three levels of government (municipal, state and federal) and presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)," it said.

Urban crime is a major worry for both events.

Gang violence has spilled over several times since Rio was awarded the 2016 Olympic Games in October 2009.

Gang members shot down a police helicopter weeks later, sparking police raids and violence that resulted in 30 deaths.

In August, gunmen from a slum armed with automatic weapons and grenades invaded a five-star hotel in one of Rio's richest neighbourhoods and held 35 people hostage for two hours.

This month's Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo was marred by armed attacks on world champion Jenson Button and a group of team engineers.

Cities such as Rio are also plagued by bus hold-ups, in which armed gangs board buses and rob all passengers between stops, car-jackings and so-called express kidnappings, in which victims are taken to cashpoints are forced to withdraw money at gunpoint.

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/worldcup/69042/default.aspx

Brazil's free pass
Tim Vickery


04 Dec 2010 | 00:00


Members of those seven unsuccessful bids to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will have made a frustrated retreat from Zurich and could feel entitled to cast an envious glance at the next host of the tournament.



The countries involved in the race that ended in the Swiss city on Thursday have gone through years of meticulous planning, presenting to FIFA reports on the stadiums to be used, the transport infrastructure, and so on.

Brazil went through none of this. It was handed the tournament on a plate.

Brazil knew as far back as March 2003 that it would be staging the 2014 World Cup. So you might think that it would have all the planning in place for when the official announcement was made in October 2008.


Not a bit of it.


The host cities had not even been decided. For the first time ever. FIFA had to do it and did so at the end of May 2009. Effectively, six years of preparation time was thrown away.


Even now, with three and a half years to go, there is plenty to be done. S switch of stadium was made in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s biggest city, where the opening game will take place - as long as the new ground is ready in time. At the moment it is wasteland, with work not set to start until next year.

Brazil received this leeway because of a short-lived rotation policy. FIFA had declared that 2014 was South America’s turn. Rotation was the way Sepp Blatter found to ensure that the 2010 tournament would be the first to be staged in Africa.


The policy was retained for an extra turn of the wheel to ensure that the World Cup would return to the continent where it was first played, but which had not staged the circus since 1978.

The lack of a competitive bidding process is the key difference between Brazil 2014 and the decisions made on where to hold the subsequent two World Cups.


And there is also a key difference between Brazil and the country that preceded it as World Cup host, though the similarities may be more immediately apparent.


Both South Africa and Brazil are part of the developing world, countries with great potential and huge social problems. In take off phase, the hope and expectation is that a mega event can do wonders for the infrastructure and international profile of the countries.


The difference between them is that for South Africa hosting the World Cup was part of a giant political process involving a mass transformation of power. This is exemplified in the figure of Danny Jordaan, anti-apartheid campaigner turned chief organiser of the 2010 tournament.


Jordaan spent years fighting the white supremacists regime precisely because he wanted his country to take its place in the international community of nations. For him, the anti-apartheid struggle and the 2010 World Cup are part of the same process.


Brazil has gone through nothing similar. The extraordinary, poverty-to-power biography of President Lula tends to obscure the fact that no dramatic change of control has taken place.


Football highlights this perfectly.

The ever controversial Ricardo Teixeira has been president of Brazil’s football association since 1989. Some of his support base, the presidents of the various state federations, have been around for even longer.


In South Africa, then, it was only logical and coherent that civil society was strongly represented on the World Cup Local Organising Committee.

In Brazil, meanwhile, civil society is not represented. It is just Teixeira and his gang.


Brazil’s sports daily Lance! recently broke the story of the legal composition of Brazil’s Organising Committee. Originally a non-profit organisation, the status was changed to a business once Brazil was officially named as 2014 host.

Brazil’s football association, the CBF, holds 99.9% of the capital. Ricardo Teixeira holds 0.01%.


A clause states that any profits do not have to be distributed according to the percentage of capital held. The partners are at liberty to dole out the profits as they see fit. This looks like a good deal if your name is Ricardo Teixeira.


Brazil’s Sports Minister, the impressively fluent Orlando Silva, clammed up on the subject. First he said that this was purely a private matter, of no interest to the government. The absurdities of this position were obvious.


First, the World Cup receives all sorts of tax breaks.

Second, the government will have to spend a fortune to get the show on the road and not just on infrastructure.


The original line was that no public money would be spent on stadiums. It would all come from private investors. But these never appeared, and almost all the money being spent on stadiums will end up coming from public funds.


Orlando Silva has not spoken again on the subject.


A member of the Communist Party, does he really believe that one of the objectives of the 2014 World Cup should be to enrich Brazil’s feudal barons?


http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/tim-vickery/blog/1034667/Brazil's-free-pass

England could host 2014 World Cup if Brazil run into a roadblock - report

19 Dec 2010 09:43:00

England are believed to be on standby to host the World Cup in 2014, if Brazil are unable to do so.

And The People claims that senior members of the FA will have a meeting this week to discuss the timing and strategy of the rescue plan, should one be necessary.

This comes only a fortnight after Fifa executive committee members decided not to pick England over other bidders when it came to selecting the host for the 2018 edition of the tournament.

Progress in Brazil is reported to be worryingly slow, although it is not thought to have become a crisis situation just yet.

But it is said that the FA will hold talks with Fifa as a contingency position, so there is a back-up plan in place if Brazil cannot get their stadia and airports built by the time the governing body takes the final decision about whether or not the tournament will go ahead there in four years' time.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2880/england/2010/12/19/2267991/england-could-host-2014-world-cup-if-brazil-run-into-a-roadblock-

2014 can't be Europe anyway because Russia is 2018. World Cup can't be on the same continent twice in a row. USA in 2014 is perfect for Europe gets USA out of the way for 2026 and gives Europe that WC.

In regard to the same continent issue, I think all bets are off when it comes to FIFA these days.

Germany Can Win Euro 2012 Or 2014 World Cup - Joachim Loew

Germany coach Joachim Loew is confident the Nationalelf can win a major tournament in the coming years.

By Stefan Coerts
Dec 21, 2010 10:17:00 AM

Germany impressed with a number of impressive performances at the 2010 World Cup, but the Nationalelf eventually had to settle for third spot in South Africa after Spain proved to be too strong in the semi-finals.

Head coach Joachim Loew is quite pleased with the development of his team though and is confident Germany can win a major tournament in the coming years.

"My gut feeling... is that our team can win a title in 2012 or in 2014," Loew was quoted as saying by Kicker.

"Looking back, together with Spain we really are one of the most consistent teams. In the last two years our performances have got better and better... It's only when this happens that you can win championships."

Loew also discussed his selection policy for the Nationalelf and made it clear that he doesn't care about age, and that class is the only criteria that counts.

"I have ascertained that quality and technical ability are more important than experience. I don't care if someone is only 18 and has only played 10 Bundesliga games. I measure players but what they can they do and by what possibilities I see for them."

http://www.goal.com/en/news/15/germany/2010/12/21/2271009/germany-can-win-euro-2012-or-2014-world-cup-joachim-loew

Pressure on Brazil's 'big build' for 2014 World Cup
Brazil's World Cup stadia preparations are stepping up a gear, but Sao Paulo's troubles are vexing FIFA.

Work to demolish the upper ring of seating at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana Stadium began on Monday, according to Brazilian media reports.

As part of the revamp of the stadium, estimated to be costing well over $400 million, hospitality boxes and VIP suites will eventually be built into the east and west stands.

The renovation will see the 87,000 capacity of the venue that once held 200,000 reduced by 5,000 to meet FIFA standards. Delays mean it is now scheduled to be completed by early 2013.

The stadium and a number of others in the 12 host cities for 2014 must be ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup, the traditional test event ahead of FIFA's quadrennial showpiece.

Under new Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, the government is investing about $15 billion on venues and infrastructure for the 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympics.

Sao Paulo's stadium plan, slated as venue for the opening match of the 2014 tournament, remains a major concern for FIFA.

The city's Morumbi Stadium was dropped from Brazil's list of proposed host stadia earlier this year due to a lack of financial guarantees for renovations to meet FIFA requirements.

FIFA has been presented with the 65,000-seat Itaquera stadium proposed by Corinthians but the project still faces funding issues, according to Brazilian media reports.

Members of the Brazil 2014 organising committee, which is led by Ricardo Teixeira, met yesterday with stakeholders in the stadium project to discuss the timetable for its funding and construction.

The club has a deal with Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction and engineering giant, to build a 48,000-seat venue for $350 million.

But it needs at least another $200 million to bring capacity to 65,000 - FIFA's minimum requirement for the opening match of the tournament.

New financial partners for the venture will be unveiled next month, the president of Corinthians, Andres Sanchez, reportedly confirmed yesterday.

Brazil 2014 officials remain confident the last pieces of the financial jigsaw will soon fall into place and the project will get the go-ahead from FIFA so that construction can start in March.


By INSIDER editor Mark Bisson

http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=33998

FIFA's Goal In Brazil For 2014 World Cup Is To Create Infrastructures In Provinces - Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter has revealed that FIFA's goal in Brazil is to create infrastructures in the provinces.

By Stefan Coerts
Jan 5, 2011 12:08:00 PM

Related LinksThe 2014 World Cup is still far away, but FIFA president Sepp Blatter is already eagerly anticipating the tournament. The Swiss has revealed that FIFA's main goal is to create infrastructures in the provinces of the South American nation.

"I’m delighted the tournament’s going back to South America for the first time since 1978, when there were only 16 teams. Now there are 32 and the World Cup has taken on a whole new dimension since then," said Blatter on the FIFA website.

"No matter where it is held, though, the World Cup is so big that our partners in both television and marketing will follow us anywhere.

"Our goal in Brazil is to create infrastructures in the provinces. A lot of the population live in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, but at the next World Cup we’ll be going further north and to Manaus in the state of Amazonia.

"It’s an emerging and very multicultural country with 200 million inhabitants, although there is still poverty as well. Nevertheless, I’ve no doubt the legacy of the World Cup will help in that respect too."

http://www.goal.com/en/news/584/brazil/2011/01/05/2290925/fifas-goal-in-brazil-for-2014-world-cup-is-to-create

CONCACAF wants an extra place at 2014 World Cup
33 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CONCACAF wants FIFA to award them an extra place at the next World Cup, giving the region four guaranteed places for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Under the previous qualifying format used for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football was awarded three automatic places while a fourth team was promoted to a playoff.

But CONCACAF President Jack Warner said on Sunday the region would press FIFA to give them four guaranteed places instead of the current 3.5.

“We believe that CONCACAF deserves another full place at the World Cup finals due to the performances of our teams on the field and the actions of our confederation off it,” Warner said in a statement.

“We are unified in our efforts to make this happen.”

FIFA has yet to announce the qualifying format for 2014 but Warner said a decision on their request was expected by March.

[http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=reu-soccerworldconcacaf

Ronaldo to help promote 2014 World Cup

16 February 2011, 20:10

Recently retired striker Ronaldo will help promote the city of Sao Paulo ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Two days after announcing his retirement from football, Ronaldo said he has accepted an offer from Sao Paulo state Government Geraldo Alckmin to become a special member of the city's World Cup organizing committee.

He said "it will be an honor" to help Sao Paulo create the best venues among the 12 host cities for the 2014 tournament.

Wednesday's announcement came on the same day the former striker was honored by the governor with a Medal of Merits for Sports.

The 34-year-old Ronaldo ended an 18-year career on Monday saying he couldn't stay fit anymore. He said he will remain active with the sports marketing agency he owns.

http://www.supersport.com/football/brazil/news/110216/Ronaldo_help_promote_2014_World_Cup

FIFA to decide on 2014 World Cup slots next week

BRIAN HOMEWOOD Last updated 15:33 23/02/2011

FIFA will make one of its most politically sensitive decisions next week when soccer's governing body decides how many places each continent will get at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

With South America hoping for an extra spot, CONCACAF demanding a fourth guaranteed place and Asia refusing to settle for anything less than the four-and-a-half berths it had in 2010, the stage is set for a heated two-day session when its executive committee meets in Zurich on March 2-3.

The continental confederations have been jockeying for position ahead of the decision on the 31 available World Cup places, Brazil qualifying automatically as hosts.

Asia Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Bin Hammam said last month that his region wanted at least the four-and-a-half places it had in South Africa.

Australia, North Korea, South Korea and Japan represented Asia in 2010 while Bahrain lost in a playoff to New Zealand, winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament.

Jack Warner, president of the CONCACAF confederation representing North and Central America and the Caribbean, has said his region wants its quota increased to four direct places.

CONCACAF had three guaranteed spots in South Africa last year and Costa Rica lost to Uruguay in a playoff for another place.

"We believe that CONCACAF deserves another full place at the World Cup finals due to the performances of our teams on the field and the actions of our confederation off it," said Warner.

"We are unified in our efforts to make this happen."

EXTRA PLACE

South America is hoping that hosts Brazil will not be included in their quota of four-and-a-half places for 2014, effectively giving the 10-team continent an extra place.

Africa had six teams at the 2010 World Cup including hosts South Africa and look almost certain to lose one slot, especially as five of their teams fell at the first hurdle last year.

Europe had 13 teams at the 2010 World Cup, of which seven were eliminated in the group stage and two made it to the final, while Oceania had half a place.

The subject has always been a thorny one and erupted in 2003 when FIFA back-tracked on a promise to give an automatic spot to Oceania, which at the time included Australia.

The Oceania delegation stormed out of the meeting when FIFA's executive committee decided to keep the system under which the top Oceania team would face the fifth-placed South American side.

Oceania later won the argument on the field when Australia beat Uruguay in a playoff for a place at the 2006 World Cup.

Ad Feedback Australia's subsequent move to the Asian confederation scuppered Oceania's hopes for a direct place although the region's winners last time faced the easier task of playing Asia's fifth team, rather than South America's, in a two-leg playoff.

- Reuters

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/4694645/FIFA-to-decide-on-2014-World-Cup-slots-next-week

Brazil faces 2014 hurdles

26 February 2011-AP


Brazil is facing serious hurdles in its race to upgrade airports, improve infrastructure and build stadiums before the 2014 World Cup, according to a report from a government watchdog.


In a key year in which work on several World Cup projects is supposed to begin, the Brazilian Audit Court warned of shortcomings in the planning and execution of work across the nation.

Officials at all levels are being criticised for missing deadlines, not controlling costs and for a lack of transparency in government actions, according to the report from the Audit Court, which is responsible for overseeing how the Brazilian government spends public money.

Brazil's World Cup organising committee said in an e-mail on Friday that it had no comment at this time on the report.

There are issues with transport improvements in some host cities and even doubts whether the crown jewel of Brazilian football - the Maracana Stadium in Rio - will be ready as scheduled, the report said.

The warning comes just days after football great Pele and former FIFA President Joao Havelange expressed concerns about the pace of preparations for football's biggest tournament.

The report, published on Wednesday, said there is a 'very great risk' of misuse of public funds, to the level of what happened in the preparations for the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, when the government acknowledged that it made serious mistakes in planning and financing for that Olympic-style event.

Airport renovations in most of the 12 host cities are expected to only begin this year and the report said problems with bidding processes and environmental licensing may cause delays in upgrading Brazil's woeful air transport infrastructure.

That's already the case with the Viracopos airport in Campinas, near Sao Paulo. Upgrade work there is behind schedule because of difficulties getting the necessary environmental licenses. Delays in bidding processes are hurting work at the Salvador airport in northeastern Brazil, according to the report.

Faltering airport infrastructure and lack of capacity is one of the main concerns ahead of the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Even without those major events, the booming Brazilian economy is rapidly increasing the number of passengers the airports serve as a growing middle class begins using air travel more frequently. Beyond that, most airports will need significant upgrades just to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected for the month-long tournament in 2014, officials say.

The audit court already warned last year that renovations in some airports may not be completed by 2014.

Stadium construction is another area of concern.

Sao Paulo, South America's biggest city, has yet to have a stadium project approved by FIFA even though the deadline from the governing body expired last year. Corinthians football club says it will build a World Cup-worthy venue, but there is still discussion about whether it will be able to host the tournament's opening match, as had been planned for Sao Paulo.

The Maracana, likely to host the final, has seen a significant increase in its renovation budget, and the report said authorities face a tight deadline to get the stadium ready according to the original timeline. The famed venue is also expected to be used in the 2013 Confederations Cup, further increasing pressure.

In addition, the Nacional stadium in the capital Brasilia runs the risk of becoming a 'white elephant' - a stadium rarely used by local teams after the tournament, despite having a seating capacity of 71,000. The Amazonia Arena in Manaus is simply an 'incomplete and deficient' project, the audit court said, and in Natal it's not even clear which construction companies will start building the Dunas Arena.

The delays have prompted criticism from local media and from some of the country's top football figures.

Havelange, the FIFA president from 1974-1998, last week told the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper that he thought stadium construction was slow and that the Brazilian government needed to pick up the pace.

Pele said Brazil was facing a 'big risk of being embarrassed' because of delays in stadium construction and in the modernisation and renovation of the nation's overcrowded and saturated airports.

The report also points to possible delays in projects to improve urban transport in cities like Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte and Recife.

In Rio, authorities are facing accusations they are violating citizens' human rights by forcing slum dwellers to move to make way for the construction of a transit system. Residents of three shantytowns recently filed a complaint with the Organization of American States, saying that the city is arbitrarily relocating them. Eventual pressure by the international body could lead to project changes and delays.

In northeastern Natal, court orders have slowed down bidding process for city projects linked to the World Cup, and Salvador is facing difficulties finishing World Cup-related construction work because of missed deadlines. In the jungle city of Manaus, a monorail project 'may not be concluded before the 2014 World Cup', the report said.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/2014-world-cup/news/1046295/Brazil-faces-2014-hurdles

FIFA to decide 2014 allocation

26 February 2011-AFP


The allocation of places for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be decided next week, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says.


"FIFA will meet next Wednesday and Thursday and take a decision on the allocation of slots for the 2014 World Cup," Blatter told a joint media conference with African football boss Issa Hayatou in Sudan.

"We have one slot decided already - host nation Brazil - and FIFA will come out with procedures for the remaining 31 slots," said Blatter, who attended a midweek Khartoum gathering of African football leaders.

Europe had 13 representatives at the World Cup in South Africa last June and July, including champion Spain, runner-up Netherlands and third-placed Germany.

The traditional five places reserved for Africa rose to six because the host nation was guaranteed a slot, yet only Ghana made it to the round-of-16 when the knockout phase begins.

South America had five places - four automatically plus Uruguay via a play-off victory over Costa Rica - and all but Chile reached the quarter-finals in South Africa.

Asia had four slots and Central and North America three with Bahrain and Costa Rica losing play-offs that offered each region the chance of an extra challenger at the first World Cup staged by Africa.

Oceania lacked direct assess to the 2010 World Cup, but New Zealand made it by scoring the lone goal of a two-leg play-off with Bahrain and was the sole side to leave South Africa unbeaten despite a first-round exit.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/2014-world-cup/news/1046237/FIFA-to-decide-2014-allocation

Path to Cup known soon

By Michael Brown 5:30 AM Sunday Feb 27, 2011

The All Whites' chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will largely be decided next weekend, even before they kick a ball.

Fifa's executive committee will meet in Zurich to decide the qualifying pathways for each confederation - which will have a huge bearing on New Zealand's chances of appearing at consecutive World Cups.

