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A trip to explore

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About Dominican Republic

Recent years have been kind to the Dominican Republic, which is now ensconced as the Caribbean's most visited destination. It's not hard to see why. A seemingly endless spread of white-sandy beaches and palm trees play host to a similarly sizable range of holiday resorts (some of them ultra-exclusive, some of them less so) and the country has developed a reputation for a good-quality break at a reasonable price. The region around Punta Cana on the east coast is particularly popular, offering golf courses, all-inclusives and the usual fun-in-the-sun trappings.

To see the country purely as a beach destination, however, would be to undersell it. Making up one half of the island of Hispaniola - which it shares with Haiti in the west - it's one of the most geographically diverse parts of the Caribbean, showcasing everything from tropical rainforests and alpine ranges to mangrove swamps and semi-desert. Mountain-bikers, windsurfers, hikers, climbers and even whale-watchers are well catered for.

No less notably, however, the Dominican Republic is also somewhere heaving with life, blending the heady rhythms of merengue and bachata music with a fondness for rum and religion and a near-unrivalled passion for baseball.

The country has a long history. It was the first part of the region to be discovered by Christopher Columbus, and a visit to capital city Santo Domingo still makes the most natural starting point for cultural visitors (particularly those who like their music loud). Colonial-era churches and fortress still stand proud, and the city as a whole is a thrusting, energetic destination full of speaker-blaring corner stores and dance-til-you-drop nightclubs.

While it's a large country by Caribbean standards, it remains relatively easy to combine different elements of the destination on one itinerary. And whether you're here for the beaches, the music, the countryside or the culture, the DR in full swing is a force to be reckoned with.

Travel Advice

Last updated: 19 September 2017
The travel advice summary below is provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. 'We' refers to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. For their full travel advice, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Foreign travel advice

The Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November. Hurricane Maria is forecast to bring hazardous sea and weather conditions to the Dominican Republic from 20 September 2017. You should follow the advice of the local authorities, including any evacuation orders. Some disruption to flights is expected - you should contact your tour operator or airline for more information. The Dominican Republic Disaster Management Agency (COE) will publish updates on social media (in Spanish). The British Embassy Santo Domingo will post information in English on its Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Hurricane Irma passed the north coast of the Dominican Republic on 8 September 2017. There was some local flooding and damage to buildings on the north coast. But there are no reports of serious damage to hotels or tourist infrastructure.

For information and advice about the risks associated with Zika virus, visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre website.

Cases of chikungunya virus and dengue fever have been confirmed in the Dominican Republic. You should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

165,000 British nationals visited the Dominican Republic in 2016. Most visits are trouble-free, but there are incidents of crime and violence.

Take extra care if you're travelling between Haiti and the Dominican Republic by road. There have been armed robberies in the Dominican Republic on roads close to the border with Haiti.

Don't become involved with illegal drugs of any kind. There are severe penalties for all drug offences. A number of British nationals are serving prison sentences for attempting to traffic drugs.

Credit card cloning and fraud are common. It's generally safer to use cash.

Although there's no recent history of terrorism in the Dominican Republic, attacks can't be ruled out.

If you're abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.

The number for the English speaking tourist police (CESTUR) is +1-809-200-3500. In Santo Domingo, Santiago and the north coast (including Puerto Plata) the number for all emergency services is 911. In Punta Cana-Bavaro, the number for emergency fire and ambulance services is +1-809-455-1551 and in Samana, the number for emergency fire and ambulance services is +1-809-538-3763.

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

Crime

The Dominican Republic is friendly and welcoming, but has a high crime rate, ranging from opportunistic crime like bag-snatching and pick-pocketing, to violent crime.

There have been a number of incidents in Santo Domingo where foreigners have been mugged at gunpoint during the daytime while walking in residential districts.

Take particular care in remote areas, especially at night. Don't wear expensive jewellery or carry large amounts of cash or expensive items like smart phones or cameras on the street. Use a hotel safe whenever possible. Don't leave your bags or other possessions on chairs or tables in restaurants or bars. If you're attacked or mugged, don't resist.

There have been incidents of passengers being stopped and robbed or assaulted when travelling from the airport 'Las Americas' in Santo Domingo early in the morning or late at night so be vigilant, especially after dark.

If you lose your passport or it is stolen, get a police report before contacting the British Embassy. The English speaking tourist police (CESTUR) can be contacted on +1-809-200-3500.

Water safety

Lifeguards may not be present at swimming pools or on beaches and safety and rescue equipment may not be available.

The sea can be dangerous, especially during the tropical storm season (June-November). Seek local advice about sea conditions and warning systems and follow instructions.

Don't go into the water if you're under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

Check safety standards and make sure you're insured if you take part in activities like water sports, quad biking, horse riding etc. If in doubt seek advice from your tour operator.

Local travel

Taxis are cheap but many are in a state of disrepair. There have been cases of theft from taxis, so keep valuables and cash secure and out of sight. Tourist taxis are safer and more reliable, but also more expensive. Public transport can be unsafe, but private companies operate good bus services between cities.

Road travel

Although most major roads are reasonably good, general standards of driving are poor. Drivers weave from lane to lane and rarely signal. Many vehicles are in a state of disrepair and don't have working headlights or mirrors. Drink driving is common. Where possible you should avoid driving outside the main cities at night. Road accidents are frequent, especially during holiday periods like Christmas and Easter.

According to the World Health Organisation, over 3,000 people are killed annually on the roads in the Dominican Republic - approximately 10 times the UK per capita rate. Of those killed, 63% were motorcyclists, 20% were pedestrians and 13% were in motor vehicles.

Take extra care on the road between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. There have been armed robberies in the Dominican Republic on roads close to the border with Haiti, including by criminals dressed as police officers.

If you're crossing the border into Haiti by land, be prepared for long queues at the 4 crossing points. Make sure you have all the correct vehicle documentation and cash to pay exit and entry fees. Long stretches of the route are isolated, and without a mobile phone reception. Aim to complete your entire journey during daylight.

Military and police road blocks are common, especially in the areas near the Haitian border. The people manning the road blocks often appear very informal, although the soldiers do wear army uniform and carry weapons. Drivers are sometimes coerced into handing a small amount of money over before being allowed to continue their journey.

It's easy to hire a car in the Dominican Republic, with many international car hire companies available in major cities and at airports. You can drive using a UK driving licence for visits not exceeding 3 months.

Road Accidents

If you're involved in a road accident, you must file a report with the authorities. If the accident didn't cause injuries and happened in Santo Domingo or Santiago, you should register it at La Casa del Conductor. This is a government dependency with English speaking agents, where there are representatives from all the relevant authorities including the police and insurance companies. If the accident occurs in any other part of the Dominican Republic, you should file a report at the nearest police station.

If you're involved in an accident that causes serious injury or death, Dominican law requires that the driver is taken into police custody until the circumstances of the accident have been investigated, even if the driver appears not to be at fault. You should call the police, and wait for them to arrive, at the scene of the accident. If you're detained as a result of a road accident, ask the police to contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo.

The telephone number for national roadside assistance is +1-829-689-1000.

Air travel

Safety concerns have been raised about INSEL Air. The US and Netherlands authorities have prohibited their staff from using the airline while safety checks are being carried out. UK government officials have been told to do the same as a precaution.

Political situation

Political demonstrations sometimes occur, although not usually near tourist areas. Avoid getting caught up in demonstrations or large gatherings of people.

Although there's no recent history of terrorism in the Dominican Republic, attacks can't be ruled out.

There's a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.

Find out more about the global threat from terrorism, how to minimise your risk and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.

Don't become involved with illegal drugs of any kind. There are severe penalties for all drug offences. Possession of even small quantities can lead to a long prison sentence and a hefty fine. All sentences are served in the Dominican Republic.

Pack your own luggage and don't carry anything through customs for anyone else.

Seizures at ports and airports around the Dominican Republic have increased.

Homosexuality is generally accepted in the Dominican Republic.

The information on this page covers the most common types of travel and reflects the UK government's understanding of the rules currently in place. Unless otherwise stated, this information is for travellers using a full 'British Citizen' passport.

The authorities in the country or territory you're travelling to are responsible for setting and enforcing the rules for entry. If you're unclear about any aspect of the entry requirements, or you need further reassurance, you'll need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you're travelling to.

You should also consider checking with your transport provider or travel company to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.

Visas

All visitors need a tourist card to enter the Dominican Republic. You can get a tourist card before travel from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in London, or on arrival at the airport at a cost of US$10 or equivalent. The Dominican Republic Embassy website has more information.

Tourist cards are initially valid for a 30-day stay but can be extended by paying for an extension when you leave the country. If you overstay this initial 30-day period, you'll have to pay a surcharge when you leave the country. If you're planning to stay for longer than 30 days, seek advice from a local lawyer or contact the local Immigration authorities.

There have been reports in February 2017 of immigration authorities making random checks on foreign visitors to establish the validity of their stay in the country. The Dominican Republic immigration rules haven't changed, all tourists should have a valid tourist card for a 30 day stay or pay for an extension on departure if staying beyond 30 days. Make sure you're able to provide a photocopy of your identification (such as a passport), and proof of onward or return travel if you're asked to do so by the authorities.

Proof of onward or return travel

You may be refused entry if you don't have proof of onward or return travel.

Passport validity

If you're entering as a tourist your passport must be valid up to at least the date of your proposed departure from the Dominican Republic. If you're entering the Dominican Republic for any other purpose your passport should have at least six months' validity.

Departure tax

Departure tax is US$20. Scheduled airlines sometimes include this charge in the price of the ticket. Check with your tour operator or travel provider.

Travelling with children

According to the Dominican Republic authorities, visitors under 18 travelling to the Dominican Republic don't need written authorisation from their parents as long as they enter and leave with the same person or people. If visitors between the ages of 13 and 18 are travelling alone, or in a group with no one over 18, then parental authorisation is not required as long as the group remains the same on entry and exit.

