Soccer's World Cup

The most popular sporting event in the world is younger than Roscoe Bartlett. Last year's final between Italy and France was watched by more than 715 Million fans, roughly 1 out of 9 people on the planet. It all started in 1930, when the International Olympic Committee, in their infinite wisdom, decided to drop soccer as an Olympic sport. It seems they didn't feel that soccer was popular enough in the United States, which was hosting the Olympics in 1932. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) decided to go their own way and hold their own championship in Uruguay. Ironically, the United States finished 3rd in the first World Cup, its highest finish ever.

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