Salafi scholar Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi reportedly negotiated with ISIL in attempt to secure release of Jordanian pilot.

Salafi scholar Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi reportedly negotiated with ISIL in attempt to secure release of Jordanian pilot.

Despite poor show on the pitch, many Brazilians are proud of how their country organised the event.
![Couto believes that Brazilians will not let events on the pitch cloud their political decisions [GALLO/GETTY]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/201471316421533734_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
Football fans in desperate search for tickets to the final in Rio’s Maracana stadium are willing to pay up to $20,000.
![FIFA’s director ticket and hospitality Ray Whelan is accused of illegally selling thousands of tickets [GALLO/GETTY]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/2014711193712632734_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
High travel costs as well as trouble finding match tickets has kept many Oranje fans from following their team to Brazil
![The Sao Paulo Tourism Authority expects about 40,000 Argentinins have tickets to the game [GALLO/GETTY]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/201478183223899734_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
As Argentinian football fans arrive in Brazil to support their team, the long-standing rivalry with the host team grows.

Striker tells nation his World Cup is over – but says his team can carry on without him and win the competition.
![The moment that hurt a nation [REUTERS]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/20147652911506734_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
FIFA president congratulates Brazil on the absence of social unrest during the World Cup, which he called “a success”.
![Blatter's compliments were welcomed with applause from officials in Rio de Janeiro [Thiago Dezan/M?dia NINJA]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/201473144936568734_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
The Qatari observer mission visits Brazil 2014 World Cup to learn from its successes and mistakes.
![Qatar is confident that it will keep the 2022 World Cup despite bribery allegations [EPA]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/20147275119548734_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
Rude song fuels historic football rivalry between South American giants, as thousands of Argentinians take to Sao Paulo.
![More than 100,000 Argentinians have crossed Brazil's southern border to support Messi and co in Sao Paulo [AP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014630222441833734_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
Brazil survived their nail-biting round of 16 match against Chile after a penalty shoot-out. Fans at Rio de Janeiro’s Co
