The newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported that the Brazilian cities that will host the 2014 World Cup missed their first deadline. The nine cities that will use tax payers' money to build stadiums failed to publish the invitation to the bidding process by the final date set by the local organizing committee.

In the 23rd round of the Brasileirao, the race for the title came down to what is promising to be a tight one. Palmeiras (44 points), Inter (43) and Sao Paulo (40) won their matches and offered no chance for each other to relax.

On the match that marked the return of Vagner Love, Palmeiras received Barueri at home.

Fernandão celebrates against Corinthians

On Saturday, just two points separated the top three sides in the Brasileiro. But even though Palmeiras were not in action, they stayed top after Internacional lost away at Vitória and São Paulo were held away at strugglers Santo André. Now just three points separate the top five.

Sorin played yesterday his last match as a professional footballer. And the stage for the farewell party could be no other place than the Mineirao, in Belo Horizonte. And the teams on the field could be no different than Argentinos Juniors, club where the left-back started his career, and Cruzeiro, club for whom he professes all his love.

Fred on target for Fluminense against Palmeiras

With just four games remaining in the championship, holders São Paulo went top for the first time this season following their 1-1 draw away to Grêmio on Wednesday and Palmeiras' 1-0 defeat at Fluminense on Sunday.

Almost 67,000 turned up at the Maracanã hoping for a miracle as strugglers Fluminense took on Palmeiras.

Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football club, from the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, founded on January 2, 1921. Cruzeiro currently campaigns in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. They finished in 3rd place last season and currently lie in 6th position in the league as the current Brazilian soccer season winds down.

More points for Fluminense but has their run come to late?

Wins for São Paulo and Flamengo left them in 1st and 2nd place respectively with just three games to go in the Campeonato Brasiliero.

53,000 turned up at the estádio Morumbi as São Paulo took on Vitória in on Saturday.

After a couple of weeks off to R&R and get this holiday madness under way, I am back on the blogging scene.
I thoroughly enjoyed the World Cup draw last week, and for once as a US supporter, I can finally say, "Hey, at least we're not in that group over there."
And by "that group" I mean Group G, as in Golgotha.

Overview
Tomorrow Santos will face Cruzeiro away from home 19th round of the Brasileirão. This is the crucial halfway point of the season.
The referee is Marcelo de Lima Henrique, with his assistants being Vagner de Almeida Santos and Jackson L. Massara do Santos. They are all from Rio de Janeiro.

After the 29th round of Brasileiro, it seems no one wants to take the title home. Like in the last round, when only one club on the top won, the leaders collectively failed again. Palmeiras, Sao Paulo and Atletico-MG lost. Inter and Goias tied at home. And, in this way, Flamengo, the 6th side on the table, was the first team on the top to win.

On the day that retired ex River Plate, Argentinos Juniors, Villarreal, Cruzeiro and Argentina full back Juan Pablo Sorín was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Belo Horizonte (the city he's lived in three times during his spells at Cruzeiro), FIFA confirmed that another former Argentina player is held in rather less high esteem.

In a change to the traditional World Cup Bafana Bafana look at the media in the UK, this morning I decided to investigate the US reaction to Friday's World Cup 2010 draw. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't long before the 1 – 0 victory at the 1950 World Cup was wheeled out for another day in the sun.
ABC News leads with a picture of David Beckham adjusting his boot before regurgitating his spat with Landon Donovan.