| The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be a ball! Each year, the | | | | World Cup championships. But Italy is closed behind, |
| best soccer squads from every corner of the globe | | | | with four championships of its own. Germany (West) is |
| compete in the biggest sporting event on Earth. This | | | | next, with a total of three World Cup titles. Meanwhile, |
| year, the tournament will take place in South Africa, | | | | Uruguay and Argentina both have a pair of |
| from June 11th to July 11th. Here are some fascinating | | | | championships. And finally, England and France have |
| facts about the tournament taking place this year and | | | | each won the tournament once. |
| yesteryear: | | | | 4. The youngest and oldest players were 17 and 42 |
| 1. The official 2010 World Cup Mascot is named | | | | yeas old, respectively. |
| Zakumi. | | | | The youngest World Cup player was Norman |
| Zakumi is a humanized leopard with green hair. The | | | | Whiteside (Ireland), who was a mere 17 years/41 days |
| name is a blend of South Africa's international | | | | old when he played in 1982. Meanwhile, Roger Milla |
| abbreviation (ZA) and the word "kumi". In several | | | | (Cameroon) was 42 years/39 days old when he took |
| African languages, the word "kumi" translates into | | | | the filed in 1994. |
| English as the number ten. The mascot's colors, yellow | | | | 5. The top all-time World Cup scorer was a |
| and green, are also present in the center of South | | | | Frenchman. |
| Africa's flag. Zakumi's birthday is on the South African | | | | In 1958, Just Fontaine of France scored a whopping 13 |
| red letter day: Youth Day. Also, Zakumi's birth date | | | | points during the tournament, averaging slightly over |
| (1994) signifies South Africa's first nationwide elections | | | | two points per game. The second all-time scorer was |
| that were non-racial. | | | | Sandor Kocsis of Hungary. Hungry for goals, in 1954 |
| 2. Only two World Cups will have been outside the | | | | he scored 11 total points during the tournament, in five |
| Americas and Europe. | | | | games. And the third all-time top scorer was Gerd |
| The exceptions were in 2002 (South Korea/Japan), | | | | Muller of West Germany. In 1970 he scored 10 points |
| and in 2010 (South Africa). | | | | during six games. |
| 3. Europe and South America have dominated the | | | | 6. Two players have scored in four consecutive World |
| Event. | | | | Cup finals. |
| In fact, European countries have won the tournament | | | | Interestingly, both players scored during the same |
| nine times, while South American countries have also | | | | World Cups. Pele (Brazil) and Uwe Seeler (West |
| won it a total of nine times. Interestingly, a European | | | | Germany) both scored in the finals of 1958, 1962, 1966, |
| country has never become a World Cup champion in | | | | and 1970. |
| one played outside of Europe. Unless you've lived your | | | | As always, the 2010 Tournament will be a thrilling |
| entire life under a rock, then you likely know that Brazil | | | | event. Besides watching the heart-pounding action on |
| is one of the world's soccer powerhouses. So it's not | | | | the soccer field, keep an eye on the record books to |
| surprising that the country has won a record five | | | | see if any records are broken. |