02.06.2010- Bayern's Turkey star Altintop extends contract

02.06.2010- Barcelona make official bid for Arsenal's Fabregas

02.06.2010- Marseille ready to splash out on Forlan: report

02.06.2010- Former Croatia defender Kovac hangs up his boots

02.06.2010- Redknapp expects Cole to snub Spurs

02.06.2010- Real's Mourinho eyes Gerrard: report

02.06.2010- Bent anguish at England axe

02.06.2010- Red Knights decide to halt United takeover bid

02.06.2010- Cannavaro signs for Dubai's Al-Ahli

02.06.2010- S.Africans learn tongue twister national anthem

27.05.2010- Honduras pulls a late draw with Belarus

04.05.2010- Paraguay call up Dortmund's Barrios

30.04.2010- Seoul's 2002 hero returns to World Cup squad

16.04.2010- Too early to determine progress: Parreira

30.03.2010- S.Korea dangles handsome rewards for W.Cup team

26.03.2010- World Cup stadiums get FIFA approval - officials

25.03.2010- Putin to head Russia's World Cup bid

23.03.2010- Messi eyes World Cup to become a legend

19.03.2010- 2010 World Cup helps FIFA revenues to record

17.03.2010- S.African police confiscate fake World Cup jerseys

07.03.2010- Capello to reveal W.Cup squad in team meeting

06.03.2010- FIFA dismiss goal-line technology

05.03.2010- Jordaan says Rugby key to World Cup stadium futures

04.03.2010- Zuma promises safe World Cup in South Africa

04.03.2010- Jordaan turns on South Africa's World Cup critics

03.03.2010- Dunga admits Brazil must go up another level at WC

02.03.2010- FIFA says S.Africa ready for World Cup, 100 days away

01.03.2010- Old apartheid flag banned at World Cup stadium

01.03.2010- Spain seek World Cup revenge against France: Torres

26.02.2010- S.Africa winter raises World Cup swine flu risk

22.02.2010- World Cup anti-doping tests to start in April: FIFA

18.02.2010- World Cup warm up matches to raise money for Haiti

17.02.2010- US to host Turkey in World Cup tuneup

28.01.2010- Mexican World Cup side books six-match US tour

27.01.2010- Two-thirds of World Cup tickets already sold

27.01.2010- Maradona's Argentina squad 60% decided

22.01.2010- Japan's Ono eyes World Cup

21.01.2010- Maradona happy with World Cup security

20.01.2010- Goalkeeping trio to make World Cup: Loew

19.01.2010- World Cup talk no bother for England: Lampard

18.01.2010- Easier World Cup ticket sales planned for S.Africans

23.12.2009- Spain to play three friendlies before World Cup

21.12.2009- England to play Egypt at Wembley

17.12.2009- Japan must revive samurai code, says coach

16.12.2009- Germans to face Bosnia in World Cup warm-up

14.12.2009- Cape Town World Cup venue complete

10.12.2009- S.Korea determined not to crumble against Argentina

09.12.2009- Spain coach delivers World Cup warning

05.12.2009- Capello warns England of perils of easy draw

04.12.2009- Dutch courage not needed for Van Marwijk's team

04.12.2009- Upbeat Japan insist semi-final goal still on

04.12.2009- Road looking clear for world champions

04.12.2009- Ivory Coast face huge task to survive first round

04.12.2009- Brazil get Portugal, England lucky in World Cup draw

04.12.2009- Asian nations dealt tough hand in South Africa

04.12.2009- 2010 World Cup draw

04.12.2009- Football World Cup to go 3-D: Sony, FIFA

04.12.2009- Capello sees Spain, Brazil as key threats

04.12.2009- World Cup draw set to roll in Cape Town

04.12.2009- S.Africa tightens security as World Cup draw looms

03.12.2009- Germany goes high-tech in World Cup preparations

03.12.2009- I don't want England in first round, admits Drogba

02.12.2009- Irish football chiefs hit out at Blatter

02.12.2009- FIFA rules out extra refs for World Cup

01.12.2009- Ireland World Cup hopes finally snuffed out

01.12.2009- New round of World Cup tickets to go on sale

