World Cup Bid

• Decision day for World Cup hopefuls

  The marathon race for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups reaches its climax here Thursday as corruption-tainted global body FIFA votes to decide who will stage the footballing extravaganza.

• China ready to bid for World Cup 2026

  China's top football official has said his nation should bid for the 2026 World Cup, should an Asian nation fail to win the right to host the extravaganza in 2022, state press said on Thursday.

• FIFA's Bin Hammam criticises World Cup bidding process

  A senior member of FIFA's executive committee has criticised the decision to vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts at the same time in December.

• FIFA tells Maradona to stay away from draw

  FIFA has written to the Argentine football federation to make sure coach Diego Maradona stays away from Friday's World Cup draw.

• 

  Brazilian president backs England's World Cup bid

  England's bid to host the World Cup in 2018 has been boosted by Brazil's president offering his support ahead of a crucial week of campaigning.