World Cup 2006

The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the eighteenth instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Squads representing 198 national football associations from totally 6 populated continents participated in the qualification process which started in September 2003. 31 squads qualified from these processes, along on the host country, Germany, as the finals tournament.

The tournament was won by Italy, who claimed their 4th World Cup championship. They defeated France 5–3 in a penalty shootout in the final, after overtime had ended in a 1–1 draw. Germany defeated Portugal 3–1 to finish 3rd.

The 2006 World Cup stands as among the most watched events in television history, collecting an estimated 26.29 billion non-unique viewing audience, compiled over the course of the tournament. The last attracted an estimated audience of 715.1 million people. The 2006 World Cup ranks fourth in non-unique viewers, behind the 1994, the 2002, and the 1990 FIFA World Cups. As the winner, Italy will represent the World in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.