Top > Sport > 2006 > May > 2006-05-24

Forget About FIFA and Start Watching Foosball

The 2006 FIFA World Cup is on it`s way, but you won`t have to wait that long to see some championship sports. Sure, sports fans may say that the FIFA World Cup is the most important soccer tournament in the world, but you may think otherwise. For the best soccer action, sports fans should check out the 2006 World Cup of Table Soccer, the best sporting event of the year! While the men?s U.S. National Soccer Team has made tremendous strides in international competition over the last 15 years most soccer enthusiasts don?t believe the U.S. team has any real chance of winning the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

However, the U.S. National TABLE Soccer Team, whose players have captured a combined total of well over 20 World and 100 Major tour titles, is widely expected to dominate the World Cup ? of "Foosball". You know, that game with miniature soccer men attached to rods that spin around to hit a little ball on a kitchen table sized soccer field. As it turns out there?s much more to it than that, and you?ll be able to see for yourself May 25-28, 2006 at the famed Fischauktionshalle in Hamburg, Germany, where about 200 of the world?s most elite foosball players will compete for the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) World Cup title. The top title in the world of foosball sports.

Not that the U.S. foosball team will have it easy: top name competition will include world #1 ranked Frederico Collignon of Liege, Belgium and ITSF #2 ranked Rob Atha of Manchester, England, both heading up some of the strongest teams in the tournament. Other top teams include Italy, France, Denmark, Austria, Canada and Costa Rica. In all, the tournament will feature teams from 20 different countries around the world. Each team, having selected eight to ten of their nation?s best players, will be competing in a combination of doubles and singles events for both men and women. Have fun enjoying this great sports events, and maybe in this tournament the U.S. will have a chance to take home the cup!