It's expected Oceania's pathway will remain the same - the confederation's top team would take on the fifth-placed Asian side in a home-and-away play-off -which would be a good outcome for New Zealand.

A return to a playoff with the fifth-best South American team would render the task virtually impossible. Australia managed it only once when they beat Uruguay to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

But like much that goes on at Fifa, the decision will be down to politics. Last-minute deals can be done which could change the outlook - and Oceania are usually given the least consideration.

North America's Jack Warner, one of the most controversial and enduring executive committee members, is posturing for Concacaf (North, Central American and Caribbean football) to increase their representation. That would mean another confederation giving ground, which isn't likely to wash, but Warner is known to play a hard political game.

South America are reportedly happy to retain their current spots for 2014, on top of the one Brazil would receive automatically as hosts.

Africa would drop back to five (they had six last year because South Africa were hosts) and would have little basis to increase that number after five teams were tipped out at the group stages. Europe would retain 13 spots.

Asia are likely to be happy for the status quo to remain. Playing the Oceania winners is considered an easier task than taking on a country from another confederation - and it makes geographical sense for Asia and Oceania to be aligned and the Americas to play off.

It would then be up to Asia how they run their qualifying tournament. New Zealand Football, with the backing of Oceania, have asked for the Oceania winners to join Asia's final 10 to find the qualifiers.

A move to this format would mean New Zealand would have to finish in the top three of one of the sub-sections of five teams each to qualify for the World Cup. However, long term, such a move would provide more meaningful games for the All Whites more regularly and give the national side a greater presence in this country.

Asia, however, appear to have little appetite for this. Their teams would have to travel too farand New Zealand also holds little attraction in terms of commercial and television markets.

"The easier route would be the one-off playoff [with the fifth-placed Asian side]," NZF chairman Frank van Hattum said. "But it would be great to be involved in the final group of 10 with Asia. It would improve the development of our football to play top-notch opposition more regularly.

"In reality, we have very little say. We have made our feelings known to Asia through Oceania and, whenever we have had the chance, with members of the Fifa executive."

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert would prefer for the status quo to remain, saying it was already difficult enough to get through the fifth-best Asian side.

The All Whites played just eight games to qualify for South Africa and six of those were against relatively weak island opposition.

It was the least number of games of any team to qualify and, while many questioned their worthiness because of this, these complaints largely dissipated when New Zealand drew all three World Cup games.

Regardless of what is decided in Zurich next weekend, the All Whites are due to play their first qualifier on October 7 against an as yet unknown opponent from the Pacific Islands. They will be joined by three teams found from the Pacific Games to be held in New Caledonia in August and September.

NZF will also learn if their bid to host the 2015 Under-20 World Cup is successful. Wales, Peru and Tunisia have also applied.

It's believed to be a two-horse race between New Zealand and Wales, although Wales and Tunisia have also bid for the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, along with Russia and Chile.

By Michael Brown | Email Michael

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=10709004

All Whites' World Cup path decided by ballot
Last updated 06:52 04/03/2011

New Zealand's qualifying path for the 2014 football World Cup in Brazil is yet to be fully mapped out after governing body FIFA announced a change to the intercontinental playoff system used to determine two of the 32 finalists.

Following a two-day meeting of its executive committee, FIFA confirmed the allocation of places used for South Africa 2010 will remain the same but announced that a draw will be made in July to determine how the four confederations with half spots will be paired in home and away playoffs.

New Zealand beat the fifth-placed Asian nation Bahrain over two legs to qualify for South Africa, while the Americas were paired together, with Uruguay defeating Costa Rica to reach the finals.

For 2014, the Oceania champions will join the fifth-placed teams from Asia and South America - excluding Brazil who qualify automatically as hosts - along with North and Central America's (CONCACAF federation) fourth placed team in a draw to decide the pairings.

"The difference between 2010 and 2014 is that there will be a draw for the half slots between four of the confederations," announced FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke.

"We will also work on the international match calendar to make sure we leave enough time for these teams to play the two matches and not be under the pressure of having a limited number of days between the two games."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the change was made to appease CONCACAF after Costa Rica had to face a tough tie against eventual semifinalists Uruguay.

"CONCACAF was not so happy, but they have to admit the huge majority of the executive committee wanted to maintain the distribution we have had since 2006," Blatter said.

"Because CONCACAF was not so eager to play another playoff with South America, it was decided there shall be a draw for the playoff.

"It was a logical decision," he added. "One part is of this is always a sporting matter, one part is a sports politics matter, not everybody is happy but it is impossible to make everyone happy in our world."

The only difference in the spread of the 32 finalists could be a possible six representatives from South America as Brazil qualify automatically as hosts.

Europe will keep its 13 places -- considered too many by some observers -- while Africa will have five, Asia 4.5, CONCACAF 3.5 and Oceania 0.5. South American will have 4.5 places, not including Brazil.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/4730731/All-Whites-World-Cup-path-decided-by-ballot

Ricki Herbert relaxed about Fifa's decision

SAM WORTHINGTON Last updated 05:00 05/03/2011

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert is surprised but not daunted by New Zealand's revised path to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

As Oceania group winners, the All Whites beat fifth-ranked Asian country Bahrain to qualify for last year's World Cup in South Africa.

But Fifa announced yesterday that the intercontinental playoffs will be drawn at random in July, meaning New Zealand could be up against the fifth-placed teams from Asia or South America, or the fourth-ranked Concacaf side.

New Zealand Football had expected the status quo for Brazil but after the initial surprise, Herbert said he was relaxed about the changes.

"I wasn't expecting it but it's out and that's the reality of it now. I don't have any qualms about it and I think people need to understand that we've still got to get through Oceania first.

"As we've seen with club sides and previous national teams, that's not always easy. And then we'll deal with whatever card comes out."

Playing a home-and-away tie against a South American opponent would be an extremely difficult proposition, but Herbert said the All Whites no longer feared the big names.

"I think we've got to back ourselves. Gee, we've gone through a World Cup undefeated, playing against a four-time world champion [Italy]."

This month the All Whites play away friendlies against China (March 25) and Japan (March 29) and Herbert said he was likely to name the squad next week.

The games are in an international window but Herbert was waiting to hear back from players' clubs before determining if everyone was available.

He would not be drawn on whether Marco Rojas, who is also eligible to play for Chile, would be picked, but there would definitely be some fresh faces in the squad.

"As we did last year with Tommy Smith, Winston Reid and Michael McGlinchey to a certain degree, there were players that we brought into the mix that proved to be extremely beneficial.

"Whether that happens immediately or over the next 12, 18 months, we'll make that call."

Meanwhile, Herbert has been appointed to Fifa's panel of instructors and lecturers with 29 other coaches from around the world.

Herbert said it was an honour to join the likes of Scotland's Andy Roxburgh and Slovakia's Jozef Venglos.

"It's an opportunity for further development and to be able to work at that level along those sort of people will be a dream come true.

"There'll be opportunities for supporting and instructing on courses and whether that's Oceania or abroad, remains to be seen.

"To be able to tap into the people who are operating at the sharp end of the game and have been for a long time will be great."

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/4734678/Ricki-Herbert-relaxed-about-Fifas-decision

Fifa revision nothing to fear: Ryan Nelsen
TONY SMITH Last updated 05:00 05/03/2011

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen says New Zealand has nothing to fear from Fifa's move to change the pathway to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

World football's governing body announced yesterday in Zurich a ballot will be held in July to determine the final intercontinental systems.

The All Whites qualified for the 2010 World Cup play-offs after winning the Oceania confederation group and beating Bahrain, Asia's fifth-ranked team, in a home and away playoff series.

New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum was expecting the "status quo to be confirmed" for 2014 and admitted to being "a bit surprised" at Fifa's decision.

But for 2014, the Oceania winner will join the fifth-placed teams from Asia and South America – excluding Brazil who qualify automatically as hosts – along with North and Central America's (Concacaf federation) fourth-placed team in a draw to decide the pairings.

Some New Zealand football fans were instantly wringing their hands at the prospect of having to play a South American powerhouse.

But Nelsen – who captained the All Whites to three draws in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa – said the new system could, "in all honesty, be better for us".

"If we got a team from Concacaf that could be even easier than playing the fifth team in Asia, although obviously South America wold be extremely tough for anybody who comes across them."

Nelsen – home in Christchurch to support earthquake recovery work – said he would feel confident if the All Whites "ended up playing someone like Honduras to get to the World Cup".

He urged the football community to take a positive approach to the new format.

"New Zealanders have got to change their whole mindset and not become worried about who we are playing. They should be more worried about themselves and their preparation and how we are doing, not the opposition. If we come up against Brazil [in the future], so be it that's life, we just have to get on with it. We've shown we can compete with the best teams in the world."

Nelsen said taking a positive approach to games was "nine-10ths of the battle". "I think the current crop of players understand that. That's why the 2010 team did so well."

But past All Whites teams had paid too much respect to stronger opposition "and before we really knew it, they had a couple of goals and it was "game over".

Ad Feedback Hopefully, the 2010 team changed that mentality, said Nelsen, who led the All Whites to draws with mid-ranked European nation Slovakia, 2006 World Cup winners Italy and South American group runners-up Paraguay.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert agreed New Zealand should be "confident, from a balanced point of view" about beating any team they draw in the playoffs after "coming away from the World Cup having done very well".

"We surprised most people around the world and I think people will be conscious of what we've done in the past."

But Herbert said the All Whites would need "a meaningful [international] programme" to make the 2014 finals.

He also warned that "the first step is to get through Oceania", something the All Whites should never take for granted. That would then earn them a berth in the Confederations Cup finals where they would get to play "some very good teams".

Herbert was unfazed about the prospect of a potential trip to South America or the Concacaf region, saying the All Whites had proved they "travel well". "It seems anywhere we play we have to be in a plane for a day. We just have to deal with it."

