FIFA announce today the latest addition to the group of sponsors, with Brazilian Trade and Investment agency, Apex-Brasil, agreeing a deal to become the fifth National Supporter of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

The agreement provides Apex-Brasil with the opportunity to showcase Brazilian industry in general as well as promoting Brazil as an innovative and sustainable country. The two events will facilitate Apex-Brasil's mission to bring together Brazilian businesses and potential foreign investors, with a view to strengthening business ties and securing investment.

Brazilian Minister of Sport, Aldo Rebelo, highlights the relevance of the partnership established between Apex-Brasil and FIFA. "In addition to being one of the world´s biggest sporting events, the FIFA World Cup also features a major opportunity for its host country. Thanks to Apex-Brasil´s valuable initiative, Brazilian products and services, cutting-edge technology, gastronomy and fashion will be showcased at an exceptional promotion station which is to be set up during the event. And the country shall take advantage of this unique opportunity, which adds to its economy and its image perception worldwide", said Aldo Rebelo.

Today marks the 100-day countdown to the start of the ICC Women's World Cup India 2013, the most prestigious and eagerly awaited event in the women's cricket calendar. In exactly a century of days from today, all eyes will be focused on the city of Mumbai which is set to host the event from 31 January to 17 February 2013.

The 50-over women's World Cup will feature the top eight ODI women's sides in the world, who will battle it out to be crowned ICC Women's World Cup champions across five venues. Holders England, along with New Zealand, Australia and India all qualified for next year's event by virtue of finishing in the top four of the ICC Women's World Cup 2009.

England's rain-soaked sojourn to Poland ended in disappointment as the Three Lions were held to a 1-1 draw in Warsaw. Kamil Gilk's strike 20 minutes from time drew the home side level after Wayne Rooney's opener just after the half-hour mark in the re-arranged fixture which was postponed by 24 hours due to a water-logged pitch on Tuesday. England still remain atop Group H with eight points, but Montenegro have a game in hand and are only a point behind in 2^nd place while Poland are two adrift of the Montenegrins.

Roy Hodgson filled his side with senior pros for the Polish test as Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Ashley Cole and Jermain Defoe started while Poland had the unmistakable presence of Robert Lewandowski in attack.

The 2014 World Cup qualifiers continued to produce fireworks across Europe as the continental giants took the field for the last round of qualifiers for the calendar year. England will still have to turn out later tonight as their clash against Poland in Warsaw was abandoned due to a water-logged pitch caused by heavy rainfall, with the players unable to even conduct their pre-match training routine.

Events at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin more than made up for the dampener at Warsaw as Sweden produced one of the greatest comebacks in recent times as they clawed back from being 4-0 down to draw 4-4 against a shell-shocked Germany. Miroslav Klose’s early brace combined with Per Mertesacker’s goal before half-time gave the home side a commanding 3-0 lead, which was further consolidated by Mesut Ozil’s strike ten minutes into the 2^nd half.

English winger Theo Walcott will be unable to play alongside his countrymen when they face Poland in the 2014 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, reported BBC Sport. The Arsenal forward had to be taken off the pitch in their 5-0 victory over San Marino after a reckless challenge from opposing keeper Aldo Simoncini.

Walcott struggled to breathe after the challenge from Simoncini in the sixth minute of the game. The player was rushed to a hospital following the chest injury and initial scans revealed the need for further treatment.

Eleven Host Cities and twelve stadiums have been selected to host the 64 matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. This was announced today (29 September 2012) at a ceremony with Russian Minister of Sport and chairman of the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC), Vitaly Mutko, and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter which was broadcast live on Russia's Channel 1 station. Among the guests were FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, LOC CEO Alexey Sorokin, Russia's national team coach Fabio Capello as well as Brazil's FIFA World Cup™ champion Roberto Carlos.

Having been divided into four geographical clusters, the Host Cities of the 2018 FIFA World Cupâ„¢ have been announced as follows: Moscow, the only city with two stadiums, namely Luzhniki and Spartak (central cluster); St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad (Northern cluster); Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saransk and Volgograd (Volga cluster); Rostov-on-Don and Sochi (Southern cluster) as well as Yekaterinburg. The FIFA Executive Committee had approved the venues at its meeting on Friday 28 September 2012 in Zurich. The decision on the general match schedule will be taken at a later date.

Pune city's growing influence in preparing a women's rugby squad has earned the city, the right to host the Sevens Rugby World Cup qualifier—the Asian Rugby Sevens Women's championship to be held at the Balewadi Sports Complex athletics stadium here on October 6th and 7th. Pune, which hosted the Asian Rugby Sevens championship last year when China won the title ahead of Kazakhstan, will have the honour of holding the event back-to-back.

Fifteen teams including defending champion China and runner-up Kazakhstan have confirmed their participation in the continental championship that assumes much importance as the top three finishers will qualify for the World Cup to be held in Moscow, Russia in 2013.