The Other World Cup Competitions

While the football World Cup is the ultimate sporting event, it does face its fair share of competitors this year. In Ecuador, the masses were enthralled by the Baby World Cup, which featured children ages 12 and under representing the various World Cup teams. We hear the final was one for the ages. On June 1, the world will stop and all eyes will be on the Miss World Cup beauty pageant where 32 contestants will first appear in the football strip of the country they represent before changing to evening dress and then finally bathing costumes. We might have to LiveBlog this.

In just a matter of days the best table football players in the world will converge on Hamburg for their sport’s World Cup. Our money is still on Belgium to walk away with the title, although you should never discount Luxemburg when it comes to table football competitions.

Finally, a competition is already underway in Yokohama, Japan where fish representing the World Cup participants are battling each day. The fish fight for a ball packed with bait in a tank holding two goalposts. The early results show that the Yellow Tang fish that represent Brazil are superior to the Blue Palette Surgeonfish, which are playing for the honor of Japan. No word on whether Japan coach Zico is scouting the competition but apparently it is a hit with schoolchildren.