The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is the most prestigious association football tournament in the world, and the most widely viewed and followed single sporting event in the world.
It is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War II.
The current champion is Argentina, which won its third title at the most recent 2022 tournament held in Qatar.
The trophy has been won by eight national teams. Brazil, with five titles, are the only team to have played in every tournament. The other World Cup winners are Germany and Italy, with four titles each; Argentina, with three titles; France and Uruguay, each with two titles; and England and Spain, with one title each.
The World Cup is a global sporting and cultural phenomenon, watched by billions of people around the world. It is a celebration of football, and a showcase of the best players and teams in the world. The tournament is also a major economic event, generating billions of dollars in revenue for host countries and sponsors.
The next World Cup will be held in 2026, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It will be the first World Cup to be held in three countries, and the first to feature 48 teams, up from the current 32