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FIFA World Cup
The Football World Cup (official name: FIFA World Cup) is
the most important competition in international football (soccer). Organised
by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's
governing body, the World Cup finals tournament is the most widely-viewed
and followed sporting event in the world exceeding even the Olympic Games.
The finals tournament is held every four years, but the World Cup competition
itself takes place over a three-year period. Teams representing 197 (for
the 2006 competition) national football assocations compete in regional
qualifying tournaments for a place in the finals. The finals tournament
now involves 32 national teams (increased from 24 in 1998) competing over
a 4-week period in a previously nominated host nation. A recent innovation
has allowed more than one country to act as joint hosts. In the past,
the host country and current world champions automatically qualified for
the next World Cup, but from 2006 on only the hosts will get an automatic
berth.
In all 207 nations have competed to qualify to the World Cup, but only
eleven have made it to the final match, and of those eleven only seven
national teams have actually won. As a consequence of this exclusiveness,
the World Cup inspires a great deal of enthusiasm and national pride amongst
the tournament's fans.
Six of the seven past world champions have won while playing in their
homeland, and nations actively lobby to be selected as World Cup hosts.
The only previous winner not to have won on home ground is the otherwise
extremely successful Brazil, who famously lost the deciding match when
they hosted the 1950 tournament. Even traditionally "weaker"
nations have been successful during their spell as hosts, most recently
South Korea, who made it to the semifinals while hosting the 2002 World
Cup. Both England (1966 World Cup) and France (1998 World Cup) won their
only World Cups whilst playing as host nations.
The excitement begins with a big kick off on the 9th June 2006 when, 17 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall a reunified Germany will throw open its doors to the world.
32 teams will battle it out in 12 host cities throughout Germany, with the Final game taking place in Berlin on the 9th July 2006.
GOLEO VI: Official Mascot of the 2006 FIFA World Cup
At just 18, the rascally lion is still young but already brimming with confidence in his own abilities. Wherever he goes, GOLEO VI is accompanied by Pille the erudite ball. Together they make an unbeatable team: after all, it was Pille who spent days badgering his friend to apply to FIFA for the position of mascot. No sooner said than done: he travelled to Zurich and in the twinkling of an eye, his positive outlook landed him the job.
Their friendship got off to a fairly rocky start. GOLEO VI snatched Pille from the referee's hands just as he was about to feature in an international, nipping a potential global career in the bud. The ball's dearest wish was to serve as an object of desire for 22 artists of the game - even if this meant being kicked black and blue for 90 minutes.
Fortunately the pair learnt to get along and soon realised their double act made them ideal candidates to represent the FIFA World Cup. Pille has to accept the fact that GOLEO VI tends to steal the limelight most of the time, but the lion is a good pal and hands his friend a starring role every now and then. That's what friends are for, after all.
The pair agree on one thing at least: they're counting down the days until the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ finally kicks off at last. That's something they have in common with millions of fans all over the world.
Latest FIFA News
Cannavaro Voted FIFA Player of the Year 2006
Jan 01, 2007
Fabio Cannavaro was voted FIFA Player of the Year on Monday, becoming the first defender to earn the honor and only the second Italian.
World Cup Latest News
Italy win World Cup 2006 on penalties
July 10, 2006
Italy win the World Cup after beating France 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin...
Germany 3-1 Portugal
July 09, 2006
Germany shrugged off the disappointment of their semi-defeat by Italy to claim third place at the 2006 FIFA World Cup by beating Portugal 3-1 in Stuttgart...
Germany aim to finish it in style
July 08, 2006
Germany wants to give its fans another World Cup celebration when it plays Portugal for third place on Saturday...
France beat Portugal 1-0
July 05, 2006
Zinedine Zidane will finish his career on the greatest stage of all after his first-half penalty proved enough to take France past Portugal and into the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final as 1-0 semi-final winners in Munich....
Italy Beats Germany 2-0
July 04, 2006
German dreams of reaching the FIFA World Cup Final on home soil died in Dortmund as two goals in the final moments of extra time carried Italy into the Final as 2-0 semi-final winners....
German Key Player Suspended for World Cup Semi-Final
July 03, 2006
German midfielder Torsten Frings has been suspended for the World Cup semi-final against Italy in Dortmund on Wednesday morning (AEST)...
France beats Brazil in Fourth Quarter Final
July 01, 2006
France have booked their place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finals at the expense of holders Brazil, this after a Zinedine Zidane-inspired 1-0 win for Les Bleus in Frankfurt set up a last-four clash with Portugal...
