The FIFA World Cup is one of the most viewed sports events in the world. This tournament contains the best soccer countries in the world. The World Cup begins their first game on Sunday, November 20th with the home country, Qatar, competing on opening day. The top 32 countries in the world are brought together to compete for the trophy and the decades of fame they would be getting. The World Cup is played every four years, allowing qualification fixtures, with tournaments and playoffs, for the next upcoming World Cup. This World Cup is played in Qatar and is still able to bring people together from all over the world. The last tournament was held in Russia in 2018 and it had, at that time, more than half of the world watching it; with a combined 3.57 billion viewers. 

All World Cup team participants are randomly divided into eight groups of four countries. Teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage. When the teams make it here, they have to win or they’re knocked out of the tournament. If they happen to tie, they play extra time of two fifteen minute halves. If it ends in another tie, they will go into penalty kick shootouts. Shootouts are taken twelve feet away from the goal. Each team has a chance to shoot and make it in the goal; the series is best of five shots, but if it happens to go on past five shots, the first to miss loses. It sounds easy until you’re being watched by your whole nation and have loads of pressure on your back. The team that wins, advances to the next round. 

CBS Soccer predicted the best countries in the tournament. They concluded that Brazil would take the title, led by their captain Thiago Silva and star player, Neymar. This is Neymar’s third World Cup, hoping to take this trophy back home. This team is a very experienced team that has made it to the semi-finals in 2014, but also has a lot of young talent that they’ve chosen for this major tournament. The next team that has been predicted to win is Argentina. Just like Brazil, Argentina has experienced traveling far in the 2014 World Cup, even going to the finals, but unfortunately defeated by Germany. Lionel Messi leads the nation at 35 years old as a captain. 

Be sure to follow the tournament and even check out some of the games!