![Brazil's Ronaldo (yellow shirt) maneuvering around opposing German players during the final match &elipsis; [Credit: Thomas Kienzle—AP/Wide World Photos]](http://images.bookrags.com/images/eb/74853.gif)
Brazil's Ronaldo (yellow shirt) maneuvering around opposing German players during the final match &elipsis; [Credit: Thomas Kienzle—AP/Wide World Photos]![A ball from the 2006 World Cup in the grass in Allianz Arena, Munich, Ger. [Credit: Peter Kneffel—dpa/Landov]](http://images.bookrags.com/images/eb/98251.gif)
A ball from the 2006 World Cup in the grass in Allianz Arena, Munich, Ger. [Credit: Peter Kneffel—dpa/Landov]In
football (soccer), trophy that symbolizes the world championship. The first competition for the cup was organized in 1930 by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and was won by Uruguay.
Held every four years since that time, except during World War II, the competition consists of international sectional tournaments leading to a final elimination event made up of 32 national teams. Unlike Olympic football, World Cup teams are not limited to players of a certain age or amateur status, so the competition serves more nearly as a contest between the world's best players. Referees are selected from lists that are submitted by all the national associations.
![Italy's Fabio Cannavaro holding up the FIFA World Cup trophy following Italy's victory over France, &elipsis; [Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images]](http://images.bookrags.com/images/eb/98198.gif)
Italy's Fabio Cannavaro holding up the FIFA World Cup trophy following Italy's victory over France, &elipsis; [Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images]The trophy cup awarded from 1930 to 1970 was the Jules Rimet Trophy, named for the Frenchman who proposed the tournament. This cup was permanently awarded in 1970 to then three-time winner Brazil (1958, 1962, and 1970), and a new trophy called the FIFA World Cup was put up for competition. Many other sports have organized “World Cup” competitions. (For a list of World Cup champions, &see; table.)
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