NEW YORK - FORMER US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, architect of President Richard Nixon's detente with China, faced a new diplomatic challenge on Monday - helping craft a US bid to host the soccer World Cup.

'I obviously want the World Cup to come here,' the Nobel Peace Prize-winner and soccer fan told reporters at a briefing to announce his involvement with the US soccer federation's bid for the 2018 or 2022 tournament.

LONDON - Wayne Rooney will become the youngest England player to reach 50 appearances on Wednesday against Ukraine, while the star whose record he will take now wonders whether he will ever pull on the white shirt again.

Rooney will be hoping to follow up Saturday's two-goal performance against Slovakia with more against the Ukrainians in a World Cup qualifying game. Michael Owen, however, will likely be watching the game on TV.

ZURICH - FIFA is investigating why a World Cup qualifier between Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina had to be stopped when flares were thrown onto the field.

Play was interrupted for 10 minutes in the second half of Saturday's match at Genk when flares were hurled from a section of the stadium housing visiting Bosnian fans.