Otherwise, a visitor under the age of 18 must carry a sworn affidavit drawn up by a solicitor and signed by the child's parents or legal guardian(s) authorising their travel. The affidavit will need to be legalised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Dominican Republic Embassy

UK Emergency travel documents

UK Emergency travel documents (ETDs) are accepted for entry, transit and exit from the Dominican Republic.

Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre on the TravelHealthPro website and by NHS (Scotland) on the fitfortravel website. Useful information and advice about healthcare abroad is also available on the NHS Choices website.

UK health authorities have classified Dominican Republic as having a risk of Zika virus transmission. For information and advice about the risks associated with Zika virus, visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre website.

There are a small number of cases of cholera in the Dominican Republic, mainly in urban slums and poor rural areas.

Cases of chikungunya virus and dengue fever have been confirmed in Dominican Republic. You should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Public medical facilities in Dominican Republic are generally limited. Private hospitals offer good standards of care, although reports indicate that some establishments may overcharge. Dentistry is adequate. A good range of medicines is available, including some normally only available on prescription in the UK.

Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

If you need emergency medical assistance in Santo Domingo dial 911 and ask for an ambulance. Outside Santo Domingo (e.g. Punta Cana, Puerto Plata) contact the tourist police (1-809-200-3500). If you're travelling with a tour operator, also contact your representative and/or hotel. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Hurricanes

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. In the Caribbean this frequently coincides with heavy rains, which may cause flash floods and landslides.You should monitor local and international weather updates from the US National Hurricane Centre and follow the advice of local authorities and your tour operator.

See our Tropical Cyclones page for advice on what to do if you are caught up in a storm.

Earthquakes

There are occasional earthquakes in the Dominican Republic. To protect yourself during an earthquake, you should drop to the ground, take cover and hold on until the shaking stops. If you're inside a building don't exit until it's safe to do so. If you're outside, move away from buildings, streetlights and electricity wires. After the earthquake don't run as there may be aftershocks or debris in your path. If you become trapped, tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can find you. Only shout as a last resort as this may cause you to inhale dust. In the event of an earthquake, the Dominican Government authorities, fire-fighters and police will provide help to foreigners.

If a major earthquake occurs close to shore, you should follow the instructions of the local authorities, bearing in mind that a tsunami could arrive within minutes.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about what to do before during and after an earthquake and tsunami

The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso. US dollars and travellers' cheques are easily exchanged. Only exchange money at banks or official exchange offices (casas de cambio). UK credit cards and debit cards will usually work in ATMs. Take great care when withdrawing cash at an ATM. Credit card cloning and identity theft are common. It's generally much safer to use cash.

If you're abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. If you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad, contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London on 020 7008 1500 (24 hours).

Foreign travel checklist

Read our foreign travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe while you're there.

Travel safety

The FCO travel advice helps you make your own decisions about foreign travel. Your safety is our main concern, but we can't provide tailored advice for individual trips. If you're concerned about whether or not it's safe for you to travel, you should read the travel advice for the country or territory you're travelling to, together with information from other sources you've identified, before making your own decision on whether to travel. Only you can decide whether it's safe for you to travel.

When we judge the level of risk to British nationals in a particular place has become unacceptably high, we'll state on the travel advice page for that country or territory that we advise against all or all but essential travel. Read more about how the FCO assesses and categorises risk in foreign travel advice.

Our crisis overseas page suggests additional things you can do before and during foreign travel to help you stay safe.

Refunds and cancellations

If you wish to cancel or change a holiday that you've booked, you should contact your travel company. The question of refunds and cancellations is a matter for you and your travel company. Travel companies make their own decisions about whether or not to offer customers a refund. Many of them use our travel advice to help them reach these decisions, but we do not instruct travel companies on when they can or can't offer a refund to their customers.

For more information about your rights if you wish to cancel a holiday, visit the Citizen's Advice Bureau website. For help resolving problems with a flight booking, visit the website of the Civil Aviation Authority. For questions about travel insurance, contact your insurance provider and if you're not happy with their response, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Registering your travel details with us

We're no longer asking people to register with us before travel. Our foreign travel checklist and crisis overseas page suggest things you can do before and during foreign travel to plan your trip and stay safe.

Previous versions of FCO travel advice

If you're looking for a previous version of the FCO travel advice, visit the National Archives website. If you can't find the page you're looking for there, send us a request.

Further help

If you're a British national and you have a question about travelling abroad that isn't covered in our foreign travel advice or elsewhere on GOV.UK, you can submit an enquiry. We're not able to provide tailored advice for specific trips.

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Recent years have been kind to the Dominican Republic, which is now ensconced as the Caribbean's most visited destination. It's not hard to see why. A seemingly endless spread of white-sandy beaches and palm trees play host to a similarly sizable range of holiday resorts (some of them ultra-exclusive, some of them less so) and the country has developed a reputation for a good-quality break at a reasonable price.

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visting the white house and looking at the museums

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The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition between the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War. The reigning champions are Argentina, who won their third title at the 2022 tournament.

The contest starts with the qualification phase, which takes place over the preceding three years, to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase. In the tournament phase, 32 teams compete for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over about a month. The host nation(s) automatically qualify for the group stage of the tournament. The next FIFA World Cup is scheduled to expand to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament.

As of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, 22 final tournaments have been held since the event's inception in 1930, and a total of 80 national teams have competed. The trophy has been won by eight national teams. Brazil, with five wins, are the only team to have played in every tournament. The other World Cup winners are Germany and Italy, with four titles each; Argentina, with three titles; France and inaugural winner Uruguay, each with two titles; and England and Spain, with one title each.

The World Cup is the most prestigious association football tournament in the world, as well as the most widely viewed and followed single sporting event in the world. The viewership of the 2018 World Cup was estimated to be 3.57 billion, close to half of the global population, while the engagement with 2022 World Cup was estimated to be 5 billion with about 1.5 billion people watching the final match.

Seventeen countries have hosted the World Cup, most recently Qatar, who hosted the 2022 event. The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, which will give Mexico the distinction of being the first country to host games in three World Cups.

Previous international competitions

The world's first international football match was a challenge match played in Glasgow in 1872 between Scotland and England. The first international tournament for nations, the inaugural British Home Championship, took place in 1884 and included games between England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. As football grew in popularity in other parts of the world at the start of the 20th century, it was held as a demonstration sport with no medals awarded at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics; however, the International Olympic Committee has retroactively upgraded their status to official events, and as well as the 1906 Intercalated Games.

After FIFA was founded in 1904, it tried to arrange an international football tournament between nations outside the Olympic framework in Switzerland in 1906. These were very early days for international football, and the official history of FIFA describes the competition as having been unsuccessful.

At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, football became an official Olympic sport. Planned by The Football Association (FA), England's football governing body, the event was for amateur players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show rather than a competition. Great Britain (represented by the England national amateur football team) won the gold medals. They repeated the feat at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.

With the Olympic event continuing to be a contest between amateur teams only, Sir Thomas Lipton organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy tournament in Turin in 1909. The Lipton tournament was a championship between individual clubs (not national teams) from different nations, each one of which represented an entire nation. The competition is sometimes described as The First World Cup, and featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany and Switzerland, but the FA of England refused to be associated with the competition and declined the offer to send a professional team. Lipton invited West Auckland, an amateur side from County Durham, to represent England instead. West Auckland won the tournament and returned in 1911 to successfully defend their title. Prior to the Lipton competition, from 1876 to 1904, games that were considered to be the " football world championship" were meetings between leading English and Scottish clubs, such as the 1895 game between Sunderland A.F.C. and the Heart of Midlothian F.C., which Sunderland won.

In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic tournament as a "world football championship for amateurs", and took responsibility for managing the event. This paved the way for the world's first intercontinental football competition for nations, at the 1920 Summer Olympics, contested by Egypt and 13 European teams, and won by Belgium. Uruguay won the next two Olympic football tournaments in 1924 and 1928. Those were also the first two open world championships, as 1924 was the start of FIFA's professional era, and is the reason why Uruguay is allowed to wear 4 stars.

World Cups before World War II

FIFA president Jules Rimet convinced the confederations to promote an international football tournament

Due to the success of the Olympic football tournaments, FIFA, with President Jules Rimet as the driving force, again started looking at staging its own international tournament outside of the Olympics. On 28 May 1928, the FIFA Congress in Amsterdam decided to stage a world championship. With Uruguay now two-time official football world champions and to celebrate their centenary of independence in 1930, FIFA named Uruguay as the host country of the inaugural World Cup tournament.

The national associations of selected nations were invited to send a team, but the choice of Uruguay as a venue for the competition meant a long and costly trip across the Atlantic Ocean for European sides, especially in the midst of the Great Depression. As such, no European country pledged to send a team until two months before the start of the competition. Rimet eventually persuaded teams from Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia to make the trip. In total, 13 nations took part: seven from South America, four from Europe, and two from North America.

Estadio Centenario, the location of the first World Cup final in 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay

The first two World Cup matches took place simultaneously on 13 July 1930, and were won by France and the United States, who defeated Mexico 4-1 and Belgium 3-0 respectively. The first goal in World Cup history was scored by Lucien Laurent of France. In the final, Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in front of 93,000 spectators in Montevideo, and became the first nation to win the World Cup. After the creation of the World Cup, FIFA and the IOC disagreed over the status of amateur players; football was dropped from the 1932 Summer Olympics. After the IOC and FIFA worked out their differences, Olympic football returned at the 1936 Summer Olympics, but was now overshadowed by the more prestigious World Cup.

The issues facing the early World Cup tournaments were the difficulties of intercontinental travel, and war. Few South American teams were willing to travel to Europe for the 1934 World Cup and all North and South American nations except Brazil and Cuba boycotted the 1938 tournament. Brazil was the only South American team to compete in both. The 1942 and 1946 competitions, which Germany and Brazil sought to host, were cancelled due to World War II.

