Electronic Arts confirm Fifa World Cup 2014

During the most recent conference call with investors, Electronic Arts revealed that it will launch at some point games: The Sims 4, UFC, EA Sports FIFA World Cup 2014 and Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Not yet known whether FIFA World Cup 2014 will be available only in digital format, as was the case with   UEFA Euro 2012 which was released as a DLC for FIFA 12.

World Cup Tickets Will Go On Sale In August, FIFA Says

Tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will go on sale on August 20.

FIFA confirmed fans will have the chance to buy tickets from the organisation's website during the first phase of sales.

Ticket prices are scheduled to be confirmed on July 1, the day after the Confederations Cup final in Rio de Janeiro. 

FIFA has previously said it expects around 3.3 million tickets to be available for the 64-match flagship tournament which runs from June 12 to July.

The first round of ticket sales will be allocated in a worldwide lottery with further briefs available after the 32-team lineup is confirmed in November.

The World Cup draw will be conducted on December 6 in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.

Partner Program for 2014 World Cup in Brazil Sold Out

Bloomberg : The partner program for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil has sold out, Jerome Valcke, general secretary of soccer governing body FIFA, said. Latin American sports retailer Centauro was the final company to join FIFA's commercial program, Valcke said.

Bomb-detecting robots at WC 2014

To increase the security at the upcoming Football World Cup in Brazil in 2014, the Brazil government will reportedly use a fleet of robots that are usually used to neutralize roadside bombs and inspect areas for traces of explosives.

The battle-tested remote controlled iRobot 510 Packbots are able to climb stairs, submerge in a metre of water and have multiple high-resolution cameras and are the same robots which examined the car allegedly hijacked by the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, Sky News reports.

According to the report, the Brazilian authorities are spending 7.2 million dollars to deal with any security threat from a distance at the World Cup show and also will be setting a precedent for the Olympics to follow two years later.

The government will also be spending additionally millions of dollars on face-scanning glasses which can scan 400 faces a second at a distance of 45 metre to spot potential hooligans based on a criminal database, the report added.

Rousseff unveils Brazil's vuvuzela for 2014 World Cup

BRASILIA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday unveiled the country's answer to South Africa's vuvuzela - the plastic horn that provided an omnipresent din at the 2010 World Cup.
The caxirola, pronounced ka-shee-raw-la, has the backing of the Rousseff government to be the official instrument of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The instrument is an adaption of an African caxixi, a type of shaker comprising a small basket of woven straw filled with dried seeds.
Created by musician Carlinhos Brown, the caxirola is made from recycled plastic.
"I believe that the caxirola is not only a part of football but of our country's immense capacity to make an instrument that is much more beautiful than the vuvuzela," Rousseff said during an event in Brasilia.
"I am sure that children in particular are going to have a fantastic experience with the caxirola. Carlinhos told me that it has a transcendental sense of healing, peace with the world and to be spiritually in tune with nature."
Brown said the caxirola had already been approved of FIFA and will join the governing body's line of official World Cup products.
"It amplifies the shout of a goal and unifies the fans. It's an instrument of peace," Brown said.
More than 50,000 caxirolas will be distributed free to fans before the Bahia-Vitoria match on April 28 at the newly opened Fonte Nova World Cup stadium in Salvador.

4k resolution for WC 2014

 www.engadget.com 

Sony’s new 4K resolution TVs made quite a stir at the Consumer Electronics Show this year. Now it seems that Sony is in talks to broadcast one of the largest sporting events in the world in stunning 4K resolution.

K refers to the horizontal resolution, which clocks in at over 4,000 pixels and is 4x the resolution of standard HD that you may have in your home. Sony has spent the last few years broadcasting its sporting events in 3D (including last year’s FIFA World Cup) but as the 3D hype fades, it looks like Sony has put more backing behind 4K TVs going forward.




  The World Cup won’t begin until Jun 12, 2014 but Sony may begin testing out 4K broadcasting long before that, starting with the ’2013 All England Lawn Tennis Club’ which plays host to Wimbledon. We already know that some of the Wimbledon broadcast will be in 3D, Sony has already confirmed this, but adding 4K resolution hasn’t been confirmed yet. You can do both, 4K 3D is possible and would actually improve the visuals at a consumer level.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup could also be Sony’s last chance at to capture fans at event, since 2014 marks the end of the eight-year contract that Sony arranged with the sports league. State-side 4K cameras are already in action, though as a testing ground, by Fox Sports and ESPN.

TVA Sports to televise 2014 World Cup games

TVA Sports will partner with CBC/Radio-Canada to televise games from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil

The French-language sports channel will broadcast 18 matches live and 46 others on tape delay during the month-long tournament next summer. CBC will air games in English while Radio-Canada will carry games in French.