Both Herbert and van Hattum believed the July ballot would be a "hugely exciting" occasion for New Zealand sport. Van Hattum also said New Zealand could expect "another night like we had in Wellington against Bahrain [in November 2009] for a World Cup home playoff against any nation.

Fifa's decision sparked a rash of complaints on a fans' website yesterday with some saying Oceania's champion should automatically qualify because it was the only confederation without direct entry.

"We just have to play with the cards we're dealt," Herbert said.

- The Press

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/4734764/Fifa-revision-nothing-to-fear-Ryan-Nelsen

Life is tougher for All Whites
DANNY HAY Last updated 05:00 06/03/2011

OPINION: Fifa'a merry-go-round has struck again.

Just hours after the excitement of being announced as hosts for the 2015 under-20 World Cup, we've been sucker-punched at an elite level, which to me at least, makes hosting a junior Fifa tournament seem pretty insignificant now.

Fifa has decided that the four confederations with half-spots for the full World Cup will be paired in home and away playoffs. Drawn by lottery.

What this means is, should the All Whites qualify top of Oceania we will playoff against either a Concacaf (North and Central America) nation, South American nation or, and this is the main glimmer of hope, an Asia nation.

The route we took in qualifying for the last World Cup, being drawn against the Asian qualifier automatically, was the best deal possible. The talk was that after the All Whites' inspiring performances in South Africa, the path would remain the same, which would have been great news for New Zealand.

So why hasn't it? Clearly someone with influence has made a push for their own confederation to get a slightly easier path.

It appears that Concacaf president Jack Warner has been that man. Warner, known to "work his magic" among the Fifa big-wigs, has a history of getting what he wants. This issue is no exception.

Ahead of the last World Cup, Costa Rica (Concacaf) had to play off against Uruguay (South America). As we know the South Americans went through – and finished one game from the final.

There lies the very issue.

Of all four confederations with half spots, the South Americans will invariably be the toughest opposition. Everybody will want to avoid them, and now Warner's Concacaf boys have a one-in-three chance of that.

We only need to look back at the difficulties the Australians faced when they had to play home and away against Uruguay for World Cup qualification. Arriving in Uruguay they were abused, jostled and spat at – just trying to get onto the team bus. It's a hostile and unforgiving place to try to get a result, very much the opposite of what the All Whites faced in Bahrain.

At least with Brazil qualifying automatically as hosts, the Concacaf pool is as diluted as it could ever be.

But it hardly seems fair or just reward for our boys' heroic efforts in South Africa. For the All Whites it's not total disaster but it is big trouble. The truth is, qualifying for the World Cup was a tough ask that just got a little tougher.

Though, if 2010 showed us anything, never ever write our boys off.

Danny Hay is a former All Whites captain

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/4736585/Life-is-tougher-for-All-Whites

2014 World Cup is Wales target says Gary Speed

by Our Correspondent, DPW West
Mar 24 2011

WALES manager Gary Speed has warned his players a victory against England would be only the first step on a long road.

Speed came into the job after a run of three defeats at the start of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, the first of which came under John Toshack and the subsequent two under caretaker boss Brian Flynn.

The former Wales captain from Mancot in Flintshire knows it is a long shot to expect Wales to get back into contention for a place in next summer’s finals, which is why he already has one eye on the 2014 World Cup campaign.

He said: “Whatever happens against England it is a part of the step towards our final goal which is qualification.

“If we beat England, we can’t allow that to be our finest moment. We need to make sure our finest moment is qualification.”

Speed added: “In terms of qualification from this group it’s going to be very difficult because we’ve already lost the first three games and if we win the next five we might still not have enough points to qualify.

“I think the important thing is to make sure when the 2014 qualifiers start in 18 months’ time we’re in a place to compete.”

The former Everton, Leeds and Newcastle player accepts this weekend’s clash with Fabio Capello’s team is a tough fixture, but it is one Wales will head into with a positive approach.

He said: “The England game is a fantastic game for everyone to be involved in. It’s still early days for us obviously but there’s no doubt we want to go out and win that game.

“They’ve certainly got some very good players who can win games. The likes of (Wayne) Rooney and Darren Bent and Ashley Young are fantastic players and can win a game at the drop of a hat, no doubt about that.

“We’re concentrating on going forward but obviously it’s England and we want to win the game.

“It’s a great game for anyone to be involved in.”


http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/wales-football-team/2011/03/24/2014-world-cup-is-wales-target-says-gary-speed-55578-28393290/

Brazil 'must speed up preparations'

9:53 AM Tuesday Mar 29, 2011

President Sepp Blatter urged Brazil to speed up its preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

Blatter said Brazil's project was "not progressing very quickly," and lagged behind even where South Africa stood when the successful 2010 host fell behind with its construction schedule.

"I must say that in comparison with the state of play between South Africa and Brazil three years before the World Cup, Brazil is behind South Africa. It's a fact," Blatter told reporters.

Referring to how little time remained, Blatter said "it's tomorrow. The Brazilians think it's just the day after tomorrow. What they shall do is to give a little bit more speed now in the organization."

Blatter said the slow progress meant Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo could be left off the program for the 2013 Confederations Cup which is designed as a test event for the 32-team tournament.

"The World Cup stadiums are still in the process of being discussed between the city mayors and the state governors," he said.

Blatter reminded that the qualifying draw for FIFA's six confederations is scheduled in July. Brazilian authorities still have not agreed on a host city for the event.

Speaking at a Swiss government-backed media event, he expressed optimism that a proven goalline technology system would be in place in Brazil.

Blatter also promised FIFA would have a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and bad behavior on and off the field.

He outlined a new project for the FIFA Congress on June 1, where he's hoping to win election for a fourth four-year term.

"I will present something very special there but I will not now disclose what is the content," Blatter said. "It's to fight corruption, all cheating and discrimination.

"We also want to appeal to players, coaches, referees to behave on the field of play," he said, adding that illegal betting and matchfixing would be addressed.

Blatter acknowledged that Swiss public authorities had called on FIFA to be more transparent after corruption allegations clouded bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups last year.

FIFA's ethics panel barred two executive committee members from voting, and suspended four other senior officials from duty. The two voters, Nigerian Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii from Tahiti, have said they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn their sanctions of three years and one year, respectively.

Blatter said the subject would be an important item on the congress agenda.

"We're looking at our game. We want to be transparent when it comes to activities that are, let's say, forbidden," he said.

However, Blatter said he had rejected requests from Swiss authorities that members of FIFA's judicial committees should be nominated by people from outside football's governing body.

The FIFA president suggested that the Swiss parliament and cantons (states) would not accept having outside bodies choose their legal officials.

"If it is valid for the government, it shall be valid for FIFA," Blatter said.

- AP
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=10715645

Brazil 2014 draw stirs Asian hopefuls

(FIFA.com) Thursday 31 March 2011
AFP

Nearly nine months on since the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ concluded, Asia put the wheels in motion for Brazil 2014 by conducting the draw for the opening two qualifying rounds on Wednesday. 16 of the continent's lowest ranked sides will battle against each other in the first phase, with the eight winners advancing to join a further 22 teams in the next stage. Australia, Korea Republic, Japan, Korea DPR and Bahrain – the confederation’s top five teams in South Africa 2010 qualifying – will automatically enter in Round 3.

Yesterday's event largely turned out to be kind for some traditional powerhouses, with four-time FIFA World Cup qualifiers Saudi Arabia drawn to meet Hong Kong. Fellow east Asian giants Iran cross paths with Maldives, a side against whom they netted 22 unanswered goals against over two legs in qualifying for France 1998. Team Melli legend Karim Bagheri scoring a then FIFA World Cup record seven goals in Tehran.

China PR, the fifth highest Asian team in the current FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking, are pitted against the winners of Cambodia and Laos. While a comfortable aggregate victory should be within their grasp, head coach Gao Hongbo refused to take their prospective opponents lightly. "We have paid the price for our slip-ups on too many occasions in past World Cup bids, so the lessons we must learn is that we can't underestimate any opponent," said Gao. "We should focus our attention on preparation and do our best regardless of the rivals."

We have paid the price for our slip-ups on too many occasions in past World Cup bids, so the lessons we must learn is that we can't underestimate any opponent.China PR coach Gao Hongbo
The opening round will also provide some of lesser known teams with a rare chance to enjoy the spotlight and cause an upset. Boosted by their recent qualifying success for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, Philippines are keen to shrug off their whipping-boys tag when they take on Sri Lanka. "It is not a bad draw for us," Philippines coach Michael Weiss told FIFA.com. "Sri Lanka represents a force in south Asia but we should have a good chance against them."

Awaiting the Filipinos, should they get the better of Sri Lanka, will be ten-time Gulf champions and 1982 FIFA World Cup participants Kuwait, who are 48 places above the Azkals in the global pecking order. The German tactician remains undaunted saying his side do not intend to merely make up the numbers, regardless of their opponent. "If we have all our top players available with the preparation going smoothly, we have a 30 per cent chance against them,” he said. “At least we will give them a hard time.”

Enticing match-ups
The draw throws up a host of intriguing match-ups, with the encounter between 2011 AFC Asian Cup finalists United Arab Emirates and India arguably the most intriguing. Both sides bowed out after the group stage in January's continental competition, but it was the Middle East side that can draw inspiration from a 5-0 friendly triumph over the south Asians in the Asian Cup build-up.

"On paper we may be favourites to win the campaign," said UAE's Slovenian coach Srecko Katanec. "But things are very close nowadays and any team can cause a sensation if they are on their day. Besides, we should also keep wary of the difficulties caused by the hot and humid weather."

