FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know. The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup; is an international association football competition. Contested by the senior men’s national teams;
Of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The sport’s global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years;
Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942; and 1946 when it was not held because of the Second World War.
Current Champions
The current champions are France; who won their second title at the 2018 tournament in Russia. The current format involves a qualification phase;
Which takes place over the preceding three years; to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase.
In the tournament phase, 32 teams; compete for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over about a month. The host nation(s) automatically qualify.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup
As of the 2018 FIFA World Cup; twenty-one final tournaments have been held and a total of 79 national teams have competed.
The trophy has been won by eight national teams. Brazil has won five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament.
The other World Cup winners are Germany and Italy. With four titles each; Argentina, France, and inaugural winner Uruguay; with two titles each; and England and Spain, with one title each.
Most prestigious association
The World Cup is the most prestigious association; football tournament in the world. As well as the most widely viewed; and followed single sporting event in the world.
The cumulative viewership of all matches of the 2006 World Cup; was estimated to be 26.29 billion. With an estimated 715.1 million people; watching the final match. A ninth of the entire population of the planet.
17 countries have hosted the World Cup. Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, and Mexico; have each hosted twice. While Uruguay, Switzerland, Sweden, Chile, England; Argentina, Spain, the United States, Japan;
FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know
And South Korea (jointly), South Africa, and Russia have each hosted once. Qatar will host the 2022 tournament;
And 2026 will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico; Which will give Mexico the distinction of being the first country to host games in three World Cups.
The world’s first international football match; was a challenge match played in Glasgow in 1872 between Scotland and England.
First international tournament for nations
The first international tournament for nations; the inaugural British Home Championship, took place in 1884. As football grew in popularity in other parts of the world;
At the start of the 20th century; it was held as a demonstration sport with no medals awarded at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics;
(However, the International Olympic Committee; has retroactively upgraded their status to official events). And at the 1906 Intercalated Games.
Founded in 1904
After FIFA was founded in 1904; it tried to arrange an international football tournament; between nations outside the Olympic framework in Switzerland in 1906.
These were very early days for international football, and the official history of FIFA describes the competition as having been a failure.
At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London; football became an official competition. Planned by The Football Association (FA); England’s football governing body.
1908 Summer Olympics in London
The event was for amateur players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show rather than a competition. Great Britain (represented by the England national amateur football team).
Won the gold medals. They repeated the feat at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. With the Olympic event continuing to be contested only between amateur teams;
Sir Thomas Lipton organized the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy tournament; in Turin in 1909. The Lipton tournament was a championship between individual clubs (not national teams).
Most prestigious professional club sides
From different nations, each one of which represented an entire nation. The competition is sometimes described as The First World Cup;
And featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany, and Switzerland; but the FA of England refused to be associated with the competition.
And declined the offer to send a professional team. Lipton invited West Auckland, an amateur side from County Durham; to represent England instead.
FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know
West Auckland won the tournament; and returned in 1911 to successfully defend their title. Before the Lipton competition, from 1876 to 1904;
Games that were considered the “football world championship”; were meetings between leading English and Scottish clubs. Such as the 1895 game between Sunderland A.F.C;
And the Heart of Midlothian F.C. Which Sunderland won.
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The year 1914
In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognize the Olympic tournament; as a “world football championship for amateurs”. And take responsibility for managing the event.
This paved the way for the world’s first intercontinental football competition; for nations. At the 1920 Summer Olympics, contested by Egypt and 13 European teams.
And won by Belgium. Uruguay won the next two Olympic football tournaments in 1924; and 1928. Those were also the first two open world championships. 1924 was the start of FIFA’s professional era.
World Before World War II
FIFA president Jules Rimet convinced the confederations; to promote an international football tournament
Due to the success of the Olympic football tournaments.
FIFA, with President Jules Rimet as the driving force; again started looking at staging its international tournament outside of the Olympics.
On 28 May 1928, the FIFA Congress in Amsterdam; decided to stage a world championship itself. With Uruguay now two-time official football;
Uruguay hosted FIFA in 1930
World champions and to celebrate their centenary of independence in 1930. FIFA named Uruguay as the host country of the inaugural World Cup tournament.
The national associations of selected nations; were invited to send a team. But the choice of Uruguay as a venue for the competition; meant a long and costly trip across the Atlantic Ocean; for European sides.
