England star Harry Kane will wear the captain's armband at next month's World Cup in Russia. Photo: AFP

WILL SMITH TO FEATURE IN WORLD CUP SONG

Will Smith is making a return to music, recording the official 2018 World Cup anthem with Colombia-based reggaeton star Nicky Jam, and Kosovar pop singer Era Istrefi.

According to reports in Billboard and other publications, the track is to be released on 25 May, and is being produced by Diplo.

Alongside his burgeoning acting career in the late 1980s and 90s, Smith was a successful pop-rapper, first with DJ Jazzy Jeff and then as a solo artist. He had nine UK Top Five hits in all, including No. 1s with Boom! Shake the Room and Men in Black. He hasn't released an album since 2005's Lost and Found, and a new track with Jazzy Jeff in 2017, Get Lit, was a flop.

The official World Cup song is usually performed at either the opening or closing ceremony.

Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez performed We Are One at the 2014 opening ceremony, while Shakira's Waka Waka closed out the 2010 competition.

As well as the official song each year, there is also an “anthem”, which have been performed in the past by the likes of Wyclef Jean, R Kelly and Vangelis.  This year it will be Colors by Jason Derulo and Maluma.

LEE BLOW FOR KOREA

Former Asian Player of the Year Lee Keun-ho will miss out on representing South Korea at the World Cup finals in Russia after tearing ligaments in his right knee playing for Gangwon FC in the Korean league at the weekend.

Lee, who won the continental award in 2012 after helping Ulsan Hyundai to the Asian Champions League title, suffered the injury playing for his club against Gyeongnam FC on Saturday and his withdrawal adds to a growing injury list for head coach Shin Tae-yong.

The 32-year-old's absence was confirmed by the Korea Football Association on Tuesday and he joins first-choice central defender Kim Min-jae of Jeonbuk Motors and Dijon winger Kwon Chang-hoon in pulling out of the squad due to injury.

Kim has been sidelined by a hairline fracture to his shin while Kwon will miss the World Cup after rupturing his Achilles.

KANE NAMED ENGLAND CAPTAIN

Striker Harry Kane will wear the captain's armband for England at next month's World Cup, ending speculation about who would lead Gareth Southgate's squad in Russia.

The announcement was made in a video published on Twitter in which Southgate said Tottenham Hotspur's Kane had "outstanding leadership" qualities.

England's last full-time captain was Wayne Rooney but the armband has been worn by several players since the former Manchester United forward lost his place in the squad.

Southgate has often played down the significance of the position, preferring to nurture a collective leadership within the team, but Kane will be the figurehead as England go into their 15th World Cup.

Kane, who scored 30 Premier League goals for Tottenham this past season, has 23 caps for England and netted 12 times.

"For me the key for a captain is that you set the tone every day in everything that we do, the way we train, the way we prepare and the professionalism towards the task," Southgate said.

"Harry is an exemplary model of that. He is a meticulous professional and is prepared to challenge people.

"Now is a moment in his life where he is prepared to bring that into the team environment."

Kane, who first captained England in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland last year, said it was a "massive honour".

"I'm very excited for the World Cup, can't wait," he said. "Leading the lads out is going to be special."

England face Tunisia, Panama and Belgium at the World Cup in which they will send their third-youngest squad to a major tournament, with an average age of 26.