The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th staging of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international association football world championship tournament. It was held from June 9 to July 9, 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Italy won their fourth world championship, defeating France 5–3 in a penalty shootout after extra time finished in a 1–1 draw. Germany defeated Portugal 3–1 to finish third.
Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six populated continents participated in the qualification process which began in December 2003. Thirty-two teams qualified from this process for the final tournament.

Full name: Philipp Lahm
Date of birth: November 11, 1983
Place of birth: München, Germany

Full name: Manchester United Football Club
Founded: January 1, 1878 (as Newton Heath LYR F.C.)
Stadium: Old Trafford (76212), Stretford, Greater Manchester, England

Full name: Nikola Žigić/Никола Жигић
Date of birth: September 25, 1980
Place of birth: Бачка Топола (Bačka Topola), Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia

Full name: Michael Ballack
Date of birth: September 26, 1976
Place of birth: Görlitz, Sachsen, Germany

Full name: Paolo Maldini
Date of birth: June 26, 1968
Place of birth: Milan, Italy

Full name: Puntarenas F.C. S.A.D.
Founded: June 30, 2004
Stadium: Estadio Lito Pérez (8700), Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Full name: Marko Lomić/Марко Ломић
Date of birth: September 13, 1983
Place of birth: Чачак (Čačak), Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia

Full name: Sergio Ramos García
Date of birth: March 30, 1986
Place of birth: Camas (Seville), Spain

Full name: John Andrew O’Shea
Date of birth: April 30, 1981
Place of birth: Waterford, Ireland