The World Cup: The World’s Biggest Event

2630 Words6 Pages

Thirty-two teams, sixty-four games, eight groups of four, years of qualifying and one world champion. The World Cup is an international soccer tournament that takes place in the summer every four years. It is more than just a game to all who participate, and their fans as well “Husbands have mortgaged their homes to attend it [the World Cup] Careers are defined by it, and athletes have been murdered for making mistakes“, (Trecker 16). It is more than just the world’s biggest sporting event, it’s the biggest event period. (Trecker 6) Before the World Cup began, the only tournament that was played in international soccer was the Olympics. (“History of the World Cup) These Olympic tournaments intensified Fifa’s dream to hold its own world championship tournament. (“History of the World Cup) Surveys were eventually sent to the affiliated associations asking if they would agree to a tournament, and what the rules and regulations of this tournament would be (“History of the World Cup). With these surveys were filled out and rules were discussed, a special committee with President Jules Rimet as the leader began (“History of the World Cup“). Rimet was aided by the secretary of the French football federation, Henri Delaunay. After a remarkable proposal, Fifa’s congress met in Amsterdam on 28 May 1928 and decided to have a world championship organized by Fifa. Hungry, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands immediately put in bids to host this first tournament (“History of the World Cup”). But Uruguay, who was the favorite from the beginning because of its last two gold medals at the Olympics as well as its 100th anniversary of independence, was chosen immediately. Europe was in the midst of an economic cri... ... middle of paper ... ..., and Stefan Szymanski. Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey and Even Iraq Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport. New York: Nation, 2009. Print. Robinson, Joshua. "World Cup Qualifying - How Teams Qualify for the World Cup - Road to the World Cup." Soccer - Football - World Cup and EPL - Learn to Play Soccer. Web. 11 Feb. 2011. . Trecker, Jamie. Love and Blood: at the World Cup with the Footballers, Fans, and Freaks. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, 2007. Print. Voigt, By Kevin. "Is There a World Cup Economic Bounce? - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. Web. 11 Feb. 2011. .

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