Difference between revisions of "FIFA World Cup"
(But Spain did not enjoy long-term success: it was eliminated early in the 2014 World Cup, failing even to advance to the second round.) |
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==Gay Marriage and the World Cup== | ==Gay Marriage and the World Cup== | ||
| − | Likely for reasons pointed out by [[Ann Coulter]] in [http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/06/25/coulter-growing-interest-soccer-sign-nations-moral-decay/11372137/ a column criticizing how un-American soccer is], the World Cup seems to contradict the well-established theory that countries which legalize gay marriage thereafter witness deterioration in national athletic ability. For instance, Spain legalized gay marriage in 2005, and within three years was rated the #1 team by FIFA, which they have held ever since, winning the World Cup in 2010. The runner-up that year, the Netherlands, had previously legalized gay marriage in 2001. So far, in the 2014 World Cup, of the teams making it to the Round of 16, 6 have legalized gay marriage (Brazil, Netherlands, Uruguay, France, Argentina, and Belgium) as well as the USA, which has seen federal recognition, and legalization for nearly half the population. A further five have some recognition and/or civil unions.The two nations which were the first in the world to legalize the practice, Netherlands in 2001 and Belgium in 2003, have so far won all their games in the 2014 tournament. Of the 8 teams in the quarter finals, 5 have legalized gay marriage, while a further 2 have civil unions, making Costa Rica the only team to make it this far that doesn't recognize gay partnerships. | + | Likely for reasons pointed out by [[Ann Coulter]] in [http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/06/25/coulter-growing-interest-soccer-sign-nations-moral-decay/11372137/ a column criticizing how un-American soccer is], the World Cup seems to contradict the well-established theory that countries which legalize gay marriage thereafter witness deterioration in national athletic ability. For instance, Spain legalized gay marriage in 2005, and within three years was rated the #1 team by FIFA, which they have held ever since, winning the World Cup in 2010. The runner-up that year, the Netherlands, had previously legalized gay marriage in 2001. |
| + | |||
| + | But Spain did not enjoy long-term success: it was eliminated early in the 2014 World Cup, failing even to advance to the second round. | ||
| + | |||
| + | So far, in the 2014 World Cup, of the teams making it to the Round of 16, 6 have legalized gay marriage (Brazil, Netherlands, Uruguay, France, Argentina, and Belgium) as well as the USA, which has seen federal recognition, and legalization for nearly half the population. A further five have some recognition and/or civil unions.The two nations which were the first in the world to legalize the practice, Netherlands in 2001 and Belgium in 2003, have so far won all their games in the 2014 tournament. Of the 8 teams in the quarter finals, 5 have legalized gay marriage, while a further 2 have civil unions, making Costa Rica the only team to make it this far that doesn't recognize gay partnerships. | ||
This does lead one to question the morality of soccer as a sport, when compared to the more competitive, American sports such as football and baseball, and perhaps demonstrates that soccer is a sport for gays. | This does lead one to question the morality of soccer as a sport, when compared to the more competitive, American sports such as football and baseball, and perhaps demonstrates that soccer is a sport for gays. | ||
Revision as of 03:42, July 2, 2014
The FIFA World Cup is a global association football (soccer) tournament held every four years since 1930 (except during the Second World War). Its scale as a global sporting event is challenged only by the Olympics.
In the current form, the final tournament is contested by 32 nations who, with the exception of the host nation, are required to qualify by beating others from their region in a preliminary tournament. The current holders of the World Cup are Spain, who beat the Netherlands in the 2010 final in South Africa. Brazil currently holds the record for most wins, with 5. The United States has never won the competition but reached third place in the first edition. The United States also reached the Round of 16 in the most recent iteration of the tournament.
Tournament Winners[1]
| Year | Location | Winner |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy |
| 1938 | France | Italy |
| 1942 | (No tournament) | (No tournament) |
| 1946 | (No tournament) | (No tournament) |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay |
| 1954 | Swizerland | West Germany |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil |
| 1966 | England | England |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil |
| 1974 | West Germany | West Germany |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina |
| 1990 | Italy | Germany |
| 1994 | United States | Brazil |
| 1998 | France | France |
| 2002 | Japan and South Korea | Brazil |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain |
| 2014 | Brazil |
| 5 | Brazil | 1958,1962,1970,1994,2002 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Italy | 1934,1938,1982,2006 |
| 3 | Germany | 1954,1974,1990[2] |
| 2 | Argentina | 1978,1986 |
| 2 | Uruguay | 1930,1950 |
| 1 | England | 1966 |
| 1 | France | 1998 |
| 1 | Spain | 2010 |
Gay Marriage and the World Cup
Likely for reasons pointed out by Ann Coulter in a column criticizing how un-American soccer is, the World Cup seems to contradict the well-established theory that countries which legalize gay marriage thereafter witness deterioration in national athletic ability. For instance, Spain legalized gay marriage in 2005, and within three years was rated the #1 team by FIFA, which they have held ever since, winning the World Cup in 2010. The runner-up that year, the Netherlands, had previously legalized gay marriage in 2001.
But Spain did not enjoy long-term success: it was eliminated early in the 2014 World Cup, failing even to advance to the second round.
So far, in the 2014 World Cup, of the teams making it to the Round of 16, 6 have legalized gay marriage (Brazil, Netherlands, Uruguay, France, Argentina, and Belgium) as well as the USA, which has seen federal recognition, and legalization for nearly half the population. A further five have some recognition and/or civil unions.The two nations which were the first in the world to legalize the practice, Netherlands in 2001 and Belgium in 2003, have so far won all their games in the 2014 tournament. Of the 8 teams in the quarter finals, 5 have legalized gay marriage, while a further 2 have civil unions, making Costa Rica the only team to make it this far that doesn't recognize gay partnerships.
This does lead one to question the morality of soccer as a sport, when compared to the more competitive, American sports such as football and baseball, and perhaps demonstrates that soccer is a sport for gays.
References
- ↑ http://www.sportingchronicle.com/divisions/worldcupwinners.html
- ↑ Including two titles technically won by West Germany.