The undisputed champion of German amateur and professional sports is definitely soccer, “König Fußball” (“king football”). Thousands of amateur Fußballvereine (soccer clubs) provide the opportunity for Germans to play soccer. As a spectator sport, soccer draws an average of over 25,000 fans to each professional game. Germany has won the soccer world championship, the World Cup, three times (in 1954, 1974, 1990). Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup, but came in third that year, after France and the winner Italy.