Welcome to what feels like the most eagerly awaited day in the history of football: June 11, 2010 heralds the kick off on the 19th World Cup. The first to be held on African soil, if you needed reminded. TIME’s World Cup blog will be keeping you updated on all the events taking place at the opening ceremony and that first match between …
World Cup
Watch the World Cup, But Sit Up Straight
For those in the West who decry the encroachments of the “nanny state,” you ain’t seen nothing till you’ve come out to East Asia. A friend and local Hong Kong journalist forwarded to me a health advisory for World Cup fans put out by the territory’s government (Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China). It makes incredible …
World Cup Concert: South Africa Pinches Itself
If you were to sum up the atmosphere at the opening concert to kick off the soccer World Cup in one word, it would be: disbelief.
World Cup Concert: The Real Rebels of Rock ‘n’ Roll
If you’re one of the hundreds of millions expected to tune in for the concert kicking off the World Cup in Soweto tonight, keep an eye out for Tinariwen, due on stage at Orlando Stadium at 9.30pm local time (3.30pm EST). In the 60 odd years it’s been around, rock ‘n’ roll has progressed from the sound of rebellion to the sound of a …
Global Poll Predicts World Cup Winner
Let The Cussing Begin!
We all saw reports Wednesday that the trio of Brazilian referees officiating the England-USA match Saturday are memorizing a list of 20 swear words in order to sanction any foul mouthing like the kind Wayne Rooney dished out during his team’s final practice match Monday. Today, FIFA stepped up to point out it wasn’t responsible for the …
The World Cup is serious business, but that doesn’t mean players can’t have a bit of a laugh
The latest video clip of Argentina training suggests Maradona is encouraging his players to have a bit of fun. This is no bad thing.
France’s World Cup: “Can We Go Home Now?”
Don’t tell the French this World Cup isn’t all over for them before it even starts. Suggesting otherwise is largely brushed off on Planet France–the largest consuming nation of tranquilizers and anti-depressants anywhere. Right now, optimism is mostly seen as merely forestalling the soccer agony that fate has in store for l’equipe de …
Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth!
Strap yourself in, make sure your diary is clear until July 11 and get set for a fantastic fiesta of football. The 19th World Cup, being held in Africa for the first time, is almost upon us.
Quotes: Brazil’s President on Argentine, um, Preparations
“Diego Maradona is the only coach to adopt such a policy. I want to see the Argentines arrive staggering and exhausted to their games.”
– Brazilian President LULA DA SILVA, doesn’t think that Argentina’s policy to allow their players to have sex with their partners in South Africa is a good tactic. (via The Guardian)
World Cup: Security Problems Already?
Four days before the World Cup kicks off, the unedifying spectacle of football officials and policemen blaming each other for a dangerous stampede outside a friendly Nigeria-North Korea match at Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg, is a little worrying for any fan arriving in South Africa. Reports from the scene say between 15-20 spectators …
Spoiler Alert! JP Morgan Reveals World Cup Winner
Why don’t you save yourself the heartache of following your favorite team at the World Cup this summer: JP Morgan have given the game away by working out the winner.
In fact, there’s no need to read any further, as you can check out my brief take when this little news nugget originally did the rounds or see my colleague (and fellow …
Surprise! New World Cup Ball Provokes Controversy!
Ahead of every World Cup, there are always certain guarantees: England fans fear the team will eventually be eliminated via penalty kicks. The world will underestimate the German squad. And there will be a hullabaloo over the official match ball.
