Soccer Gears

Summary: World Cup Soccer is the international competition of national soccer teams of member nations of FIFA

The World Cup is the epitome of soccer; it is every footballer�s ultimate dream. If a player becomes skilled enough he will be asked to join a team representing the country for a bid to the World Cup facing the best teams of the world.

World Cup Soccer is an international football competition among national football teams of member nations of FIFA, F�d�ration Internationale de Football Association. FIFA is the sport's global governing body. World Cup Soccer is sometimes called Football World Cup, FIFA World Cup or just World Cup, though the term World Cup could define any sport besides soccer. FIFA World Cup Soccer holds both men�s and women�s World Cup Soccer on a separate schedule. The first World Cup Soccer was held in 1930 on the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay. Except in 1942 and 1946 (World War), FIFA World Cup Soccer was held every four years until the latest tournament in 2006.

The final stage of World Cup Soccer is where the sporting event reaches its highest pinnacle. This stage is competed by 32 deserving national teams in a group stage and knockout stage for over a month within the host nation. About 28.8 billion audiences watch the proceedings of the World Cup Soccer Finals making this event the most anticipated since its first television appearance in 1954.

The most successful World Cup Soccer team is Brazil who won the championship five times. Germany and Italy is next behind with three titles each and Uruguay and Argentina with two titles each and lastly, England and France with one title each. Here is the breakdown of the past World Cup Soccer winners.

The World Cup Soccer Years

Year Host Winner Runner-up

2006 Germany Italy France

2002 South Korea/Japan Brazil Germany

1998 France France Brazil

1994 Brazil Brazil Italy

1990 Italy West Germany Argentina  

1986 Mexico Argentina West Germany

1982 Spain Italy West Germany

1978 Argentina Argentina Netherlands

1974 West Germany West Germany Netherlands

1970 Mexico Brazil Italy

1966 England England West Germany

1962 Chile Brazil Czechoslovakia

1958 Sweden Brazil Sweden

1954 Switzerland West Germany Hungary

1950 Brazil (Maracanazo) Uruguay Brazil

1946 world war

1942 world war

1938 France Italy Hungary

1934 Italy Italy Czechoslovakia

1930 Uruguay Uruguay Argentina

World Cup Soccer Trivia

* Players with the most goals

The reason behind Brazil�s successes is through their dynamic players who are considered to be among the best. Brazilian Ronaldo leads the most goals with 15 from 4 world cups (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006) with Gerard M�ller from Germany with 14 in 2 world cups (1970, 1974). Frenchman Just Fontaine has 13 in 1 world cup (1958) followed by the legendary Pel� with 12 in 4 world cups (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970).

* The player with the most World Cup Soccer appearances is Lothar Matth�us of Germany with 25

* The biggest victory is in 1954 between Hungary and South Korea 9-0. Also in 1974 between Yugoslavia and Zaire 9-0. the 1982 victory of Hungary over El Salvador has 10-1.