As soon as once every four years a conversation begins about the rules according to which the football world championship is organized and held, for example, the Brazilian World Cup 2014, the fans immediately, and not always with a kind word, remember the refereeing of the games. For some reason, completely forgetting about the existence of other organizational rules, according to which the main tournament of the four-year period is held.
Far from the strongest
The final stage of the championship is attended by 32 teams, traditionally called the strongest. But in practice, this is not always true. After all, only the best teams from each continent that have the corresponding quota of the International Football Federation (FIFA) get the right to play at the World Cup. By the way, there they are preferred to be called the regions of the planet. And therefore, it is far from a fact that some of the Europeans who did not make it to the final round are weaker than their happy competitor. For example, from Latin America or Africa.
Training
The first stage of the championship, often referred to as qualifying, is the traditional qualifying competition. They are run by regional federations of almost every continent (Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania). And also in North / Central and South America. The only World Cup, in which only the final competitions were held, was the very first, in 1930.
Although all qualifying tournaments are organized by the continental football federations (in Europe, where the Russian national team plays, this is UEFA), the number of groups and participants in the future final stage depends on the decision of FIFA. It alone determines how many winners of regional tournaments will go to the same Brazil or Russia-2018 directly, and who will have additional matches. The main goal of such a policy, in which many really strong teams are left out of the game, is to provide sports incentives for Asian, African and Latin American football, which is slightly less developed than their European or South American counterparts.
As a result of such a system, out of 53 teams from the European continent, only 13 were selected for Brazil, including Russia. And out of nine South American (excluding, of course, the home team) - five. On the Asian continent, 43 teams fought for four tickets and one place in the butt-off mini-tournament of the two teams. Just four lucky ones will go to Brazil. Africa got five seats from FIFA, and 47 losers were left behind. In North and Central America, 35 teams competed for three direct spots and another in play-offs. Four of them will also go to Brazil. Oceania turned out to be the only densely populated continent that will not be represented in the tournament. The winner of this zone, the national team of New Zealand in additional matches lost to Mexico.
Reduced ticket
According to FIFA rules, a ticket to the main tournament of the four-year period is formally free, and in fact, in exchange for huge organizational expenses, only the team of the host country receives. It is not hard to guess that in Brazil the team of this South American state became her. It is curious that until 2002 a similar privilege was provided to the reigning champion. But later the situation changed, and the 2010 champion Spain fought for a trip to Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba on an equal footing with the rest.
Who will play in the final?
The decisive stage of the World Cup will be held in two stages. 32 teams will take part in the first, but after the end of eight group tournaments, exactly half will remain in one round. The second stage or playoffs can be called a knockout tournament. Within its framework, the games of 1/8, quarter- and semi-finals will be held, respectively. And the World Cup will complete two decisive matches directly for the medals - gold and bronze, and the presentation to the winner of the main final of the World Cup.
