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🗿intro to anthropology review

World Cup

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The World Cup is the international men's football championship contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA, the sport's global governing body. It is one of the most widely-viewed and followed sporting events in the world, capturing the attention of billions of people across the globe every four years when the tournament is held.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The World Cup is held every four years, with the most recent tournament taking place in 2022 in Qatar.
  2. The first World Cup was held in 1930 in Uruguay, with 13 teams participating.
  3. Brazil has won the most World Cup titles, with 5 victories, followed by Germany and Italy with 4 each.
  4. The World Cup is one of the most widely televised and attended sporting events in the world, with billions of viewers tuning in for the final match.
  5. The hosting of the World Cup has been used by countries as a means of showcasing their economic and political power on the global stage.

Review Questions

  • Explain how the World Cup reflects the concept of globalization in the context of sport.
    • The World Cup is a prime example of globalization in the world of sport. As the premier international football competition, it brings together national teams from around the globe, representing the diverse cultures, economies, and political systems of their respective countries. The tournament's global reach, with billions of viewers worldwide, demonstrates the interconnectedness of the modern world and the ability of sport to transcend borders and unite people from different backgrounds. Additionally, the hosting of the World Cup has become a means for countries to showcase their economic and political power on the global stage, further illustrating the interplay between sport, culture, and geopolitics in the context of globalization.
  • Analyze the role of FIFA, the global governing body of football, in the organization and promotion of the World Cup.
    • FIFA, as the international governing body of association football, plays a crucial role in the organization and promotion of the World Cup. As the overseer of the tournament, FIFA is responsible for establishing the rules, regulations, and procedures that govern the competition, as well as selecting the host countries and managing the logistics of the event. FIFA's influence extends beyond the World Cup, as it also oversees the development and promotion of the sport globally, including the implementation of grassroots initiatives and the regulation of international transfers and player contracts. The power and authority wielded by FIFA in the world of football highlight the organization's significant impact on the cultural, economic, and political dimensions of the sport, which can be further explored in the context of an anthropological view of sport throughout time.
  • Evaluate the cultural and social significance of the World Cup, and how it has evolved as a reflection of changing societal attitudes and values over time.
    • The World Cup has long been recognized as more than just a sporting event, but rather a cultural and social phenomenon that reflects the changing attitudes and values of societies around the world. Over the course of its history, the World Cup has become a platform for the expression of national identity, political ideology, and social movements, with the tournament serving as a stage for the display of cultural traditions, artistic performances, and even acts of protest. As the world has become increasingly interconnected, the World Cup has also become a symbol of globalization, with the event serving as a means of bridging cultural divides and fostering a sense of shared humanity among fans and participants alike. By examining the evolving cultural and social significance of the World Cup, we can gain valuable insights into the ways in which sport can serve as a lens through which to understand the complex and ever-changing dynamics of human societies.