01.12.2009- Aragones tips Spain, Brazil as W.Cup favourites

30.11.2009- FIFA may put more officials on field at W.Cup

30.11.2009- Ireland asks to become team 33 at World Cup

22.11.2009- Eight out of 10 French give thumbs down to France team

21.11.2009- Ireland admits defeat in World Cup replay bid

20.11.2009- FIFA refuse Irish request for replay: report

20.11.2009- Japan coach targets World Cup last-four spot

19.11.2009- Ireland calls for France World Cup replay

19.11.2009- Ireland blasts Le Cheat Henry as W.Cup dream ends

18.11.2009- Henry handball ends Irish World Cup hopes

18.11.2009- Meireles seals World Cup qualification for Portugal

18.11.2009- Greece edge Ukraine to reach World Cup

14.11.2009- Few chances as Japan hold WCup hosts S.Africa

14.11.2009- Fallon heads New Zealand into World Cup finals

10.11.2009- Ballack backs Germany to reach World Cup final

03.11.2009- NKorean team get awards for WC qualification: KCNA

30.10.2009- Trapattoni names Ireland squad for France play-off

28.10.2009- Football rounds up poor SAfrican youngsters

21.10.2009- No luck for Irish in Stade de France ticket allocation

20.10.2009- Ex-Ireland keeper Kenny defiant after failed dope appeal

15.10.2009- US work begins with World Cup berth settled

14.10.2009- Ireland end World Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten

13.10.2009- Ticos try to end US drought to reach World Cup

13.10.2009- Lampard: England's golden generation lacklustre

13.10.2009- Germany to finish with a flurry: Loew

11.10.2009- Keane laments Ireland's heartbreaking Italy draw

06.10.2009- Trapattoni ready for any eventuality as Italians loom

06.10.2009- Ireland trio ruled out of Italy clash

06.10.2009- PM optimistic Spain will win 2010 World Cup

05.10.2009- England game live in cinemas and Internet

04.10.2009- Italy welcome back Gattuso for crucial World Cup qualifiers

04.10.2009- Eriksson believes in England World Cup victory

25.09.2009- Trapattoni extends Ireland stay

24.09.2009- North Korea to play World Cup warmups in France

14.09.2009- SAfrica to use World Cup to build football legacy

13.09.2009- England coach Capello eyes World Cup final

09.09.2009- Northern Ireland's World Cup bid suffers hammer blow

08.09.2009- Lawrence sends Bafana Bafana for six

08.09.2009- N.Ireland lose star striker for Slovakia match

07.09.2009- Little-known hot-shots put Ronaldo in World Cup shade

06.09.2009- Brilliant Brazil reach World Cup finals

25.08.2009- Kenya behind in strategy for 2010 World Cup

14.08.2009- FIFA to give 120,000 free W.Cup tickets to S.Africans

06.08.2009- Jet fuel probe to ensure no 2010 shortages

The Republic of Ireland national football team prior to its World Cup qualifying match against France in 2004 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke on Tuesday ruled out any chance of Ireland playing at the 2010 World Cup after the Irish asked to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team.

"We have to be clear that Ireland will not be invited to play at the 2010 World Cup," he said at a press conference ahead of the draw on Friday.

"It's impossible. There is no hope that there will be more than 32 teams at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter revealed this week that Ireland had asked to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team and that it would be put to the FIFA executive committee meeting here on Wednesday.

Irish players launched furious protests when they were eliminated in a play-off with France, after a controversial handball by French captain Thierry Henry led to the decisive French goal.

The play-off was poised at 1-1 on aggregate in the second leg in Paris when Henry controlled the ball with his hand before teeing up William Gallas for the decisive goal.