The FIFA World Cup (aka WC, World Cup, Football World Cup or Soccer World Cup) is a international football competition held every 4 years for all FIFA member nations worldwide, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
It is held every 4 years since the 1st tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, due to WWII. The tournaments final phase (World Cup Finals), is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, with 715+ million people watching the 2006 tournament final. The current format of the Finals involves 32 national teams competing at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about a month. To determine the participating teams, qualifying rounds take place over the 3 preceding years.