The lottery drawing for the 2010 World Cup, happening in South Africa, was this afternoon. You can view the full group breakdowns here.

GROUP C
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia

This article in The Nation about how South Africa is preparing for the World Cup is so disturbing and sad. It's no surprise that they're displacing poor people - it's not right either - but this news is outrageous.

Then there are the assassinations. In a story that has garnered international news but little buzz in the United States, two people on a list of 20, have been assassinated for "whistle-blowing" on suspected corruption in the construction of the $150 million Mbombela Stadium. The Sunday World newspaper attained the list, which included two journalists and numerous political leaders. There are accusations swirling that the list is linked to the ruling African National Congress, which the ANC has denied in bizarre terms, "The ANC…wants to reiterate its condemnation of any murder of any person no matter what the motive may be," said ANC spokesperson Paul Mbenyane. It's never a good sign when you have to make clear that you are anti-murder.

All of these steps– displacements, crackdowns on informal trade, even accusations of state-sponsored assassinations – have an echo for people from the days of apartheid. It's provoked a fierce, and wholly predictable resistance. In a normal month, South Africa has more protests per capita than any nation on earth. But when you factor in the World Cup crackdown, a simmering nation can explode. Over 70,000 workers have taken part in strikes connected to World Cup projects since the preparations have begun, with 26 strikes since 2007. On March 4th, more than 250 people, in a press conference featuring representatives from four provinces, threatened to protest the opening game of the Cup unless their various demands were met. These protests should not be taken lightly, A woman named Lebo said to me, "We have learned in South Africa that unless we burn tires, unless we fight police, unless we are willing to return violence with violence, we will never be heard," Patrick Bond from the Center Civil Society in Durban said to me that protests should be expected: "Anytime you have three billion people watching, that's called leverage." Indeed.

With the 2010 World Cup a mere 23 days away, football fever is bigger than ever. The cover of the current issue of Vanity Fair features some of the world's biggest footie stars.

Meanwhile this weekend sees some serious football action. First off, on Saturday at 2:30 is the Champions League Final that see's Germany's FC Bayern München take on Italy's FC Inter Milan. The game airs live on Fox.

Then on Sunday, the New York / New Jersey Red Bulls will host a friendly match against the great Italian team Juventus. That game takes place at the Red Bulls Arena in Newark. Tickets are available here.

Juventus FC has confirmed that Italian star Alessandro Del Piero, French forward David Trezeguet and Brazilian midfielder Diego will be among the players in the squad who will travel to the United States for the upcoming friendly against the Red Bulls on Sunday, May 23 at 1:00 PM at Red Bull Arena.

Sadly, it seems that South Africa is a target....

The alleged al-Qaida leader accused of plotting to attack next month's football World Cup in South Africa claims he had merely sketched notes for the idea and given them to a senior Iraqi militant, but had not heard back from him.

Abdullah Azzam Salih Misfar said his plans had not progressed past a wishlist phase and stemmed from ongoing attempts to find a way to punish Denmark for the publication by a Danish cartoonist two years ago of images of the prophet Muhammad. "It was only an idea to blow up the World Cup in South Africa," Saudi-born Misfar said in an interview in Baghdad today. "I wrote the idea and sent it to Abu Hamza."

Hamza, a senior al-Qaida leader in Iraq who was also known as Abu Ayub al-Masri, was killed last month. "It was relayed through other men, but I didn't get a reply," Misfar said.

Misfar's comments appear to have poured cold water over a major security scare on the eve of the World Cup.

Iraqi security chiefs made the shock claim that Misfar planned to target the World Cup in a press conference in Baghdad yesterday, leading to frantic phone calls from South African organisers.

Planning was said to have gone as high as the world's second most wanted man, al-Qaida deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Read the rest of the article here.....

Bill Clinton is leading the effort to get the World Cup to return to America in 2018 or 2022.

The countries looking to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals handed in their bids on Friday to FIFA president Joseph Blatter at the headquarters of world football in Zurich.

Blatter accepted documentation from England, Russia, the United States, Australia and the joint bids of the Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal for both World Cups while Qatar, South Korea and Japan are hoping to host only the 2022 tournament.

The 24 members of FIFA’s Executive Committee will announce the decision on who will host the 2018 and 2022 tournaments on December 2.

The 2010 World Cup starts on June 15th in South Africa. The 2014 World Cup takes place in Brazil, which should be bonkers!