World Cups after World War II

The opening game of the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, shortly before the 1950 FIFA World Cup

The 1950 World Cup, held in Brazil, was the first to include British football associations. Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland had withdrawn from FIFA in 1920, partly out of unwillingness to play against the countries they had been at war with, and partly as a protest against foreign influence on football. The teams rejoined in 1946 following FIFA's invitation. The tournament also saw the return of 1930 champions Uruguay, who had boycotted the previous two World Cups. Uruguay won the tournament again after defeating the host nation Brazil, in the match called " Maracanazo" (Portuguese: Maracanaço).

In the tournaments between 1934 and 1978, 16 teams competed in each tournament, except in 1938, when Austria was absorbed into Germany after qualifying, leaving the tournament with 15 teams, and in 1950, when India, Scotland, and Turkey withdrew, leaving the tournament with 13 teams. Most of the participating nations were from Europe and South America, with a small minority from North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. These teams were usually defeated easily by the European and South American teams. Until 1982, the only teams from outside Europe and South America to advance out of the first round were: United States, semi-finalists in 1930; Cuba, quarter-finalists in 1938; North Korea, quarter-finalists in 1966; and Mexico, quarter-finalists in 1970.

Expansion to 24 and 32 teams

Inside Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, during a match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in 1982, and then to 32 in 1998, allowing more teams from Africa, Asia and North America to take part. Since then, teams from these regions have enjoyed more success, with several having reached the quarter-finals: Mexico, quarter-finalists in 1986; Cameroon, quarter-finalists in 1990; South Korea, finishing in fourth place in 2002; Senegal, along with USA, both quarter-finalists in 2002; Ghana, quarter-finalists in 2010; Costa Rica, quarter-finalists in 2014; and Morocco, finishing in fourth place in 2022. European and South American teams continue to dominate, e.g., the quarter-finalists in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2018 were all from Europe or South America and so were the finalists of all tournaments so far.

Two hundred teams entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds. 198 nations attempted to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. A record 204 countries entered qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Expansion to 48 teams

In October 2013, Sepp Blatter spoke of guaranteeing the Caribbean Football Union's region a position in the World Cup. In the edition of 25 October 2013 of the FIFA Weekly Blatter wrote that: "From a purely sporting perspective, I would like to see globalisation finally taken seriously, and the African and Asian national associations accorded the status they deserve at the FIFA World Cup. It cannot be that the European and South American confederations lay claim to the majority of the berths at the World Cup." Those two remarks suggested to commentators that Blatter could be putting himself forward for re-election to the FIFA Presidency.

Following the magazine's publication, Blatter's would-be opponent for the FIFA Presidency, UEFA President Michel Platini, responded that he intended to extend the World Cup to 40 national associations, increasing the number of participants by eight. Platini said that he would allocate an additional berth to UEFA, two each to the Asian Football Confederation and the Confederation of African Football, two shared between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, and a guaranteed place for the Oceania Football Confederation. Platini was clear about why he wanted to expand the World Cup. He said: "[The World Cup is] not based on the quality of the teams because you don't have the best 32 at the World Cup ... but it's a good compromise. ... It's a political matter so why not have more Africans? The competition is to bring all the people of all the world. If you don't give the possibility to participate, they don't improve."

In October 2016, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated his support for a 48-team World Cup in 2026. On 10 January 2017, FIFA confirmed the 2026 World Cup will have 48 finalist teams.

2015 FIFA corruption case

By May 2015, the games were under a particularly dark cloud because of the 2015 FIFA corruption case, allegations and criminal charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering to corrupt the issuing of media and marketing rights (rigged bids) for FIFA games, with FIFA officials accused of taking bribes totaling more than $150 million over 24 years. In late May, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a 47-count indictment with charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy against 14 people. Arrests of over a dozen FIFA officials were made since that time, particularly on 29 May and 3 December. By the end of May 2015, a total of nine FIFA officials and five executives of sports and broadcasting markets had already been charged on corruption. At the time, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced he would relinquish his position in February 2016.

On 4 June 2015, Chuck Blazer while co-operating with the FBI and the Swiss authorities admitted that he and the other members of FIFA's then-executive committee were bribed in order to promote the 1998 and 2010 World Cups. On 10 June 2015, Swiss authorities seized computer data from the offices of Sepp Blatter. The same day, FIFA postponed the bidding process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in light of the allegations surrounding bribery in the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Then-secretary general Jérôme Valcke stated, "Due to the situation, I think it's nonsense to start any bidding process for the time being." On 28 October 2015, Blatter and FIFA VP Michel Platini, a potential candidate for presidency, were suspended for 90 days; both maintained their innocence in statements made to the news media.

On 3 December 2015 two FIFA vice-presidents were arrested on suspicion of bribery in the same Zurich hotel where seven FIFA officials had been arrested in May. An additional 16 indictments by the US Department of Justice were announced on the same day.

Biennial World Cup proposition

A biennial World Cup plan was first proposed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation at the 71st FIFA Congress on 21 May 2021 and prominently backed by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and national federations in Africa and Asia. Continental confederations such as UEFA and CONMEBOL are not on board with the plan but, in total, the idea is supported by 166 of the 210 member associations of FIFA.

Other FIFA tournaments

The BC Place in Vancouver hosting a 2015 Women's World Cup match

An equivalent tournament for women's football, the FIFA Women's World Cup, was first held in 1991 in China. The women's tournament is smaller in scale and profile than the men's, but is growing; the number of entrants for the 2007 tournament was 120, more than double that of 1991.

Men's football has been included in every Summer Olympic Games except 1896 and 1932. Unlike many other sports, the men's football tournament at the Olympics is not a top-level tournament, and since 1992, an under-23 tournament with each team allowed three over-age players. Women's football made its Olympic debut in 1996.

The FIFA Confederations Cup was a tournament held one year before the World Cup at the World Cup host nation(s) as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships, along with the FIFA World Cup champion and the host country. The first edition took place in 1992 and the last edition was played in 2017. In March 2019, FIFA confirmed that the tournament would no longer be active owing to an expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021.

FIFA also organises international tournaments for youth football ( FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup), club football ( FIFA Club World Cup), and football variants such as futsal ( FIFA Futsal World Cup) and beach soccer ( FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup). The latter three do not have a women's version, although a FIFA Women's Club World Cup has been proposed.

The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup is held biannually, including the year before each Women's World Cup. Both tournaments were awarded in a single bidding process on three occasions, with the U-20 tournament serving as a dress rehearsal for the larger competition each time ( 2010, 2014 and 2018).

Jules Rimet trophy, awarded from 1930 to 1970

From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to the World Cup winning team. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, but in 1946 it was renamed after the FIFA president Jules Rimet who set up the first tournament. In 1970, Brazil's third victory in the tournament entitled them to keep the trophy permanently. However, the trophy was stolen in 1983 and has never been recovered, apparently melted down by the thieves.

After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was designed. The experts of FIFA, coming from seven countries, evaluated the 53 presented models, finally opting for the work of the Italian designer Silvio Gazzaniga. The new trophy is 36 cm (14.2 in) high, made of solid 18 carat (75%) gold and weighs 6.175 kg (13.6 lb).

The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974. The description of the trophy by Gazzaniga was: "The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory."

This new trophy is not awarded to the winning nation permanently. World Cup winners retain the trophy only until the post-match celebration is finished. They are awarded a gold-plated replica rather than the solid gold original immediately afterwards.

All members (players, coaches, and managers) of the top three teams receive medals with an insignia of the World Cup Trophy; winners' (gold), runners-up' (silver), and third-place (bronze). In the 2002 edition, fourth-place medals were awarded to hosts South Korea. Before the 1978 tournament, medals were only awarded to the eleven players on the pitch at the end of the final and the third-place match. In November 2007, FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be retroactively awarded winners' medals.

Since 2006, winners of the competition are also awarded the right to wear the FIFA Champions Badge, up until the time at which the winner of the next competition is decided.

Qualification

Since the second World Cup in 1934, qualifying tournaments have been held to thin the field for the final tournament. They are held within the six FIFA continental zones ( Africa, Asia, North and Central America and Caribbean, South America, Oceania, and Europe), overseen by their respective confederations. For each tournament, FIFA decides the number of places awarded to each of the continental zones beforehand, generally based on the relative strength of the confederations' teams.

The qualification process can start as early as almost three years before the final tournament and last over a two-year period. The formats of the qualification tournaments differ between confederations. Usually, one or two places are awarded to winners of intercontinental play-offs. For example, the winner of the Oceanian zone and the fifth-placed team from the Asian zone entered a play-off for a spot in the 2010 World Cup. From the 1938 World Cup onwards, host nations receive automatic qualification to the final tournament. This right was also granted to the defending champions between 1938 and 2002, but was withdrawn from the 2006 FIFA World Cup onward, requiring the champions to qualify. Brazil, winners in 2002, were the first defending champions to play qualifying matches.

Final tournament

The final tournament format since 1998 has 32 national teams competing over the course of a month in the host nations. There are two stages: the group stage followed by the knockout stage.

In the group stage, teams compete within eight groups of four teams each. Eight teams are seeded, including the hosts, with the other seeded teams selected using a formula based on the FIFA World Rankings or performances in recent World Cups, and drawn to separate groups. The other teams are assigned to different "pots", usually based on geographical criteria, and teams in each pot are drawn at random to the eight groups. Since 1998, constraints have been applied to the draw to ensure that no group contains more than two European teams or more than one team from any other confederation.

Each group plays a round-robin tournament, in which each team is scheduled for three matches against other teams in the same group. This means that a total of six matches are played within a group. The last round of matches of each group is scheduled at the same time to preserve fairness among all four teams. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Points are used to rank the teams within a group. Since 1994, three points have been awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss (before, winners received two points).

