World Cup

American  

noun

Soccer.

1. a trophy emblematic since 1930 of the world championship in soccer and competed for every four years by finalists who have won qualifying matches among more than 150 national teams.

2. the quadrennial championship match for this trophy between the two finalists emergent from 24 qualifying teams, which include regional winners, the defending champion, and the host country team.

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World Cup British  

noun

1. an international competition held between national teams in various sports, most notably association football

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Compare meaning

How does world-cup compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Super Bowl vs. World Cup

Example Sentences

Japan's Daichi Kamada, 29, and Colombia's Jefferson Lerma, 31, have played regularly in midfield this season but both face becoming unattached midway through the World Cup, although the Eagles have a one-year option on Lerma.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

He won the Uefa Cup and Coppa Italia and when his stunning individual performances lifted Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, Neapolitans proudly declared him theirs.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

A great World Cup game is like nothing else, but this is a freshly expanded World Cup, from 32 to 48 teams, a major leap which will likely increase the number of dreary games.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

The incident comes as Mexico prepares to be a host country for this summer’s World Cup soccer extravaganza.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

I watched women seemingly fill every available space, running, stretching, fencing, warming up for this, the first World Cup of the season.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad