European Soccer Article
FIFA World Cup Championship
The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup series is a world-wide soccer championship held every four years. Since 1930, all of the member countries have competed for the coveted World Cup, the most watched competition and the most prized trophy in soccer. The games continue throughout the intervening three years and are as exciting as when it first commenced, uplifting and exciting fans throughout the world.
There have been eighteen games held since the World Cup’s inception. Two games were cancelled due to World War II, totaling eight years wherein no games were held. Throughout the game’s history, only seven nations have won. Of these eighteen championships, Brazil have won five, more than any other country has ever won thereby showing itself to be the most able soccer team in the world. Italy is the next in ranking with four World Cup trophies in its name. They also won the latest World Cup held in July 2006 against France with a final score of 5-3. The next in ranking are Uruguay with two wins and Argentina also with two World Cup trophies, and England and France each with one trophy.
In 1932, the Olympics was held in Los Angeles, and soccer was being considered for the games. The new sport received cold shoulders from the Olympics. It was not considered a competition but more of a nice show. In relation with the Olympic Games, there was also some speculation involving professional players – a problem that would still exist in the years to follow. Hence, the World Cup was created. Ever since the competition in Uruguay held in 1930, the World Cup has grown in prestige and popularity. No other sporting event captures the world’s fascination like the FIFA World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup is watched by billions of people all over the world, with many devoted fans eagerly expressing their preference. This usually leads to very enthusiastic behavior, more often than not leading to violence as is often seen in South American countries where soccer is the most favorite sport. Arguments and fights break out between opposing fans and with the help of a little alcohol in their system, fights and rumbles easily erupt.
The next FIFA World Cup will be held in 2010. Preliminary games will be held before then and only the best of the best will be competing in the finals. Most of the time, the usual countries compete for the FIFA World Cup but every now and then a new face on the block takes on the giants. With the glistening golden trophy as the main focus of the event, and the fans being sure that their favorite will win, anyone can be the next holder of this trophy.