The second round also pits some familiar foes together, with Asian Cup semi-finalists Uzbekistan locking horns with Kyrgyzstan in an all-Central Asian affair. Neighbours Tajikistan face another meeting against Syria, with the pair having also met in the qualification campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, when the latter prevailed 3-1 on aggregate.

Another former Soviet republic, Turkmenistan, will resume an unlikely rivalry against Indonesia, with the two side’s level on head-to-head record after each claimed a home 3-1 win in their previous meetings, also in Germany 2006 qualifying. For their part, 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar may feel they have a score to settle with Vietnam, after their last meeting ended in a surprise 1-1 draw and contributed to the Gulf nation’s early exit from the 2007 Asian Cup.

Thailand received, on paper at least, a favourable draw. Their coach Bryan Robson told FIFA.com: "We've got either Afghanistan or Palestine, which is quite ironic really as we've just met Palestine in an Olympic qualifier. But if we get the same result and get through to the group stages then I won't be complaining! Obviously the target is Brazil, which is some way off, but we've got to start somewhere."

Round 1
Malaysia-Chinese Taipei
Bangladesh-Pakistan
Cambodia-Laos
Sri Lanka-Philippines
Afghanistan-Palestine
Vietnam-Macau
Nepal-Timor-Leste
Mongolia-Myanmar

Round 2
Thailand-Afghanistan or Palestine
Lebanon-Bangladesh or Pakistan
China PR-Cambodia or Laos
Turkmenistan-Indonesia
Kuwait-Sri Lanka or Philippines
Oman-Mongolia or Myanmar
Saudi Arabia-Hong Kong
Iran-Maldives
Syria-Tajikistan
Qatar-Vietnam or Macau
Iraq-Yemen
Singapore-Malaysia or Chinese Taipei
Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan
United Arab Emirates-India
Jordan-Nepal or Timor-Leste

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1409548/index.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

Brazil airports won't be ready for World Cup

From: AFP April 15, 2011

MOST Brazilian airports being renovated for the 2014 football World Cup will not be ready on time, causing major headaches for travellers.

The government-backed study found that there are about 70 public airports in Brazil, most of which are in need of upgrades ahead of the World Cup in three years time, and the 2016 Olympics due to take place in Rio.

According to the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), renovation work in 10 of the 13 airports which will be used during the month-long tournament will not be completed in time unless there are major changes in investment plans made by Brazil's airport authority.

They claim that the airports have underestimated the increase in the number of travellers, predicting that even if the upgrades are finished, most airports would remain operating over their capacity because of high passenger demands.

The number of passengers in Brazil grew by 117 percent from 2003 to 2010. Last year, 14 of the 20 main airports in the South American giant were operating over their capacity, the IPEA said.

Over the next four years, the number of passengers is expected to jump by 40 percent, reaching 225.9 million.

Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of the international Air Transport Association, warned last month that Brazil "will never reach its full potential without major changes in its aviation policies," as he criticized the country's "broken" airport authority.

The government has announced it will let the private sector take care of upgrades and management of some overloaded airports.

Nine of the 13 airport terminals currently being expanded are on track to be completed in time, but the IPEA predicted that construction of the remaining airports would only end in 2017.

Rio's international airport is expected to be up and running by the 2014 World Cup.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/news/brazil-airports-wont-be-ready-for-world-cup/story-fn32891l-1226039498338

Nescau sign up as National Supporter for 2014

(FIFA.com) Friday 15 April 2011

FIFA.comThe 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ is not only beginning to capture the imagination of football fans in the country, but also some its strongest brands, who have already signed up as official sponsors of the tournament.

FIFA is delighted to announce the latest addition to the group of sponsors, with Brazilian brand Nescau agreeing a deal to become a National Supporter of the next FIFA World Cup.

Nescau becomes the fourth Brazil-based company to sign up for the event, following FIFA World Cup Sponsors Marfrig and Oi and fellow National Supporter Banco Itaú.

We are extremely proud to be supporting the biggest event in world football.Ivan Zurita, President of Nestlé Brazil, Nescau’s parent company
The brand, a manufacturer of pre-packaged chocolate bars and ice creams, will receive extensive local marketing rights within Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013, as well as exclusivity within their product category.

Ivan Zurita, President of Nestlé Brazil, Nescau’s parent company, reflected on the deal, stating: “Our sponsorship of the 2014 FIFA World Cup gives us the opportunity to get even closer to our fans and consumers. We are extremely proud to be supporting the biggest event in world football.”

FIFA’s Marketing Director Thierry Weil added: “We are delighted to welcome Nescau as the latest member of FIFA’s sponsor family. The fact that so many Brazilian brands are committing to the event is great news for us and highlights the appeal of the event within the host nation. We’re looking forward to working with Nescau to ensure that both parties drive as much value as possible from this deal.”

Nescau’s pre-packaged chocolate bars and ice-creams will be available to fans at all stadiums during the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/media/newsid=1418984/index.html

FIFA 'satisfied' with Brazil progress

30 April 2011-AP


Brazil's sports minister says FIFA's secretary general is satisfied with the work being done to prepare Latin America's largest country for hosting the 2014 World Cup.


Sports Minister Orlando Silva met with Jerome Valcke in Brasilia on Friday and told reporters the FIFA official was keen to know whether the airports in the cities that will host games will be renovated and upgraded in time for the event.

Silva said Valcke was given a detailed report on the preparations for the World Cup and of plans to allow private initiatives to take part in the renovation and upgrades of the airports.

Silva said Valcke was "extremely satisfied with what we presented. He leaves Brazil confident that the path taken to prepare for the World Cup is the correct path."

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1054487/FIFA-'satisfied'-with-Brazil-progress

Brazil behind schedule for World Cup.

Submitted by WG on Sun, 08/05/2011 - 07:24

Brazil is behind schedule with its preparations for the 2014 World Cup. The 12 host cities have among them nine airport developments which are well behind schedule. Sao Paulo has not even started to build the new stadium that is supposed to stage the opening match. The contract for Natal's proposed arena was signed only on April 15th.



Air travel is essential to shuttle fans between games but most of the country's airports are already operating well above their capacity. Baggage handling and check in are slow. Delays and cancellations are common. Quick fixes may have to be used such as temporary check-in deks and waiting areas in airport car parks.

http://www.footballeconomy.com/content/brazil-behind-schedule-world-cup

Blatter expects 2014 technology

28 March 2011-AP


FIFA president Sepp Blatter expects goal-line technology to be in place for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.


"I believe we will have a system in 2012 which allows us to say whether it was a goal or not. And this system will then be introduced for the 2014 World Cup," Blatter said in an interview with French TF1 television broadcast on Sunday.

The ruling body has been reluctant to bring modern technology into football to help referees. But a growing number of players, referees and officials want technology to help determine whether a ball has crossed the line or not, via video evidence or a chip in the ball.

The issue is being re-assessed because a clear England goal in the round-of-16 match with Germany at the 2010 World Cup was not given by match officials.

"To avoid what the English have (named) a flagrant injustice, the discussion had to be re-opened, and that is what we did," Blatter told TF1.

FIFA decided earlier this month to delay a decision on goal-line technology to allow further testing of chip balls and goal cameras.

A decision is now expected in March 2012 from the International Football Association Board which oversees the laws of the game.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1050149/Blatter-expects-2014-technology

Football: Vale ace Griffith prepares to kick-off 2014 World Cup

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 The Sentinel

PORT Vale midfielder Anthony Griffith will officially kick-off the road to the 2014 Brazil World Cup when he skippers Montserrat on his international debut against Belize tomorrow.

But the 24-year-old, pictured below, will be playing in front of just a few spectators – and no television cameras – on a "home" pitch 400 miles from the tiny Caribbean island birthplace of his late father.


••..Montserrat are still without a venue to host tomorrow's game, the first qualifying match anywhere across the globe, because of the volcanic eruptions which devastated the island in the mid-1990s.

So Griffith, the 13th player to earn international recognition while plying their trade in Burslem, will instead lead his team out in the Trinidad town of Malabar.

And yet the built-for-cricket Larry Gomes Stadium has already seen action from a Vale midfielder on duty for his country ... as a training ground for Chris Birchall's Trinidad and Tobago during their own World Cup adventure in 2006.

"It'll be a challenge, but I think I'm ready," said Yorkshire-born Griffith, who has made 118 appearance for the Valiants since joining them from Doncaster Rovers in 2008.

"I first knew of the opportunity to play for Montserrat a couple of years back because it was where my dad, Sylvester, was born, but it all died down until last September.

"I could have gone to play in a couple of Caribbean Cup matches, but at the time I wanted to concentrate on Vale. who were flying in League Two.

"But now I'm really excited to have the opportunity to play in a World Cup qualifier, and have my name marked down in the history books as an international footballer."

Montserrat's recent history has been dominated by regular explosions from the Soufrière Hills volcano, which have forced two-thirds of the once 18,000-strong population to flee the island.

Activity began in July 1995 and carried on for more than a year-and-a-half, covering the capital city of Plymouth in several metres of debris.

A new eruption in June 1997 killed 19 people and completely destroyed the island's airport.

The island was named after a mountain near the Spanish city of Barcelona, but that is where the resemblance ends as the national team have won just twice since their first match in 1991.

In 2002, the British overseas territory earned the dubious honour of the worst team in the world after they were thrashed 4-0 by the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan in a showdown between the two lowest-ranked nations dubbed "The Other Final".

They will take on a Belize side joint 172 in the latest FIFA world rankings. Montserrat remain rock bottom at joint 202, along with such footballing luminaries as San Marino, Anguilla, American Samoa and Papua New Guinea.

Newly-appointed team captain Griffith had never set foot in the country before he was called up for selection, but he was eager to learn of its history and that of his own family.

He said: "I was only a small kid when my dad passed away and I don't know much about him at all, or that side of our ancestry.

"It'll be interesting to find out about him, where he came from and the culture of that country. I know it has been very tough for the past 15 years or so especially.