Considering all possible outcomes (win, draw, loss) for all six matches in a group, there are 729 (= 3 ⁶) combinations possible. However, 207 of these combinations lead to ties between the second and third places. In such case, the ranking among these teams is determined by:

1. Greatest combined goal difference in all group matches

2. Greatest combined number of goals scored in all group matches

3. If more than one team remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined as follows:

1. Greatest number of points in head-to-head matches among those teams

2. Greatest goal difference in head-to-head matches among those teams

3. Greatest number of goals scored in head-to-head matches among those teams

4. Fair play points, defined by the number of yellow and red cards received in the group stage:

1. Yellow card: minus 1 point

2. Indirect red card (as a result of a second yellow card): minus 3 points

3. Direct red card: minus 4 points

4. Yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points

4. If any of the teams above remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined by the drawing of lots

The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament in which teams play each other in one-off matches, with extra time and penalty shootouts used to decide the winner if necessary. It begins with the round of 16 (or the second round) in which the winner of each group plays against the runner-up of another group. This is followed by the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the third-place match (contested by the losing semi-finalists), and the final.

On 10 January 2017, FIFA approved a new format, the 48-team World Cup (to accommodate more teams), which was to consist of 16 groups of three teams each, with two teams qualifying from each group, to form a round of 32 knockout stage, to be implemented by 2026. On 14 March 2023, FIFA approved a revised format of the 2026 tournament, which features 12 groups of four teams each, with the top 8 third-placed teams joining the group winners and runners-up in a new round of 32.

Selection process

A map of FIFA World Cup final hosts, 1930-2022. Green: once; dark green: twice; light green: planned

Early World Cups were given to countries at meetings of FIFA's congress. The locations were controversial because South America and Europe were by far the two centres of strength in football and travel between them required three weeks by boat. The decision to hold the first World Cup in Uruguay, for example, led to only four European nations competing. The next two World Cups were both held in Europe. The decision to hold the second of these in France was disputed, as the South American countries understood that the location would alternate between the two continents. Both Argentina and Uruguay thus boycotted the 1938 FIFA World Cup.

Since the 1958 FIFA World Cup, to avoid future boycotts or controversy, FIFA began a pattern of alternating the hosts between the Americas and Europe, which continued until the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan, was the first one held in Asia, and the first tournament with multiple hosts. South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup in 2010. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Brazil, the first held in South America since Argentina 1978, and was the first occasion where consecutive World Cups were held outside Europe.

The host country is now chosen in a vote by FIFA's Council. This is done under an exhaustive ballot system. The national football association of a country desiring to host the event receives a "Hosting Agreement" from FIFA, which explains the steps and requirements that are expected from a strong bid. The bidding association also receives a form, the submission of which represents the official confirmation of the candidacy. After this, a FIFA designated group of inspectors visit the country to identify that the country meets the requirements needed to host the event and a report on the country is produced. The decision on who will host the World Cup is usually made six or seven years in advance of the tournament. There have been occasions where the hosts of multiple future tournaments were announced at the same time, as was the case for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were awarded to Russia and Qatar, with Qatar becoming the first Middle Eastern country to host the tournament.

For the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, the final tournament is rotated between confederations, allowing only countries from the chosen confederation (Africa in 2010, South America in 2014) to bid to host the tournament. The rotation policy was introduced after the controversy surrounding Germany's victory over South Africa in the vote to host the 2006 tournament. However, the policy of continental rotation did not continue beyond 2014, so any country, except those belonging to confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments, can apply as hosts for World Cups starting from 2018. This is partly to avoid a similar scenario to the bidding process for the 2014 tournament, where Brazil was the only official bidder.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was chosen to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time a World Cup has been shared by three host nations. The 2026 tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever held, with 48 teams playing 80 matches. Sixty matches will take place in the US, including all matches from the quarter-finals onward, while Canada and Mexico will host 10 games each.

Selection results

* West Germany was the host of the 1974 Cup, and (reunited) Germany host to the one in 2006

Performances

Six of the eight champions have won one of their titles while playing in their own homeland, the exceptions being Brazil, who finished as runners-up after losing the deciding match on home soil in 1950 and lost their semi-final against Germany in 2014, and Spain, which reached the second round on home soil in 1982. England (1966) won its only title while playing as a host nation. Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), Argentina (1978), and France (1998) won their first titles as host nations but have gone on to win again, while Germany (1974) won their second title on home soil.

Other nations have also been successful when hosting the tournament. Switzerland (quarter-finals 1954), Sweden (runners-up in 1958), Chile (third place in 1962), South Korea (fourth place in 2002), Russia (quarter-finals 2018), and Mexico (quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986) all have their best results when serving as hosts. So far, South Africa (2010) and Qatar (2022) failed to advance beyond the first round.

Attendance

‡ The best-attended single match has been the final in 11 of the 21 World Cups as of 2018. Another match or matches drew more attendance than the final in 1930, 1938, 1958, 1962, 1970-1982, 1990, and 2006.

Broadcasting and promotion

The World Cup was first televised in 1954 and as of 2006 is the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world. The cumulative viewership of all matches of the 2006 World Cup was estimated to be 26.29 billion. 715.1 million individuals watched the final match of the tournament, almost a ninth of the entire population of the planet. The 2006 World Cup draw, which decided the distribution of teams into groups, was watched by 300 million viewers. The World Cup attracts major sponsors such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Adidas. For these companies and many more, being a sponsor strongly impacts their global brands. Host countries typically experience a multimillion-dollar revenue increase from the month-long event.

The governing body of the sport, FIFA, generated $4.8 billion in revenue from the 2014 tournament, and $6.1 billion from the 2018 tournament.

Manufactured by Adidas since the 1970 World Cup, official match balls displayed at FIFA headquarters in Zürich

Each FIFA World Cup since 1966 has its own mascot or logo. World Cup Willie, the mascot for the 1966 competition, was the first World Cup mascot. World Cups feature official match balls specially designed for each tournament. After Slazenger produced the ball for the 1966 World Cup Adidas became the official supplier to FIFA. Each World Cup also has an official song, which have been performed by artists ranging from Shakira to Will Smith. Other songs, such as " Nessun dorma", performed by The Three Tenors at four World Cup concerts, have also become identified with the tournament.

Forming a partnership with FIFA in 1970, Panini published its first sticker album for the 1970 World Cup. Since then, collecting and trading stickers and cards has become part of the World Cup experience, especially for the younger generation. FIFA has licensed World Cup video games since 1986, sponsored by Electronic Arts.

In all, 80 nations have played in at least one World Cup. Of these, eight national teams have won the World Cup, and they have added stars to their badges, with each star representing a World Cup victory. (Uruguay, however, choose to display four stars on their badge, representing their two gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics, which are recognised by FIFA as World Championships, and their two World Cup titles in 1930 and 1950).

With five titles, Brazil are the most successful World Cup team and also the only nation to have played in every World Cup (22) to date. Brazil were also the first team to win the World Cup for the third (1970), fourth (1994) and fifth (2002) time. Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) are the only nations to have won consecutive titles. West Germany (1982-1990) and Brazil (1994-2002) are the only nations to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals. Germany has made the most top-four finishes (13), medals (12), as well as the most finals (8).

Map of countries' best results

Teams reaching the top four

Best performances by confederations

To date, the final of the World Cup has only been contested by teams from the UEFA (Europe) and CONMEBOL (South America) confederations. European nations have won twelve titles, while South American nations have won ten. Only three teams from outside these two continents have ever reached the semi-finals of the competition: United States ( North, Central America and Caribbean) in 1930; South Korea ( Asia) in 2002; and Morocco ( Africa) in 2022. Only one Oceanian qualifier, Australia in 2006, has advanced to the second round, a feat they later reaccomplished in 2022.

Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Germany are the only teams to win a World Cup hosted outside their continental confederation; Brazil came out victorious in Europe ( 1958), North America ( 1970 and 1994) and Asia ( 2002). Argentina won a World Cup in North America in 1986 and in Asia in 2022. Spain won in Africa in 2010. In 2014, Germany became the first European team to win in the Americas. Only on five occasions have consecutive World Cups been won by teams from the same continent; the longest streak of tournaments won by a single confederation is four, with the 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 tournaments all won by UEFA teams (Italy, Spain, Germany, and France, respectively).

Records and statistics

Five players share the record for playing in the most World Cups; Mexico's Antonio Carbajal (1950-1966) and Rafael Márquez (2002-2018); Germany's Lothar Matthäus (1982-1998); Argentina's Lionel Messi (2006-2022); and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (2006-2022) all played in five tournaments with Ronaldo also being the first and only player to score in five tournaments. Messi has played the most World Cup matches overall, with 26 appearances. Brazil's Djalma Santos (1954-1962), West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer (1966-1974), and Germany's Philipp Lahm (2006-2014) are the only players to be named to three World Cup All-Star Teams.

Miroslav Klose of Germany (2002-2014) is the all-time top scorer at the World Cup with 16 goals. He broke Ronaldo of Brazil's record of 15 goals (1998-2006) during the 2014 semi-final match against Brazil. West Germany's Gerd Müller (1970-1974) is third, with 14 goals. The fourth-placed goalscorer, France's Just Fontaine, holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup; all his 13 goals were scored in the 1958 tournament.

In November 2007, FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be retroactively awarded winners' medals. This made Brazil's Pelé the only player to have won three World Cup winners' medals (1958, 1962, and 1970, although he did not play in the 1962 final due to injury), with 20 other players who have won two winners' medals. Seven players have collected all three types of World Cup medals (winners', runner- ups', and third-place); five players were from West Germany's squad of 1966-1974: Franz Beckenbauer, Jürgen Grabowski, Horst-Dieter Höttges, Sepp Maier, and Wolfgang Overath (1966-1974), Italy's Franco Baresi (1982, 1990, 1994) and the most recent has been Miroslav Klose of Germany (2002-2014) with four consecutive medals.

Brazil's Mário Zagallo, West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer and France's Didier Deschamps are the only people to date to win the World Cup as both player and head coach. Zagallo won in 1958 and 1962 as a player and in 1970 as head coach. Beckenbauer won in 1974 as captain and in 1990 as head coach, and Deschamps repeated the feat in 2018, after having won in 1998 as captain. Italy's Vittorio Pozzo is the only head coach to ever win two World Cups (1934 and 1938). All World Cup-winning head coaches were natives of the country they coached to victory.