"The TVA Sports network is extremely proud to be associated with one of the world's premier sporting events," TVA Group president and CEO Pierre Dion said. "Becoming a FIFA World Cup licensed broadcaster reflects our intention to keep soccer front and centre on TVA Sports, where we already air Montreal Impact and Champions League matches. Our agreement with Radio-Canada also confirms the major presence we've already achieved in the hearts and minds of Quebec soccer fans,

 Under the partnership, TVA Sports will also carry all 16 matches from the 2013 Confederations Cup tournament. Host Brazil will be joined by Italy, Nigeria, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti in the Confederations Cup June 15-30.

Lidio Carraro, official wine of WC 2014

www.gobrazilwines.com

Lidio Carraro, a south Brazilian company that has been making wine for five generations has been chosen as the official wine of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

According to Decanter.com, it will be served at all the events organised by FIFA in the run-up to the competition, with the first bottle (of red) making its debut at the Confederations Cup.

The winery is located in the Serra Gaúcha region in south-east Brazil, which produces 85 per cent of the nation's domestic wine.

Monica Rosseti ( chef winemaker ) : “We look for a wine with identity that expresses the authenticity of the grape and the origin.”

CBC Announces TVA Sports as Licensed Broadcaster of 2014 FIFA World Cup

CBC Announces TVA Sports as Licensed Broadcaster of 2014 FIFA World Cup

My Top 5 Lateral Defenders for WC 2014

1. Philipp Lahm

                                                                                               2. Stephan Lichtsteiner

                                                                                                               3.  Jordi Alba 

                                                                                                              4 .Dani Alves













                                                               5.Pablo Armero

World Cup 2014 will use Goal-line Technology

FIFA, football global governing body, confirmed this week that goal-line technology will be used at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
.
That will mark the first time the planet's biggest single-sport event uses the high-tech method of determining whether or not the ball crosses the plane of the goal.

Goal-line technology was used at the Club World Cup in December and will be used again at this summer's Confederations Cup — a World Cup preview of sorts held in the big event's host nation one year before the World Cup.

High profile football matches have been beset by a number of did-he-or-didn't-he scoring controversies over the years. Judging controversial goals in football is especially difficult, because scoring requires the entire ball to completely cross the goal line. That can make it quite tough for referees to judge an iffy shot unless they have an optimal angle and line of sight.

My Top 5 Central Defenders for WC 2014

 1. Andrea Barzagli

                                                      2. Thiago Silva

                                                      3. Gerald Piqué

  4.Giorgio Chiellini 

  5.Mats Hummels

Biological passports for World Cup 2014

Every player at the tournament will be required to have a biological passport, the sport’s world governing body announced today.

FIFA intend to introduce the system of biological profiling at this year’s Confederations Cup in Brazil, as part of the worldwide crackdown on doping in sport and it should be fully operational by the next World Cup.

A delegation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) met FIFA officials at their Zurich headquarters on Thursday, and WADA president John Fahey said his agency was “very satisfied with the commitment of FIFA on the biological profiles”.

FIFA medical officer Michel D’Hooghe said: “FIFA was the first international organisation for team sport to start with longitudinal profiles.”

He explained that FIFA is developing plans to introduce profiling, including a steroid profile through urine and a blood profile, for the Confederations Cup, where in- and out-of-competition tests would be conducted on all participating players, as well as unannounced blood testing at training camps and games.

“And it’s our commitment to have all players participating at the 2014 FIFA World Cup having biological profiles,” he added

Biological profiling is considered one of the most effective methods of detecting the use of performance-enhancing drugs and blood boosters like EPO.

EPO was first tested for by FIFA at the 2002 World Cup where all players had to underego urine and blood testing and whenever the results were abnormal, an EPO test was performed. All results were negative. FIFA is also developing the hormonal profiling project, a new initiative in collaboration with the WADA-accredited laboratory in Switzerland.

“There is always more which can be done in the fight against doping, but we know FIFA has always been serious in this domain,” Fahey said.

Brazil prostitutes learn English

 Prostitutes in one of Brazil's biggest cities are beginning to sign up for free English classes ahead of this year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

Cida Vieira, president of the Association of Prostitutes in the city of Belo Horizonte, said Tuesday that 20 have already signed up for the courses and she expects at least 300 of the group's 4,000 members to follow suit. The association is organizing the classes and seeking volunteer teachers.

''I don't think we will have problems persuading English teachers to provide services for free,'' she said. ''We already have several volunteer psychologists and doctors helping us.''

She said classes are expected to begin in March and last up to eight months.

''It will be important for the girls who will be able to use English to let their clients know what they are charging and learn about what turns them on,'' Vieira said by telephone

'And for the same reasons we are also thinking of offering free French and Italian classes,'' she added.

Prostitution is legal in Brazil.