"I have a couple of aunts living in Preston who are from Montserrat so I'll be asking them to help me learn about the heritage."

And Griffith, probably his country's most famous player since Norwich and Spurs striker Ruel Fox, is confident he can help improve the side's standing in world football.

He said: "I don't have any idea what the standard will be like, but there are a few familiar names in the squad, like Junior Mendes, and Lloyd Dyer has played recently.

"Testafe Bramble has also played for them before, and there was talk of his brother, (Sunderland defender) Titus, getting a call this time around.

"There is a whole batch of players who have got Montserrat connections and hopefully we can help the country improve its reputation."

The team are coached by Kenny Dyer, a 46-year-old former youth-team player for Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Charlton who went on to star for non-league outfits Maidstone United, Chatham Town, Dover Athletic, Dagenham & Redbridge, Slough Town and Hayes. He also managed Haringey Borough between 2004 and 2005 before leaving to coach the Montserrat under-21s in 2006. He took over as national team coach in 2008.

Kick-off tomorrow is 11pm Burslem time. However, storms are predicted and the temperature expected to reach a heady 30C.

The Belize return match will be played in Belmopan on Sunday, with the winners going through to a second qualifying round group of four. That could pit Griffith against Birchall, a veteran of Trinidad and Tobago's 2006 trip to the World Cup finals in Germany, or his own cousin, Delroy Facey, who plays for Grenada.

A third and fourth qualifying stage followed by an inter-confederation play-off make Montserrat's chances of making it to South America in three years' time rather unlikely.

But Griffith said: "It's a great chance to announce ourselves to the world. This is the World Cup we're talking about and you never know who might be watching. It could be a great opportunity.

"The atmosphere is first-class among the home-based players and those who've come in from abroad. I've pictured it several times in my head and I'm sure we're going to win."

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Football-Vale-ace-Griffith-prepares-kick-2014/story-12766788-detail/story.html

It'd be nice to get some actual conversation going on in here.

Not Joffa posting articles that no-one even reads....

It'd be nice to get some actual conversation going on in here.

Not Joffa posting articles that no-one even reads....

Rio de Janeiro police clear decks for 2014 World Cup

From: AFP June 21, 2011

Hundreds of Brazilian police and soldiers backed by helicopters and armoured vehicles swept in to take over a crime-ridden Rio slum yesterday as part of a pacification plan ahead of the football World Cup in 2014.

More than 100 marines, 160 elite police officers and 600 ordinary officers took part in the operation in the hillside Mangueira neighbourhood, which went off without a shot being fired, a police spokesman said.

Mangueira is near Rio's famed Maracana football stadium.

The pre-announced operation began just after dawn with 14 armoured personnel carriers thundering up the slum's steep roads and helicopters clattering overhead, as security forces on foot followed with arms at the ready.

Ninety minutes later, two of the vehicles reached the highest point of the slum and officers hoisted the Brazilian flag atop a water tank. The forces met no resistance. Drug gangs that had been controlling the district had fled well in advance.

"We were woken at six in the morning by the helicopters. Everything was already calm before that. It would have been better if they spent the money on improving the hospitals," said one resident, a kitchen employee and mother of five who gave her first name as Bete.

Her seven-year-old nephew Donatan said he was afraid: "When I heard the noise, my legs started shaking. The house was shaking, too. I thought the police were going to start shooting."

Most residents refused to comment for fear of reprisals in case the drug gangs returned. The few who did refused to give their last name.

"All of that is because of the World Cup. But afterwards, who will make sure it doesn't go back to like before, that the police won't leave?" asked Vera, 54.

Vinicius, 15, feared what the slum would be like under police control. "It's finished, going out at night. We'll have to stay at home."

Some residents said they were worried more about the police than the gang members, who reigned but also provided security. There were also concerns that gunfights might break out between police and drug traffickers.

The operation was the final link in a "security perimeter" authorities have set up around the Maracana stadium, which will play host to the World Cup final, to be watched by more than 700 million television viewers around the world.

It will also be a venue for sports featuring in the 2016 Olympic Games, which Rio will also host.

Unlike in previous years, when the police raided the neighbourhoods only to exit soon after, leaving a vacuum quickly filled by returning gangs, they are setting up local posts in the slums to maintain control.

AFP

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/rio-de-janiero-police-clear-decks-for-2014-world-cup/story-e6frg6so-1226078758650

FIFA worried about Brazil 2014 World Cup preparations

From: AP June 25, 2011

FIFA has said it remains concerned at the slow pace of Brazil's preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

The world soccer body said Brazil’s soccer officials appear to have invested more energy in winning the tournament than organising it.

"We don't have stadiums, we don't have airports," secretary general Jerome Valcke said yesterday at the Inside World Football forum in Moscow.

He added it looked increasingly likely that some facilities, including Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana, would be ready with only a few weeks to spare.

"The Maracana is not a World Cup stadium" yet, Valcke said, adding that in Brazil "the main issue is not to organise the World Cup but to win the World Cup".

Brazil, which won hosting rights by default after other South American nations withdrew their bids, has been mired in organisational and bureaucracy problems since it was announced as host in 2007.

Builders working on one of the stadiums only this week returned to work after going on strike over pay and conditions. About 160 of the nearly 400 workers helping to upgrade Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte stopped working this month. The agreement includes a four per cent wage hike, a health plan and more overtime pay.

Belo Horizonte is one of the cities vying to host the opening match. Others include the capital, Brasilia, and Sao Paulo, South America's biggest city.

Brazilian lawmakers this month were forced to approve a raft of measures aimed at reducing the paperwork needed to clear various infrastructure projects. The changes reduce the time to conclude the bidding processes on tenders, eliminating some stages and need for approval.

Valcke urged Russia, which is hosting the event for the first time in 2018, to have the required 12 stadiums ready two years in advance to allow time for test events, a luxury Brazil won't have. Russia is building most of the facilities from scratch in a US$10 billion ($9.5 billion)project, a budget that doesn't include the massive infrastructure improvements needed such as rail networks and new roads and airport upgrades.

It was Valcke's first public appearance since FIFA exonerated him of wrongdoing for saying Qatar had "bought" the 2022 World Cup hosting rights. Valcke alluded to the maelstrom of corruption allegations to dog FIFA in recent months, beginning his keynote speech by saying "it's good to talk about football. I mean, we need it at FIFA sometimes".

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/fifa-worried-about-brazil-2014/story-e6frepmf-1226081737093

Mongolia 1-0 Myanmar

Second legs to be played this weekend. Timor-Leste's "home" game against Nepal will actually be played at Kathmandu in Nepal. Most of these sides will just be cannon fodder for some of Asia's middleweights in the next round, but a couple of them have a sneaky chance of getting through to the group stage, where they might get to play the likes of Japan, Australia or Korea.

Thirty hopefuls begin road to round three

(FIFA.com) Friday 22 July 2011
AFP

Asian minnows rarely take centre stage. However, the continent's second qualifying round for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ provides them with a seldom chance to rub shoulders with the big boys. Fifteen underdogs, including the eight successful sides from the opening round, will challenge higher-ranked rivals over two legs, the first of which will unfold tomorrow, for the right to join Australia, Bahrain, Japan, Korea DPR and Korea Republic in the next phase.

Such meetings invariably used to end in one-sided results, with upsets scarce. With the gap between teams in Asia having narrowed significantly in recent years, though, the favourites can take nothing for granted. FIFA.com previews the ensuing action.


The big game
United Arab Emirates-India

This is without doubt the pick of the contests, given that it is the only one featuring two sides which competed in January's AFC Asian Cup. Both ultimately exited at the group stage, though India can take heart from returning to the competition for the first time since 1984 and United Arab Emirates can draw encouragement from being unlucky to be held to a goalless draw by South Africa 2010 participants, Korea DPR.

The pair have both made fast progress thereafter. Under new coach Armando Colaco, India recently stunned Qatar 2-1, while Srecko Katanec's side thrashed Lebanon 6-2 in a friendly. The South Asians can look to the prolific form of Sunil Chhetri, who was twice on target during the continental finals. For their part, the UAE, with the talismanic Ismail Matar likely to miss out through injury, will entrust striking prodigy Ahmed Khalil, who netted a hat-trick against the Lebanese, with inspiring a home triumph.

Despite the first leg taking place in Al Ain, Colaco wants nothing less than victory. He said: "My players are eager to play the UAE, and we will play to win." Katanec, meanwhile, has fixed his sights on no fewer than an emphatic success: "The India match is a test for us. But the players are confident of building up a big cushion to take to Dehli.

United Arab Emirates have met twice in the FIFA World Cup preliminaries, on the road to Korea/Japan 2002, when they recorded a 1-0 win apiece.

The best of the rest
The aforementioned game is one of eight involving teams who have encountered one another before in FIFA World Cup qualifying. Among them is Iran-Maldives, whose last meeting, in the run-up to France 1998, ended in an astounding 26-0 aggregate victory for Team Melli – a then record in the preliminaries.

This time around, a far tighter contest is expetced. Maldives highlighted their progress with by holding Korea Republic to a goalless draw in qualifying for Germany 2006, before reducing Yemen to a narrow 3-2 aggregate win in their attempt to reach South Africa 2010. That said, Iran, under Carlos Queiroz and captained by Ali Karimi, are still very much the team to beat.

Like Maldives, Vietnam have a score to settle, having been humiliated 4-0 both home and away by Qatar in their debut qualifying appearance in 1994. Their hopes lie on the form of forward Le Cong Vinh, who smashed home seven goals against Macau over two legs. Qatar, spearheaded by their Asian Cup hero Yusef Ahmed, must overcome inconsistency if they are to live up to their billing as the firm favourites.

