Not Football, But Fútbol: La Copa Mudial and understanding a sport for the first time in my life... (s1)

    I do not understand sports well. Sure, I can follow a game of basketball every now and then. My basic understanding is limited to ground rules, the type of ball used, and a U.S. athlete known in the game. Beyond that...NO ENTIENDES. While I have stubbornly defended my ignorance in deportes for years now, I think I am starting to realize that maybe I actually should understand sports. Well, maybe not all, but some...or maybe one. Inspired by randomness and reinforced by actual reasons, this year I am going to attempt to learn about the world of international professional men's soccer (hereby referred to as football), and its championship the FIFA World Cup.
    While the idea for this goal came out of nada, over time it became a logical choice. Worldwide, football is THE sport. All it truly needs is a ball (or something to serve as one), people, and two spots that count as a goal. Football culture is also heavily found in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, as well as generally here and there throughout Latin America. Football has economic, social, cultural, and even political ties (like other sports) to the countries who play it. So for someone interested in the culture of these countries...football seems like a pretty decent sport to (attempt) to understand.
      So far, in my research, I have discovered the following: (this is also where I am signing over my confidence that I am getting this straight) There are a lot of football teams all over the world, from every continent except Antarctica (c'mon, frozen scientists and penguins). They compete in their own federations and in their regions, and fight for a qualifying spot in the FIFA World Cup. The host country automatically plays, and is showcased in the first game. Spain won the last championship, and bother Germany and Spain are favorites to win. However, no South American team has lost the World Cup on home soil (ooooooohhhh snap). This year, the World Cup will be held in Brazil, with games scheduled in cities throughout the country.
  
     I think this is a decent place to start my education. While there is practically an entire universe of information I still haven't digested (there's a lot of groups and knock out games and rounds and also the fact that I'm not totally familiar with football terminology), I'm confidant that soon I will knowing nada into toda.