WorldCup(soccer),twointernationalsoccertournaments,oneformenandoneforwomen,eachheldeveryfouryears.Bothtournamentsarethepinnacleofinternationalcompetitioninthesport.

　　Themen’sWorldCupisconsideredthemostpopularsportingeventintheworldandisfollowedwithpassionateinterestaroundtheglobe—thefinalgameofthe1998tournamentwasplayedtoatelevisionaudienceofmorethan1billionviewers.Foundedin1930withjust13teams,thetournamentnowattractsentriesfrommorethan140countries.Theteamsmustparticipateineliminationgameswithintheirowncontinentsbeforequalifyingtobecomeoneofthe32nationsparticipatinginthefinaltournament.

　　Thewomen’sWorldCupwasfirstplayedin1991andhasgainedpopularitysteadilysincethen.Morethan90,000fansattendedthefinalsofthe1999tournament—oneofthelargestcrowdsevertowitnessawomen’ssportingevent.Nearly75nationsattemptedtoqualifyforthe1999event,whichwasa16-teameliminationtournament.