Among the national teams, Germany and Brazil have played the most World Cup matches (109), Germany appeared in the most finals (8), semi-finals (13), and quarter-finals (16), while Brazil has appeared in the most World Cups (21), has the most wins (73) and has scored the most goals (229). The two teams have played each other twice in the World Cup, in the 2002 final and in the 2014 semi-final.

Top goalscorers

Players in bold are still active.

At the end of each World Cup, awards are presented to the players and teams for accomplishments other than their final team positions in the tournament.

There are five post-tournament awards from the FIFA Technical Study Group:

the Golden Ball (named for its sponsor "Adidas Golden Ball") for best player, first awarded in 1982;

the Golden Boot (named for its sponsor "Adidas Golden Boot", formerly known as the "adidas Golden Shoe" from 1982 to 2006) for top goalscorer, first awarded in 1982;

the Golden Glove (named for its sponsor "Adidas Golden Glove", formerly known as the "Lev Yashin Award" from 1994 to 2006) for best goalkeeper, first awarded in 1994;

the FIFA Young Player Award (formerly known as the "Best Young Player Award" from 2006 to 2010) for best player under 21 years of age at the start of the calendar year, first awarded in 2006;

the FIFA Fair Play Trophy for the team that advanced to the second round with the best record of fair play, first awarded in 1970.

There is currently one award voted on by fans during the tournament.:
the Player of the Match (currently commercially termed "Budweiser Player of the Match", formerly known as the "Man of the Match" from 2002 to 2018) for outstanding performance during each match of the tournament, first awarded in 2002.

There are two awards voted on by fans after the conclusion of the tournament:

the Goal of the Tournament, (currently commercially termed "Hyundai Goal of the Tournament") for the fans' best goal scored during the tournament, first awarded in 2006;

the Most Entertaining Team during the World Cup final tournament, as determined by a poll of the general public.

One other award was given between 1994 and 2006:
an All-Star Team comprising the best players of the tournament chosen by the FIFA Technical Study Group. From 2010 onwards, all Dream Teams or Statistical Teams are unofficial, as reported by FIFA itself.

1. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Global broadcast and audience summary" (PDF). FIFA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 July 2021.

2. ^ "'The First World Cup'. The Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy". Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. 10 October 2003. Archived from the original on 29 November 2003.

3. ^ "Uruguay's 1950 World Cup triumph a testament to the spirit of garra". CNN. 4 July 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010.

4. ^ Blatter, Sepp (25 October 2013). "A level playing field for Africa!" (PDF). FIFA Weekly. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013.

5. ^ "Blazer: Bribes accepted for 1998 and 2010 World Cups - Telegraph". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022.

6. ^ "Swiss police seize IT data from Fifa headquarters", The BBC, 10 June 2015. Archived 10 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 June 2015

7. ^ Ruiz, Rebecca (3 December 2015). "FIFA Corruption: Top Officials Arrested at Zurich Hotel". New York Times. New York, USA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022.

8. ^ "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2010.

9. This practice has been installed since the ^ 1986 FIFA World Cup. In some cases during previous tournaments, for example, Argentina 6-0 Peru in Argentina 1978 and West Germany 1-0 Austria in Spain 1982, teams that played the latter match were perceived to gain an unfair advantage by knowing the score of the earlier match, and subsequently obtaining a result that ensured advancement to the next stage. ("1978 Argentina". CBC. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.; "1982 Spain". CBC. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015.)

10. ^ "FIFA World Cup competition records" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010.

11. ^ "Socceroos face major challenge: Hiddink". ABC Sport. 10 December 2005. Archived from the original on 30 April 2006.

12. ^ "FIFA Financial Report 2014: Frequently Asked Questions". FIFA.com. 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015.

13. ^ Panja, Tariq (13 June 2018). "FIFA Set to Make $6.1 billion From 2018 World Cup". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022.

14. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Official Song 'Live It Up' to be performed by all-star line-up". FIFA. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018.

15. FIFA considers that the national team of ^ Russia succeeds the Soviet Union, the national team of Serbia succeeds the Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro, and the national team of Czech Republic succeeds the Czechoslovakia. (; ; ).

16. ^ "The Curse of the Foreign-Born Coach". The Wall Street Journal. 13 May 2018. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.

Cited works

External links

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The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition between the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA), the sport's global governing body.

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Going to the grand parade in Brazil

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Brazilians often say they live in a continent rather than a country. It's an excusable exaggeration. The landmass is bigger than the United States if you exclude Alaska; the journey from Recife in the east to the western border with Peru is longer than that from London to Moscow, and the distance between the northern and southern borders is about the same as that between New York and Los Angeles. Brazil has no mountains to compare with its Andean neighbours, but in every other respect it has all the scenic - and cultural - variety you would expect from so vast a country.

Despite the immense expanses of the interior, roughly two-thirds of Brazil's population live on or near the coast and well over half live in cities - even in the Amazon. In Rio and São Paulo, Brazil has two of the world's great metropolises, and ten other cities have over a million inhabitants. Yet Brazil still thinks of itself as a frontier country, and certainly the deeper into the interior you go, the thinner the population becomes.

Other South Americans regard Brazilians as a race apart, and language has a lot to do with it - Brazilians understand Spanish, just about, but Spanish-speakers won't understand Portuguese. Brazilians also look different. In the extreme south German and eastern European immigration has left distinctive traces; São Paulo has the world's largest Japanese community outside Japan; slavery lies behind a large Afro-Brazilian population concentrated in Rio, Salvador and São Luís; while the Indian influence is still very visible in the Amazon. Italian and Portuguese immigration has been so great that its influence is felt across the entire country.

Brazil is a land of profound economic contradictions. Rapid post-war industrialization made it one of the world's ten largest economies by the 1990s and it is misleading to think of Brazil as a developing country; it is quickly becoming the world's leading agricultural exporter and has several home-grown multinationals competing successfully in world markets. The last decade has seen millions of Brazilians haul their way into the country's expanding middle class, and across-the-board improvements in social indicators like life expectancy and basic education. But yawning social divides are still a fact of life in Brazil. The cities are dotted with favelas, shantytowns that crowd around the skyscrapers, and there are wide regional differences, too: Brazilians talk of a "Switzerland" in the South, centred on the Rio-São Paulo axis, and an "India" above it, and although this is a simplification the level of economic development does fall the further north or east you go. Brazil has enormous natural resources but their exploitation has benefited fewer than it should. Institutionalized corruption, a bloated and inefficient public sector and the reluctance of the country's middle class to do anything that might jeopardize its comfortable lifestyle are a big part of the problem. Levels of violence that would be considered a public emergency in most countries are fatalistically accepted in Brazil - an average of seventeen murders per day in the city of Rio de Janeiro, for example.

These difficulties, however, don't overshadow everyday life in Brazil, and violence rarely affects tourists. It's fair to say that nowhere in the world do people enjoy themselves more - most famously in the annual orgiastic celebrations of Carnaval, but reflected, too, in the lively year-round nightlife that you'll find in any decent-sized town. This national hedonism also manifests itself in Brazil's highly developed beach culture, superb music and dancing, rich regional cuisines and the most relaxed and tolerant attitude to sexuality - gay and straight - that you'll find anywhere in South America.

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Brazil Travel | Places to visit in Brazil

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Brazilians often say they live in a continent rather than a country. It's an excusable exaggeration. The landmass is bigger than the United States if you exclude Alaska; the journey from Recife in the east to the western border with Peru is longer than that from London to Moscow, and the distance between the northern and southern borders is about the same as that between New York and Los Angeles.

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visting my family almost every year

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Situated in Central America, El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in the region. Somewhat bypassed on the tourist trail, many people miss out on immense expanses of natural beauty, forests, beaches, and even the opportunity to view some archaeological sites. El Salvador is the perfect place to experience the great outdoors without the crowds as you make your way around Central America. I highly recommend a visit here. Everyone is super friendly and generally happy to have visitors.

Top 5 Things to See and Do in El Salvador

Other Things to See and Do

(Click the title to expand the text)

1. Los Planes de Renderos

For some spectacular views of the city of San Salvador, go to Los Planes de Renderos. Stop by one of the 'pupuserias,' or small restaurants that make pupusas - a typical part of the Salvadorian menu - and then afterward head to the Casa de la Cultura or Los Historiantes to view some traditional folk dances.

2. Go fishing

El Salvador has many resorts for fishing. Like the somewhat well-kept secret of El Salvador itself, fishing here is also underrated. In El Salvador blue waters you can find tuna, blue marlin, and mackerel, amongst others. snappers, blue crevally, and scribbled filefish can also be found when bottom fishing. Prices will vary depending on how long you go for and whether or not you book a private boat. Expect to spend a couple hundred dollars for a nicer trip.

3. Hike the volcanoes

There are numerous volcanoes in El Salvador for you to explore. Take your pick from Ilamatepec, Tehutepec, Izalco, and Quetzaltepec, or even visit Cerro Verde National Park where you can see the volcanoes from viewpoints around the trails. Here you also have the chance to get up close and personal with a walk around the Cerro Verde crater. If you head south, go to Ruta de las Flores where there are a series of volcanoes.

4. Enjoy the culture

Joya de Cerén is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells a story about the everyday lives of the Mayans. The site includes a Temezcal, or Sauna, and shows the agricultural tools which were used on a daily basis. In San Salvador itself, there is the Salvador del Mundo, the symbol of the city, the historic downtown area, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. If you're eager for more to see, then there is also the National Palace, the National Theater, and the National Handicrafts market.

5. Go diving

Diving enthusiasts and first-time divers alike will find plenty of stunning sites in El Salvador. The warm waters of Los Cóbanos can host an exciting experience for divers as contains reefs, underwater rock formations, and even shipwrecks. You can also go diving in crater lakes like Coatepeque and Ilopango which also offer nighttime diving tours! Expect to pay around 75 USD for a two-dive trip, and around 350 USD for an Open Water certification course.

