For the next month, much of the world will be obsessed by a single event: the soccer World Cup, which starts Friday in South Africa. If you’re American, you’re probably confused by this particular global mania. Soccer has no big hits, no flashy slam dunks. The teams barely score — and when they do, it’s not in satisfying increments of 2 or 3 or 7, but one slow point at a time. But it’s still possible to appreciate what the rest of the world sees in the World Cup. Herewith, a guide to enjoying the World Cup without caring one bit about soccer.

Left: a man played a horn during a pre-World Cup celebration in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 4. Right: the United States team gathered for training at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on June 4, 2010.