16 teams! Worldcup 07 going to be less exciting????
543996
Ya i agree with you...\n\nI think minnows like Namibia, Uae, etc should be groomed at other smaller and unimportant tournaments...not at the MAHA -EVENT of CRICKET !!!\n\nForget all the new teams playing in the world cup, even Test playing teams...Bangladesh, Zimbabwe...have only got worse...Adding more 'not so good' teams is not a very good idea...\n\nIt does dilute "THE CRICKET WORLD CUP" a little bit...\nAny World Cup must have 'THE' BEST teams....\nSo i agree...
423847
32 national teams\n\n1-Germany (host)\n2-Poland\n3-England\n4-Sweeden\n5-Serbia and Montenegro\n6-Netherland\n7-Portogual\n8-Italy\n9-Czech Republic\n10-Croatia\n11-France\n12-Switzerland\n13-Spain\n14-Ukraine\n15-Ecuador\n16-Paraguay\n17-Argentina\n18-Brazil\n19-U.S.A\n20-Costa Rica\n21-Mexico\n22-Trindad and Tobago\n23-Saudi Arabia\n24-Iran\n25-Japan\n26-Korea Republic\n27-Tunisia\n28-Côte d'Ivoire\n29-Ghana\n30-Togo\n31-Angola\n32-Australia
584330
I'm not a good-weather fan so I'm supporting MY TEAM, as always: Germany. I don't know too many real soccer fans who don't support their homecountry. Yes, if you live in Canada (like I now do) or Austria *grin, didn't make it again* or Greece (damn, Euro champ and didn't qualify !) you perhaps pick another team or just watch to see the best teams in the world play the best game in the world in front of some of the best fans in the world in some of the most modern and comfortable (and cool looking as the Munich stadium is concerned) stadiums of the world. I can't wait !
552936
This year´s gonna be my first visit at a World Cup.\n\nI´ll be watching Sweden vs. Paraguay on June 15th.\n\nIf you´d like anything covered please let me know over my site.\n\nhttp://www.worldcup2006news.net
1142615
The tournament is still young. There still might be an upset.\n\nThe strong teams, however, are damn good. So an upset might be hard to acomplish. Be patient my friend. The tournament has just begun....
337999
There are 32 teams in the World Cup: \n\nAngola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United states of America.\n\nEach team can have a maximum of 23 teams. Usually 3 of those go for goalkeepers, and then 20 to divide among defenders, midfielders, and strikers.
229719
You can't have a *balanced* 15 game schedule with 7 teams - to keep it balanced you need to have games played be a multiple of 6. 6, 12, 18, ...  My experience - just go with the 15 game schedule - use it to create a seeding for a playoff format ... that way there's less sensitivity about potential *unfairness* of having to play a particular team more than some other team might have to play that same team.
344979
Its not exciting at all! Brasil is going to kick the whinny argentinos to the ground!! :P
992655
it differs from cup to cup, as does the world's country count.  There is no set amount of slots to participate.  any country may participate and the elimination rounds just keep paring them down like any play-off series.
1088161
absolutely right!\n\ntill now...NO SURPRISES AT ALL...which to be honest...i think it's better :)!\n\nmost coaches are more cautious than ever...and they tend to secure the game...and i don't blame them...many big teams are still living the shocking nightmares of their eliminations in the past tournaments...Italy, Portugal, England, Argentina and Netherlands!\n\nbut i believe the BEST IS YET TO COME...i mean come on...those teams are playing for the WORLD CUP...not just for an honoring participation in WORLD CUP if you know what i mean...big guys are running towards the gold amigo...and to get the GOLD...you need patience, mentality, tactics, plans, good players and A BIT OF LUCK...!\n\ni love the GOALS so far!\n\ni think the refs are performing an OK job till now!
1046566
Do you mean the new format with 32 teams divided into 8 groups of 4 teams each? Where the top two finishers of each team would then take part in direct elimination games until the final?\n\nIf that's what's you're asking then the change happened in France  1998. Previously, between 1986 and 1994, there were 24 teams divided in 6 groups of which the first two would qualify for the round of sixteen, together with the 4 best third finishers among all groups.\n\nIn 1982 it was even different, with two group stages, after which the remaining 4 teams would face off in the semifinals.\n\nIf instead, you meant in which year the actual trophy awarded changed to the one that will be awarded on July 9th, then the answer it's even easier: the new trophy was first assigned during the 1974 World Cup in Germany. The previous trophy had been won by Brazil in 1970 for they claimed victory three times. Incidentally, whomever had won that final in 1970 would had taken the old trophy home, since Italy had previously claimed two times as well.
336154
32. it was 32 since 1998. Before that it was 24. the first world cup had just 13 teams.
1049994
it makes us happy cuz we been waiting four years for this tournament to start........and cuz we know that the worlds best 32 teams will be competing for one prize.......this is da time were u git to have brraging rights of your home country
1137157
There are actually 32 teams in the World Cup. Teams qualified by playing within their regions for the past three years. Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Oceania are the regions represented. At the beginning of the qualifying rounds, there were around 200 teams trying to get into the World Cup. \n\nThe number of teams from each region allowed into the World Cup varies by region. Regions with more skilled teams get more spots (this year, Europe has 13 teams represented, which is the most, by far).\n\nThis article shows how many teams from each region are chosen, along with many other details:
1019789
if you mean the world cup, it's 4.
324855
that is a very easy answer. there are 32 teams that participate in the world cup every 4 years.
25375
The best one ;)\n\nNo, really... I think we are in for a surprise this year. If you watch how the sport has been going the past few years - the traditional big teams are all looking shaky - Italy, France, England, Germany... OK, maybe Brasil isn't. But if you look at who's working really hard, and whose heart is really in it - my money is on Switzerland. But don't forget that Germany wants / needs a win badly, the team is young, and they have home team advantage - which will all be worth a lot. At the end of the day, I think it's down to emotion and heart and guts - the best "technical" team in the world may not win it all.