Could World Cup matches be fixed?

Amid the excitement generated by the World Cup, which kicks off today in Brazil, The New York Times has exposed the rot surrounding football’s showcase event.

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>The 2014 Fifa World Cup scheduled to officially kick off in Brazil on Thursday next week, has come a long way in terms of the pace of the game, skills and physical application in the course of the game.

The Confederation of African Football believes its decision to move the timing of the Cup of Nations is paying immediate dividends in Brazil.

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What better platform to make a statement than one watched by billions around the planet?

The cynics can eat humble pie. Brazil 2014 has after all confounded critics to ensconce itself among the very best World Cups in history.

Mali draw with Uruguay to advance at the Under 20 World Cup, but Senegal must wait until the final pool games to see if they go through.

Brazil has spent as much as £11bn on hosting the World Cup in an effort to create the best ever tournament. The BBC's Peter Okwoche has been looking at how the competition has added up.