A soccer team has eleven players on the field, and each team tries to get the ball into the other team's goal. A soccer match has two halves of 45 minutes each, with a break at half-time of up to 15 minutes. The team that scores more goals wins the match. If both teams have the same score, the match is a draw. A referee runs each match and blows a whistle when a rule is broken.

Soccer is called the most popular sport in the world, as of November 2026, and the World Cup is held every four years. Qualifying games for the World Cup can start almost three years before the tournament. The host country gets a place in the World Cup without qualifying. As of November 2026, the 2026 World Cup had 48 teams, more than ever before. It was hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States.

At the World Cup, teams first play in groups of four. In a group, a win earns three points, a draw one point and a loss none. In 2026, the top two teams in each group, plus the eight best third-place teams, advance. After the groups come knockout games, and losing a knockout match means a team is out. If a knockout game is still tied, it is played on for extra time. If it is still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out picks the winner.

The first World Cup was played in 1930 in Uruguay, and Uruguay won by beating Argentina 4-2. As of November 2026, Brazil has won the World Cup five times, and in 2026 Spain won it. In the Women's World Cup, as of November 2026, the United States has won four times, more than any team. The World Cup trophy is 36 cm tall and made of solid 18 carat gold. Winners hold the trophy at the party, but then they get a gold-plated copy instead.

Words to know

• qualifying: earning a place
• host: home country
• knockout: out if lose
• trophy: the prize cup