 FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition 

FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération International de Football Association

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The championship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930

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1942 and 1946 was not held because of the Second World War. The current champions are France, who won their second title at the 2018 tournament in Russia.

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The current format involves a qualification phase, which takes place over the preceding three years, to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase

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In the tournament phase, 32 teams, compete for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over about a month. The host nation(s) automatically qualify.

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As of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, twenty-one final tournaments have been held and a total of 79 national teams have competed.

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The trophy has been won by eight national teams. Brazil have won five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament.

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The other World Cup winners are Germany and Italy, with four titles each; Argentina, France, and inaugural winner Uruguay, with two titles each; and England and Spain, with one title each.

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The World Cup is the most prestigious association football tournament in the world, as well as the most widely viewed and followed single sporting event in the world.

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