Paraguay

France stayed ahead of Brazil atop of the FIFA world soccer rankings for a third straight month, while Germany climbed three places to fifth.

Morocco, which reaffirmed its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup finals this week by dismissing South African calls to quit the race, has despatched a delegation to Paraguay to lobby for South America's support.
Business

The South American Football Confederation (CSF) is to meet next week to discuss whether Colombia should host this year's Copa America following violence in the Andean nation.
Business

Sportswear giants Nike denied before a Congressional commission of inquiry on Wednesday that they interfere in the picking of the Brazilian national soccer team, which they sponsor.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter called on Friday for worldwide bans against players who are found guilty of using false passports.
Events

Internet portal SportsYA.com has launched an interactive sports TV programme with Argentine TV network Azul TV.

Colombians are furious over Ameriko, the multi-cultured mascot for this year's Copa America which the Andean nation hosts in July.
Events

ESPN International is to broadcast live coverage of all four rounds of the 2000 World Golf Championship ? EMC World Cup.
Events

South Africa's 2006 World Cup bid committee will concentrate on the "nuts and bolts" of staging the event in its campaign rather than an emotional appeal for Africa.
Business

Brazilians have hit out at Sepp Blatter after the FIFA president threatened in a magazine interview to kick the country out of the 2002 World Cup.

Paraguay soccer captain Jose Luis Chilavert was fuming on Saturday after discovering that his photograph was on the match tickets for a 2002 World Cup qualifying match against Colombia.
Media

Romanian national coach Anghel Iordanescu has accused the country's soccer authorities of endangering the country's World Cup chances by denying him funds, facilities and competitive warm-up matches.
Events

ESPN is to broadcast live coverage of a major golf tournament in Argentina later this year.
Stadia

South America's latest club soccer tournament, a made-for-television affair called the Mercosur Cup, was met with stunning indifference as it kicked off this week.

ESPN?s Simplemente Football weekly magazine programme is to feature an in-depth interview with the wayward Argentinean soccer legend Diego Maradona.
Events

Brazil has said it would bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, and immediately received the backing of the South American Football Confederation (CSF).

Facts about the FIFA vote to decide who stages the 2006 World Cup finals, which will take place on Thursday in Zurich.
Business

Brazilian soccer's latest scandal has taken a new twist after a private meeting of the country's leading directors was secretly recorded and then broadcast by a radio station.