The World Cup usually means the FIFA World Cup, which is a global soccer (football) tournament for men’s national teams held every four years to decide the world champion.

Basic idea

The World Cup brings together national teams from around the world that qualify through regional competitions over several years. The final tournament currently involves 32 teams (expanding to 48 from 2026) playing over about a month in one or more host countries.

Why it matters

It is widely considered the most prestigious competition in soccer and is one of the most watched sporting events on Earth, with billions of people following each tournament. The winner holds the title of world champion until the next World Cup is played four years later.