The World Cup
On a stage where the whole world stops to gaze at stardom, skill, and national pride, the World cup takes place. Occuring every four years, countries gather their finest footballers (soccer players) in an attemp to land their team onto the World cup Final. Huge amounts of money is poured into the spectacle, and nationals cast their bids hoping that FIFA, the governing body of world football, will allow them to host the tournaments so they can reap the profits. Although the world cup is of huge monetary value, and countries wish to be called the champions of the world, one of the most amazing things about the world cup is the fact that is it a place where numerous countries gather in harmony and peace to play the beautiful game.
The preparation that countries employ to get their country to the world cup is almost ridiculous at first thought. Millions and millions of dollars are poured into facilities and training staff. A single football association of one country will fire two or three managers and coaches of teams get their country to the world cup! For example, the English FA fired Sven-Goran Erikson after the 2006 World Cup because of their poor showing, and Steven Mclaren because of a string of losses in international matches. Also, the FA has to have the support of the fans and supporters because if they are not pleased then the FA is not doing what they are supposed to do, which means that somebody is going to lose their job. At this level, football is not just a game, for money and careers ride on the outcome of their showing.
The FIFA World Cup is not just a profitable event or a chance to have fun. It means much more than that. It means peace and coherance between cultures and nations that would normally be on separate ends of the political spectrum. Shops close, there is a boom in sick days around the world, and everyone stops to watch their country shine on the largest stage in the world. In the Ivory Coast civil was spread...