I was hoping that Bayern Munich would pull off a victory, but alas, Inter Milan just played a better game and easily won 2-0.

This was a real big victory for Inter's coach Mourinho, the egotistical self-proclaimed “Special One,” who is likely to leave Inter Milan to become coach of Real Madrid.

Despite a big advantage in ball possession, Bayern never managed to pierce Inter’s defensive wall, marshaled by its two South American central defenders, the Brazilian Lúcio and the Argentine Walter Samuel. As Bayern tried to push forward, it left itself exposed to lethal counter-attacks, spearheaded by Inter’s Argentine forward Diego Milito, who scored both goals.

In the 35th minute Saturday, Inter goalkeeper Júlio César sent a powerful kick upfield, which Milito headed to Wesley Sneijder. Sneijder, Inter’s Dutch playmaker, quickly returned the pass, and Milito sent a perfectly timed chip over Bayern goalkeeper Hans Jörg Butt. On the second goal, in the 70th minute, Milito collected the ball far from the Bayern goal and charged forward with no obvious support in sight. Choosing once more a direct path to goal, he ran at the last defender, Belgium’s Daniel Van Buyten, bamboozled him with a beautiful dribble and put the ball in the net.

Bayern had its chances but rarely looked likely to translate its ball possession into goals. A perfect illustration of its sterile domination came in the final minute of the first half, when Bayern kept the ball close to the edge of the Inter penalty area without finding a way to penetrate the Italian fortress. By the final whistle, Bayern had managed 21 shots to Inter’s 12. But only six were on target, compared with seven for Inter.

Now it's just 18 days until the World Cup begins!

Nike pulls out a stellar ad that's getting me even more psyched for the World Cup....

The Guardian looks at the 30 players battling for a place in England's World Cup squad.....

Brazil's 23-man squad opens training for World Cup, Kaka and Fabiano recovering from injuries...

U.S. captain Bocanegra underwent sports-hernia surgery less than three weeks ago, will be ready for the World Cup....

France unveils their 23-man World Cup team, which doesn't include Lassana Diarra, who is sick with a genetic red blood cell disorder....

The United States will unveil their 23-player World Cup roster when they play a big international friendly against Turkey in Philadelphia on Saturday.....

England beats Mexico 3-1 in World Cup warmup.....

Germany will compete in the World Cup without two of their biggest stars, Christian Traesch and Michael Ballack, both of whom are injured....

In South Africa, a transport strike has entered its third week and is effecting the World Cup....

The U.S. team that will compete in South Africa will feature the father-son duo of coach Bob Bradley and starting center midfielder Michael Bradley......

Team U.S.A. plays an international friendly against Czech Republic tonight at 8pm. The game will air on ESPN.....

The L.A. Times looks at how the "World Cup could wheel out an impressive all-injured team".....

Sex and The City 2 has the poorly-timed misfortune of opening in England on June 10th, the day before the World Cup begins. Below is the new ad campaign poster with the catchy slogan of "There are other ways to score". Cute, but I still don't think it'll help bring in any footie fans...

U.S. lost an international friendly to the Czech Republic (4-2). Granted that the U.S. played with their "B" squad, but they still played a weak match that I'm sure got team England psyched for their World Cup opener against the U.S. on June 12th.....

Another 150000 World Cup tickets will go on sale Friday, including tickets for the World Cup final.....

ESPN, for its upcoming World Cup soccer coverage, has only one American —John Harkes— among the eight analysts or play-by-play announcers on games. Additionally, while ESPN announcers in 2006 called about 20 Cup games off TV monitors in ESPN's Bristol, Conn., studios, all ESPN game announcers will be on-site in South Africa.....

South Korea beats Japan 2-0 in World Cup warm-up?.......

The US World Cup team will visit the White House on Thursday....

World Cup finals qualifiers Nigeria gave a lacklustre performance on Tuesday as it drew 0-0 against Saudi Arabia.....

Team U.S.A. unveils their 23-man roster for the 2010 World Cup in South AFrica....

Australia first World Cup qualifiers to arrive in South Africa. They play their first match against Germany on June 13th....

Maradona will run naked through the center of Buenos Aires if Argentina wins the World Cup. Um, does anyone really want to see that fat ex-crackhead undress......

FIFA will be testing eight players from each of the 32 teams during out-of-competition controls ahead of the World Cup.....

NPR brings you a "A Newcomer's Guide to the 2010 World Cup" (Stream)....

Netherlands defeats Mexico, 2-1, in World Cup warmup......

