Nine countries have already joined host nation Brazil in next year's World Cup and more will secure their places when qualifying resumes across the globe from Friday.

FIFA ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia expects his investigations into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to last into next year.

Ghana wants a neutral venue for next month's crucial World Cup playoff against Egypt, saying it's too dangerous to play in Cairo.

FIFA leaders agreed to set up a working group to study switching the dates of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to avoid the extreme summer heat.

FIFA has received applications for more than 4.5 million tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, a week before the first phase of sales ends.

FIFA opened a two-day board meeting Thursday that will discuss whether to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from the traditional summer dates.

Atletico Madrid was first in this week's Associated Press global soccer poll Tuesday after beating rival Real Madrid 1-0.

A Bulgarian player who tested positive for banned substances after a World Cup qualifying match has been suspended by FIFA.

City received 157 points out of a possible 180 in the team vote to finish 20 points ahead of Napoli.

With one lab suspended and its replacement unfinished, Brazil won't be able to handle drug testing for the 2014 World Cup alone and is looking overseas for help.