Take the time to play this week, Savvy Auntie. Kick a soccer ball around or practice some basic drills, but when it's game time, watch, listen and learn!

The World Cup offers a bit of history, geography and lots of math to share with the kids in your life.

32 – Number of teams in the tournament
31 – Days of World Cup action
30 – 1930, year of the first World Cup (in Montevideo, Uruguay)
29 – Number of referees picked by FIFA to officiate the tournament
28 – On June 28, 2010, England was defeated 4-1 by Germany
27 – Number of goals scored by Hungary in the 1954 World Cup
26 – Uruguay reaches its first quarterfinal in 40 years
25 – Average age of the players on the German team
24 – Number of teams in the 1982 World Cup
23 – Number of players on the U.S. team
22 – Age of the youngest player on the Netherlands' team, Gregory van der Wiel
21 – The age of the youngest player on Spain’s team, Sergio Busquets
20 – Uruguay would have to play 20 matches total to qualify for World Cup Finals
19 – Brazil has made the most World Cup appearances, 19
18 – The number of World Cup tournaments held
17 – The youngest player in a final, Pelé (Edison Arantes do Nascimento) – 17 years, 249 days
16 – Number of teams in the World Cup tournaments, 1934-1978
15 – Two 15-minute halves are played during the playoffs when the regulation game ends in a draw
14 – The World Cup will be held in Brazil in 2014
13 – Number of teams in the World Cup from Europe
12 – Germany has the most appearances in the semifinal with 12
11 – July 11, 2010 – the day of the World Cup Final!
10 – Number of stadiums hosting World Cup matches
9   – Number of host cities in South Africa
8   – Number of Groups at the start of World Cup action – A-H
7   – Number of teams that have won the World Cup Final
6   – Number of African teams in the 2010 World Cup
5   – Number of World Cup tournaments won by Brazil
4   – The World Cup is held every 4 years
3   – The third place game will be held Saturday, July 11
2   – The final two: Netherlands versus Spain in the World Cup Final
1   – Spain wins its first-ever World Cup! 1-0 victory over Netherlands.

Amy Shigo is a sports journalist.

Published: July 6, 2010