The World Cup is the most prestigious soccer tournament in the world, as well as the most viewed sporting event in the world. 

What is it? The World Cup is a soccer tournament that takes place every four years where 32 countries compete against each other to see which country has the best soccer team in the world. The World Cup started in July of 1930 and the first host nation was Uruguay. Since then, the World Cup has been played every four years except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of World War ll. Brazil has become the most successful nation in World Cup History winning the World Cup five times. 

In order for a country to qualify for the World Cup, it has to do well in its regional soccer confederation. The international governing body of association football (FIFA) has six regional confederations and they each have World Cup qualifying matches before the World Cup starts. 

• UEFA (Europe): 13 teams qualify
• CONMEBOL (South America): 5 teams qualify 
• CONCACAF (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean): 4 teams qualify
• AFC (Asia and Australia): 5 teams qualify 
• CAF (Africa): 5 teams qualify

Thirty-two teams are divided into 8 groups of 4 (A-H). Each group is selected in a random draw out of four pots, and in order for a team to make it to the knockout stages, it must either be in first or second place in its group. 

 Victory = 3 points

 Draw = 1 point 

 Loss = 0 points 

If a team is tied with the same amount of points, then the first-place team will be decided on goal differentials, which means the difference between how many goals a team has scored and how many goals a team has let in. The first-place team always plays the second-place team of a different group and the second-place team always plays the first-place team of a different group. Once a team makes it to the round of 16 then it goes to the quarter-finals, then the semis, then in a heartbeat that team is representing its country and playing in the biggest and most viewed sporting event of all time!