Belo Horizonte's 62,000-seat Mineirao Stadium will host three matches of the Confederations Cup and six games of the World Cup.

Katanec is new Slovenia coach

 Former Yugoslavian international Srecko Katanec has been named coach of the Slovenian national team for the second time, the country's football association says.

The former VfB Stuttgart and Sampdoria defender, 49, will be officially appointed on Friday.

 Slovenia parted company with previous coach Slavisa Stojanovic in December amid a disappointing qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which left them one place from bottom in Group E.

Katanec previously coached Slovenia between 1998 and 2002, taking the former Yugoslav republic to the final stages of the 2000 European Championship and the 2002 World Cup.

Katanec, who played 31 times for Yugoslavia and five times for Slovenia after independence, has also coached Olympiakos and the Macedonian and the United Arab Emirates national sides.

Ronaldinho want to win the 2014 World Cup

Renowned Brazilian soccer player and World Cup winner, Ronaldinho who is currently in India to herald his upcoming animation film, 'Ronaldinho vs Aliens', recently revealed that he is aspiring for a place in the national team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and als3:21 PM 12/29/2012 to win the trophy. Brazil will host the 2014 soccer World Cup and it would serve as a fitting adieu to the international career of this extremely popular and gifted player.

Zidane: " Brazil fovorite to win World Cup"

Former France international Zinedine Zidanehas said that he believes Brazil are the favourites for the 2014 World Cup.

The Selecao last won the tournament in 2002 and Zidane believes they have a great chance to win it again on home soil in 2014.

The former Real Madrid man insisted that the side's "very talented players", along with home advantage, makes them the favourites"Brazil is the country of football," said Zidane.

"They are the favourites for me as they have home advantage as well as a number of very talented players,

"They have a lot of individual quality. They have excellent youngsters such as Neymar and Lucas, who are only 20 and already have plenty of experience.".

Major anti-crime operation for World Cup 2014

Operation Agata will involve some 20,000 personnel from the navy, army and air force shortly before the Confederations Cup, a mini dress rehearsal for Brazil’s 2014 World Cup, gets under way next June.

Defense Minister Celso Amorim said the seventh edition of Operation Agata would be timed so as not to interfere with the anticipated large influx of tourists.

The objective of the exercise is to curb illegal trafficking in arms, drugs and goods along Brazil’s extensive borders.

Operation Agata is part of a strategic border control plan announced by President Dilma Rousseff in June 2011.

Eight continental champions will take part in the Confederations Cup tournament, to be staged in six Brazilian host cities from June 15 to 30.

Blatter: 2014 World Cup will have goal-line technology

The world governing body are using two systems, Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, at the Club World Cup in Japan, with one of them to be used at next year's Confederations Cup.

"One of these two systems - we are not going to take both - but one of the two will be used at Confederations Cup and at the 2014 World Cup," Blatter said in Tokyo.

"There were no critical decisions so far," the Swiss added before Sunday's final between Chelsea and Brazil's Corinthians in Yokohama.

"We will make an assessment after the final matches tomorrow. For the time being, we can only say it works."

The British-designed Hawk-Eye, used successfully for many years in cricket and tennis, relies on seven high-speed cameras set up at different angles covering each goal.

GoalRef, a Danish-German project, uses an electronic coil inside the ball and low magnetic waves around the goal.

"The referees are happy to have this help for them because they know now if there is a conflicting situation they will get the accuracy to say if was a goal or not," said Blatter.

"We were speaking of goal-line technology since the beginning of 2000. We had it in the 2007 Club World Cup with the (Cairos) chip in the ball system.

"We saw it didn't work so well so we put the goal-line technology on ice until we had a system that is accurate - and then look what happened.

"In the 2010 World Cup, you remember Lampard scored a wonderful goal (against Germany) which landed at least 70 centimetres behind the line.

"The officials couldn't see it, wouldn't see it - I don't know. But anyway the game continued.
"At that time as president of FIFA, I said if I was still president of FIFA in 2014 then we cannot afford to have the same situation when an accurate system exists."

Solar World Cup 2014 project

KfW Entwicklungsbank, has signed a €10 million (US$13 million) loan guarantee with Brazil’s Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG) for the Solar World Cup 2014 project.

The project will see the Mineirão and Mineirinho stadiums, located in Belo Horizonte, outfitted with rooftop photovoltaic systems, which hold a combined capacity of 2.6MW. Electricity produced by the project will be fed into the grid so that Brazilian consumers can benefit from the solar electricity.

Total investment for the project is projected at €14.25 million (US$18.7 million). The KfW loan will help fund the project and includes funds from the BMZ for interest reduction and a contribution of €4.25 million (US$5.6 million) from CEMIG. Further, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit plans to support CEMIG in marketing the solar electricity and training technical personnel.