Inspired by their elimination of Chinese Taipei, Malaysia expect to upstage neighbouring Singapore and seal their first-ever qualification for the third round. With goal-getter Mohd Safee Mohd Sali back to fitness, coach Rajagobal Krishnasamy can field the formidable side which conquered all at last December’s AFF Championship. Radojko Avramovic’s charges do boast the better qualifying record, however, having reached the third stage in their previous attempt for South Africa 2010.

Recent success is not something Thailand can count on when they entertain Palestine in Bangkok. Having failed to progress beyond the group stage in the recent AFF Championship, despite being three-time winners of the tournament, the Land of Smiles, under newly-appointed Winfried Schafer, are desperate to redeem themselves against the West Asians.

Despite progressing with a 5-1 aggregate victory over Sri Lanka, Philippines face an uphill challenge against a Kuwait outfit 57 places above them on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. The Azkals' German coach Michael Weiss told FIFA.com: "We are underdogs in many aspects, but the team are on their top form and we will strive to defy the odds."

Elsewhere, China PR are expected to make light work of Laos, while the same can be said of four-time FIFA World Cup qualifiers Saudi Arabia, who take on Hong Kong. Uzbekistan are hoping to continue their regional authority over Kyrgyzstan, and an easy tie against Yemen should beckon for Iraq, who ran out 9-1 aggregate winners in the sides’ last meeting ahead of USA 1994.

Player to watch
Having established himself as one of south-east Asia's best forwards in recent years, can Le Cong Vinh prove himself on the entire continental stage by steering Vietnam past Qatar?

What they said
"To be honest I was not happy when I learned that we have to face Iran. However, we are not daunted by the task and our target is to play as best as we can and achieve satisfying results," Andres Cruciani, Maldives coach.

Second round, first legs
23 July
Thailand-Palestine
Lebanon-Bangladesh
China PR-Laos
Turkmenistan-Indonesia
Kuwait-Philippines
Oman-Myanmar
Saudi Arabia-Hong Kong
Iran-Maldives
Syria-Tajikistan
Qatar-Vietnam
Iraq-Yemen
Singapore-Malaysia
Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan
United Arab Emirates-India
Jordan-Nepal

The second legs will be played on Thursday 28 July.

Have Your Say
Which underdogs do you foresee springing a surprise? Which players do you reckon will headline the upcoming games? Simply click ‘Add your comment’ to make your views known, remembering to keep your posts clean, respectful, on-topic and in English.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1478636/index.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

Brazil sports minister says work on 12 stadiums for World Cup will be completed by late 2013

By Associated Press, Friday, July 22, 4:53 AM

BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil’s sports minister says the construction and renovation work on the 12 stadiums scheduled to host matches at the World Cup will be concluded by late 2013.

Orlando Silva said Thursday in a conference call that 10 of the stadiums will host matches for the 2013 Confederations Cup, a test event for soccer’s showcase tournament.

Silva says Brazil will invest $14 billion in airports, urban transportation, ports and stadiums for the World Cup.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/brazil-sports-minister-says-work-on-12-stadiums-for-world-cup-will-be-completed-by-late-2013/2011/07/21/gIQAJ79DSI_story.html

Worries over Brazil for 2014 World Cup Sao Paulo, Brazil

July 27, 2011 - 7:32AM

.FIFA will fire the starting gun on Saturday for the build-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with the qualifying draw in Rio.

But lingering worries over security and the country's infrastructure continue to occupy the minds of organisers.

Several of the 12 venues, including the mythical Maracana in Rio, remain behind schedule on construction or renovation and/or over budget.

A mooted new venue in Natal in the north east of the huge country of almost 200 million people has yet to see the light of day and another in Minas Gerais state in the south east is behind schedule owing to worker protests.

"If work goes on at its current rate, when we have the Confederations Cup a year before the World Cup, there won't be matches in Rio and Sao Paulo - the World Cup venues won't be ready," FIFA president Sepp Blatter fretted in March.

Organisers in Rio say they believe the Maracana will finally be spick and span in time - but only after renovations costing some $US625 million ($A577.85 million).

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff insists the construction program "will be duly completed on time," in the words of her Ministry of Sports assessor Alcino Rocha.

But above and beyond the stadium costs, further associated public funds of public investment are still required to the tune of an estimated $US11.4 billion ($A10.54 billion).

Much of that will go on improving the road network, boosting hotel capacity, reinforcing security, modernising telecommunications systems and also improving air traffic capacity with the current network already full to bursting point.

A major influx of tourism on a nationwide scale would likely cause the system to collapse, causing chaos to the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of fans.

"During June and July 2014, the Cup will generate an additional flow of some 2.25 million passengers through Brazilian airports," according to a report from the Getulio Vargas Foundation and consultancy Ernst & Young Terco.

That influx corresponds only to median passenger numbers for the summer of 2009, meaning extra capacity is sorely needed.

Official reports warn that of 13 airports being expanded in time for the Copa to serve the 12 venues, nine will not be completed on time.

"One cannot see this issue just in terms of the Cup - there has to be planning so that the investments can be signed off and approved," Marcos Nicolas, executive director of Ernst & Young Terco, told AFP.

The government has already launched plans to privatise several major airports, including Guarulhos, serving Sao Paulo, Viracopos (Campinas) and Brasilia.

Although officials say things are coming together, respected sports journalist Celso Unzelte warns that the country's "structural problems won't get resolved in three years".

Unzelte indicated: "The event will go ahead as FIFA dropped the level of its demands" for the hosting of the Cup.

And Unzelte added that, despite former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva insisting the country would pull it off, Brazil in reality "cannot aspire to host the best World Cup in history," even as it strains to modernise as fast as possible to meet expectations.

Former star Romario agrees.

"Only Jesus can get Brazil to host the best ever World Cup. If he shows up in three years time, then it will be possible."

AFP


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/worries-over-brazil-for-2014-world-cup-20110727-1hz0i.html#ixzz1TIGT2LHj

Sepp Blatter to question Brazilian FA president about Pelé snub

Sepp Blatter is planning to meet the outspoken president of the Brazil FA (CBF), Ricardo Teixeira, over remarks the Brazilian has made against England and for snubbing Pelé by not inviting him to the World Cup draw on Saturday.

Teixeira, a Fifa executive committee member who has been surrounded by controversy for years, recently accused the English of being "pirates" and said they "could go to hell". On Friday he refused to talk to English journalists, calling them "corrupt" after a media scuffle involving his entourage following a news conference ahead of the draw.

Blatter said Teixeira's criticism of England was not good for Fifa's image and he was upset that Pele had not been invited to the draw, although the former Brazil international will now be there. Blatter said: "I will speak to him but I have already said once, I'm not the man who is responsible for the moral or ethical approach of the members of Fifa or the members of the executive committee. I'm not their conscience. It is his responsibility what he is doing. I am not so sure that all of that is in my spirit of fair play."

Teixeira is upset with England after David Triesman, the former head of the FA, accused him in a parliamentary inquiry of asking for a bribe in return for his vote to back England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup finals. A subsequent inquiry found no evidence for Triesman's allegation and Fifa cleared the Brazilian of any wrongdoing.Teixeira said in an interview last week he would make the lives of the English FA and the English media very difficult during the World Cup, if England qualified.

Teixeira, who has a had a long-running feud with Pelé, also angered Brazilians by not inviting the man widely regarded as the world's greatest ever player, to Saturday's draw. Pelé was going to be absent until the Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff, stepped in and named him as Brazil's international World Cup ambassador.

Blatter said he was surprised that Pelé would otherwise have missed the first major milestone on the way to the finals. "I am surprised he was not invited and I will be looking into it," Blatter said.

Pelé branded Teixeira's attack on England as "not good" for the 2014 hosts, saying: "This is not good for Brazil. Some people talk more than they know. I think that the controversy is not good for Brazil. With Ricardo we always have some confusion or misunderstanding when he does interviews. I hope from now on we can clear this away and he can work properly for the good of the World Cup."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/29/sepp-blatter-pele-ricardo-teixeira

World Cup Qualifiers fixture list is out!
Most of us have been anticipating this news now that Sergio BATISTA is gone. Before Checho was fired, I didn't want to see this fixture list but now I can breathe a bit more comfortably and look forward to enjoying the ride.


Before we give you the complete fixture list for the South American World Cup Qualifiers with a couple of reminders: Brazil, as host, obviously are not part of this so each team will have two bye weeks.

Most importantly, four teams out of the nine competing will qualify automatically while the fifth-placed team will go to a playoffs. This weekend in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, there will be a draw for World Cup Qualifiers in other regions and one of the things that will be introduced for this edition is that the playoffs are not previously determined. There will be a draw to establish the region from which the rival for the fifth-placed South American team will be from.