6. El Imposible

Considered one of the last remaining natural areas of biodiversity, El Imposible National Park is home to more than 500 species of birds, as well as a dry, tropical forest. Currently, under protection, El Imposible is a stunning area that is just waiting to be explored. Entry is 6 USD.

7. Los Chorros

Los Chorros offers a relaxing break. Composed of a series of natural pools that cascade from overhanging volcanic cliffs, and surrounded by ferns, flowers, and moss, this place offers a piece of paradise and is perfect for a day trip.

8. La Gran Via

Located in the city of San Salvador, this is a shopping center filled with restaurants, movie theaters, music, games, bars, live shows, and more. This is a nice place for an afternoon out and it is a very popular place for nightlife activities.

9. Museum of Popular Art

The slogan for this museum is 'The Greatness of Miniature.' There is a huge showcase of miniature pottery here, as well as, native wood carvings, weaving, and jewelry. Admission is only 1.50 USD, and you can make something out of clay during your visit.

10. Wander through colonial Suchitoto

A small colonial town, Suchitoto is located on Lake Suchitlan. It's a small, walkable town that caters to tourists with a great selection of hotels. Explore the nearby lake and hiking trails or just enjoy the atmosphere of the town.

Accommodation - Dorm rooms can be found for 5-10 USD per night, while private rooms start around 12 USD. Free WiFi is generally standard and a few hostels also include free breakfast. Most hostels do not have a kitchen, so be sure to check in advance if you need your own self-catering facilities. For those traveling with a tent, many hostels and guesthouses also allow camping on the premises, usually for a few dollars cheaper than a dorm. Nice hotels start around 30 USD, though you can find budget hotels for as little as 20 USD for a double. That will get you air conditioning, a very comfortable bed, and breakfast. If you want a hotel with a pool. expect to pay closer to 40 USD per night. Airbnb is available in the country. For a private room, expect prices to start around 18 USD per night and an entire home or apartment, prices begin around 40 USD per night.

Food - Simple meals cost under 5 USD, especially at the street stalls. For European food or fast food, up your budget to about 6 USD. For a multi-course meal at a more upscale restaurant, expect to pay around 14 USD. Beer at the bar will be less than 2 USD. Overall food is very cheap here so take advantage of it when you can! If you do plan on cooking your own meals expect to spend around 20-35 USD per week, depending on your diet.

Transportation - City buses around the country generally cost under 1 USD. A taxi ride is usually around 5 USD. Country-wide buses cost less than 10 USD for a single journey. There is no train service in El Salvador. To visit neighboring countries, a bus into Guatemala will cost around 15 USD. For a bus from San Salvador into Honduras, expect to spend around 35 USD. Hitchhiking is rather common, and many people are keen to pick up foreigners so you won't have a hard time finding rides outside of the cities.

Activities - Diving is likely to be your most expensive outing if you choose to do it, which will be around 75 USD for two dives. Other than that most of the parks cost only a few dollars.

Suggested daily budget

$25-35 USD ( Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you're staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)

This book shows you how to take money out of the travel equation and and master the points and miles game. It will show you how to easily collect and redeem travel points for free airfare and accommodation so you can get you out of your house faster, cheaper, and in comfort.

Kristin Addis writes the solo female travel column for this website and her detailed guide addresses all the concerns women have about traveling and gives the specific advice and tips you need to conquer the world and stay safe.

This book will teach you everything you need to know about landing your dream job and features interviews with dozens of teachers, recruiters, detailed information on the top teaching destinations, sample resumes, advice on nailing your interview, and much more.

My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach how to master the art of travel so that, no matter how long you want to travel for, you'll save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experience.

Photo credits: 3, 4

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Situated in Central America, El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in the region. Somewhat bypassed on the tourist trail, many people miss out on immense expanses of natural beauty, forests, beaches, and even the opportunity to view some archaeological sites.

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Exploring Guatemala

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Spanning a mountainous slice of Central America immediately south of Mexico, Guatemala is loaded with incredible natural, historical and cultural appeal. As the birthplace and heartland of the ancient Maya, the country is in many ways defined by the legacy of this early civilization. Their rainforest cities were abandoned centuries ago, but Maya people continue to thrive in the Guatemalan highlands, where traditions and religious rituals, mingled with Catholic practices, endure to form the richest and most distinctive indigenous identity in the hemisphere.

Guatemala today is very much a synthesis of Maya and colonial traditions, fused with the omnipresent influences of twenty-first century Latin and North American culture. Baroque churches dating back to the Spanish Conquest coexist with pagan temples that have been sites of worship for millennia. Highland street markets prosper alongside vast glitzy shopping malls, and pre-Columbian festival dances are performed by teenage hip-hop fans.

Guatemala is still a developing nation, a young democracy with a turbulent and bloody history that's beset by deep-rooted inequalities. And yet, despite alarming levels of poverty and unemployment, most Guatemalans are extraordinarily courteous and helpful to travellers, and only too eager to help you catch the right bus or practise your Spanish.

It's this genuine and profound hospitality combined with the country's outstanding cultural legacy and astonishing natural beauty that makes Guatemala such a compelling place for travellers.

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Guatemala Travel | Places to visit in Guatemala

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Spanning a mountainous slice of Central America immediately south of Mexico, Guatemala is loaded with incredible natural, historical and cultural appeal. As the birthplace and heartland of the ancient Maya, the country is in many ways defined by the legacy of this early civilization.

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Feeling the big breaze

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iFLY Fort Worth Indoor Skydiving - Fly in our Wind Tunnel

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Coming Soon! Make the dream of flight a reality at iFLY Fort Worth. Indoor skydiving allows you to feel rush of flying in a fun, safe environment

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Spring Break vacation

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Home - South Padre Island, Texas | Hotels, Things To Do, Restaurants

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South Padre Island is located on the coastal tip of Texas. We have beautiful beaches, warm Gulf waters, fishing, boating, bird watching, and shopping.

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A nice time at the beach

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seeing all the beautiful bulidings

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camping in an igloo in Greenland

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All about Greenland. Find travel offers and ideas for your next adventure. Get inspired and plan your trip to Greenland here.

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travel all over Mexico

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Mexico's super-bright, infinitely varied artesanías ( handicrafts) are today's successors to the lavish costumes and beautiful ceramics of the pre-Hispanic nobility, and to the everyday handcrafted clothes, baskets and pots of their humbler subjects. Everywhere you go - whether browsing city stores, wandering through markets, or visiting artisans in their village workshops to purchase textiles, silver and turquoise jewelry, ironwood carvings, bead-inlaid masks and more - the skill, creativity and color sense of potters, weavers, metalsmiths, carvers and leather workers delights the eye and tempts the pocket.

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Mexico's super-bright, infinitely varied artesanías ( handicrafts) are today's successors to the lavish costumes and beautiful ceramics of the pre-Hispanic nobility, and to the everyday handcrafted clothes, baskets and pots of their humbler subjects.

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A long vacation to Hawaii

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GuideofUS Hawaii ('Hawaii-Guide') offers personalized Hawaii travel advice and vacation tips on the top attractions and things to see and do within the Hawaiian islands. GuideofUS Hawaii features all of the best attractions in Hawaii - plus you can explore our handpicked Hawaii tours, activities, and accommodations - each vetted by our team of Hawaii experts.

Search Hawaii Accommodations

It's easy to plan and book your perfect Hawaii trip. Enter your trip dates to search Hawaii hotels, resorts, and other Hawaii accommodations.

Hawaii 2018 Guide's Choice Awards

The Guide's Choice is our most distinguished award, reserved for only the highest quality vendors and providers throughout the state of Hawaii. Learn more →

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GuideofUS Hawaii ('Hawaii-Guide') offers personalized Hawaii travel advice and vacation tips on the top attractions and things to see and do within the Hawaiian islands. GuideofUS Hawaii features all of the best attractions in Hawaii - plus you can explore our handpicked Hawaii tours, activities, and accommodations - each vetted by our team of Hawaii experts.

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going to all the places in Japan

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Travel to Japan: Tourist information about Japan.

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exploring all around Europe

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Alamy

Listen to fado music in Lisbon

Fado (literally: "fate" or "destiny") is Lisbon's version of the blues, marked by vocals dripping with heartache accompanied by a Portuguese 12-string guitar. Originating in the streets of the city's Alfama neighborhood in the 19th century and influenced by Moorish songs, each eruptive ballad evokes the Portuguese emotion of saudade-a yearning or longing for something lost. [There are] two types of fado clubs: professional adega típicas and amateur tascas. The former requires a reservation and is often a full dinner-and-a-show experience showcasing some of Portugal's most famous performers. [...] Unlike at an adega, you never know who is going to show up at an open-mic tasca-and that often makes it more exciting. -Eliot Stein

Getty

Chase waterfalls in Bosnia-Herzegovina

The waterfall-stacked Skradinski buk section of Croatia's Krka National Park is so popular that the country is limiting how many people can visit. Thankfully, neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina has plenty of gorgeous waterfalls, too, and often you'll have these magnificent waterworks all to yourself. Visit the wide expanse of falls and emerald pools of Kravica waterfalls in the south, or venture to Una National Park in the country's northwest reaches to witness the power and beauty of the country's largest waterfalls, Štrbački buk. -Paul Rubio

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50 Things to Do in Europe At Least Once in Your Life

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Alamy Fado (literally: "fate" or "destiny") is Lisbon's version of the blues, marked by vocals dripping with heartache accompanied by a Portuguese 12-string guitar. Originating in the streets of the city's Alfama neighborhood in the 19th century and influenced by Moorish songs, each eruptive ballad evokes the Portuguese emotion of saudade-a yearning or longing for something lost.

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going to explore this cool museum

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We unite the world through the universal power of ice cream by creating experiences that inspire imagination and connection, helping to rediscover the kid in you

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exploring China's culture things

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Everything you need to know about services, requirements, and the application process when traveling internationally.

Browse the various transportation options to make your trip that much easier when you arrive.

