Germany has claimed a fourth World Cup crown in a 1-0 win against Argentina after extra time in the final in Rio de Janeiro. Substitute Mario Goetze was the hero, as he scored the only goal with seven minutes to go. With that triumph Germany has become the first European nation to win the trophy outside of their home continent, which led to jubilant scenes both on the pitch and back home, with millions... 

The football showdown between Japan and Greece ended in a scoreless draw, but the Japanese fans scored top points from the clean-up crew after leaving the stands of the stadium and its bathroom unblemished. It turns out that Japanese football fans have a tradition of cleaning up the stadium after matches at home, a practice which the fans vigorously undertake in Brazil. “It’s our tradition.... 

Thousands of Brazilian soldiers have fanned out in one of Rio de Janeiro’s most notorious slums to provide security less than three months before the FIFA World Cup. The security push on Saturday is considered the latest attempt to drive drug gangs out of the infamous Mare slum, which is located near Rio de Janeiro’s international airport and is considered a haven for organized crime. Some... 

Brazil police in Sao Paulo have clashed with protesters demonstrating against the billions of dollars being spent on the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Waving flags, carrying banners and chanting, “There will be no Cup,” crowds of demonstrators swarmed the streets of Sao Paulo on Sunday to protest against the football tournament that the country is set to host from June 12 to July 13. According to local... 

Otavio Jordao da Silva A soccer referee has been beheaded then had his body dismembered by the spectators at a game following a dispute in which he fatally stabbed an amateur player for refusing to leave the field. Brazilian police spokesman Kena Souza said on Saturday that the incident took place on June 30 in the remote northern town of Pio XII. The dispute began when player Josenir dos Santos, 30,... 

Brazil has added 30 US military robots to the Israeli drones and ‘Robocop-style’ glasses with face recognition cameras to its arsenal after the country allocated $900 million to make 2014 World Cup “one of the most protected sports events in history.” The 30 PackBot 510 units, which usually cost between $100,000 and $200,000 apiece, will arrive in Brazil as part of the $7.2...