MUNICH, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Some 160 former World Cup-winning players will be present at the 56th FIFA Congress that started here on Wednesday.

    The two-day Congress is set to see the largest ever gathering of international soccer superstars, who will also show up in the opening ceremony of the 2006 World Cup on Friday.

    Organizers said that the initiative was to invite those who had written the World Cup history with about 160 from seven countries having confirmed their participation.

    Brazil, with their record medal haul, naturally have the largest contingent and will have 55 past winners present from their five previous World Cup triumphs.

    With Mario Kempes, the top scorer at the 1978 tournament, having agreed to take part, a total of 32 Argentine champions will feature in the line-up.

    While Sir Bobby Charlton will lead out the English victors of 1966, French captain Didier Deschamps will be head the conquering team of 1998.

    Giancarlo Antognoni, Giuseppe Bergomi and Marco Tardelli will be among the representatives of the three-time World Cup winners Italy, and Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia, who struck the memorable winner against Brazil in 1950 in Maracana, will represent Uruguay. Enditem

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