Different Soccer Tournaments in the World

The FIFA World Cup, sometimes called the football World Cup or the soccer World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international football competition contested by the men's national football teams of member nations of the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946. However, the event is often ongoing, as the qualifying rounds of the competition take place over the three years preceding the final rounds. Since 1991, FIFA has also held the Women's World Cup on a similar four-year schedule.

“A game played on a rectangular field with net goals at either end in which two teams of 11 players each try to drive a ball into the other's goal by kicking, heading, or using any part of the body except the arms and hands. The goalie is the only player who may touch or move the ball with the arms or hand.”

The tournament's final phase, often called the World Cup Finals, involves thirty-two national teams competing at several venues within the host nation over a period of about a month. It is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, with 1.1 billion people watching the 2002 tournament final.

In the eighteen tournaments held, only seven nations have won. Brazil is the most successful World Cup team, having won the tournament five times. The current Cup holder, Italy, follows with four titles, while Germany holds three. The other former champions are Uruguay and Argentina with two titles each, and England and France with one title each.

The Copa América is the oldest surviving international football competition in the world, as it was held for the first time between July 2 and July 17, 1916 as part of the commemorations of Argentina's independence centenary. The CONMEBOL was then founded during this event, on July 9 (Argentina's independence day). It is normally held every two years, but the intervals may change.

Tournaments tour:

• The Welsh International Super Cup – Aberystwyth, Wales
• The Umbro International Cup – Manchester, England
• The Arsenal International Festival – London, England
• The St. Andrews International Soccer Festival – St Andrews, Scotland
• The Gothia Cup - Gothenburg, Sweden
• The Dana Cup - Hjorring, DenmarkThe San Marino Cup - San Marino, Italy
• The Galway Football Festival - Galway, Ireland
• The Schwan USA Cup - Blaine, Minnesota, USA

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