The beautiful game returns to the spotlight of the world stage

There's not a more international game than soccer.

And for fans of the "beautiful game," as South and Latin American audiences call it, the most anticipated month in sports has arrived.

This event, which occurs every four years, is being played this year in Brazil. The month-and-a-half long tournament draws a larger worldwide audience than any other televised event. Only the summer Olympics can compare to the 3.2 billion who watched four years ago.

Thirty-two countries remain of the 207 that started and will take part in the final tournament -- this year that includes Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon, Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia, Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan, Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy, Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras, Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria, Germany, Portugal, Ghana, the U.S., Belgium, Algeria, Russia, and South Korea.

For all but the host country, these teams survived a years long qualifying process and had to place in the top tier of their region. The host country gets an automatic berth each four years.

The final 32 teams are aligned into eight groups, with points based on victories and ties determining the round of 16. Single elimination takes over at that point.

The championship arrives July 13.

Brazil, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, the Netherlands, Argentina and Italy are among the favorites.

Thursday, the World Cup got underway with the host country facing Croatia.

This year's event is the men's version, held in the USA in 1994. The women's event, also held every four years, took place in the USA in 1999 and in 2003. The 2015 women's tournament will be held in Canada.

Having seen the U.S. men's and women's national team play in variety of cities across the country, from Seattle to Chicago, little can compare to the World Cup games.

Taking in the Belgium-Germany game in 1994 and then the U.S. women and Nigeria in 1999, fans showed up with faces painted in the colors and flags of their country, draped in symbolic banners, singing a variety of songs or swaying to the beat of the music.

Latin and South American games are characterized by entire drum sections beating out samba rhythms. African nation games also have their own band and music.

Fans of European teams break into song at least several times during the game.

The festival and color provide a true spectacle.

Every sport has its history, its traditions. Soccer, or football as its known elsewhere, has its own. Since there are national teams representing their country, that adds a different element. One of the most honored traditions of the game is the exchanging of shirts with the opposing teams. Another features the players marching out onto the field at the beginning of the game, often with each walking with a child by his or her side, the flag of their country at the head of the column.

Soccer for many countries is a true family event. Crowds span all ages. That was most spectacularly brought home at the World Cup in 1999 as legions of young male and female fans, many who play in youth leagues across the country, swelled Soldier Field in Chicago to capacity after traveling countless miles with their decorated cars sporting USA colors, banners, and signs.

Patriotism in a universal, friendly and non-confrontational fashion can lift your spirit and renew your pride.

Witnessing the games in person also brings home the sense of athleticism, skill and intensity that doesn't come home as fully on television.

I've also been fortunate to explore that as a player -- not on the World Cup arena, but in high school, college and in adult leagues across many states.

The most unique opportunity afforded me was during our stay in Minnesota. Traveling to Rochester, home of the internationally famous Mayo Clinic, weekly games included players who hailed from Greece, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mexico and Spain. And this included just those players on our team.

Halftime instructions were given in multiple languages. Fortunately for us, our coach, Roberto Romo, a former national team player for Spain and professional in Spain and Mexico, spoke eight languages fluently.

It was a true international flavor. The competition wasn't as intense, the crowds weren't as large, and there was no television audience.

But the spirit and excitement remained.

Now, I join others across the world in thrilling to the series of games that will unfold on the international stage.

I will live and die with the U.S. team and its hopes.

Our chances this year aren't given much of a shot, given the Americans have been drawn into this Cup's so-called group of death, including favorites Portugal and the world's reigning player of the Year, Cristiano Renaldo, perennial power and regular final four member Germany, and Ghana, a country that has eliminated the U.S. the past two world cups.

While I will hope our country can win out, I will appreciate the abilities and skills of the other teams' players.

And like true fanatics, my videotape and DVD collection of every World Cup game that has been televised over the years, will grow anew.

With games being played throughout the day, it will save me from missing sleep.