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the footy4kids guide to the
World Cup in association with wikipedia What's the World Cup all about? The FIFA Men's World Cup (often called the Football World Cup or simply the World Cup) is the most important competition in international football (soccer), and the world's most representative team sport event.
Organised by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's governing body, the World Cup is contested by the men's national football teams of FIFA member nations. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930 (except in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II), however it is more of an ongoing event as the qualifying rounds of the competition take place over the three years preceding the final rounds. The final tournament phase (often called the "Finals") involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period in a previously nominated host nation, with these games making it the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world. In the 17 tournaments held, only seven nations have ever won the World Cup Finals. Brazil are the current holders, as well as the most successful World Cup team, having won the tournament five times, while Germany and Italy follow with three titles each. The next football World Cup Finals will be held in Germany between June 9 and July 9, 2006. FIFA Women's World Cup
The FIFA Women's World Cup is the most important competition in international football for women. Organised by FIFA, the sport's governing body, the first Women's World Cup tournament was held in 1991, 61 years after the Men's and was the idea of a FIFA official during the 1986 Men's World Cup in Mexico. It's popularity has grown quickly. Over 650,000 spectators attended the 1999 Women's World Cup and nearly 1 billion viewers from 70 countries tuned in. FIFA estimates that the current 40 million girls and women playing football around the world will grow, by 2010 equaling the number of men. And planning for the 2007 Women's World Cup must reflect this. 16 women's national football teams compete every four years for this women's world championship. One of the most famous moments in the women's tournament, and perhaps in the history of women's sports overall, is Brandi Chastain's victory celebration after scoring the Cup-winning penalty against China in 1999. She took off her jersey and waved it over her head (as men frequently do), showing her muscular torso and sports bra, as she celebrated. The 1999 and 2003 Women's World Cups were both celebrated in the United States; in 2003 China was supposed to host it but it was moved because of SARS. As compensation, China retained its automatic qualification to the 2003 tournament as host nation and received the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007. The next country to be decided by vote will be the host of the 2011 Women's World Cup. |
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futsal (futebol de salão) |
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