FIFA controversially awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. But the tiny Gulf state's bid was just another step in its ambitious push to become a global hub. In the capital Doha with only a morning to spare? Here are the essentials. ONE HOUR Hail a taxi and head toward Doha's seafront centerpiece: the Museum of Islamic Art, tel: 4422 4444. This I.M. Pei — designed cluster of cubes houses a collection spanning more than a ...

Anaheim, Dallas, Raleigh, Tampa: To the 34 million citizens of Canada, the country that invented the game of hockey, the Stanley Cup belongs in these cities about as much as tropical beaches belong in Saskatoon. Yet, in the almost two decades since the last time a Canadian team won the Cup — Montreal defeated Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in the 1993 Finals — these southern and western American cities have all hoisted the Cup ...

Michael Owen rolled back the years to score a superb second goal for Manchester United as they continued their English League Cup defense with a 2-0 victory at second-flight Barnsley on Tuesday.

It seems no-one in South Africa can fail to be gripped by World Cup football fever.

Jelena Jankovic was unable to claim consecutive Kremlin Cup titles after she was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Russian Alisa Kleybanova in the quarterfinals on Friday. Jankovic failed to hold serve in the fifth game of each set and double-faulted twice to lose the match to Kleybanova, who is ranked 27th in the world. The Serb had crucially already secured her berth in next week's season-ending WTA Championships in Doha. The tournament in Moscow has a weakened women's draw because seven ...

David Beckham has confirmed that he is almost certain to return to Italian club AC Milan on loan when the transfer window re-opens in January. The Los Angeles Galaxy star, who earned his 115th international cap for England in Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Belarus, had a successful spell at the Serie A club in the second half of last season. "The Milan deal is almost done, and hopefully that will be sorted out in the next month and ...

Substitute Mario Bolatti scored in the 85th minute to push Argentina past Uruguay 1-0 on Wednesday night and send the South American football power through to next year's World Cup.

Portugal booked themselves a place in the European playoffs for next year's World Cup finals after a comfortable 4-0 Group One victory over Malta. Goals from Nani, Simao Sabrosa, Miguel Veloso and Edinho made it a comfortable evening for Carlos Queiroz's side in Guimaraes. Manchester United midfielder Nani calmed any Portuguese nerves by scoring after 13 minutes. Veloso played the ball in from the left and Nani, just outside the 18-yard box, was quick to get his left-footed shot ...

The beginning of the World Cup in South Africa next June kicks-off a festival of football on the pitch, but there are a wealth of issues for the host country to tackle off the field too. Up to half-a-million fans are expected to visit for the tournament and a string of sparkling new stadiums and hotels have sprung up to accommodate them. But that influx of supporters also brings with it a danger of an explosion in the sex trade ...

Mexico has qualified for a fifth straight World Cup after beating El Salvador 4-1 in its Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football match.