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 ...

Ghanaians clad in the national colors of red, gold and green celebrated long into the night on Friday as excitement over the national team's penalty shootout victory over Brazil in the final of the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt brought the West African nation to a standstill. Ghana's victory, 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw which they had survived since the 37th minute with 10 men, was the first ever by an African side in the tournament. Earlier, many ...

Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the 2010 World Cup organizing committee in South Africa, said in a statement on Wednesday that construction remains on schedule for the tournament despite large-scale strikes delaying building work at stadium sites. About 70,000 workers have downed tools in a pay dispute after negotiations broke down earlier this week, with less than 12 months to go before the finals kick-off. The workers are reportedly seeking a 13 percent pay rise on their $300 average ...

One year before the FIFA World Cup kicks off, 26 teams of gay and lesbian footballers are battling for global supremacy in the Gay Soccer World Championships. Co-ordinated by the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA), the tournament, which began on Sunday, is being hosted by the Federal Triangles club in Washington D.C., and supported by the local Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C. United. IGLFA spokesman Michael Pranikoff told CNN that the competition has been running annually since ...

Four Iranian footballers have been "retired" from the national side after protesting against the contested election result in the country during a match against South Korea. The players drew attention to the situation in Iran by wearing green armbands during last week's World Cup qualifying match in Seoul. Green was the color used by opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi during his campaign for the presidency and has been widely worn by supporters protesting since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was announced the winner. ...

Cristiano Ronaldo has escaped punishment over the car smash earlier this year that saw his Ferrari written off. The Manchester United star, who is set to move to Real Madrid for a world record fee, demolished the front of his high-performance sports car after he hit a roadside barrier in a tunnel on a freeway in the north-west of England city. No other vehicle was involved and Ronaldo escaped injury. He spoke to police officers at the scene and was ...

Egypt said they would file a protest to FIFA after Brazi'ls controversial injury time winner in their Confederations Cup opener in Bloemfontein on Monday night. Egypt had come back from 3-1 down to be tied at 3-3 as the match headed into injury time, but were beaten by Kaka's last-gasp penalty. English referee Howard Webb had initially appeared to award a corner after Lucio's goalbound effort was blocked by Ahmed al-Muhamadi on the line. While Al Muhamadi rolled around on ...

Former World Player of the Year Luis Figo has announced that he will retire from football at the end of this season. The 36-year-old is hoping to go out on a high note after Inter Milan's match match of the Italian season at home to Atalanta on Sunday. Jose Mourinho's side have already wrapped up the Serie A title -- the fourth that former Portugal captain Figo has won with the club since joining from Real Madrid in 2005. "Tomorrow, ...

Edwin van der Sar claimed the all-time British record for minutes without conceding a goal during Manchester United's 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday. The Dutch veteran also took the 30-year-old English record from Steve Death last week. Death's name, with all due respect to the former Reading custodian, is not up there with the game's greats. So who is in Van der Sar's league as football's finest shot-stoppers, the men who rarely get the credit but often cop ...

Former manager of English football club Chelsea and current boss at Italian side Juventus, Claudio Ranieri, is at the center of a race row after comments he made following his side's Coppa Italia defeat to Lazio. Ranieri told media after the loss on Tuesday: "I did not like the entire direction of the match. I found the official was tough with us, on the field it seemed as if he was Chinese, as it was always yellow cards with us," ...