The World Cup: Around the world in IT

Chile

Population: 17 million

Climate: Mediterranean

Economy: GDP of $169 billion, major trading partners include the US and the UK.

Government: A republic with President Sebastian Piera

Famous for: Wine, Augusto Pinochet, Easter Island

Star Player: Sonda SA

Top IT industry: IT solutions

Honduras

Population: 7.7 million

Climate: Tropical

Economy: GDP of $13.3 billion, major partners include the US and El Salvador.

Government: Republic, headed by President Porfirio Lobo Sosa

Famous for: Beautiful beaches, Meso American Barrier Reef, the world's second biggest coral reef.

Star Player: Hondutel.

Top IT industry: Telecoms

Spain

Population: 44.6 million

Climate: Mediterranean

Economy: GDP of $1.6 trillion, major trading partners include EU nations and Latin America

Government: Democratic constitutional monarchy, with prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Famous for: Tapas, the Spanish Inquisition, Picasso

Star Player: Telefonica de Espana

Top IT industry: Telecoms

Major IT contributions: Spaniard Leonardo Torres y Quevedo was one of the pioneers of remote control devices. His Telekino invention, a robot that carried out commands transmitted by electromagnetic waves, was one of the first remote control systems.

Switzerland

Population: 7.6 million

Climate: Temperate

Economy: GDP is $492 million.

Government: Government headed by Federal Council of Switzerland.

Famous for: Chocolate, cheese, clocks, mountains

Star player: CERN

Top IT industry: In-depth scientific research

Major IT contributions: Albert Einstein developed theory of relativity while working in Switzerland. Many other Swiss or Switzerland-based scientists have received the Nobel prize for their work.