Chapter One
International Soccer and the World Cup
Soccer players the world over aspire to greatness, and the dream of representing their country in international competition. The pride of a nation is truly on the line, and soccer has turned into a global competition that unifies countries and brings out the best in everyone, from fans to players. The number of international competitions continues to grow, with every region of the world now having their own regular events, from the African Union’s Cup on the Continent of Europe, to the Asian Federation Tournament, and a host of other competitions in between. In fact, most major soccer leagues around the world now have built-in breaks for international competition that are synchronized, to enable for friendly matches to …show more content…
Countries around the world spend four years trying to qualify for the event that brings many nations to a halt for a full three weeks as their team strives to bring the trophy home. One does not have to hail from countries such as Brazil or Germany to get in on the action, as every player and every nation aspires to one-day claim World Cup glory, winning the admiration and love of an entire country in the