Morocco

FIFA president Sepp Blatter spent the weekend in Morocco for a visit to discuss the country's bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Soccer legend Pele has confirmed his support for South Africa's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, saying he thought Brazil could be ready to stage the finals four years later.

Germany has added weight to its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup finals by naming Franz Beckenbauer as head of their application.

South Africa and Morocco submitted bids to the African Soccer Confederation (CAF) over the weekend to stage the 2006 World Cup, the confederation's chief executive said.

Africa?s poor safety record which has seen 50 soccer spectators killed in separate incidents in less than a month could undermine plans to stage the World Cup in the continent for the first time in 2010.

South Africa looked poised to win Africa the most prestigious sporting event in the continent's history on Thursday - the 2006 World Cup finals?and Sportbusiness.com will bring you the news first.

South Africa's 2006 World Cup bid committee officials will meet their Brazil counterparts next week to discuss a possible deal over Brazilian backing for South Africa's bid.

Germany need to give their all in the closing stages of the race to hold the 2006 soccer World Cup finals, German bid chief Franz Beckenbauer said.

Morocco's 2006 World Cup campaign boss said during a lobbying visit to Nigeria that Africa should make only a single bid to host the tournament.Morocco and South Africa are among five nations bidding to host the 2006 finals along with Brazil, England and Germany."FIFA may find it easier to reject Africa's bid if both Morocco and South Africa insist on presenting their bids, citing lack of unity," Driss Benhima, head of the Morocco 2006 bid committee, told reporters.Benhima said the Confederation of African Football had to evolve a fair method of choosing either Morocco or South Africa. CAF are due to discuss the issue at their next Congress in Accra, Ghana in February.

A formidable army of supporters lined up to back England's World Cup 2006 bid, are claiming that the resignation of F.A. chief executive Graham Kelly would not hurt the nation's chances.

FIFA head Sepp Blatter has advised Africa to endorse a single bidder to stage the 2006 World Cup finals on the continent for the first time.

Africa?s hopes of hosting the World Cup in 2010 were put on hold after the continent became the victim of a second soccer stadium tragedy in less than a month.

As the race for the right to stage the 2006 World Cup finals entered its final hours on Wednesday, South Africa were still regarded as favourites with Germany a potent threat to their chances.

South Africa's Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour will meet Moroccan World Cup bid officials in Rabat to discuss the possibility of Morocco withdrawing from the 2006 race.

South Africa has invited African soccer greats Abedi Pele of Ghana and Cameroon's Roger Milla to be ambassadors for their 2006 World Cup bid.

Libya is supporting Morocco in its efforts to stage the 2006 World Cup finals, according to reports from a local news agency.