Skip to content

World Cup countdown

The clock's ticking to the start of the 2014 World Cup and it's now just less than 16 weeks to kick-off. It might sound like a long time but it really isn't. With that in mind, Sky Sports goes around the globe to get the best news, views and opinion on the road to Rio...

World Cup 2014 Brazil Countdown

With just less 16 weeks to kick-off, we get all the best World Cup build-up from around the globe.

Travel Tips

We have heard about the sky-high hotel prices, the public protests, unbearable humidity and long distances between host cities that fans traveling to Brazil for the World Cup will have to endure. Yet all this scaremongering has not put off a projected 600,000 of the world's most fervent football supporters making the supposed arduous trip to South America in the summer to witness the spectacle. England are always well followed wherever they go and so we spoke to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to get some travel advice for Brazil. Read our full Q&A with Alex Ellis, the FCO's ambassador in Brazil

Fact-Finding Mission

Roy Hodgson has not been shy this week in stating he is dreaming of winning the World Cup with England in Brazil this summer. If they are to achieve that target, they will have to make a good start when they face Italy in their opening Group D game at the Arena Amazonia, where humidity levels can hit more than 95 per cent. Hodgson has consequently been on a fact-finding mission in Manaus in preparation for the tournament. Read more and watch the video of Roy Hodgson's trip to the Amazon.

Chatting to Carlos

As part of a mini-series released over the next few weeks, Brazil legend Roberto Carlos kicks-off six talks with Guillem Balague by discussing his life growing up in the world's most football-obsessed nation and that goal against France at Le Tournoi in 1997. Did he mean it? Check out Guillem Balague's full interview with Roberto Carlos.

Pressure? What Pressure?

"If you want to win the World Cup, you need to win in all different circumstances. It is a dream come true to go to a World Cup." Those were the words of Brazil and Chelsea star David Luiz this week as he revealed his ambitions ahead of the summer. Can Brazil win the World Cup in their homeland? Find out with David Luiz's interview

Look the Part

Sporting goods giants adidas have revealed the away kits for the likes of world champions Spain along with other powerhouses such as Germany and Argentina. They are the shirts Andres Iniesta, Mesut Ozil, Lionel Messi and other superstars might be wearing in Brazil as they battle for glory and you can have an early sneak peak. Click here to take a look at our adidas gallery

Around Sky