Thefifaworldcup(oftencalledfootballworldcup,theworldcup,orsimplyworldcup)isthemostimportantcompetitionininternationalfootball(soccer),andtheworld'smostrepresentativeteamsportevent.organisedbyfederationinternationaledefootballassociation(fifa),thesport'sgoverningbody,theworldcupiscontestedbymen'snationalfootballteamswhicharefifamembers.
theworldcupisheldeveryfouryears,butthequalifyingroundsofthecompetitiontakeplaceoverathree-yearperiod,usingregionalqualifyingtournaments.197nationalteamsenteredthequalificationtournamentsforthe2006worldcup.thefinaltournamentphaseinvolves32nationalteamscompetingoverafour-weekperiodinapreviouslynominatedhostnation.
theworldcupfinalcompetition(oftencalledthe"finals"),whichhasbeenheldeveryfouryearssince1930,exceptin1942and1946whenitwascancelledduetoworldwarii,isthemostwidely-viewedandfollowedsportingeventintheworld.ithasaglobalaudienceofmorethan3billionpeople(halftheworld'spopulation)exceedingeventheolympicgames.
onlysevennationshavewontheworldcup.brazilisthemostsuccessfulworldcupteam,havingwonthetournamentfivetimes.germanyanditalyfollowwiththreetitleseach.argentinaanduruguayhavetwotitleseach.finally,franceandenglandhaveonetitleeach.
thenextfootballworldcupwillbeheldingermanybetweenjune9andjuly9,2006.
