The autumn air is sneaking its way in, which means school has started up and the Quidditch World Cup is coming back to New York City. This November 12th and 13th marks the fifth annual event, which will take place on Randall's Island (last year, it was held in Dewitt Clinton Park in Manhattan). The space allows for ten fields, upon which 100 teams will duke it out (about 2,000 participants total)... as of now, they all get bonus points for using Arcade Fire to soundtrack their preview video: more ›

Morgan Freeman may play the voice of God and Bill Clinton may have rescued American reporters from North Korea... but they couldn't help the United States Soccer Federation's bid committee land the World Cup in 2022. FIFA just announced that the 2018 World Cup will be in Russia and the 2022 World Cup will be in Qatar. The U.S. bid committee was aiming to submit bids for both, but then withdrew from the 2018 process in October to focus on the 2022 bid. more ›

Possibly the world's most famous mollusk, Paul the Octopus, died at Sealife Aguarium in Oberhausen, Germany overnight, passing away at age 2 1/2. Paul rose to fame this year after correctly predicting the winners of Germany's seven World Cup matches (including Spain's semi-final victory over Germany, which raised the ire of Germans) and the final between Spain and Netherlands when presented with mussel-filled boxes representing the different teams. The aquarium's general manager Stegan Porwoll said, "Paul inspired people of all continents. He won all our hearts, and we will sorely miss him.” more ›

Spain's 1-0 overtime victory over the Netherlands to win the 2010 World Cup meant celebration—and sadness—at bars and other gathering places in the city. Here are some photographs of the revelry from Gothamist readers. more ›

Paul the Psychic Octopus from Germany's Oberhausen Sea Life Aquarium correctly predicted that Germany would win its third-place World Cup match against Uruguay yesterday, making it his sixth correction prediction. As Der Spiegel explains, "He 'predicts' by choosing a mussel from one of two possible containers, both marked with national flags." However, Paul is not popular in his home country, with people threatening to grill him. Spain's environmental minister said Spain might offer asylum "so that the Germans don't eat him." After all, Paul did predict that Spain would beat the Netherlands in today's match (on ABC at 2:30 p.m.!); video of his prediction after the jump. Update: Spain defeated the Netherlands, 1-0. Long live, Paul! more ›

Movie theaters are jumping onto the World Cup bandwagon, hoping that soccer fans will drop their beer goggles for 3D glasses: Theatrical distributor Cinedigm will be screening the 2010 World Cup in "Live 3D" at 15 cinemas around the country. Two of the locations are in New York City, at the Chelsea Clearview and the Pavilion in Park Slope. Tickets are on sale for a Netherlands vs. Germany-or-Spain NOW NOW NOW! more ›

Argentina fans packed into a Hell's Kitchen bar to watch the Germany-Argentina game yesterday were furious to find one fan dressed as what the Post calls "their opponent's biggest fan": Adolf Hitler. Fan Steve Staso allegedly walked into Café Andalucia with a taped-on mustache and a swastika armband, saluting fellow Germany supporters. One bar-goer said, "I said, 'Why are you doing this?' and he said it was funny. I said, 'Is genocide funny? Is history funny?'" History can be funny sometimes, but genocide is not. more ›

After Germany's 4-0 win over Argentina earlier today, Avenue C was flooded with German fans, many presumably partying at Zum Schneider. When a fire truck arrived at the scene, most thought it was to clear the crowd, but the FDNY was just there to join in the celebration! more ›

Ghana took a quick lead over USA in the first five minutes of today's single-elimination World Cup game with a goal from Kevin-Prince Boateng. The US has had a tough time through the game, with yellow cards issued to Ricardo Clark and full-back Steve Cherundolo, and just five goal shots as compared to Ghana's seven. In other World Cup News, Bill Clinton is reportedly sitting next to Mick Jagger at the game. more ›

Soccer fans are already gearing up for this afternoon's World Cup map between the USA and Ghana, but the biggest winners in the World Cup may be the places pouring pints for fans. Bars around the city have been cashing in on the quad-annual soccer madness, inspiring even quiet lounges to redesign themselves around the games. Jack Keane of Nevada Smiths told the Post, "If there was no World Cup right now, we would have no business. Literally, there'd be nobody here." more ›

Updated below In early action in today's USA-Algeria game at the 2010 World Cup, there's still no score. If the United States wins, they will advance to the next round. Algeria had an early chance to score, but Rafik Djebbour's shot went off the crossbar. And, in a repeat of the USA-Slovenia tie, another United States goal was disallowed by the referees. They claimed that Clint Dempsey was offside before scoring. Replays showed that Dempsey was onside when he received the pass. Jozy Altidore had a chance to score in the 37th minute into what was essentially an open net, but his shot sailed well over the goal. more ›

After last week's exciting 2-2 draw against Slovenia, the U.S. men's soccer team has a chance to move into the World Cup's round of sixteen with today's match against Algeria. With its 1-1 draw with England in its opening match, Team U.S.A. can advance with a win, but there are some other complicated scenarios, detailed here, for how they can continue on or be kicked out. more ›

Now that there's an app for that, City Councilman Charles Barron (running for Governor because all the other candidates are white) told the Daily News he thinks any attempt to ban the vuvuzela is racist. Even if he has no idea what they are. more ›

