What Is the World Cup Soccer Tournament?
The World Cup soccer tournament is the largest soccer tournament on the globe. It is held every four years and includes nations from every continent (except Antarctica, of course). The teams compete for the championship fiercely, and the games are watched by spectators from all over the world. The World Cup is moved from country to country for each tournament.
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History
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The World Cup is played by national teams fielded by countries from all over the globe. The first World Cup took place in 1930 in Uruguay, which won the competition that year, defeating Argentina 4-2 in the final. Since then, it has been held every four years, with the exception of 1942 and 1946. The month-long tournament caps a long preliminary stage.
Preliminaries
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Preliminaries for the World Cup are divided by continent or region. More than 100 nations field teams to complete in regional playoffs to determine which teams will go to the final tournament every four years. These preliminary rounds take three years to complete.
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Tournament Structure
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The tournament that is held every four years takes the 32 best teams, winners of the regional tournaments or playoffs, and breaks them into eight groups of four teams. The four teams in each division play each other once, with the two best teams going to the next round. These 16 teams play an elimination round set up as a bracket, similar to a tennis or basketball tourney. Teams that lose are out, and the two final teams play for the championship.
Past Winners
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The World Cup has only been won by seven nations. England, France, Germany (or West Germany) and Italy are the European sides that have won, and Italy has won four times. From South America, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil all have won. Brazil has won the World Cup an unprecedented five times and is widely considered the world's best soccer nation.
The 2010 World Cup
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The 2010 World Cup will be played in South Africa in June and July. This is the first time that the tournament has been played in Africa. Perennial favorite Brazil is expected to do well, and England, Spain, Germany, Argentina and Portugal are considered strong contenders.
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References
- Photo Credit soccer ball image by Rich Johnson from Fotolia.com
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