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Everything you need to know about services, requirements, and the application process when traveling internationally. Browse the various transportation options to make your trip that much easier when you arrive.

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Mission trip to Haiti

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Mission Trips

Strategic Village Time (SVT)

Using basic hygiene training as an entry point to visit with different houses in the villages, teams gather important data about the physical and spiritual needs of the people. The data collected will allow us to measure our effectiveness in saturating the villages with the gospel and leverage the information for meeting the needs of the people to bring life transformation. Teams go from house to house training each one in basic hygiene, engaging the residents in normal conversation, assessing the living conditions, collecting important demographic information, sharing the gospel, and obtaining GPS coordinates of the home. SVT allows us to build & maintain meaningful relationships with the Haitian people and equip the local church to meet the needs of their village.

Church Advancement Projects (CA Projects)

CA Projects are specific projects that contribute to the physical needs of the village. These projects represent the highest priorities for meeting the physical needs of the village. Furthermore, they are a part of a continuum of transformation plan that has been developed with the local church pastors and Village Champions. Your team will have the opportunity to sponsor and participate in these projects during your week.

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Using basic hygiene training as an entry point to visit with different houses in the villages, teams gather important data about the physical and spiritual needs of the people. The data collected will allow us to measure our effectiveness in saturating the villages with the gospel and leverage the information for meeting the needs of the people to bring life transformation.

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Mission trip to Syria and help refugees

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In the past year, OM workers have been providing aid in close association with local churches in Syrian, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan. The refugee population now comprises one-quarter of Lebanon's population. Throughout the region, OM's work continues to witness spiritual breakthroughs. Meanwhile, our European teams have been reorganizing to help refugees in Greece, Hungary, Macedonia and elsewhere. Your participation will help bring that compassion to many in the name of Jesus. Thank you.

Late last year from Syria alone three to five million refugees fled to neighbouring countries. Since World War II the number of refugees worldwide has never been higher than now. Yet there is a glimmer of hope in all this misery: the door is wide open to share the gospel with Muslims who were previously unreachable.

For decades, OMers have prayed for Syria. Since civil war began four years ago, Syrians have fled en masse, first to neighbouring countries in the Near East and now to Europe and elsewhere. Although the need for food, blankets and shelter cannot be neglected, OM also uses these dire circumstances to share the good news of God's love.

With thousands of refugees immigrating around the world, and various governments accepting pleas to open their borders, OM seeks to respond, individually and corporately. Your participation will help bring that compassion to many in the name of Jesus. Immediate aid saves lives and gives hope, while continued help will help millions start new lives in new lands.

In addition to providing aid we look forward to creating income generating projects, providing basic education for refugee children and spreading the Gospel through personal evangelism, literature and audio-visual distribution and media outreach. Currently 100,000 Muslims in the Near East are exposed to God's word through social media; those interested in further discussions are being connected with believers.

For tax receipt or gift aid purposes: If you are from one of the following countries, click on the flag to redirect to your country's giving page.

Otherwise, please give below. (Note: no tax receipt can be issued)

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In the past year, OM workers have been providing aid in close association with local churches in Syrian, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan. The refugee population now comprises one-quarter of Lebanon's population. Throughout the region, OM's work continues to witness spiritual breakthroughs. Meanwhile, our European teams have been reorganizing to help refugees in Greece, Hungary, Macedonia and elsewhere.

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taking a mission trip to Africa

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Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends. Jesus laid down his life for you and for me. Know that he loves you. And, if you know the love of Jesus, you won't be silent, won't be still. You will long to share that love with others. Love Africa Mission exists to share God's love with the people of Africa, and we know that you will develop a much deeper relationship with Jesus by following his example: Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me. On mission in Africa, we spend time with Jesus in orphanages, children's hospitals, refugee camps, tribal villages, compassion sites, even on safari as we grow to know our Great Creator, the author and perfector of our faith. Know that this experience will change your life.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations," Jesus said. That charge can mean go next door, go down the street, or go across the ocean. For Love Africa Mission, we go to Africa because we have been led to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of its people. We share God's love through giving our time, our talents, our love and our desire to go where people hunger for help and the message of God's love. The more often we go, the more inspired we are to go again. Expand your horizons and go with us.

If you go, you will grow -in knowledge, love, understanding and desire. Each year, our mission groups invest in specific communities on the continent of Africa. We work alongside African people in construction, and students develop their own ministry gifts through sharing the gospel with hands and feet as well as words. We grow with the African people we have come to love. As one of our short-term missionaries, you will serve alongside cultural pioneers-real life missionaries who have given their lives to serving God on mission in Africa with bold faith. Their example will help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We Love Africa. Watch.

Our desire is that every person that serves on a short-term trip with us will come home with a clear vision and a pure passion to serve right where they live.

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Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends. Jesus laid down his life for you and for me. Know that he loves you. And, if you know the love of Jesus, you won't be silent, won't be still. You will long to share that love with others.

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Going to Americas biggest city and going to all the fun places there

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NYC Local Legends: Angela Hunte

There's no better way to see New York City than through the eyes of a local. In our NYC Local Legends video series, notable New Yorkers share their perspectives on some of the five boroughs' most vibrant and culturally rich neighborhoods. In this episode, Brooklyn native Angela Hunte takes us around Flatbush, highlighting the culture through food, music, carnival and more.

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Experience the five boroughs of New York City with NYC Tourism. Find out what to do, where to go, where to stay, and what to eat in NYC from NYC's official guide.

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going snowboarding in Colorado's beautiful mountains

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Your guide to 26 resorts so you can get your ski on

Show of hands: Who is ready to strap on their boots and hit the slopes? Slaloming through fresh pow-pow on some of the world's finest slopes is what Colorado living is all about.

Whether you're still new to the sport and have to French fry and pizza your way down the greens or you're a double-black-diamond adrenaline junkie, Colorado ski resorts have you covered. From making it a weekend outing and staying in resort towns, or leaving bright and early before traffic gets rough on Interstate 70, Coloradans make our skiing/snowboarding a priority.

We've reached out to all of Colorado's ski resorts so you don't have to - from hours, prices, fun facts and more, here are all of the stats from the state's 26 resorts.

36 percent expert. 122 trails, no terrain park. Summit: 11,675 feet. Base: 8,040 feet. Vertical: 3,635 feet. Longest run: 3.5 miles.3 high-speed quads, 2 triples. Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aspen Highlands
Season: Dec. 9, 2017-April 8, 2018
Information: 800-525-6200, aspensnowmass.com
Terrain: 1,040 acres. 18 percent beginner; 30 percent intermediate; 16 percent advanced;
Lifts:

Lift Tickets: Tickets fluctuate based on the time of year, whether purchased in-advance and whether multi-day tickets are purchased. Walk-up single-day lift tickets are $155. Advance tickets at https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/tickets-and-passes/advance-purchase.
Hours: Located: Aspen; 200 miles from Denver via I-70 and Colorado 82.

Aspen Mountain
Season: Nov. 23, 2017-April 15, 2018
Information: 800-525-6200; aspensnowmass.com
Terrain: 675 acres. 76 trails total. 48 percent intermediate; 26 percent advanced; 26 percent expert. Elevation: 11,212 feet. Longest run: 3 miles.
Lifts: 1 gondola; 1 high-speed quad; 1 high-speed double lift; 2 quads; 3 double lifts
Lift Tickets: Tickets fluctuate based on the time of year, whether purchased in-advance and whether multi-day tickets are purchased. Walk-up single-day lift tickets are $155. Advance tickets at https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/tickets-and-passes/advance-purchase.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Located: Aspen; 200 miles from Denver via I-70 and Colorado 82.

39 percent expert/advanced. 150 conventional trails. Longest run: Centennial, 2.75 miles.24 total. 1 10-person gondola cabins and six-person chairs; 2 gondolas; 11 high-speed quads; 1 triple chair; 1 double chair; 8 conveyors. Beaver Creek Resort
Season: Nov. 22, 2017- April 15, 2018
Information: 970-754-4636, beavercreek.com
Terrain: 8,100 feet, base elevation at Beaver Creek Village; 7,400 feet at Arrowhead; 11,440 summit of Beaver Creek Mountain; 3,340 feet vertical rise. 19 percent beginner; 42 percent intermediate;
Lifts:
Lift Tickets: For best prices - up to 25 percent off - seven or more days in advance online at snow.com/lifttickets.
Hours: Open daily from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Located: Avon; approximately 100 miles west of Denver off I-70.

34 percent expert. 187 trails. 4 terrain parks; 22-foot superpipe. Longest run: Four O'Clock, 3.5 miles.5 high-speed 6-passenger lifts; 5 high-speed quad lifts; 1 fixed quad; 1 triple lift; 6 double lifts; 1 8-passenger gondola; 4 surface lifts; 11 carpet lifts. For best prices - up to 25 percent off - seven or more days in advance online at Open daily on Nov. 10-Dec. 14 at 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; open daily on Dec. 15- April 22 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Breckenridge Ski Resort
Season: Nov. 10, 2017- April 22, 2018
Information: 800-789-SNOW (7668); breckenridge.com
Terrain: 2,908 acres. Summit: 12,998 feet. Base: 9,600 feet; vertical 3,398 feet. 11 percent beginner; 31 percent intermediate; 24 percent advanced;
Lifts:
Lift Tickets: snow.com/lifttickets.
Hours:
Located: 68 miles west of Denver, via I-70 west to Colorado 9.

26 percent advanced. Summit: 9,900 feet. Base: 7,870 feet. Vertical: 2,030 feet. Longest run: 3 miles. 3 high-speed quads, 1 double, 2 handle tows, 2 ski/snowboard school lifts. Tickets fluctuate based on the time of year, whether purchased in-advance and whether multi-day tickets are purchased. Walk-up single-day lift tickets are $155. Advance tickets at Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Buttermilk Mountain
Season: Dec. 9, 2017-April 8, 2018
Information: 800-525-6200; aspensnowmass.com
Terrain: 470 acres. 44 trails, 2 terrain parks. 35 percent beginner; 39 percent intermediate ; Lifts:
Lift Tickets:
Hours: https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/tickets-and-passes/advance-purchase.

