The football extravaganza has not even begun but the crazy fans are already making heads turn.
Brazil may be five-time winners of the World Cup and joint favourites to make it six in Russia this year but the South Americans do not yet have the right blend for success, three-time World Cup winner Pele said.
Brazil scored twice in a dominant first half to beat Japan 2-0 in their final Olympic warmup friendly on Saturday before they begin their bid for a first soccer gold medal at next month's home Games.
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Not even Bollywood's megastar Amitabh Bachchan was spared from the football bug that had bitten the whole world over the last month. Bachchan Sr tweeted about his trip to Rio de Janeiro and watching Brazil fall to another loss in the 3rd place match against The Netherlands at the just concluded FIFA World Cup.
'Our defence system starts with our first four and that's why we have a solid defence. People look to Brazil and always try to find players who score or dribble but we have many other qualities. With our goalkeeper and defenders, we have a solid defence' 'It's pretty exciting for us and we are looking to do something great here'
The football tournament at the Beijing Olympics bursts into life on Tuesday with a semi-final between two of the sport's fiercest rivals, Brazil and Argentina.
Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho will visit to Kolkata in October.
Brazil coach Dunga apologised after his comments about people of African descent sparked criticism ahead of the team's Copa America quarter-final against Paraguay.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has asked FIFA why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not used to review two key decisions they believe hindered their side during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Rediff.com brings you some interesting clicks from the by lanes of Indian cities that summarise the soccer madness...
Scotland's Scott McTominay grabbed another brace of goals as they stunned a much-changed Spain side to earn a deserved 2-0 victory in their Euro 2024 qualifier.
Simmering civil tension and the stench of corruption threatens to sully Brazil's global soccer party when the World Cup kicks off on Thursday against a backdrop of protests, unrest and alleged political graft.
A stoppage-time goal from Miranda gave Brazil a 1-0 win over South American rivals Argentina in a foul-strewn friendly, while Netherlands secured a 1-1 draw at neighbours Belgium.
Lights go out at Rio's Christ the Redeemer in support of Vinicius Jr
Brazil's poster-boy striker Neymar fulfilled a nation's expectations to score twice in a 4-1 destruction of Cameroon on Monday while the Netherlands again showed their potential to win the World Cup with a third straight win.
Third-party ownership of footballers will become illegal in Brazil from May 1, the country's domestic governing body CBF) said in new transfer regulations published on Tuesday.
Reigning world champions Argentina continue to top the chart followed by 2022 World Cup runners-up France, England, Belgium and Brazil.
Kaka has dropped out of the Brazil squad for the Centenary Copa America due to injury and will be replaced by Paulo Henrique Ganso, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said.
Brazil have sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari just hours after the end of a home World Cup in which they suffered two of their worst defeats in the tournament's history, one of Brazil's leading newspapers reported on Monday.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
Kaka and Ronaldinho were included in the squad for Brazil's friendlies against England and Turkey next month even though they asked not to be picked for the Copa America.
Photos from the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup.
Mexican footballer Alan Pulido has been rescued by authorities and is home, Mexican officials have said.
Brazilian soccer great Pele has collapsed with exhaustion and been forced to cancel a long-planned trip to London this weekend, the Football Writers Association (FWA) said on Friday.
Jose Mourinho is the darling of football, manager of the European champions and set to become Chelsea's next boss. But can the Portuguese firebrand live with the determined Russian oil magnate?
Striker Adriano was recalled by Brazil on Thursday for their World Cup qualifiers away to Argentina and at home to Chile next month. Coach Dunga included Flamengo's former Inter Milan forward, last picked in March, for the games against Argentina in Rosario on September 5 and at home to Chile in Salvador four days later.
The match will be played at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium on September 2.
Defiant Brazil manager Dunga brushed off suggestions that early elimination from the Copa America would cost him his job on Sunday, telling reporters that he feared 'only death' and not unemployment.
Tele Santana, one of Brazil's greatest coaches, died aged 74 in a Belo Horizonte hospital where he had been in intensive care since March.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Toure criticises players for accepting lure of China cash
As Pele readies to awaken the 'sleeping giant of football' with his presence, Rediff.com lists some lesser known facts from the legend's life. Read on and be amazed...
Images from the opening game of the FIFA World Cup, between Brazil and Croatia, at Sao Paulo.
Germany was overwhelmed, badly prepared and below standard at the tournament
Brazil made a strong statement with a 2-1 victory over Spain in their opening Group D clash on October 7, and they would now look to build on the winning momentum.
He was a pale shadow of the crowd-pleasing showman widely recognised as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest player in the world.
