Only 4 Countries NOT in the Hunt

FIFA recognizes 209 countries for the purposes of the World Cup. All but four are taking part in at least the preliminary matches for their region of the world. Those four that just aren't that into soccer are Bhutan, Brunei, Laos and the Philippines. Thanks to world cup blog for this heads up.

So, between today and early 2010, the world cup will shrink for a record 205 participants, to the 32 actually at the tournament in South Africa in June and July of 2010. (Do you say "two thousand ten" or "twenty ten"?)