Located: Aspen; 200 miles from Denver via I-70 and Colorado 82.

Summit: 11,700 feet. Base: 10,500 feet. Vertical: 1,200 feet. Longest run: 1.4 miles. Chicago Ridge, served by snowcats: 2,600 acres of open powder bowls, glades and timber. Summit: 12,800 feet. Vertical: Up to 2,000 feet. Cooper Mountain
Season: Dec. 9, 2017 to April 8, 2018 (will open sooner if there is enough snow)
Information: 800-707-6114; skicooper.com
Terrain: 400 acres. 39 trails. 28 percent beginner;36 percent intermediate; 36 percent advanced. T errain park Lifts: 1 triple lift; 1 double lift; 1 platter; 1 magic carpet.

Lift Tickets: Single-day window price $54/adult; $34/child 6-14; 5 and under free. Discounts and multi-day tickets available.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Located: 110 miles from Denver via I-70 and U.S. 24.

Echo Mountain
Season: Tentative opening: Nov. 21, 2017
Information: 970-531-5038; Echomountainresort.com
Terrain: 60 skiable acres. 8 percent green; 72 percent blue; 20 percent black. Peak elevation: 10,650 feet.
Lifts: 1 triple chair; 1 conveyor
Lift Tickets: $49-$54/adult day pass; $29-$34/youth. Kids 5 and under ski free. Additional discounts are available for seniors, teachers, students and active military with valid ID.
Hours: Open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tuesdays-Fridays from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; closed Mondays.
Located: 35 miles west of Denver, via Evergreen Parkway and Squaw Pass Road.

Eldora Mountain
Season: Opening Nov. 17, 2017
Information: 303-440-8700; Eldora.com
Terrain: 680 acres. 20 percent green; 50 percent blue; 30 percent black. Top elevation: 10,800 feet.
Lifts: 10 total: 1 high-speed 6-pack; 2 quads; 1 triple lift; 3 double lifts; 1 poma; 2 conveyor lifts.
Lift Tickets: Tickets at Eldora.com.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Located: 50 miles northwest of Denver, via U.S. 36 and Colorado 119 (through Boulder).

24 percent expert. 2 terrain parks. Summit: 13,010 feet. Base: 10,800 feet. Vertical: 2,210 feet. Longest run: 2 miles. Loveland Ski Area
Season: Open through early May 2018
Information: 303-571-5580; Skiloveland.com
Terrain: 1,800 acres. 94 trails. 13 percent beginner; 41 percent intermediate; 22 percent advanced;
Lifts: 3 quads; 4 triple lifts; 2 double lifts; 2 conveyors. Free snowcat skiing.
Lift tickets: Single-day regular season window price $75. Discounts are available online and at various offsite locations.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Lifts open 8:30 a.m. weekends and holidays.
Located: 53 miles west of Denver via I-70 west to Loveland Pass (Exit 216).

Hesperus Ski Area
Season: Dec. 2017-March 2018
Information: 970-259-9711; Ski-Hesperus.com
Terrain: 60 acres. 26 trails, 1 terrain park. Summit: 8,888 feet. Base: 8,188 feet. Vertical: 700 feet.
Lifts: 1 double; 1 rope tow
Lift Tickets: Single-day window price $39/adults; $29/adult night skiing. Discounts and multi-day tickets prices vary.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Located: 11 miles west of Durango via U.S. 160; 360 miles southwest of Denver.

Howelsen Hill Ski Area
Season: Nov. 25 - March 11 (conditions permitting)
Information: 970-879-8499; Steamboatsprings.net/ski
Terrain: 16 trails total. 1 terrain park. Summit: 7,136 feet. Base: 6,696 feet. Vertical: 440 feet.
Lifts: 1 double lift; 2 conveyors; one surface Poma.
Lift Tickets: $25/adult; $15/youth. Can be purchased at the concession stand in the Howelsen Hill lodge.
Hours: Closed Mondays. Open on Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursdays from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The double chair lift and small magic carpet only operate on Saturdays and Sundays.
Located: Steamboat Springs; 154 miles from Denver via I-70 to Colorado 9 to U.S. 40.

Monarch Mountain
Season: Late November 2017-April 8, 2018
Information: 888-996-7669
Terrain: 800 acres. 63 trails. 14 percent beginner; 28 percent intermediate; 27 percent advanced; 31 percent expert.
Lifts: 1 fixed quad; 4 fixed double lifts; 2 conveyors.
Lift Tickets: Single-day window price $89. Dynamic pricing available at Skimonarch.com.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Located: 18 miles west of Salida; 155 miles southwest of Denver via U.S. 285 and U.S. 50.

41 percent expert/advanced. 3 terrain parks. Summit: 13,150 feet. Base: 8,725 feet. Vertical: 4,425 feet. Longest run: 4.6 miles (Galloping Goose). Telluride Ski Resort
Season: Nov. 23, 2017-April 8, 2018
Information: 970-728-6900; Tellurideskiresort.com
Terrain: More than2,000 acres. 148 trails. 23 percent beginner; 36 percent intermediate;
Lifts: 2 high-speed gondolas; 7 high-speed quads; 1 fixed quad; 2 triple; 2 doubles; 2 surface lifts; 3 magic carpets.
Lift Tickets: Single-day adult $87-$133 (window price). Discounts and multi-day tickets prices vary.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Located: Telluride; 360 miles southwest of Denver.

Silverton Mountain
Season: Dec. 28, 2017-March 25, 2018
Information: 970-387-5706; Silvertonmountain.com
Terrain: 1,819 skiable acres. 22,000-plus additional acres of heli and hike-to access. 100 percent advanced/expert - no beginner or intermediate terrain. Peak elevation: 13,487 feet. Peak of chair: 12,300 feet. Easiest run is 35 degrees.
Lifts: 1 chair lift that unloads along a ridge of 1,819 acres of snow fields. Hike-to and helicopter access available.
Lift Tickets: Varies depending on how many skiers, guided and/or unguided tours and heli skiing. Visit Silvertonmountain.com for prices and packages.
Hours: Lift starts running at 9 a.m. Open Thursdays-Sundays and Feb. 19, 2018.
Located: Silverton; 365 miles southwest of Denver via I-70 and U.S. 550.

44 percent advanced. 4 terrain parks. Summit: 10,568 feet. Base: 6,900 feet. Vertical: 3,668 feet. Longest run: 3 miles. Steamboat Resort
Season: Nov. 22, 2017-April 15, 2018
Information: 877-783-2628; Steamboat.com
Terrain: 2,965 acres acres. 165 trails. 14 percent beginner;42 percent intermediate;
Lifts: 1 gondola; 1 high-speed six; 6 high-speed quads; 6 triples; 2 doubles; 5 SnowSports School surface lifts.
Lift Tickets: Single-day window price $90-$165. Purchase tickets seven or more days in advance to save up to 10 percent at Steamboat.com/tickets. Kids Ski Free applies to purchase of 5-plus day adult ticket.
Hours: Open daily from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Located: Steamboat Springs; 154 miles from Denver via I-70 to Colorado 9 to U.S. 40.

5 percent expert. 1 terrain park. Summit: 9,860 feet. Base: 7,850 feet. Vertical: 2,010 feet. Longest run: 2.5 miles.1 triple lift; 2 double lifts. Single-day window price $65/adults. Discounts and multi-day tickets prices vary. Kids 5 and under and seniors over 80 years old ski free.Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunlight Mountain Resort
Season: Early December 2017-early April 2018
Information: 970-945-7491; SunlightMTN.com
Terrain: 680 acres. 67 trails. 20 percent beginner; 55 percent intermediate; 20 percent advanced;
Lifts:
Lift Tickets:
Hours:
Located: 12 miles south of Glenwood Springs via 4 Mile Road; 173 miles west of Denver via I-70 and 4 Mile Road.

Vail Mountain
Season: Nov. 17, 2017-April 15, 2018
Information: 970-SKI-INFO, vail.com
Terrain: 5,289 acres of skiable terrain. 195 conventional trails. 18 percent beginner;29 percent intermediate; 53 percent expert/advanced. 4 terrain parks. Longest run: 4 miles, Riva Ridge. Base elevation: 8,120 feet. Peak elevation: 11,570 feet. Vertical rise: 3,450 feet.
Lifts: 31 total. 2 gondolas; 3 high-speed 6-passenger chairlifts; 14 high-speed quads; 1 fixed-grip quad; 2 fixed-grip triple lifts; 3 surface lifts; 6 conveyors.
Lift Tickets: For best prices - up to 25 percent off - seven or more days in advance online at snow.com/lifttickets.
Hours: Open daily from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Located: Vail; 100 miles west of Denver on I-70.

55 percent expert. 6 terrain parks, 1 halfpipe. Summit: 12,060 feet. Base: 9,000 feet. Vertical: 3,060 feet. Longest run: 4.9 miles. Winter Park Resort
Season: Opening Nov. 15, 2017-April 29, 2018
Information: 970-726-1564; Winterparkresort.com or email wpinfo@winterparkresort.com.
Terrain: 3,081 acres. 143 trails. 8 percent beginner; 18 percent intermediate; 19 percent advanced;
Lifts: 26 total; 2 high-speed six-packs, 7 high-speed quads, 4 triples, 6 doubles, 4 conveyors, 1 platter, 1 rope-tow, 1 Village Cabriolet.
Lift Tickets: Single-day window price $79-$149 (last year's pricing; current prices not available). Discounts and multi-day tickets prices vary and are available on the website.
Hours: Open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays; 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. on weekends.
Located: Winter Park; 67 miles west of Denver via I-70 to U.S. 40.

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Your guide to 26 resorts so you can get your ski on Show of hands: Who is ready to strap on their boots and hit the slopes? Slaloming through fresh pow-pow on some of the world's finest slopes is what Colorado living is all about.

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