Correction: Several readers astutely pointed out that the map below of qualifying teams in the 2014 World Cup had inaccurately labeled Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as part of the English national team. Big faux pas! While part of Great Britain, these three are undoubtedly distinct from England -- which has already been ousted from the tournament. Each have their own national teams (none qualified for the Cup this year), and for reasons of historic and cultural rivalry, often support England’s opponents. The map's boundaries have been updated accordingly. And to all you Scots, Welsh and residents of Northern Ireland (and their die-hard fans): mea culpa.
Oh, so suddenly you're a die-hard soccer fan? How convenient.
For many Americans (myself included), it's easy to forget that there's more to professional soccer than a month-long tournament every four years. In fact, the World Cup -- the most popular sporting event on the planet -- is the culmination of roughly two years of intense qualifying tournaments held throughout the world.
If you've found yourself unexpectedly hit with World Cup fever, but don't know squat about how the tournament actually works, this SB Nation video is for you. It's a great explainer, all except for its prediction that the U.S. will lose to Germany ... which this blog in no way supports, endorses or condones (so much for objectivity)!