The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off Friday in South Africa.

Across the globe, across America, across Milwaukee -- in pockets from the East Side to Brady Street, Downtown to West Allis, in 'Tosa, Brookfield and Waukesha, from the Third Ward to Bay View and south to Franklin -- attention will be diverted, minds will flutter, concentration will drift away.

All to catch one of the most brilliant spectacles the entire world can put on display. Why? Because it's fun. A whole lot of fun. A whole lot of high-fiving, life-affirming, back-slapping, hootin' 'n' hollerin' fun.

This is the entire world coming together in a celebration of the simplest game. It's 11 against 11. Put the ball in the net more than the other side and you win. But, surely it gets more complicated. Surely, there's more than running up and down like the 8-year-olds you see on Saturday mornings at the park. You better believe it.

At it's highest level, soccer plays out like a giant game of Chinese checkers. Interloping triangles, evolving shapes, all to skip past the opposition and open the space that allows individual talent to take over with a sublime or clinical finish. When you look closely, you begin to see the true genius of the game comes from the architect, the one who plots the course, not necessarily the executor.

Every four years, the World Cup rears its mighty head. Each of 32 teams from regions scattered across the globe had to fight to make it. For the last two years, they've been plowing through qualifying rounds that ensure everyone gets a chance.

We're talking the Faroe Islands here, people. Do you know where the Faroe Islands are? They're between Iceland and Scotland. And they had just as much chance of qualifying as Germany or Brazil. New Zealand will be there. So will Slovenia, along with Ghana, Algeria and Chile.

So, yeah, does it mean a lot for a team to be arriving in South Africa right now? You'd better believe it. Does it mean a lot for every young man stepping off of the plane that they are among the lucky few selected to represent his country? From Brazil's Kaka, a winner in 2002, to America's Edson Buddle, who just played his first national team match this week and scored twice to drive the point home, selection for your team means everything. It's the biggest "Hi, Mom" moment you could possibly have.

That's all well and good. Loads of deep meaning, pageantry and all that, eh? Right. Let's get right down to the fun of it. 10 reasons it's worth paying attention. Ten reasons you'll be high-fiving, back-slapping and hootin' n' hollerin'.

Reason No. 1: You're American. But, your grandparents may not have been.
We're the world's great melting pot. I'm American and Canadian. My maternal grandmother was Irish and my maternal grandfather was Swedish. While neither team made the World Cup this time around, it sure is fun when they do. Being in Milwaukee, I'm going make the safe assumption that a lot of you gentle readers are German. I know there's a bunch of Italians out there. I know a Brazilian who counts family members from Germany and Ireland. More chances to win! Seriously, though, as the world's game, there's a national identity for everyone to cling to.

Reason No. 2: It's in South Africa. They have vuvuzelas
This is the first World Cup hosted in Africa. When I watched the American team take on Australia in a tune-up Saturday morning, the remote stadium looked like it was delicately nestled on a nature preserve. It was gorgeous. And Africa has produced its fair share of great players. Eusebio in the 1960s was from Mozambique. Twenty years ago, Liberian George Weah stormed onto the scene. Kanu is still playing for Nigeria. Today, Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) and Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) are at the very peak of their trade. And there's no mistaking the spirit of the fans. It's a celebration of the entire continent. Oh, and that sound you'll have burrowing into your dreams after every match ... it's the vuvuzela, or vuvu, for short. A horn that will wash over everything. Embrace the vuvu.

Reason No. 3: Welcome to Upset City
Just like the NCAA Tournament in March, nothing is set in stone -- except for success on the part of the ever-brilliant Brazilians, the efficient Germans and the compactly defensive Italians. In 2002, the United States announced its presence by running the heavily favored Portuguese team all over the pitch. In 1966, North Korea beat Italy and was leading Portugal, 3-0, before capitulating to the brilliance of Eusebio. Oh, and North Korea is making its first appearance since. In 2002, Senegal, appearing in its first World Cup, defeated the champions from France. Anyone can win. This year in particular, the field gives us any number of teams that can and likely will turn the order of things on its ear.

Reason No. 4: Deliverance: Superstars, Rising stars, fading stars and one-last-shot stars
This stage demands performance if you're to be remembered. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is known around the world for his insane bag of tricks, buckets of goals and assortment of league titles. He's also known for hair gel, orange tans, diving and oozing an overall smarminess. He's great, there's no doubt, but is he set to be placed among the greatest?

Argentina's Lionel Messi just completed one of the greatest seasons ever. He's as close to must-see TV as the game has to offer. He's young, explosive and seems to play on his own planet. Thierry Henry has been one of the true talents of the last decade. He won the World Cup with France in 1998 as a 20-year-old. He set England alight for years. And after one of the most blatant handballs in history, just months ago, I'm pretty sure he'll never be allowed in Ireland again. Now, he's coming off the bench at 32 and eying a move to America's MLS for a final payday. The United States' Landon Donovan is good. Really, really good. This is his third World Cup and he's 28. He's hovered around the edges but is he now ready to lead? Is he ready to propel the United States to new heights? There are many, many more.

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