What Is the World Cup?

Updated April 21, 2018

It’s the culmination of an elimination style soccer tournament contested over four years between virtually every country in the world.

Who makes up the competing teams?
The teams are made up from a country’s best players across the world, a kind of all-star team for each country.

How did the teams get here?
Finishing top or near the top of regional competitions held throughout the four years, the six regions are North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania (New Zealand area).

When is the tournament?
It spans about 30 days starting in mid June.

Where is “The Final” held?
In stadiums throughout the country of Russia.

What does the winning team get?
35 million dollars for their countries soccer organization.

Who should you pull for?
Your home country, the favorites (Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Spain), the underdogs (New Zealand, Panama, Algeria, Iran), Teams with the best players (Argentina-Lionel Messi, Brazil-Neymar, Portugal-Cristiano Rinaldo, Uruguay-Luis Suarez), Teams with the best story: Bosnia-Herznagovnia (first tournament for this country that suffered through the ravages of the Bosnia-Serbia-Croatia War in the 1990’s) Iran (their players have been told not to trade their jerseys with the opposing teams at the end of a game (a soccer tradition) so as to save money).

How does it work?
The Final consists of the top 32 nation teams from the 3 year regional competitions. The teams are placed in eight groups of 4. Within a group every team plays each other once and the top two teams from each group advance to a 16 team single elimination tournament with the winner crowned world champions.

What teams are in The Final?

Group A
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay

Group B
Portugal
Spain
Morocco
Iran

Group C
France
Australia
Peru
Denmark

Group D
Argentina
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria

Group E
Brazil
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Serbia

Group F
Germany
Mexico
Sweden
South Korea

Group G
Belgium
Panama
Tunisia
England

Group H
Poland
Senegal
Colombia
Japan