Rediff.com brings a selection of the week's best photographs from the sports world.

Nigeria's football team went on strike on Thursday, refusing to leave their hotel in Namibia and missing a flight to Brazil where they are supposed to compete in the Confederations Cup, which gets underway at the weekend.

Brazil's Neymar is on the verge of choosing one of two offers from un-named clubs, reported to be Spanish suitors Barcelona and Real Madrid, after Santos agreed on Friday to transfer him.

World Cup winners Ronaldinho and Kaka were both left out of the Brazil's Confederations Cup squad on Tuesday as coach Luiz Felipe Scolari opted for youth ahead of experience.

Libertadores Cup favourites Atletico Mineiro took a big step towards the quarter-finals with a 2-1 away win over 10-man Sao Paulo in the first leg of their last 16 tie on Thursday.

Brazil were booed by their own fans after stumbling to a 2-2 draw with Chile in their first friendly at a 2014 World Cup stadium on Wednesday.

The Castelao Arena in the northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza became the first stadium to be inaugurated for the 2014 World Cup finals on Sunday.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has been taken to hospital during a visit to Brazil to assess progress for the next year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

The trend has become so synonymous with the World Cup that an edition sans an upset result does lose some of its lustre.

Fabio Capello, just a child when England last met the United States at the World Cup 60 years ago, is acutely aware a repeat of that famous result on Saturday would create another sensation.

Lionel Messi can stamp his authority on international soccer when Argentina clash with arch-rivals Brazil in Saturday's World Cup qualifier, coach Diego Maradona said.

Arch-rivals Brazil and Argentina drew 0-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday but moved closer to leaders Paraguay who lost 4-2 in Bolivia. The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa in 2010 and the fifth plays off against the fourth team from the CONCACAF region.

Adriano was recalled by Brazil for next month's World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, only the second time he has been picked by his country since the 2006 World Cup. The 26-year-old was included in a 25-man squad for the matches away to Paraguay in Asuncion on June 15 and at home to arch-rivals Argentina in Belo Horizonte three days later.

ArcelorMittal has moved a few steps forward in setting up its 12-million tonnes steel plant in Keonjhar district of Orissa

Look beyond Shanghai for the next big thing.

In search of the next big opportunity? From Poland to Brazil, a look at some of the world's second-tier cities that are becoming first-class destinations for business.

Argentina reached the Davis Cup final for the second time as victory in the doubles gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead over Australia.

Tele Santana, one of Brazil's greatest coaches, died aged 74 in a Belo Horizonte hospital where he had been in intensive care since March.

The Brazilian defender was giving a radio interview on his cellular phone when armed robbers approached the car in which he was traveling and robbed the driver.

A Brazilian referee said he had no regrets after punching a fan who ran onto the field to attack him during a derby match on Sunday.

The Brazilian striker has been ruled out of the World Cup qualifier against Argentina because of a thigh strain.

Brazil dominated most of the game and had the best chance after 67 minutes when Roberto Carlos hit the post.

The Brazilian ace received a rousing reception from fans before his official presentation by the Brazilian champions Cruzeiro.

The Brazilian champions have shown an interest in the World Cup winner, who was freed from his contract with AC Milan last month.

The former Brazil coach had developed ischemia -- a decrease in blood supply caused by obstruction of the blood vessels -- in the leg following an earlier operation last week.