Following today's 2-2 draw with Slovenia, the prospects of the United States Men's National Team advancing past group play in the 2010 World Cup were unclear. Well, our friendly allies across the pond have made things a little more cleared. England was unable to win yet again. This time, they tied Algeria 0-0. That means that the United States controls its own destiny when they take their turn against the Algerians on Wednesday. more ›

Starting today and through the weekend, New Yorkers can enjoy another kind of World Cup, as fencers invade NYC for the 2010 Federation Internationale D'Escrime World Cup. The competition will feature 367 world-class swordwielders from over 20 countries and three disciplines: men's sabre, women's sabre, and women's foil. more ›

Updated Below The United States' second game at the 2010 World Cup is underway, as they play Slovenia in Johannesburg, South Africa. After a 1-1 draw with England to open the tournament, the US Men can advance even if they lose today's match, but a win would make things a lot easier. Slovenia won its first match against Algeria, 1-0. more ›

We didn’t get the “Miracle On Grass” that some pundits expected yesterday. Instead, the U.S. showed determination and they took advantage of a lucky break they received to earn a tie. The problem is that even with a win, Americans wouldn’t have been transformed into soccer fans overnight. Yes, a good performance by the national team would excite fans and generate passion for soccer, but it won’t have a lasting impact because once the World Cup is over all that remains for the U.S. soccer fan is MLS. more ›

After the USA soccer—or football—team's surprising tie with the British team in its first match of the World Cup had American fans thrilling—and British ones cursing. One man, who traveled 15 hours from Ohio to watch the game in NYC, told the Post, "1776, one to zero. Now it's two to zero." more ›

The World Cup is officially underway for the US Men's National Team as they open the tournament against England. England took a quick lead in the 4th minute on a goal by English captain Steven Gerrard. There was a scare for the Americans when Tim Howard took a boot to his chest on a England scoring chance. Fortunately, Howard is still in the game. Clint Dempsey scored the equalizer in the 40th minute on a ball that should have been stopped by English keeper Robert Green. Green nearly had the shot in his possession, before the ball bounced off of him and into the goal. more ›

With the US-UK World Cup match starting at 2:30 p.m. (EST) and BP's oily mess in the Gulf Coast, the Post decides, "It's the Revolutionary War, Round 2. While tens of millions settle in to watch England and the United States in their first match of the World Cup today, the leaders of the two testy allies will be butting heads over BP and the Gulf oil spill... The two teams have been bitter rivals in the past, but anger over the Gulf mess raises today's game to a new level." And a former British ambassador said "relations between the two countries are in 'a bit of a crisis.'" more ›

This morning, South African Tourism and Consul General Fikile Magubane of South Africa visited Nasdaq in Times Square and rang the opening bell, to celebrate the opening day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup which just began in South Africa. Right now, South Africa and Mexico are tied 0-0 at halftime in the first game of the tournament. Apparently referees are brushing up—in advance of tomorrow's USA-England match (2:30 p.m. EST; schedule)—on English slang "so that players won't be able to verbally abuse each other behind the officials' backs." The Daily Show's Jon Oliver took aim at the Yankee-Brit "rivalry" last night: more ›

Everyone's talking twittering the big news about the 2014 Super Bowl...but what about that other football? Ya know, the (relatively) ancient one? The one during which you actually kick the ball, with your foot, for the majority of the game? more ›

If the United States succeeds in its bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022, the New York area will be a host city. Following a nine-month selection process, the USA Bid Committee selected New York-New Jersey, which is really just New Jersey, as one of the eighteen cities that would host World Cup matches. more ›

The United States soccer team has drawn England, Algeria and Slovenia in their pool for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. More importantly, for the Americans, they avoided some of the more difficult teams that they could have drawn in group play. Former Irish National Team player Tony Cascarino said that the United States was the best team in Pot Two (Asia, North and Central America) and that the Brits should take them seriously. Landon Donovan said that "They’re not entirely scared of us, but they definitely don’t want to draw us.” Overall, things are looking decent for the United States to advance out of Group C when play begins in June. more ›

They couldn’t pull of a second miracle this week, but the U.S. Soccer team has nothing to be ashamed about. They beat the #1 team in the World, Spain, and led another soccer powerhouse, Brazil, for most of their game today. In the end though, Brazil had too much firepower and they prevailed 3-2. While a win today would have captured the World’s attention, today’s loss should capture the attention of this country. We have a soccer team that can compete with the best in the World and it is time for the U.S. to give it some attention. more ›

It's the ol' layover-and-flee move: Thirteen players from Haiti's under-17 national soccer team "deserted" their team during a layover at JFK Airport. Six players returned, but seven are still missing. The squad was headed to South Korea to prepare for the FIFA's U17 World Cup, but now it's unclear whether their team will be intact for its August 19 match against Japan. more ›

- Sunday at Keyspan Park, baseball loving ladies can participate in the Ladies Clinic the Cyclones are holding from 9 a.m. - noon. The players themselves will be conducting personal and group instruction on baseball fundamentals like hitting, pitching, and fielding. For $35, participants will get a t-shirt, lunch, and two tickets to the game later that evening. While registration ended on 7/31, there are still spaces available. more ›

-Mets 8 Reds 3: Carlos Beltran became the first player in four years and the first Met since Robin Ventura to hit grand slams in consecutive games. Beltran’s blast broke open a 3-2 game and ensured Mike Pelfry of his second win. Xavier Nady and Jose Valentin also went deep for New York. more ›