Soccer | featured news

The World Cup is causing quite a buzz on U.S. television ...

A disastrous blunder by England's goalkeeper cost his side victory in a 1-1 draw with the United States in their World Cup Group C opener Saturday.

Sixty years later, US and England meet again

By RONALD BLUM
2010-06-11T23:32:58Z
RUSTENBURG,

Mexico, which dominated much of the game, drew even in the 79th minute.

A great-grandchild of former South African President Nelson Mandela died early Friday morning while returning from the World Cup soccer tournament's kick-off concert, officials with the Mandela foundation said.

The first documented soccer games in Africa were staged in the future World Cup cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in 1862.

Diego Maradona, mad genius on the soccer field, madman off it, would seem to be an absurd choice to coach Argentina's team in the World Cup.<p/> Maradona, a former cocaine addict who weighed an obese 240 pounds before stomach-stapling surgery, often juggles the ball on the sideline during games. Or he's an emotional wreck, his face contorting operatically. After Argentina scored against Peru in a qualifying match, Maradona dove into a belly slide on the wet grass.

While many soccer fans expect Brazil to win the World Cup for a record sixth time, almost half of the North Americans surveyed predict an unexpected triumph for the United States.

Of all the South African sights and sounds that will make the 2010 World Cup unique, none promises to rouse more controversy than the blare of a plastic horn.

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba broke his right arm Friday during a 2-0 win against Japan in a warmup for the World Cup on Friday.