Tag: 2014 FIFA World Cup

• Tuesday, June 3rd 2014 - 06:03 UTC

  With help from FIFA, the stadium opening the World Cup approved the test

  

  A less-than-capacity crowd at Sunday’s final World Cup test event at the Itaquerao venue in Sao Paulo means it will host a full crowd for the first time at the tournament opener.

• Friday, May 30th 2014 - 22:11 UTC

  End protests against the World Cup, “whatever money has gone has been spent or stolen already”

  

  The grand-daughter of former FIFA president Joao Havelange has stepped into the war of words over Brazil's World Cup preparations unabashedly telling protestors angry at the tournament's massive budget to get over it because some money had already been “spent” or “stolen” or “robbed.”

• Friday, May 30th 2014 - 22:02 UTC

  Brazuca ball less erratic than the Jabulani used at South Africa, say Japanese scientists

  

  Scientists in Japan say the Brazuca 2014 World Cup ball will be less erratic than the Jabulani used at South Africa 2010. The Brazuca is the 12th World Cup match ball designed by Adidas. The Jabulani was criticized for its light weight and unpredictability.

• Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 22:06 UTC

  Rousseff sends the Army to safeguard airports and hotels hosting national teams

  

  Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff ordered the Army, which already occupies several of the favelas (shanty towns) in Rio do Janeiro to move in and take responsibility for airports and hotels that will be hosting the 32 national teams competing for the World Cup.

• Wednesday, May 28th 2014 - 08:24 UTC

  State of emergency because of floods in Manaus, where England plays Italy

  

  Brazilian World Cup host city Manaus has declared a state of emergency as the waters of an Amazon River tributary swell, although officials say they do not expect it to flood.

• Wednesday, May 28th 2014 - 00:15 UTC

  FBI helps train Sao Paulo police officers in crowd control strategies and use of force

  

  Fifty police officers from the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo were recently trained in crowd control strategies, the use of force, and more by the FBI. The upcoming FIFA World Cup was the driving force behind organizing the five-day workshop. Other topics addressed include decision making, interacting with media, and use of intelligence in identifying acts of vandalism.

• Tuesday, May 27th 2014 - 09:14 UTC

  Brazilian protests extend to the national team as it left Rio airport

  

  Brazil's World Cup squad were forced to avoid a group of 200 striking teachers on Monday as they headed for their tournament base camp against a backdrop of public anger over the cost of staging the event.

• Monday, May 26th 2014 - 06:33 UTC

  Brazil: Furious Dilma fires back at World Cup criticism from soccer star Ronaldo

  

  President Dilma Rousseff hit back over the weekend at criticism voiced by former soccer star Ronaldo over mishandled preparations for the World Cup. In an interview with Reuters Ronaldo lamented that many infrastructure projects promised for the tournament were significantly delayed, scaled-down, or canceled, while some stadiums remain unfinished just over two weeks from kick-off.

• Saturday, May 24th 2014 - 07:39 UTC

  FIFA warns about buying World Cup tickets from unauthorized sellers

  

  FIFA has told fans buying World Cup tickets from unauthorized sellers that they could be barred from stadiums. Three weeks from the opening match, FIFA said yesterday that it “cancels tickets discovered as illegally sold or re-sold with the bearers risking not being permitted entry.” FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil said some fans have already been affected.

• Saturday, May 24th 2014 - 07:22 UTC

  Maduro blames the World Cup for airlines decision to cut flights to Venezuela

  

  President Nicolás Maduro said the World Cup is to blame for international airlines’ decision to cut flights to Venezuela and denied that the move had anything to do with his government's refusal to allow them to repatriate proceeds from ticket sales inside the country.