Competitions (International)

WORLD

FIFA World Cup

The world championship of men's international football takes place every four years. Countries from CONCACAF (North and Central America), CONMEBOL (South America), UEFA (Europe), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), and OFC (Oceania). Since the 1998 World Cup, the competition's finals comprise 32 teams. Holders: Spain (2010). Next Host: Brazil (2014). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

FIFA Confederations Cup

Eight teams - winners of each of the Confederations' men's championships plus the host country and the winner of the previous World Cup - play in this tournament, held every four years, that is generally considered the 'tune up' for the following World Cup. The tournament is held the year before the next World Cup in the host country of the next World Cup. Participation is optional for the current European and South American champions. Runners-up of the World Cup will replace Brazil if Brazil wins the 2010 World Cup and/or the 2011 Copa América. Holders: Brazil (2009). Next Host: Brazil? (2013). LINKS: Official Site | Wikipedia

FIFA Under-20 World Cup

The world championship of male players under the age of 20 takes place every two years. A total of 24 teams from the six confederations (CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, CAF, AFC, and OFC) compete in the finals. Holders: Ghana (2009). Next Host: Colombia (2011). LINKS: Official Site | Wikipedia

FIFA Under-17 World Cup

The world championship of male players under the age of 17 takes place every two years. A total of 24 teams from the six confederations (CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, CAF, AFC, and OFC) compete in the finals. Holders: Switzerland (2009). Next Host: Mexico (2011). LINKS: Official Site | Wikipedia

EUROPE

UEFA European Championship (EURO)

The European championship of men's international football takes place every four years - two years before the next World Cup Finals. Qualification rounds begin immediately after the World Cup. The competition's finals comprise 16 teams. Holders: Spain (2008). Next Host: Poland-Ukraine (2012). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

UEFA Under-21 Championship

Held every two years in off-years between the World Cup Finals and the European Championship Finals. The competition's finals comprise 8 teams. Holders: Germany (2009). Next Host: Denmark (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

UEFA Under-19 Championship

Held every year. The competition's finals comprise 8 teams. Holders: France (2010). Next Host: Romania (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

UEFA Under-17 Championship

Held every year. Holders: England (2010). Next Host: Serbia (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

AFRICA

CAF Africa Cup of Nations

Held every two years in January/February in the same year of UEFA European Championship Finals and the Summer Olympics. But, after the 2012, the competition will shift to odd-numbered years beginning in 2013 (Libya) so as not to be held the same year as the World Cup Finals. The competition's finals comprise 16 teams. Holders: Egypt (2010). Next Host: Gabon-Equatorial Guinea (2012). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

CAF African Nations Championship

Held every other year. The competition's finals comprise 16 teams beginning in 2011. Expatriate players, regardless of where they play, even in Africa, cannot be qualified to take part. Thus, this competition responds to the desire to revive or strengthen national competitions regularly weakened by a mass exodus of top players. Holders: Congo DR (2009). Next Host: Sudan (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

CAF African Youth Championship (Under-20)

Held every two years. The competition's finals comprise 8 teams. Holders: Ghana (2009). Next Host: Libya (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

CAF Under-17 Cup

Held every two years. The competition's finals comprise 8 teams. Holders: Gambia (2009). Next Host: Rwanda (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

NORTH AMERICA

CONCACAF Gold Cup

This is the main competition in the CONCACAF region. There is no fixed interval, but it has generally been held every two years. It is almost always hosted by the USA. Holders: Mexico (2009). Next Host: TBD (TBD). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

CONCACAF Under-20 Championship

Held every other year. The competition's finals comprise 8 teams. Holders: Costa Rica (2009). Next Host: TBD (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

CONCACAF Under-17 Championship

Held every other year. Holders: None-cancelled due to swine flu (2009). Next Host: TBD (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

SOUTH AMERICA

CONMEBOL Copa America

This is the main competition for the CONMEBOL internationally. It consists of 12 teams; 10 from the CONMEBOL and 2 outside the federation. There is no fixed interval, so it changes frequently as to when it is going to take place. Holders: Brazil (2007). Next Hosts: Argentina (2011); Chile (2014?). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

CONMEBOL South American Under-20 Championship (Youth Championship)

All 10 national teams of CONMEBOL participate in two groups of five. The three top teams in each group advance to a single final group of six where each team plays five games. Unlike most international tournaments, in South American Youth Championships there is neither final match nor third place match nor knockout stage. The competition is held every other year. Holders: Brazil (2009). Next Host: Peru (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

CONMEBOL South American Under-17 Championship

Held every other year. Holders: Brazil (2009). Next Host: Ecuador (2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

CONMEBOL South American Under-15 Championship

Held every other year. Holders: Paraguay (2009). Next Host: TBD (TBD). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

ASIA

AFC Asian Cup

xxx Holders: Iraq (2007). Next Host: Qatar (Jan 2011). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

AFC Challenge Cup

xxx Holders: North Korea (2010). Next Host: TBD (2012). LINKS: Official site | Wikipedia

AFC Under-19 Championship