More people play soccer than the four of those sports put together, and the World Cup pits all nations against all nations, with almost every country on earth competing during the four years of qualifying that lead to the final tournament. As
Soccer is the most widely played sport worldwide, surpassing the combined participation of other major sports. It is a global phenomenon with a massive following, making it accessible and popular across different cultures and regions.
"The World Cup features all nations competing against each other, with nearly every country on earth involved during the four-year qualifying process leading up to the final tournament." This highlights the tournament's extensive international reach and the universal appeal of soccer as described in James Patterson's book, Private Rio.
