Joy and relief as United States looks ahead to 6th straight World Cup appearance

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — One by one, U.S. soccer players exited their celebration and came into the dark, narrow hallway outside the locker room of Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

Costa Rica beats Trinidad & Tobago 4-0 to bolster chances of qualifying for 2010 World Cup

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rica beat Trinidad & Tobago 4-0 on Saturday to put itself in position to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Report: Diego Maradona seeks help from Italian doctor to combat weight gain, stress

MERANO, Italy — Argentina coach Diego Maradona reportedly is in Italy to be treated for weight gain and stress following two straight losses by his team in World Cup qualifying.

Spain and England among 5 European teams that can clinch 2010 World Cup spots on Wednesday

LONDON — Spain and England are among five European teams that can secure a spot in the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday.

South Africans to get 120,000 free tickets to next year’s World Cup

JOHANNESBURG — Organizers are giving South Africans 120,000 free tickets to next year’s World Cup in an effort to make the tournament more accessible to citizens living in poverty.

US roster left largely intact from Confederations Cup for World Cup qualifier against Mexico

CHICAGO — Led by captain Carlos Bocanegra, the United States will play a key World Cup qualifier at Mexico next week with a roster loaded with players from its big upset of Spain.

Obama supports efforts to bring World Cup to US, meets FIFA head at White House

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday lobbied the head of international soccer on the United States’ bid to host the World Cup and said he hoped to attend the upcoming contest in South Africa.

FIFA head Sepp Blatter to invite President Obama to 2010 World Cup at White House meeting

NEW YORK — FIFA president Sepp Blatter has specific ideas on upgrading the popularity of soccer in the United States. He hopes he has an eager listener in President Barack Obama.

No surprise: US vs. Mexico for Gold Cup on Sunday at Meadowlands

This was the perfect Gold Cup for an outsider to steal. Honduras, perhaps. Or Canada.

FIFA fines Ivory Coast, limits stadium capacity after 22 fans died in World Cup stampede

ZURICH — FIFA fined Ivory Coast’s soccer federation after 22 people died in a stampede at a World Cup qualifying match in March.

Want to do your part for soccer? South Africa’s World Cup needs 15,000 volunteers

JOHANNESBURG — Organizers are looking for 15,000 volunteers to help with the first soccer World Cup to be held in Africa.

World Cup construction workers in South Africa end strike, had threatened to derail projects

JOHANNESBURG — Construction workers have agreed to end a weeklong strike that threatened to derail the completion of already tightly-scheduled projects for the World Cup, union officials and employers said Wednesday.

South African construction workers go on strike at 2010 World Cup stadiums

JOHANNESBURG — South African construction workers went on an indefinite strike Wednesday at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup — a move that could derail Africa’s historic first World Cup tournament.

Dunga’s Brazil shows backbone as well as talent as it chases another World Cup triumph

JOHANNESBURG — The first World Cup to be staged in Africa looks likely to have a familiar winner.

FIFA says economic downturn will affect World Cup sponsor activities in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG — The governing body of world soccer says the recession will only affect next year’s World Cup in South Africa indirectly, with most of the impact being felt in sponsor activities at the monthlong tournament.

North Korean soccer team gets rapturous official welcome after World Cup qualification

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s soccer team returned home to a rapturous official welcome on Saturday after having qualified for the World Cup for the first time since its memorable 1966 campaign.

German firm Adidas: Leadership in soccer products means profitable World Cup year in 2010

FRANKFURT — The 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which kicks off a year from now, will help German sportswear company Adidas AG increase its presence in the world soccer market, the company’s CEO said Wednesday.