A quartet of state-of-the art, government-built stadia rise out of former marshland in energy-rich Kazakhstan's futuristic capital Astana, but the Central Asian state's soaring sporting ambitions have been shot down by the global oil slump.
Sepp Blatter said that he was the target of "an inquisition" by FIFA's ethics committee, which has suspended him for 90 days and called for further sanctions over corruption charges.
FIFA approved five candidates to stand in February's vote to replace Sepp Blatter as president of world football's governing body, but Michel Platini has not yet made the list.
French footballer Karim Benzema was arrested in connection with blackmail over a sextape featuring fellow player Mathieu Valbuena, a source close to the probe told AFP.
UEFA said it supports suspended president Michel Platini's right to defend himself against corruption allegations following an emergency meeting in Nyon, Switzerland.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter appealed against the 90 day ban that forced him out of office, a report said as world football's sleaze-tainted governing body headed into months of turmoil over how to find a new leader.