| The FIFA World Cup, sometimes called the | | | | In the eighteen tournaments held, only seven |
| football World Cup or the soccer World Cup, | | | | nations have won. Brazil is the most |
| but usually referred to simply as the World | | | | successful World Cup team, having won the |
| Cup, is an international football competition | | | | tournament five times. The current Cup |
| contested by the men's national football | | | | holder, Italy, follows with four titles, |
| teams of member nations of the Federation | | | | while Germany holds three. The other former |
| International de Football Association (FIFA), | | | | champions are Uruguay and Argentina with two |
| the sport's global governing body. The | | | | titles each, and England and France with one |
| championship has been awarded every four | | | | title each. |
| years since the first tournament in 1930, | | | | |
| except in 1942 and 1946. However, the event | | | | The Copa América is the oldest surviving |
| is often ongoing, as the qualifying rounds of | | | | international football competition in the |
| the competition take place over the three | | | | world, as it was held for the first time |
| years preceding the final rounds. Since 1991, | | | | between July 2 and July 17, 1916 as part of |
| FIFA has also held the Women's World Cup on a | | | | the commemorations of Argentina's |
| similar four-year schedule. | | | | independence centenary. The CONMEBOL was then |
| | | | founded during this event, on July 9 |
| "A game played on a rectangular field with | | | | (Argentina's independence day). It is |
| net goals at either end in which two teams of | | | | normally held every two years, but the |
| 11 players each try to drive a ball into the | | | | intervals may change. |
| other's goal by kicking, heading, or using | | | | |
| any part of the body except the arms and | | | | Tournaments tour: |
| hands. The goalie is the only player who may | | | | |
| touch or move the ball with the arms or | | | | *The Welsh International Super Cup - |
| hand." | | | | Aberystwyth, Wales |
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| The tournament's final phase, often called | | | | *The Umbro International Cup - Manchester, |
| the World Cup Finals, involves thirty-two | | | | England |
| national teams competing at several venues | | | | |
| within the host nation over a period of about | | | | *The Arsenal International Festival - London, |
| a month. It is the most widely-viewed | | | | England |
| sporting event in the world, with 1.1 billion | | | | |
| people watching the 2002 tournament final. | | | | *The St. |
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