The FIFA World Cup Competition
It is no more news that the FIFA World Cup competition is the biggest and most popular football tournament that has ever been. This can be evidenced in the high rate of viewership the competition attracts. Tell me who doesn't know about the World Cup and do not want to watch it? Or mention anyone who is not interested in watching the world cup? If there are, it is a very low percentage.
Looking back in the 1970s and 1980s in my community, when people didn't really have television, a great crowd will always go clustering at any house there was a television set just to watch the World Cup. My Dad who is naturally not a fan of football always seem interested whenever it has to do with the world cup. Let's just say that the World Cup brings a very special kind of atmosphere.
History has it that the World Cup competition was originated by a Frenchman named Jules Rimet. The competition was first played in the year 1930 and it was won by Uruguay. Since then, the competition has been played for 21 times and has been hosted in 17 different countries. More so, the World Cup is usually being played in every four years but there was an exception in the year 1942 and 1946 due to the second World War.
Noteworthy is that only 32 national teams get to participate in the tournament proper. It is usually a tough competition and there's only one winner. So far, only eight countries have won the world cup including; Uruguay, Brazil, France, West Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Argentina. Brazil have won the most trophy having lifted it for five times. Sadly, no African side has lifted the trophy.
I hope that changes in the Qatar 2022 tournament. The preparation for the next World Cup is underway as the qualification stage is ongoing and we have seen some interesting and shocking score lines so far. I am much eager for the competition to begin proper. I'm wishing my country, Nigeria all the good luck they can get.
It's funny how people who don't like football watch the world cup. I think there's an element of community about it which attracts people.
My mum doesn't watch it though, she's part of the low percentage!
Yeah! There's something about the tournament that attracts people to want to watch it.