The 2010 World Cup kicks off in South Africa in just over a month, but that does not mean it is too early to start scouting and preparing for the fantasy World Cup season.

The World Cup has grown in popularity in the United States in the last couple of decades, and with that growth, comes a rise in fantasy games revolving around the tournament. The most common game you will see is a the completion of a second round bracket, that is exactly likely filling out a March Madness bracket. In addition, some games will have a combined first and second bracket that is guaranteed to frustrate you when the soccer equivalent of Butler University emerges in this year’s World Cup.

Serious fantasy World Cup players will enter leagues that have them picking players to use throughout the tournament. This can be incredibly challenging since half the player pool is eliminated after three games.

Here is a mix of fantasy World Cup games that you can check out:

• World Cup Pool – This pool is dedicated to simply hosting World Cup pools. The game featured on the site covers both rounds of the tournament and teams score points based on how well fantasy players are able to predict who wins, loses, or ties. Players can compete in the site-wide contest or just a private sub-league amongst friends. Over 22,000 players have signed up to play on this site with a month still to go. Do not be surprised to see that number swell quickly the closer we get to the World Cup. The site is also available in 14 languages which makes this a truly international site for the world’s most popular event.
• ESPN Soccernet’s Bracket Predictor – This free World Cup bracket game offers a swanky prize of $5,000 to the winner. All you have to do is predict the two teams from each group to advance and then complete your bracket. In addition to competing against all entrants across the site, you have the ability to compete just against family and friends.
• McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy – The official fantasy world cup site by the organization responsible for putting on the World Cup every four years. As publication, this site has not been updated with a game for the 2010 Cup, as it hosted a fantasy game leading up to the World Cup. But, do not be surprised to something appear here in the very near future.

Those are just a few of the places that you can check out a fantasy World Cup league. Check Fantasy Ethos regularly for new fantasy World Cup news as it happens.

If you know of any other leagues, please feel to comment in the comments section.