So here you have it, the full fixture list as announced by CONMEBOL:

Week 1 (7 October, 2011)

Uruguay - Bolivia
Perú - Paraguay
Argentina - Chile
Ecuador - Venezuela
Bye: Colombia

Week 2 (11 October, 2011)

Venezuela - Argentina
Paraguay - Uruguay
Chile - Perú
Bolivia - Colombia
Bye: Ecuador

Week 3 (11 November, 2011)

Argentina - Bolivia
Paraguay - Ecuador
Uruguay - Chile
Colombia - Venezuela
Bye: Perú

Week 4 (15 November, 2011)

Colombia - Argentina
Venezuela - Bolivia
Chile - Paraguay
Ecuador - Perú
Bye: Uruguay

Week 5 (2/3 June, 2012)

Argentina - Ecuador
Bolivia - Chile
Perú - Colombia
Uruguay - Venezuela
Bye: Paraguay

Week 6 (9/10 June, 2012)

Bolivia - Paraguay
Venezuela - Chile
Uruguay - Perú
Ecuador - Colombia
Bye: Argentina

Week 7 (7 September, 2012)

Colombia - Uruguay
Ecuador - Bolivia
Argentina - Paraguay
Perú - Venezuela
Bye: Chile

Week 8 (11 September, 2012)

Perú - Argentina
Uruguay - Ecuador
Chile - Colombia
Paraguay - Venezuela
Bye: Bolivia

Week 9 (12 October, 2012)

Argentina - Uruguay
Colombia - Paraguay
Ecuador - Chile
Bolivia - Perú
Bye: Venezuela

Week 10 (16 October, 2012)

Bolivia - Uruguay
Paraguay - Perú
Chile - Argentina
Venezuela - Ecuador
Bye: Colombia

Week 11 (22 March, 2013)

Argentina - Venezuela
Uruguay - Paraguay
Perú - Chile
Colombia - Bolivia
Bye: Ecuador

Week 12 (26 March, 2013)

Bolivia - Argentina
Ecuador - Paraguay
Chile - Uruguay
Venezuela - Colombia
Bye: Perú

Week 13 (7 June, 2013)

Argentina - Colombia
Bolivia - Venezuela
Paraguay - Chile
Perú - Ecuador
Bye: Uruguay

Week 14 (11 June, 2013)

Ecuador - Argentina
Chile - Bolivia
Colombia - Perú
Venezuela - Uruguay
Bye: Paraguay

Week 15 (8 September, 2013)

Paraguay - Bolivia
Chile - Venezuela
Perú - Uruguay
Colombia - Ecuador
Bye: Argentina

Week 16 (10 September, 2013)

Uruguay - Colombia
Bolivia - Ecuador
Paraguay - Argentina
Venezuela - Perú
Bye: Chile

Week 17 (11 October, 2013)

Argentina - Perú
Ecuador - Uruguay
Colombia - Chile
Venezuela - Paraguay
Bye: Bolivia

Week 18 (15 October, 2013)

Uruguay - Argentina
Paraguay - Colombia
Chile - Ecuador
Perú - Bolivia
Bye: Venezuela

http://www.mundoalbiceleste.com/Article.aspx?id=2507&rss=1&title=world-cup-qualifiers-fixture-list-is-out

brazil's grand obsession with beautiful game

Saturday July 30 2011

Welcome to the land where football never sleeps, where games are found at any hour, day or night and where those strolling along the boardwalk are beckoned across to join in kick-abouts (good first touch permitting).

Welcome to Brazil, the land where football comes second only to breathing in the list of daily must-dos.

So, today's 2014 World Cup draw at Marina da Gloria, which sounds like the Girl from Ipanema, but is actually a large tent by the Atlantic, stirs exquisite expectation darkened only by a fear of missing out on what will be the greatest footballing party ever held. Every fan will want to travel to football's heartland.

Brazil's grand obsession can be seen everywhere from the rebuilding of the mighty Maracana to those five gleaming stars stitched into the national team shirt denoting World Cup triumphs.

But for the visitor to Rio this week, it has been the little details that form the big picture of Brazil's love affair, that signal why the world will tumble smitten into this country's embrace in three years.

It is seen in the conspiratorial smile from a security guard at Maracana as this Englishman nips inside to snap a sneaky picture of the splendid montage of legends like Zico and Pele.

It is the Botafogo fan who guides strangers up into the stands at the Olympic Stadium, beaming proudly when mention is made of Garrincha, the 'little bird' on the wing in the Fifties and Sixties.

It is the radio commentator, greeting Botafogo's two goals with lung-shredding fervour.

It is the elegant lady striding along Ipanema Beach in her ironed Flamengo shirt at 7.0am.

It is the old men gathered around their tables as the sun stretches its warming fingers across the beach, these hardened Flamengo fans poring reverentially over the pictures of Ronaldinho shimmying through Santos' defence. Such is Brazil's fixation with footballing idols that Ronaldinho was mobbed by reporters clamouring for his views as he walked off the pitch -- at half-time.

Even a well-travelled man such as Guus Hiddink, the Alan Whicker of the managerial world, gets caught up in the joys of Brazil. "It's of course a country where you see football everywhere -- near the beach where kids play it any time of the day," reflected the Dutchman, currently Turkey coach.

"There is incredible passion. Brazil will be very attractive because of the romance. Football is in the soul of every kid in this country. There is more passion than even in Europe.''

Such is the desire to welcome the world that some Rio taxi drivers are even taking lessons in English, although some could do with driving lessons first.

If England qualify (usual caveats, disclaimers and no-liability clauses apply) then the cabbies on the Copacabana may be genning up on words like 'penalties' and 'not again'.

England seem to spend their time shuffling around the globe, seeking redemption for past failures. They certainly have a World Cup score to settle in Brazil, a humiliating score from 1950. Some of the most fabled names of the English game, icons like Stan Mortensen, Billy Wright, Tom Finney, Alf Ramsey and Wilf Mannion, lost 1-0 in Belo Horizonte to the United States' collection of teachers, hearse-drivers and dishwashers.

If 1950 was their darkest World Cup hour, 2010 was almost as much a wake for a pedestrian England outplayed by a youthful German side in Bloemfontein.

England will be hoping that the date of the draw provides a good omen. For, 45 years ago today, on a sunny afternoon in north London, West Germany were overcome 4-2 in the World Cup final at Wembley.

Tonight, nearly 6,000 miles away in sunny Rio de Janeiro, England's 12th and latest quest to replicate the achievements of Alf Ramsey's side will be mapped out. Those planning to save to make the football trip of a lifetime should note that there are just 1,048 days to go before the opening match of the 2014 World Cup finals. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

Irish Independent

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/brazils-grand-obsession-with-beautiful-game-2835540.html

Pele: Brazil 2014 to be the best

3 August 2011-PA Sport

Brazil legend Pele has moved to allay fears regarding his country's organisation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and believes it will be the best one yet.

The South American nation's preparations have been dogged by speculation regarding their progress, with transport problems and half-built stadiums raising concern.

The issues are highlighted by the fact that construction on the venue for the opening match in Sao Paulo has only just begun but Pele believes the country will rise to the challenges that face them over the next three years.

"It is okay," he said. "We have had a little problem there and everybody knows that.

"I worried a little bit because we worked for years to have the Olympics and the World Cup.

"Then we get them both and have a little bit of a problem with the administration in Brazil.

"This was more in Sao Paulo and even now they do not have a stadium decided, but the rest of Brazil is already done.

"I was with the President of Brazil Mrs Dilmar [Rousseff] last week and she pledged to do the hard work to avoid any problems.

"I have no doubt it will be the best World Cup."

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/2014-world-cup/news/1067213/Pele-Brazil-2014-to-be-the-best

Herbert: We’ll make sure we do things right
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 9 August 2011

Ricki Herbert, New Zealand coach
It was always going to an interesting draw for the [intercontinental] play-offs, and Oceania has now got a different region (as an opponent) than we’ve had in the past. It’ll be a challenge, but one New Zealand will relish if we get to that stage. Hopefully the dice fall in our favour through qualifying and if you look historically then we’re in with a chance. But we’ve got to get through to that stage first, and we’ll make sure we do things right. The extra round will have its challenges from a time component, but we’ve been good at working through that in the past. But we’ve got clarity now. We know what we need to do, who we’re playing and we can start preparing.

Jacob Moli, Solomon Islands coach
The bottom line is we have to make our own luck in this group, nothing will given for free and since it is the pool of death, every game is a must win. Meeting New Zealand will be very exciting as it will give Solomon Islands a good measurement of our standard compared to a World Cup team. Of course, we have to go the extra mile to ensure that we are of sufficient quality to win against them, but I am fully confident that that we can achieve that. I think the success of New Zealand in the World Cup has also inspired all of the island countries. The quality that they will bring will be something we can really benefit from. Having them in the same group is an honour but when the whistle blows all respect will be out the door. The current format is really interesting because New Zealand will have to play in the same playground as the island countries.

Anil Sharma, Fiji team director
The long path to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has been laid. It will not be an easy task to top the Oceania region, and then face off against the fourth-best side from CONCACAF for a place at the FIFA World Cup, but we will be out there ready for the challenge. Like any other side we are not preparing ourselves to lose. This could be tagged as the pool of death but we are not going to sit back and let a chance of being the first national side of Fiji to qualify for a FIFA event go by easily. We will fight till the end and perform to best of our abilities for a positive outcome. Our immediate aim will be to qualify for the third stage of the Oceania play-offs.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1489251/index.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

Explosion at World Cup 2014 stadium leaves one worker seriously burnt and the rest on strike

By Sportsmail Reporter

Last updated at 10:05 AM on 18th August 2011

Construction workers refurbishing the giant Maracana stadium for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil have once again gone on strike after one of their colleagues was badly burnt in an on-site explosion.

The worker's legs were also injured when an oil barrel with chemical residue exploded at the facility in Rio de Janeiro. He was rushed to the city's Souza Aguiar hospital, his union added.

Many of the 1,500 person workforce held a demonstration outside the stadium demanding an improvement in conditions, as well as higher pay and better health care. Up to 1,500 people work on the stadium in rotating shifts.

Romildo da Silva, who heads the group in charge of staff rights on the site, said: 'We must improve our working conditions which are not ideal. We'll only return to work when our demands have been heard.'

The famed Maracana will stage Confederations Cup matches in 2013 and is expected to host the World Cup final a year later. The renovations have been estimated at £380million (one billion reais).

A statement from the Rio de Janeiro State Public Works said: 'These are labour issues that are being analysed by the consortium in charge of the work.'

Brazil's World Cup preparations have previously been hit by industrial action.

In June, workers renovating the Mineirao stadium that will host World Cup matches in Belo Horizonte, capital of the southern central state of Minas Gerais, went on strike for four days demanding better pay and conditions.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2027364/World-Cup-2014-hit-building-chaos-staff-strike-Maracana-stadium-explosion.html#ixzz1VNLCx83V