FIFA World Cup 2006 : [ Latest News ] [ Schedules ] [ Groups ] [ Venues ][ TV Schedule ]

Soccer World Cup Index



FIFA World Cup Latest News
FIFA History
World Cup Tournaments

Classic Players
Classic Matches
World Cup Awards

  Golden Boot
  Golden Ball
  Yashin Award
  Fair Play Award

Most Entertaining Team
Top Goalscorers
Fastest Goals

World Rankings
Player of the year


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.


FIFA World Cup 2006

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

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

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

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

Germany wants to give its fans another World Cup celebration when it plays Portugal for third place on Saturday...

France beat Portugal 1-0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ukraine made amends for their disappointing start to Group H when they defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Hanover...

Togo 0-2 Switzerland

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

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

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

It was a story of frustration for Japan and Croatia as they played out a goalless draw in Nuremberg...

Mexico 0-0 Angola

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

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

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

Freddie Ljungberg's 88th-minute header earned Sweden a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Berlin...

England 2-0 Trinidad

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

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

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

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

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

Brazil defeated European challengers Croatia 1-0 in an enthralling Group F encounter in Berlin...

France 0-0 Switzerland

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

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

Italy defeated African first-timers Ghana 2-0 in an exciting Group E fixture in Hanover....

Czech Republic defeated USA

The Czech Republic started their Germany 2006 campaign in style with a 3-0 win over the USA in Gelsenkirchen...

Portugal defeated Angola

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

World Cup hosts Germany open the tournament in Munich - and are without talismanic captain Michael Ballack....

Fans prepare for World Cup 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

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

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

Wayne Rooney has been included in Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad....

Steven Gerrard sits out England training

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

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

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

Claudio Reyna has been declared fit for the USA's first World Cup group game against the Czech Republic....

England squad arrive in Germany

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

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

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

Brazil convincingly won their only international World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand in Geneva....

Park doubtful for South Korea warm-up

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

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

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

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

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

United States defender Cory Gibbs has been ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury....

Injured Del Horno hit by Cup fear

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

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

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

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

Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer is set to miss the rest of the season after fracturing his cheekbone....

Eriksson positive over injuries

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

Newcastle United striker Michael Owen has been included in the Magpies' squad to face West Brom on Saturday....

Holland unveil preliminary squad

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

Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann has been criticised by Franz Beckenbauer for snubbing a World Cup coaches workshop....

Andrade is ruled out of World Cup

Deportivo La Coruna's Portugal international defender Jorge Andrade will miss the World Cup after undergoing knee surgery....

Eriksson drops hint over Carrick

England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson said Michael Carrick may start in midfield but it would depend on the opposition....

Blatter slams World Cup ticketing

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has criticised the ticketing arrangements for this summer's World Cup in Germany....

FA moves to secure deadline delay

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

Constructors of Frankfurt's World Cup stadium, which hosts England's opening group game, have reported damage to the venue's structure....