BERLIN _ FIFA president Sepp Blatter and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan want the World Cup to help people around the world come together.

The two men referred to soccer as "a global language," adding that teamwork and fair play in soccer "can contribute to the well-being of whole communities and countries."

"It can bridge social, cultural and religious divides," they said on Tuesday in a joint statement.

Blatter said FIFA is using the sport as a way to reach its Millennium Development Goals, a set of improvement objectives for the 21st century.

The statement also pointed to efforts made by FIFA to use soccer "to heal the emotional wounds of war among young people in refugee camps, and in countries recovering from armed conflict."

"Let us harness the magic of football in our quest for development and peace," the statement said.

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LUCKY TO BE UNDERDOGS: Argentina should be happy not to have to deal with much hype about its team before this World Cup, according to Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

"Argentina is in a good position because there's not much talk about it," Parreira said. "And we know, because of the quality of its players and the quality of the Argentine soccer, that it's one of the favorites to win the World Cup, without a doubt."

Brazil's rival lost a lot of enthusiasts after its disappointing elimination in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

It fell to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final last year in Germany, and in the 2004 Copa America final in Peru. It also finished second to the five-time World Cup champion in South American qualifying.

"When I mention the eight favorites for the title, Argentina is still included," Parreira said.

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