How often is the World Cup?

For soccer fans around the globe, the World Cup is the pinnacle competition in the sport. No sporting event attracts more viewers. In fact, the 2018 World Cup Final reportedly averaged a whopping 517 million viewers and more than 1.1 billion people tuned in over the course of the 90-minute match. This attraction even dwarfs the American football Super Bowl. According to a similar report, the 2021 Super Bowl averaged about 91 million television viewers in the United States, with an extra 30 to 50 million people tuning in from around the world.

Worldwide, soccer is by far the most popular sport. However, in the United States, it is not quite as popular. Even then, the sport continues to grow and garner increased support and viewership.

Comparing FIFA’s biggest event to the Super Bowl is not necessarily a fair argument. The World Cup is not as often, only taking place every four years compared to the yearly Super Bowl. Because of the gap between each tournament, each fixture, let alone tournament, means so much more.

How often do nations compete at the World Cup?

Since the very first edition in 1930, the tournament transpired every four years. This, however, has not always panned out exactly as planned. Due to World World II, the World Cup tournament went on hiatus from 1939 and 1949. This meant that the scheduled competitions in 1942 and 1946 could not take place. The first World Cup following the end of the war occurred in Brazil in 1950.

Nevertheless, the World Cup tournaments have gone to plan and returned every four years since 1950. Brazil have collected the most tournament titles with five, while France are the reigning champions following their 2018 triumph.

With the last Russia hosting the last edition in 2018, the next tournament begins this year. Qatar will be hosting the upcoming tournament; however, it is set for an unusual November-December time frame, rather than during the usual summer months.

Photo by Igor Kralj/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images