The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six populated continents participated in the qualification process which began in September 2003. Thirty-one teams qualified from this process along with hosts Germany for the finals tournament. It was the second time that Germany staged the competition and the first as a unified country along with the former East Germany with Leipzig as a host city, and the 10th time that the tournament was held in Europe.
Tunisian supporters watching their match against Ukraine at the Fan Fest in Stuttgart
Fans in celebratory motorcade
Celebrating fans in Olympiapark in Munich during the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica
Image: Stade Olympique Berlin Ext
The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition among the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War. The reigning champions are Argentina, who won their third title at the 2022 tournament.
FIFA president Jules Rimet convinced the confederations to promote an international football tournament
Inside Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, during a match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
BC Place in Vancouver hosting a 2015 Women's World Cup match
Jules Rimet trophy, awarded from 1930 to 1970