World Cup Soccer

World Cup Soccer

The People's Game Some people call soccer “ the people's game" because soccer is the world's most popular sport. About three hundred million people play soccer (also known as “ football" in many countries) all around the world. Almost a billion people watched the 2006 World Cup championship on television. That means one out of every seven people on Earth was watching!

Matches Around the World The World Cup is the most important event in soccer, maybe even in all sports. Every four years, the planet's best players come together to compete in the World Cup. It takes one month and sixty-four games to decide the winning team. Fans from all over the world come to watch their teams play. The fans wear crazy hats, paint their faces, bring drums to bang, and cheer on the players.

Africa Makes History Although soccer is popular all over the world, a World Cup tournament was never held on the continent of Africa until 2010. That's why it was big news when South Africa was chosen to host the nineteenth World Cup. Over two hundred countries competed for the chance to send teams to the tournament. Johannesburg, the largest city in the country, was chosen to host the final match of the 2010 Johannesburg World Cup.

Great Teams The world's most successful team is Brazil. The Brazilian team that beat Italy 4-1 in the 1970 final is often called “ the greatest team ever" by soccer fans. Brazilians are known for their “ banana kicks, " which curve like the bend in a banana and sail into the goal. Brazil is also known for having some of soccer's most lively and colorful fans.

Italy's team is second on the list of most World Cup wins. In the 2006 final, Italy defeated France 5-3 in a penalty shootout. A penalty shootout happens if a game is tied after overtime. Five players from each team take turns kicking the ball from a spot twelve yards from the goal line. Only the goalkeeper, or “ goalie, " stands between them and the goal. The team that makes the most penalty goals is the winner.