Portugal beats England in Third Quarter Final
July 01, 2006
Portugal march on to a semi-final date with either Brazil or France after defeating England 3-1 on penalties following a last eight clash that ended goalless in Gelsenkirchen...
Italy beats Ukraine in Second Quarter Final
Jun 30, 2006
Italy cruised into the semi-finals of Germany 2006 with a convincing 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Dortmund...
Germany beats Argentina in first Quarter Final
Jun 30, 2006
Germany advance to the 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finals after triumphing 4-2 over Argentina in a penalty shoot-out following a tight, tense match in Berlin’s Olympiastadion that had ended locked at 1-1...
Shevchenko under spotlight for Ukraine against Italy
Jun 30, 2006
Italy and Ukraine meet in Hamburg with a place in the last four of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany at stake...
Argentina-Germany 1st Quarter final today
Jun 30, 2006
Star-studded Argentina will take on hosts Germany today in the first quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup 2006 at Berlin...
Spain 1-3 France
Jun 28, 2006
Late goals from Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane booked France a quarter-final tie with Brazil as they came from behind to beat Spain 3-1 in Hanover...
Brazil 3-0 Ghana
Jun 28, 2006
It is four wins and counting for holders Brazil at the 2006 FIFA World Cup after they beat Ghana 3-0 in Dortmund to book their place in the quarter-finals...
Switzerland 0-0 (Pen : 0-3) Ukraine
Jun 27, 2006
Ukraine won through to a FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Italy after beating Switzerland on penalties after a goalless draw in Cologne...
Italy 1-0 Australia
Jun 27, 2006
An injury-time penalty from substitute Francesco Totti took ten-man Italy past Australia and into the last eight of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Kaiserslautern...
Portugal 1-0 Netherlands
Jun 26, 2006
Portugal progressed to a quarter-final against England after eliminating the Netherlands through a first-half goal from Maniche in Nuremberg...
England 1-0 Ecuador
Jun 26, 2006
England advanced to the last eight of the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a second-half free-kick from captain David Beckham proved enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Ecuador...
Japan 1-4 Brazil
Jun 23, 2006
Brazil made sure of first place in Group F as they came from behind to beat Japan 4-1 through goals from Ronaldo (2), Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto in Dortmund. ..
Croatia 2-2 Australia
Jun 23, 2006
Australia made history by twice coming from behind against Croatia to earn the point they needed to claim a place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup. ..
Italy 2-0 Czech Republic
Jun 23, 2006
Italy secured their qualification for the Round of 16 as Group E winners after beating the Czech Republic 2-0 in Hamburg...
Ghana 2-1 USA
Jun 23, 2006
Ghana's 2-1 victory over the USA in Nuremberg booked their place in the Round of 16 and left Bruce Arena's men facing an earlier than expected flight home from the FIFA World Cup finals...
Netherlands 0-0 Argentina
Jun 22, 2006
Argentina secured first place in Group C and a Round of 16 meeting with Mexico after a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands in Frankfurt...
Ivory Cost 3-2 Serbia and Montenegro
Jun 22, 2006
Ivory Cost produced a stirring finale to their first-ever FIFA World Cup adventure, coming from two goals down to clinch a stunning 3-2 win over Serbia and Montenegro...
Portugal 2-1 Mexico
Jun 22, 2006
Portugal made it three wins out of three in Group D as they defeated Mexico 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen through goals from Maniche and Simao Sabrosa...
Iran 1-1 Angola
Jun 22, 2006
Iran ended Angola's slim hopes of qualifying from Group D, as they held the African side to a 1-1 draw in Leipzig...
Germany 3-0 Ecuador
Jun 21, 2006
Germany sealed top spot in Group A in impressive style, with a Miroslav Klose brace and Lukas Podolski's first goal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup sealing an emphatic 3-0 win over Ecuador...
Poland 2-1 Costa Rica
Jun 21, 2006
Poland rescued some pride with a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica as both sides said goodbye to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Hannover...
England 2-2 Sweden
Jun 21, 2006
England and Sweden drew 2-2 in Cologne - a result that sends both teams through to the Round of 16 from Group B...
Paraguay 2-0 Trinidad
Jun 21, 2006
Paraguay’s disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign finished on a high note as they beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in Kaiserslautern's Fritz-Walter-Stadion...