Five-time World Cup winner Brazil touched down in South Africa early Thursday.....

France squeeze past Costa Rica, 2-1, in World Cup warm-up.....

England continue to dream of taking home the gold....

After the much more important press conference about the BP oil spill, President Obama met with the U.S. Men's World Cup team.

The U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Warning to Americans traveling to South Africa for World Cup?....

NY Daily News' Flip Brody wonders if cutting forward Brian Ching from the U.S. squad was a mistake by Coach Bradley.....

Argentina players get ok to have sex at the World Cup. Yes, folks, this is news......

Will those annoying plastic trumpets be back for the World Cup? The answer appears to be yes.....

Ghana captain Michael Essien has been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury.......

On Saturday, on the Road to South Africa international friendly matches, Spain plays Saudi Arabia (12pm ET), U.S.A. plays Turkey (1:30pm, ESPN2), and Hungary plays Germany (3pm).....

On Sunday, on the Road to South Africa international friendly matches, England plays Japan (8am ET, Fox Soccer Channel), Paraguay plays Ivory Coast (10am), Chile plays N Ireland (4pm)....

U.S. rallies past Turkey for 2-1 victory in World Cup tune-up.....

The U.S. national team arrived in South Africa....

England wins a lucky game against Japan in a World Cup warm-up.....

Germany lose another top player to injury as defender Heiko Westermann will miss the World Cup.....

Ontario, Canada temporarily alters their liquor laws so locals can drink during the World Cup......

A post-World Cup friendly has been announced between the five-time World Cup winner Brazil and the U.S.A. at the New Meadowlands in New Jersey on August 10th. Ticket info coming soon...

The South African opera singer personally chosen by Nelson Mandela to sing at the World Cup's opening ceremony has died two weeks before he was due to perform.

Siphiwo Ntshebe, just 34 years-old, an up-and-coming tenor known to local fans as the "new Pavarotti", contracted bacterial meningitis while rehearsing for the June 11 concert. He died in hospital Tuesday.

The singer was to perform his signature song, called "'Hope," during the ceremony, ahead of the opening match between South Africa and Mexico.

The song, which features spoken words by Mandela, had already been recorded as part of an official World Cup album.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter sent a message of condolences to Ntshebe's family. "That he should pass away so suddenly, and so close to the opening of the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted on African soil is very cruel, but we are not master of our destiny," he said.

Ntshebe rose from humble beginnings in South Africa's poor Eastern Cape province. He had been singing since the age of five and trained in South Africa, Australia and London's Royal College of Music and had performed throughout Europe.

The New York Times looks at North Korea's World Cup team......

Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos threatens to quit World Cup team after his brother is cut from the final squad.....

American-born forward Giuseppe Rossi and AC Milan striker Marco Borriello have been unexpectedly dropped from Italy's World Cup team......

England announces their 23-man World Cup squad....

Controversy over new World Cup ball.....

Brazil beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in World Cup warm-up match....

Even thought he's rumored to be in poor health, Nelson Mandela will attend the opening and closing matches of the World Cup.....

Some places to watch the World Cup in NYC. Where will you be watching?........

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba 'ruled out of World Cup' with fractured elbow.....

England captain Ferdinand hurts knee in training........

Germans rally, Spain struggles again in World Cup warm-ups.....

ESPN looks at U.S. star Clint Dempsey......

Will United States striker Jozy Altidore be ready to play against England after he got injured during training.....

How far do you think the U.S. will go in the World Cup.....

David Beckham, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, Franz Beckenbauer, Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown, Ciara, Jay Baruchel and DJ Neil Armstrong are among the many celebrities to partake in the below Adidas World Cup ad that reimagines the Star Wars cantina scene. Enjoy....

US defeats Australia 3-1 in final World Cup tuneup.....

Gawker looks at the ten hottest players on the U.S. squad....

AIDS groups protest ban on HIV information centers at FIFA controlled soccer venues......

The New York TImes looks at the six teams from Africa that are competing in this year's World Cup.....

Thousands of footie fans stampeded outside a South African stadium before an exhibition game between Nigeria and North Korea....

At least seven Argentine hooligans were detained at Johannesburg airport trying to enter South Africa for the World Cup.......

The New York Times looks at U.S. Coach Bob Bradley....

Will Drogba play in the World Cup with a broken arm? Apparently, the answer is yes.....

Here is the complete TV schedule - in New York City - for the World Cup....

