The '''2024 World Cup''', also called the '''2024 Viitaniemi World Cup''', is an international football tournament contested by men's national teams which took place between March 18th to April 21st, 2024 in [[Viitaniemi]] and several other cities across [[Caspiaa]]. It will be the 50th [[World Cup (Iearth)|World Cup]], a worldwide football tournament held once every year, and the second held in Caspiaa (the first in [[2002 Viitaniemi World Cup|2002]]. Caspiaa beat out two bids to host the 50th World Cup; [[Utobania]] and the [[Northern Cantalle Islands]]. Out of 64 qualifying teams, 32 reached the tournament phase.
The '''2024 World Cup''', also called the '''2024 Viitaniemi World Cup''', is an international football tournament contested by men's national teams which took place between March 18th to April 21st, 2024 in [[Viitaniemi]] and several other cities across [[Caspiaa]]. It will be the 50th [[World Cup (Iearth)|World Cup]], a worldwide football tournament held once every year, and the second held in Caspiaa (the first in [[2002 Viitaniemi World Cup|2002]]. Caspiaa beat out two bids to host the 50th World Cup; [[Utobania]] and the [[Northern Cantalle Islands]]. Out of 64 qualifying teams, 32 reached the tournament phase.
After a rule change pulled the previous World Cup team count to 57, WCO President [[Cekov Marino]] faced pressure to reverse the ruling. Before qualifying opened, the slots returned to 64 teams. Caspiaa, the host nation, was eliminated by [[Durnstaal national football team|Durnstaal]] in the opening knockout round, the first time since [[1977 Tyrnatini World Cup|the 1977 World Cup]] that a host nation was eliminated in the Round of 32. The defending champion [[Beatavic national football team|Beatavic]] was knocked out in the Round of 16 by [[Kossmil national football team|Kossmil]]. [[Greater Normark national football team|Normark]] placed third after defeating [[Allieu national football team|Allieu]] in a penalty shootout. [[Zamastan national football team|Zamastan]] and [[Vœyetska national football team|Vœyetska]] reached the Final, their ninth and fifth finals appearance respectively.
After a rule change pulled the previous World Cup team count to 57, WCO President [[Cekov Marino]] faced pressure to reverse the ruling. Before qualifying opened, the slots returned to 64 teams. Caspiaa, the host nation, was eliminated by [[Durnstaal national football team|Durnstaal]] in the opening knockout round, the first time since [[1977 Tyrnatini World Cup|the 1977 World Cup]] that a host nation was eliminated in the Round of 32. The defending champion [[Beatavic national football team|Beatavic]] was knocked out in the Round of 16 by [[Kossmil national football team|Kossmil]]. [[Greater Normark national football team|Normark]] placed third after defeating [[Allieu national football team|Allieu]] in a penalty shootout. [[Zamastan national football team|Zamastan]] and [[Vœyetska national football team|Vœyetska]] reached the Final, their ninth and fifth finals appearance respectively. The final was tied 3-3, and Vœyetska defeated Zamastan in an overtime shootout for their first ever championship. The final match was the most-watched in World Cup history and was widely considered one of the best final matches ever, thanks to the underdog performance by Vœyetska, the ejection of [[Aron Hjalmarsson]] and [[Keaton Dalton]], and the surprise performance of [[Miska Storstrand]].
The 2024 World Cup, also called the 2024 Viitaniemi World Cup, is an international football tournament contested by men's national teams which took place between March 18th to April 21st, 2024 in Viitaniemi and several other cities across Caspiaa. It will be the 50th World Cup, a worldwide football tournament held once every year, and the second held in Caspiaa (the first in 2002. Caspiaa beat out two bids to host the 50th World Cup; Utobania and the Northern Cantalle Islands. Out of 64 qualifying teams, 32 reached the tournament phase.
After a rule change pulled the previous World Cup team count to 57, WCO President Cekov Marino faced pressure to reverse the ruling. Before qualifying opened, the slots returned to 64 teams. Caspiaa, the host nation, was eliminated by Durnstaal in the opening knockout round, the first time since the 1977 World Cup that a host nation was eliminated in the Round of 32. The defending champion Beatavic was knocked out in the Round of 16 by Kossmil. Normark placed third after defeating Allieu in a penalty shootout. Zamastan and Vœyetska reached the Final, their ninth and fifth finals appearance respectively. The final was tied 3-3, and Vœyetska defeated Zamastan in an overtime shootout for their first ever championship. The final match was the most-watched in World Cup history and was widely considered one of the best final matches ever, thanks to the underdog performance by Vœyetska, the ejection of Aron Hjalmarsson and Keaton Dalton, and the surprise performance of Miska Storstrand.
The bidding procedure to host the 2024 World Cup began in January 2020. National associations had until 2 February 2020 to register interest. Initially, 7 bids were made for the World Cup, due to it being the milestone 50th tournament, but East Chanchajilla and Zamastan withdrew from proceedings, and Yuan and Elastan's bids were rejected. A joint-bid called the Northern Cantalle Islands bid was filed by the governments of Janapa, Lower Aseu, Saint Lorrain, and Saint Astaba and Beck. Utobania submitted a bid for Autrataya to be the host city the day before the deadline was reached. Caspiaa's government initially considered a bid for the host city in Granhättan, but due to limited space for ceremonial events it was moved to Viitaniemi, with Granhättan to still be an event city. During the voting period, it became clear early on that Caspiaa would win the bid, and ultimately pulled away with 48 votes to the combined 18 alternates.
The opening match and final match will take place in Viitaniemi. The other cities hosting tournaments were Sillala, Kaajoki, Helniemi, Hapardal, Kandona, Granhättan, and Tõrnu. Caspiaa intended that the stadiums should reflect its history and culture, and for the designs to meet the following terms of reference: legacy, comfort, accessibility, and sustainability. With the exception of Sorfolda Stadium in Harpardal and Takerre Park Arena in Kandona, all the stadiums were preexisting venues.
The group stage will be played from March 18th to April 2nd. Competing countries were divided into eight groups of eight teams (groups A to H). Teams in each group played one another in a round-robin, where the top four teams advance to the knockout stage.
The sponsors of the 2024 World Cup are divided into three categories: World Cup Partners, World Cup Sponsors and National Supporters. The National Supporters are all Caspiaan sponsors.