The structure of the tournament?

Question

I am anything but a soccer buff, but since it is currently so popular I thought I may take an interest. I know that when the tournament strated back in June there were 32 teams. How do teams advance to the next round. How many games do they need to win, and is there a playoff tree or something similiar to basketball?

Answer 1

the current world cup features 32 teams from around the world cup. each continent will be allocated their berth to decide which teams will progress in the finals. the host nation will get an automatic berth but the defending champions must now participate in the qualifying matches in order to qualify. BRAZIL, for example, has to play 18 qualifying matches in South America to qualify for this year's tournament, despite winning the 2002 World Cup.

when all the teams are known, there will be draw to decide which teams will play against in the group stage which consist of 8 group of 4 teams each. the draw for the 2006 World Cup finals was held in Leipzig on 09 December 2005. all the coaches was present at the draw including the FIFA president, Joseph Sepp Blatter.

each team in a group will play each other 3 times, meaning all teams will get to play 3 matches at least. a win will earn 3 points, drawn matches will be given 1 point to each team & no point if the team lose a match. the top two teams from each group after 3 rounds of group matches will progress to the next round, beginning with the round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final & the final.

from the round of 16 until the final & 3rd place match, an additional 30 minutes (extra time) of play to be added, if both teams are level after 90 minutes of normal time. if there is still no winner after a total of 120 minutes, the winner will be decided on penalty kicks. the team that scores the most penalties will progress in the next round & the same format will go on until the new champion is being crowned.

Answer 2

Well before the actual world cup begins the teams are each sorted by chance in to "pools" of four. Two teams from each of those pools will go into the next division. By the time all the pool or group matches have been played there is obviously sixteen teams left. These teams play eachother in a knock out round. The winners from each match proceed to the next elimination round of eight teams (the Quarter Finals). Then They verse each other until there is only two teams left. The next round is the Semifinals, the last round before the Finals. Here there are two matches, and the winners from each continue on to the final. The winner of the final is the FifA world Champion!

I hope You learned from my answer :) ♥♦♣♠

Answer 3

The 32 teams are split into groups of four. The group of four then plays round robin for points. The two highest scoring teams from each group then advances to the round of 16. From then on, you play against one team and the winner advances. Unlike other sports, like hockey, you only get one chance. So if you lose, then you are out of the tournament.

So it goes: round robin of a group of four, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and then the finals. There is also a match between the two teams who lost in their semi-final game to determine who comes in third place.

Answer 4

32 teams qualify from 5-6 different regions throughout the world. Of those 32, 8 are seeded, and placed into 8 different groups. The remaining 24 teams are drawn randomly into those groups, with the restrictino that there can be no more than two European teams in a single group. Thus, 8 groups of 4 are made. In the opening round of the tournament, each group plays round-robin style, and after that round is over, each team having played 3 games, the top two teams from each group advance based on points. Three points are given for a win, one for a tie. If teams are tied, goal differential (goals scored minus goals allowed), goals scored, goals allowed, and other tie-breakers follow. So after the opening round, the field is cut in half. From here on, it is single elimination until the semifinals- if you lose, you are out. Now, based on how you finished in your group, you play another game. So, first place from group A plays second place from group B, second place from group A plays first place from group B, and like-wise for groups C through H. This round is known as the round of 16, and is the outermost part of the bracket (see http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/bracket.html for this years world cup bracket). If you win, you advance, if you lose, you are out. From then, it is simple. You advance to the quarterfinals, and, if you win, the semifinals (if you lose, you are out.) In the semifinals, if you win you are in the final, if you lose, you still have one more game, against the loser of the other semifinal, in a match for third place. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifa_world_cup#Format for more information on the format. So, there you are.

Answer 5

in the beginning a team is put into a group of four. the top two teams advance to round 16. you face another team, then you go to the quarterfinals, then semis, then the finals.