The Isle of Wright and Glastonbury festival will both be showing World Cup matches.....

Bonnaroo will also be broadcasting the matches this coming weekend.....

Drogba will rejoin the Ivory Coast's World Cup squad today after weekend surgery on a fractured arm. Will he be ready to play this weekend.....

FIFA will screen advertisements for condoms and HIV educational messages at fan parks during the World Cup in South Africa, which has one of the world's highest rates of AIDS....

AIDS groups slam FIFA for blocking condoms at World Cup.....

Here's a great Nick Hornby essay from the New Yorker about the 2002 World Cup......

The official overseeing the England v USA game was suspended last season because he made so many errors....

England midfielder Gareth Barry will sit out the World Cup opener against the USA with an injury.....

Vice President Joe Biden is on a week-long trip to Africa that will end with him attending the England v USA match....

Here's another list of bars showing the World Cup in New York City.....

Drogba rejoins Ivory Coast with broken arm in cast....

World Cup betting odds.....

A presale starts today (June 9) at 11am ET for the USA v Brazil friendly match at the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. The password is "R4USSOCCER".

The World Cup will be available to watch online at ESPN3.com and on mobile devices that get tv......

Three foreign World Cup journalists were robbed at gunpoint early on Wednesday morning, according to South African police.....

The new issue of Time Magazine is all about the World Cup, focusing on Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o....

David Beckham will host a blog about the World Cup for Yahoo.....

The opening match of the World Cup, South Africa vs Mexico, is tomorrow at 10am on ESPN. I'm sooo excited.......

In Somalia, militants have threatened to behead anyone caught watching the World Cup or even playing soccer.....

In England, businesses fear that the World Cup could cost them up to £1 billion in lost working hours due to employees following matches online, discussing football in the workplace and taking unauthorised absence.....

NPR reports on how South Africa is hiding their homeless in "Tin Can City".....

Here's a list of 11 bars showing the World Cup in Williamsburg, Brooklyn......

The World Cup officially begins today at 10am when South Africa faces Mexico in Soccer City, Johannesburg.

Later this afternoon at 2:30pm, Uruguay does battle with France.

Both matches will be broadcasted on ESPN, ESPN3.com and XM Radio. Or you can find one of the many open pubs that will be screening the games throughout the city.

Here's hoping that Team USA has an awesome World Cup...

Nelson Mandela's 13-year-old great-granddaughter died in a car crash on her way home from a tournament-eve concert in Soweto...

Watch the kick-off concert here.....

Weezer have a long history of being footie fanatics, so it's no big surprise that on the opening day of the World Cup, the boys are kindly dropping a free U.S. World Cup anthem called "Represent". You can download it for free right here.

In related news, We Are Scientists recently recorded a pro-England song, despite the fact that they’re from California and the U.S. faces off against England tomorrow. Traitors.

Switzerland beat Spain! America tied England! Brasil spanked North Korea! Germany destroyed Australia!

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the World Cup, but the Kansas City Star makes some very noticeable observations about this year's first round of the group stage.

Since the modern format of 32 teams started in 1998, the 25 goals scored has been the lowest total by far through the first 16 games. In comparison, after 16 games in 2006 there were 39 goals scored, while the 2002 tournament saw 46 goals scored in the opening cycle. The 1998 tournament in France is the next-lowest to the current one, with 37 goals scored through 16 games.

The 25 goals have also been scored by 25 different goal scorers - a World Cup record - meaning no player has stood out offensively to this point.

Germany is the only team to stand out, scoring four goals vs. Australia, with only South Korea, Brazil and Netherlands scoring more than once, although the Dutch were aided by an own goal to enter the select group.

Nine of the first 16 games also had scoreless first halves, with both teams getting on the scoreboard in just five those games. Brazil's 2-1 win over North Korea on Tuesday was the only game in which the losing team has scored a goal, meaning there hasn't been a lot of back-and-forth action.

Defenders have scored seven goals, which matches the amount scored by the forwards, while midfielders have added the other 11. That means a large portion of the goals scored have come off set pieces instead of being the culmination of buildups and tic-tac-toe passing plays.

Of those goals, at least two have come on horrendous goalkeeping blunders, with England's Robert Green and Algeria's Fawzi Chaouchi handing the opposition goals.

All in all a pretty disappointing opening 16 games. But if the opening cycle came in like a lamb, it went out like a lion with the Spain/Switzerland match, which hopefully bodes well for the other 32 group matches to come.