Spain 3-1 Tunisia
Jun 20, 2006
A second-half turnaround saw Spain come from behind to register a 3-1 over Tunisia in Stuttgart and consequently book their place in the Round of 16...
Saudi Arabia 0-4 Ukraine
Jun 20, 2006
Ukraine made amends for their disappointing start to Group H when they defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Hanover...
Togo 0-2 Switzerland
Jun 20, 2006
Switzerland surged to top of Group G with a convincing 2-0 win over Togo in Dortmund on Monday, 19 June which leaves the Helvetians leading the section on goal difference...
France 1-1 Korea Republic
Jun 19, 2006
Korea Republic fought back to earn a 1-1 draw with France as Park Ji-Sung cancelled out Thierry Henry's first-half opener in Leipzig...
Brazil 2-0 Australia
Jun 19, 2006
Brazil booked their place in the Round of 16 after overcoming a tough challenge from Australia with a 2-0 win in Munich...
Japan 0-0 Croatia
Jun 19, 2006
It was a story of frustration for Japan and Croatia as they played out a goalless draw in Nuremberg...
Mexico 0-0 Angola
Jun 17, 2006
A brave performance from ten-man Angola saw them hold Mexico to a goalless draw in their Group D meeting in Hanover...
Netherlands 2-1 Ivory Coast
Jun 17, 2006
The Netherlands booked their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup as goals from Robin van Persie and Ruud van Nistelrooij earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Côte d'Ivoire in Stuttgart...
Argentina 6-0 Serbia and Montenegro
Jun 17, 2006
Argentina gave a fearsome show of attacking strength as they swept aside Group C rivals Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 in Gelsenkirchen...
Sweeden 1-0 Paraguay
Jun 16, 2006
Freddie Ljungberg's 88th-minute header earned Sweden a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Berlin...
England 2-0 Trinidad
Jun 16, 2006
England secured their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago but they left it late before striking through Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard...
Ecuador 3-0 Costa Rica
Jun 16, 2006
Ecuador made history by beating Costa Rica 3-0 in Hamburg to qualify for the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup for the first time...
Germany 1-0 Poland
Jun 15, 2006
A last-gasp goal from substitute Oliver Neuville gave Germany their second successive Group A victory against Poland in Dortmund...
Saudi Arabia 2-2 Tunisia
Jun 15, 2006
An injury-time header from Radhi Jaidi rescued a point for Tunisia as they drew 2-2 with Group H rivals Saudi Arabia in Munich...
Spain 4-0 Ukraine
Jun 15, 2006
Spain made a dream start to their 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 4-0 victory over Group H rivals Ukraine in Leipzig...
Brazil 1-0 Croatia
Jun 14, 2006
Brazil defeated European challengers Croatia 1-0 in an enthralling Group F encounter in Berlin...
France 0-0 Switzerland
Jun 14, 2006
There was once again no separating France and Switzerland as they played out a goalless draw in their opening 2006 FIFA World Cup match in Stuttgart...
Korea Republic 2-1 Togo
Jun 14, 2006
Ahn Jung-Hwan turned back the clock four years with a spectacular winning goal as Korea Republic came from behind for a 2-1 victory over ten-man Togo in their opening Group G match in Frankfurt...
Italy defeated Ghana
Jun 13, 2006
Italy defeated African first-timers Ghana 2-0 in an exciting Group E fixture in Hanover....
Czech Republic defeated USA
Jun 13, 2006
The Czech Republic started their Germany 2006 campaign in style with a 3-0 win over the USA in Gelsenkirchen...
Portugal defeated Angola
Jun 13, 2006
Pauleta's fourth-minute goal proved enough for Portugal to overcome the challenge of Angola in the Africans' first ever FIFA World Cup match in Cologne...
Germany v Costa Rica
Jun 09, 2006
World Cup hosts Germany open the tournament in Munich - and are without talismanic captain Michael Ballack....
Fans prepare for World Cup 2006
Jun 09, 2006
Football fans across the globe are ready for the opening of the 18th World Cup in Germany on Friday....
Eriksson mulls gamble over Rooney
Jun 08, 2006
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is ready to risk the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson and plunge Wayne Rooney into the World Cup group stages....
Djibril Cisse out of cup with broken leg
Jun 07, 2006
Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse is out of the World Cup after breaking his right leg in France's friendly against China on Wednesday....
Wayne Rooney gets World Cup green light
Jun 07, 2006
Wayne Rooney has been included in Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad....
