Why is the FIFA world cup only every 4 years instead of every year like other sports?
359280
Firstly it take 2 year to qualify for the games. Plus also the European championship along with copa america is held every 2 years.
1044236
32 countries have played in the cup since France 98.  Stadiums vary, but in this one the average is between 40-50 thousand I would say.  Brazil was the pre-tournament favorite, but France knocked them out in the quarterfinals.  No, it is not the 80th world cup, the FIFA World Cup began in 1930, and is held every 4 years, and was not held between 38 and 50 due to WWII.  So there was a tournament in 30, 34, 38, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, 02, and now in 06.  So this cup is the 18th.  Regardless of who wins this tournament (because both are previous winners), only seven countries have won the world cup.  Uruguay in 30, Italy in 34, Italy in 38, Uruguay in 50, West Germany in 54, Brazil in 58, Brazil in 62, England in 66, Brazil in 70, West Germany in 74, Argentina in 78, Italy in 82, Argentina in 86, Germany in 90, Brazil in 94, France in 98, Brazil in 02, and either Italy/France in 06.  For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup.
1141535
Becuase every four years countreis around the world get together and play soccer.  It's bigger than the Olympics.
405067
There is no doubt that the finals hosted by the states in 1994 were very good and the supporters were shocked by the high number of spectators... A country with the ability to bring people from all over the world in that way deserves the honor of hosting the world cup again. A country which has a very secure environment for everyone from players and country offcials to spectators must have the chance to host again. It would be fair that the fifa makes the 2014 world cup in the States
421469
It's a process, like the Olympic Committee has for choosing what country gets the Olympics.  The process takes years, that is why we usually know years in advance where it is going to be held.  All the countries that would like to host the World Cup submit their forms, giving reasons why they should get it.  Then FIFA sends out committees to look at stadiums, transportation structure, roadways, hotels, general areas.  Then they narrow them down , and finally make a selection.
255779
The World Cup is and will always be the biggest sporting event in the world. Every country in the world competes and dreams of being crowned the champions of the greatest sport in the history of sport. The best players in the world square off agaisnt team mates and friends, so it is not solely about the competition. It is about the entire world coming together to watch and participate in a common like. It is about passion and emotion even for those thousands of miles away. It is about nationalism, when a country becomes one in support for their team. To me, the world cup isnt even about the football (even though thats an amazing part of it) but its about the people who love the sport so much that the entire world unites together for a whole month and can forget about all their problems and instead focus on the  excitement and pure skill that is football.
509370
it is held in all different parts of the world every four years
1153901
It is every four years because just the qualifying alone takes about 2 years from what my football fan brother tells me.  It is also needs time for the host country to prepare for.  For example,  South Africa is currently building five new football stadiums in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup (see http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/FWC/tournament/0,6416,FWC-2010-20,00.html ). It will be the first time in history that the region will own stadiums dedicated to football - others are only for cricket or rugby.  \n\nAlso - millions travel to the host country - way way more than the amount go to the Olympics - preparation is the key..\n\nBut the main reason it is every four years is the mere fact that the World Cup is not the only tournament they do - click below and hover over the men's + youths and even the womens area at the top - there are at least 13 different tournaments these folks do..   but the ultimate prize comes every four years.\n\nHope this helps.
216350
Because the pro sports league (MLS) historically hasn't been as big as the other pro sports leagues (primarily MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL). Until the MLS makes it as big as these four sports, the US Soccer team will probably always be popular once every four years during the world cup.
603458
You can only get tickets for a world cup in the year the competition is played.
1136374
The answer is cause the mls has different conventions than other soccer leagues. THis is graduallyh changing and i heard that the mls was going to change this for next world cup.\n\nremember shootouts?? they got rid of those
1121488
Since the second World Cup in 1934, qualifying tournaments have been held to thin the field for the final tournament. They are held within the six FIFA continental zones (Africa, Asia, North and Central America and Caribbean, South America, Oceania, Europe), overseen by their respective confederations. For each tournament, FIFA decides the number of places awarded to each of the continental zones beforehand, generally based on the relative strength of the confederations' teams, but also subject to lobbying from the confederations.\n\nThe qualification process can start as early as almost three years before the final tournament, and last over a two-year period. The formats of the qualification tournaments differ between confederations. Usually, one or two places are awarded to winners of Intercontinental Play-offs. For example, the winner of the Oceanian zone and the fifth-placed team from the South American zone entered a play-off to decide which team would qualify for the 2006 World Cup [11]. From the 1938 World Cup onwards, host nations have received an automatic berth in the finals. This right also used to be granted to the defending champion, but from the 2006 finals onwards, this entitlement has been withdrawn, requiring the champions to qualify as well [12].\n\n\n\nAFC -- In addition to the host countries Japan and Korea, two other teams from this confederation qualified for the finals. Forty teams played a round-robin style tournament, and, in the end, China and Saudi Arabia came out on top. \n\nCAF -- Fifty teams started the process in this confederation, and five made it to the finals. Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia will all compete. \n\nCONCACAF -- In this confusing process, thirty-five teams started, and three teams qualified. The first round of qualifying consisted of two mini-tournaments and an inter-zone playoff. The three top teams in the final round, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States, qualified for the final competition. \n\nCONMEBOL -- Compared to the confusion of CONCACAF, this process was quite simple. Ten teams played in a tournament. The top four teams -- Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay -- qualified based on points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw) and advanced to the finals. Uruguay also qualified this year by winning a home-and-home playoff with the winner of the OFC qualification (more on that later). \n\nUEFA -- In the first phase of qualifying, the 50 nations in this confederation were separated into five pools based on past performance in qualifying for World Cup 98 and Euro 2000. They were then drawn into nine groups, and the winner of each qualified for the finals. The nine runners-up were then placed in a pot. Eight of the teams were randomly drawn to play in home-and-home pairings. The team that wasn't drawn (Ireland) played a team from the AFC (Iran) and won, earning a spot in the finals. So, after all the games, the teams that qualified are: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey. \n\nOFC -- Unlike the other confederations, a spot in the finals is not guaranteed for this group's winner. Ten teams compete for the opportunity to face the fifth-place CONMEBOL country in a home-and-home playoff.
475423
world cups are held just once every four years. with that being said here are a list counting down with the winners.\n\nGermany 2006        ?\nJapan/Korea 2002    Brazil\nFrance 1998         France\nUS 1994             Brazil\nItaly 1990          W. Germany\n\nAs you can see with this year falling on a world cup year there was no competition in 1996, therefore no winner.\n\nFederation Internationale de Footballe Association
1005003
this is only the first round.  they cannot go beyond the first round until all  teams have finished, then they will bring up a brand new schedule.  Its why the World Cup lasts a month.
1124416
Every 4..\nI´ve found this explanation:\nExcept in 1942 and 1946, due to World War II, the championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930. However, the event is often ongoing, as the qualifying rounds of the competition take place over the three years preceding the final rounds.\n\nThe final tournament phase (often called the "Finals") involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period in a previously nominated host nation. This time is Germany. For 2002 were Korea and Japan and for 2010 South Africa.
1033292
It's the nature of the game, of all sports for that matter. Everyone thought the US would take the new World Baseball Classic, but they lost. The best teams never win every game. If they did, events like the World Cup wouldn't be as popular as they are now. Repeat winners gradually lose their luster.
1183587
4 years if that is your Q, 4 years between world cups, next one is South Africa 2010