About the Soccer World Cup Blog
The world of professional soccer does not make headlines solely on the field–headlines are made off the field as well. Of course, when players are injured, teams are eliminated, or titles are won, it’s news. In professional soccer, what happens on the field doesn’t stay on the field, especially when it has potential to impact the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Professional soccer is creating more buzz than it ever has away from the field. Key players are moving—to new countries and new teams—with new sponsors chomping at the bit. Big companies are doing everything they can, including buying small companies, to ensure their dominance of the global soccer scene at the World Cup. Everyday, team nicknames are being debated, captains are being named, and rivalries are being ignited. All the while, the anticipation of the next World Cup continues, bringing with it all the drama that unfolds as the world waits to see the 32 competing teams take center stage.

Fans of professional soccer want a look inside. They want to know the ins and outs of the teams and players on the pitch and behind the scenes. There’s no better place to find it all than here on this Soccer Blog. For many of us, it’s the best way to South Africa.

FINAL: Argentina 2 - Mexico 1, OT
For live updates by Duncan Irving of this afternoon's Argentina-Mexico game from Leipzig, click the "refresh" button on your browser bar, or...

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La Volpe insists pressure is off
Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe says his side is not under pressure against Argentina in the last 16.

  • Here’s something to bookmark: the brackets and schedule for the knockout stage, here on FIFA’s Web site, now starting to be filled in as the groups conclude. After a fairly predictable last set of games yesterday, are there any surprises in store for us today? While everyone’s talking about the Argentina vs. Holland exhibition […] Comments Off

FINAL: Mexico 0 - Angola 0
Click “more” for play-by-play commentary of the match, as it happened at the Niedersachsenstadion in Hanover. Jeff Z. Klein describes...

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Who Is “Mexican”?
The idea of European nations extending full citizenship rights to people of other ethnicities has been established practice for some years now,...

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Mexico 3 -Iran 1, final
Play-by-play coverage of the match here. Final In the end, a comprehensive victory for Mexico. It will be interesting to see how they fare...

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Iran-Mexico: There’s a Soccer Game in Here Somewhere
As far as Sunday’s Iran-Mexico match is concerned, the English-language news media has been focusing, understandably, on Iran. On Saturday,...

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But Wait, There’s More!
More New York Times World Cup blogs, that is. Now that the Cup is about to kick off and you’re ready to read, talk, think and, yes, dream...

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