Steven Gerrard sits out England training
Jun 07, 2006
England midfielder Steven Gerrard did not train with the squad on Wednesday because of the back problem that forced him out of Tuesday's session....
Rooney poised for metatarsal scan
Jun 06, 2006
England fans are braced for the outcome of a scan that will determine whether striker Wayne Rooney can play at the World Cup finals in Germany....
Ronaldo fit for Brazil Cup opener
Jun 06, 2006
Ronaldo will be fit for Brazil's World Cup opener against Croatia on 13 June, despite a mystery foot problem....
Claudio Reyna passed fit for USA opener
Jun 06, 2006
Claudio Reyna has been declared fit for the USA's first World Cup group game against the Czech Republic....
England squad arrive in Germany
Jun 05, 2006
England's footballers have arrived at their luxurious hotel base in Germany for the World Cup finals....
Michael Ballack missed training with a calf strain
Jun 05, 2006
Germany's preparations for the opening game of the World Cup hit a glitch on Monday when captain Michael Ballack missed training with a calf strain....
Failing World Cup refs face axe
Jun 05, 2006
Referees chief Keith Hackett says officials who fail to implement Fifa's eight-point hit-list will be ruthlessly dealt with at this summer's World Cup....
Brazil beat New Zealand
Jun 04, 2006
Brazil convincingly won their only international World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand in Geneva....
Park doubtful for South Korea warm-up
May 31, 2006
Ji-sung Park is a doubt for South Korea's World Cup warm-up match against Norway in Oslo on Friday after spraining an ankle in training....
Eriksson optimistic after victory
May 30, 2006
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said there was more to come from his team after they beat Hungary 3-1 in their World Cup warm-up on Tuesday....
Brazil coach defends preparations
May 29, 2006
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has defended his side's decision to play just one warm-up match against New Zealand ahead of the World Cup finals....
Harry Kewell will be fit for World Cup
May 28, 2006
Australia striker Harry Kewell expects to recover from his groin injury in time for the start of the World Cup....
Wayne Rooney waiting for scan verdict
May 26, 2006
Wayne Rooney will discover whether he has a chance of playing in the World Cup finals when he learns the result of the scan on his broken foot on Friday....
USA defender Gibbs out of finals
May 26, 2006
United States defender Cory Gibbs has been ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury....
Injured Del Horno hit by Cup fear
May 25, 2006
Spain defender Asier del Horno is in danger of missing the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in training....
Ballack injured in practice game
May 25, 2006
Germany captain Michael Ballack suffered a minor injury in his side's World Cup practice match against Servette Geneva's under-18 team....
Neville in for injured Reo-Coker
May 22, 2006
Nigel Reo-Coker has withdrawn from England's World Cup stand-by list and will be replaced by Phil Neville....
Ukraine's Fyodorov to miss finals
May 22, 2006
Ukraine suffered a World Cup blow as versatile defender Sergiy Fedorov was forced to pull out with a hip injury....
Schwarzer out for rest of season
April 24, 2006
Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer is set to miss the rest of the season after fracturing his cheekbone....
Eriksson positive over injuries
April 22, 2006
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is confident four key players will recover from injury in time for the World Cup....
Owen included in Newcastle squad
April 21, 2006
Newcastle United striker Michael Owen has been included in the Magpies' squad to face West Brom on Saturday....
Holland unveil preliminary squad
April 21, 2006
Dutch coach Marco van Basten has named a preliminary 33-man World Cup squad - with no place for Roy Makaay....
Beckenbauer hits out at Klinsmann
March 6, 2006
Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann has been criticised by Franz Beckenbauer for snubbing a World Cup coaches workshop....
Andrade is ruled out of World Cup
March 6, 2006
Deportivo La Coruna's Portugal international defender Jorge Andrade will miss the World Cup after undergoing knee surgery....
Eriksson drops hint over Carrick
March 5, 2006
England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson said Michael Carrick may start in midfield but it would depend on the opposition....
Blatter slams World Cup ticketing
March 5, 2006
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has criticised the ticketing arrangements for this summer's World Cup in Germany....
FA moves to secure deadline delay
March 4, 2006
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will step up his efforts to get Fifa to delay the deadline for World Cup squad selection at talks in Dusseldorf....
Damage found at England Cup venue
March 1, 2006
Constructors of Frankfurt's World Cup stadium, which hosts England's opening group game, have reported damage to the venue's structure....
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