how many countries have been to the soccer world cup since it first started?
534738
..........\nThe spread of football outside of Great Britain, mainly due to the British influence abroad, started slow, but it soon gathered momentum and spread rapidly to all parts of the world. The next countries to form football associations after the Netherlands and Denmark in 1889 were New Zealand (1891), Argentina (1893), Chile (1895), Switzerland, Belgium (1895), Italy (1898), Germany, Uruguay (both in 1900), Hungary (1901) and Finland (1907). When FIFA was founded in Paris in May 1904 it had seven founder members: France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain (represented by the Madrid FC), Sweden and Switzerland. The German Football Federation cabled its intention to join on the same day.\n\nThis international football community grew steadily, although it sometimes met with obstacles and setbacks. In 1912, 21 national associations were already affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). By 1925, the number had increased to 36, in 1930 - the year of the first World Cup - it was 41, in 1938, 51 and in 1950, after the interval caused by the Second World War, the number had reached 73. At present, after the 2000 Ordinary FIFA Congress, FIFA has 204 members in every part of the world.\n\nu can more in that link..good luck.
721803
13 countries participated in the first ever World Cup in Uruguay.  Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the finals.
442961
Brazil - 5 times.\nItaly & Germany - 3 times.\nUruguay & Argentina - 2 times.\nEngland & France - Once.
555129
The current FIFA World Cup trophy was made with 17 slots for the winning country's name to go on it. Currently there are 8 teams on the trophy, that means that the world cup in 2038 would fill up the trophy, therefore a new one would have to be designed.
624385
The first Fifa World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. The final match featured Uruguay against Argentina. The hosts (Uruguay) won the match 4-2 to capture the first World Cup trophy.
1119877
The first world cup was held in (and won by) Uruguay.  The first match of that tournament was France vs Mexico
1153973
My overall view of the cup... hmmm...\n\nWell since you asked, here goes:\n\nThe World Cup of Soccer... it's the most watched sports competition in the world, a game and an event that unites & divides the entire planet!  This year the world cup soccer tournament arrives in Germany where the host country (part of it anyways, once known as West Germany) won a 2nd title in 1974.\n \nThe world's largest sporting event has only gotten bigger during the last 3 decades:  2.7 million people in stadiums across South Korea & Japan in 2002, it was where the Germans returned to the World Cup Final and lost to Brazil.\n \n32 world cup teams will battle it out in Germany over a 31 day period.  The battle is for the most coveted trophy in the world, the FIFA World Cup Trophy (see picture above in the upper right hand corner).  It is a piece of hardware that measures 14" high and weighs 11 pounds.  Also at stake is an entire nation's pride.\n\nEvery 4 years, FIFA (the international governing body of soccer) holds a month long tournament.  32 teams qualify from 6 zones: Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America (and Oceania as a single zone), Central America and the Caribbean.\n\nHow is it played?  The 32 teams are broken into 8 groups. Each team plays the other 3 teams in its group, the top 2 teams from each of the original 8 groups advance to the round of 16 (16 teams left at this point).   The round of 16 is played this way:  The winner of each group plays the 2nd place team of another group.  The winners from the round of 16 advance to the quarter-finals (8 teams left at this point).  Winning teams from the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals (4 teams left at this point) and are guaranteed two more games - because World Cup teams play for 3rd place also.  The winning teams of the semi-finals play in the World Cup final (for 1st & 2nd place), the losing teams of the semi-finals play for 3rd place.\n\nFIFA held the 1st World Cup in 1930, and aside from skipping 1942 & 1946 (due to obvious reasons: World War II), has held the tournament every 4 years since then.  There have been 17 previous tournaments.  \n\nWho do I think will win?  That question can hold a few different possible answers.  Brazil holds the record for winning the most world cups with 5 world cups so they are the favorites.  Italy & West Germany (Germany now since reunification in 1990) are tied at 2nd place with 3 world cups each.  Uruguay & Argentina are tied at 3rd place with 2 world cups each.  England & France are tied at 4th with 1 world cup title each.\n\nMy heart lies with team Italy but five-time champions Brazil are the definite favorite - which would be an unbelievable 6th title and would be twice as many as any other team.  Another favorite is Czech Republic based on their #2 World Ranking according to FIFA.  Holland is ranked 3rd, Mexico is ranked 4th and USA is ranked 5th tied with Spain.  But those are just current FIFA World rankings, they can't determine the actual World Cup outcome: How you get to Germany and How you play in Germany are two different things!  Fan favorites and real contenders like Italy, Portugal, England, Germany, Argentina among other teams will obviously leave their respective marks on this tournament.  \n\nGo Italy!  Forza Italia!!!
370972
Brazil was playing in all soccer world cup since 1930 and win the tournament in five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002.
329722
World Cup 2006 starts June, 9th 2006 @ 6:00 p.m. local time in Munich ... can't wait! The opening match will feature hosts Germany v. Costa Rica. \n\nThere will be 32 teams for the 2006 World Cup.  There will be a total of 64 matches, with the champion being crowned at the conclusion of the final that takes place on July 9th @ 8:00 p.m. local time in Berlin.\n\nThere are 5 African nations in the 2006 World Cup.  They are:\nIvory Coast (Cote D'Ivore)\nGhana\nTunisia\nAngola\nTogo\n\nThere are 14 European nations in the 2006 World Cup.  They are:\nGermany (hosts)\nPoland\nEngland\nSweden\nSerbia & Montenegro\nNetherlands\nPortugal\nItaly\nCzech Republic\nCroatia\nFrance\nSwitzerland\nSpain\nUkraine
1017659
The first FIFA World Cup was staged in 1930. The tournament was played in Uruguay, the Olympic champions at the time, since they were celebrating the centenary of their independence. As well as being the first ever hosts, Uruguay also became the inaugural champions, beating Argentina in the final, 4 – 2.
397512
brazil      5 times      they have won the cup in all continents where the cup is held-europe,asia,north america and south america                                    1958,1962,1970,1994,2002
324855
that is a very easy answer. there are 32 teams that participate in the world cup every 4 years.
997418
Brazil is the only nation to have qualified for every FIFA World Cup tournament and the first to win it five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002).
355115
The Fifa World Cup happens every 4 years. Countries are picked randomly, in similar fashion to the olympics.
367414
5 times\n\n1st in 1958 by 5:2 against Sweeden (in Sweeden)\n2nd in 1962 by 3:1 against Czechoslovakia (in Chile)\n3rd in 1970 by 4:1 agaist Italy (in Mexico)\n4th in 1994 by penalty kick out (3:2) against Italy after finishing the match in an equilizer 0:0 (in USA)\n5TH in 2002 by 2:0 agaisnt Germany (in Korea and Japan)
1094281
There are 243 intities considered to be "countries".  Out of that 32 made it to World Cup - one of which was the US and undoubtedly you can bet that out of the other 211 there are a considerable number where soccer is more popular and supported than in the US.  Having said that I just feel honored that our team made it and was a part of it at all and not the least bit shocked that we didn't fair better.  But it doesn't mean that I won't be hoping for a better showing next time.
458649
Brazil has won 3 jules Rimet Cup( 1958,1962,1970) and 2 Fifa World CUP (1994,2002).  Making Brazil the only 5 time world champion.