The Sunday Times has obtained secret documents that it alleges are proof that Qatari football official Mohamed Bin Hammam made payments totaling $5 million to football officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid.

According to emails obtained by the Sunday Times and seen by the BBC, it is now clear that Bin Hammam, 65, was lobbying on his country's behalf at least a year before the decision.

The documents also show how Bin Hammam was making payments direct to football officials in Africa to allegedly buy their support for Qatar in the contest.

Diego Costa has been included on Spain's 23-man roster for the World Cup.

Costa has been dealing with a hamstring injury, which was worsened in last week's Champions League Final.

David Villa and Fernando Torres were also included.

Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo were among the final cuts for Vicente del Bosque.

Juanfran made the roster despite fitness concerns, while Dani Carvajal and Alberto Moreno will stay home.

Jesus Navas is another high-profile player who won't be going to Brazil due to injury issues.

Final 23-man Spain squad

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Napoli), David de Gea (Manchester United)

Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Juanfran Torres (Atletico Madrid).

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Koke Resurreccion (Atletico Madrid), David Silva (Manchester City), Juan Mata (Manchester United), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)

Forwards: Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), David Villa (Atletico Madrid), Fernando Torres (Chelsea).

Barcelona had 17 past and present players in The Guardian's top-100 players in the history of the World Cup.

The team with the most active players on the list is also FC Barcelona. Xavi, Ronaldinho, Messi, Puyol and Iniesta are five of the ten active footballers on the list. The rest are Cristiano Ronaldo (33), Buffon (44), Sneijder (84), Del Piero (86) and Lahm (95).

2- Maradona
4 – Ronaldo
6 –Cruyff
15 – Xavi
16 - Romário
23 – Ronaldinho
27 – Rivaldo
29 - Neeskens
38 – Thuram
47 – Lineker
51 – Messi
56 – Stòitxkov
59 – Figo
61 – Hagi
64 – Puyol
65 - Iniesta
72 – Frank de Boer
76 – Popescu

Vicente del Bosque is unsure of Diego Costa's fitness ahead of the World Cup for Spain.

Costa tore his hamstring in Atlético Madrid's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.

Del Bosque must finalize his 23-man roster by June 2.

"I'm not sure Costa will make it," Del Bosque told reporters.

"We've still got time but now it's in the hands of the doctors and the medical team. We have to be cautious," he said.

ESPN is releasing a Top-50 #WorldCupRank, which completely excluded any players from the United States.

Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard are widely considered the three best players on the USMNT.

"Some of it just comes down to where you're playing and who you're playing for," ESPN television analyst and former U.S. international Kasey Keller said. "And our national team isn't going to win the World Cup. You start looking at the number of players, it doesn't take a lot when you have the world's elite at a World Cup to come up with 50 players."

Howard just had a great seasons at Everton, but just four keepers made the list.

Bradley couldn't become a regular at Roma before coming to the MLS, while Dempsey had inconsistent moments for Tottenham before his move to Seattle.

Alexi Lalas is convinced that both Bradley and Howard could "play with any team in the world." Lalas believes there are still biases against American players by those in Europe.

Rafael van der Vaart has been ruled out of the World Cup after picking up a calf injury in a training session on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old Hamburg midfielder, who has 109 international caps and appeared at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, was in contention to make Louis van Gaal’s 23-man squad.

Mix Diskerud wore No. 10 for the United States against Azerbaijan, the former number of Landon Donovan.

"For me it is just a number. I am playing for what is in front of the jersey not what is in the back or my name," Diskerud said. "When it comes to Landon I feel like I am just borrowing it and we'll play again together someday and he'll get it back because he has more caps than me."

Diskerud scored from six yards out on a rebound in the match, his third international goal in 18 caps.

"It deflected off somebody and then I got the rebound. Easy job," Diskerud said. "I got tackled exactly when I was going to shoot, and I was just laying down on the ground in agony."

Luis Suárez has texted his Liverpool teammates that he will be in the Uruguay lineup when they face England in the second Group D game on June 19.

Suárez underwent keyhole surgery on a knee injury he first suffered in Liverpool's final game of the season.

Jordan Henderson is one of the five Liverpool teammates on England's team.

"Everybody is obviously disappointed for Luis, people that know him – maybe not us – because he is a big player for Uruguay," said Henderson.

“I gave him a text to see if he is doing all right and wished him good luck with whatever he has got to have done.

“But I am sure, knowing the type of person he is, he is a fighter and I am sure come maybe the first game or the second game in the World Cup, I am sure he will be ready and raring to go.”

Cesare Prandelli has signed a two-year contract to remain as manager of Italiy through the 2016 European Championship in France.

Prandelli took over from Marcello Lippi following Italy's surprise first-round exit at the 2010 World Cup. Italy reached the final of Euro 2012.

Landon Donovan has been left off the United States' World Cup roster.

Jurgen Klinsmann has cut Donovan, Maurice Edu, Terrence Boyd, Joe Corona, Michael Parkhurst, Clarence Goodson and Brad Evans from his initial 30-man roster, opting for youth like John Brooks, DeAndre Yedlin and Mix Diskerud.

Donovan took a self-imposed sabbatical from International competition for the first three World Cup Qualifiers of 2013 before returning for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.

Klinsmann coached Donovan during a brief loan at Bayern Munich in 2009. 

Donovan participated in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

“If there are 23 better players than Landon, then we have a chance to win the World Cup,” said Bruce Arena earlier this week.

GOALKEEPERS: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando

DEFENDERS: DaMarcus Beasley, John Brooks, Matt Besler, DeAndre Yedlin, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler

MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley, Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Graham Zusi, Brad Davis, Julian Green, Jermain Jones, Mix Diskerud

FORWARDS: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannsson, Chris Wondolowski