As such, no European country pledged to send a team; until two months before the start of the competition. Rimet eventually persuaded teams from Belgium; France, Romania, and Yugoslavia; to make the trip.
13 Nations
In total, 13 nations took part: seven from South America and four from Europe. And two from North America. The first two World Cup matches took place simultaneously; on 13 July 1930. And were won by France and the US;
Who defeated Mexico 4–1 and Belgium 3–0 respectively. The first goal in World Cup history was scored by Lucien Laurent of France.
In the final, Uruguay defeated Argentina 4–2; in front of 93,000 people in Montevideo. And became the first nation to win the World Cup.
FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know
After the creation of the World Cup; FIFA and the IOC disagreed over the status of amateur players. And so football was dropped from the 1932 Summer Olympics.
After the IOC and FIFA worked out their differences; Olympic football returned at the 1936 Summer Olympics. But was now overshadowed by the more prestigious World Cup.
The issues facing the early World Cup tournaments were; the difficulties of intercontinental travel, and war. Few South American teams; were willing to travel to Europe for the 1934 World Cup.
1938 Tournament Boycott
And all North and South American nations; except Brazil and Cuba boycotted the 1938 tournament. Brazil was the only South American team to compete in both.
The 1942 and 1946 competitions; which Germany and Brazil sought to host, were canceled due to World War II and its aftermath.
The 1950 World Cup, held in Brazil; was the first to include British participants. British teams withdrew from FIFA in 1920, partly out of unwillingness; to play against the countries they had been at war with.
Protest Against Foreign Influence
And partly as a protest against foreign influence on football; but rejoined in 1946 following FIFA’s invitation. The tournament also saw the return of 1930 champions Uruguay;
Who had boycotted the previous two World Cups? Uruguay won the tournament again; after defeating the host nation Brazil, in a match called “Maracanazo” (Portuguese: Maracanaço).
In the tournaments between 1934 and 1978; 16 teams competed in each tournament, except in 1938. When Austria was absorbed into Germany after qualifying;
Withdrawal from India, Scotland, and Turkey
Leaving the tournament with 15 teams, and in 1950, when India, Scotland, and Turkey withdrew; leaving the tournament with 13 teams. Most of the participating nations were from Europe;
And South America, with a small minority from North America, Africa, Asia; and Oceania. These teams were usually defeated easily by the European and South American teams.
Until 1982, the only teams from outside Europe and South America; to advance out of the first round were: the USA, semi-finalists in 1930; Cuba, quarter-finalists in 1938; North Korea, quarter-finalists in 1966; and Mexico, quarter-finalists in 1970.
FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know
The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in 1982; and then to 32 in 1998. Also allowing more teams from Africa, Asia, and North America to take part.
Since then, teams from these regions have enjoyed more success; with several having reached the quarter-finals: Mexico, quarter-finalists in 1986;
Cameroon, quarter-finalists in 1990; South Korea, finishing in fourth place in 2002; Senegal, along with the USA, both quarter-finalists in 2002; Ghana, quarter-finalists in 2010; and Costa Rica, quarter-finalists in 2014.
Dominating Teams
Nevertheless, European and South American teams continue to dominate; e.g., the quarter-finalists in 1994, 1998, 2006, and 2018; were all from Europe or South America and so were the finalists of all tournaments.
Two hundred teams entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds; 198 nations attempted to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. While a record 204 countries entered qualification; for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[32]
In October 2013, Sepp Blatter spoke of guaranteeing the Caribbean Football Union’s region; a position in the World Cup.
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FIFA Weekly
In the edition of 25 October 2013 of FIFA Weekly Blatter wrote: “From a purely sporting perspective; I would like to see globalization finally taken seriously.
And the African and Asian national associations; were accorded the status they deserve at the FIFA World Cup. It cannot be that the European and South American confederations; lay claim to the majority of the berths at the World Cup.”
Those two remarks suggested to commentators; that Blatter could be putting himself forward. For re-election to the FIFA Presidency.
FIFA Presidency
Following the magazine’s publication, Blatter’s would-be opponent; for the FIFA Presidency, UEFA President Michel Platini; responded that he intended to extend the World Cup to 40 national associations.
Increasing the number of participants by eight. Platini said that he would allocate an additional berth to UEFA. Two each to the Asian Football Confederation;
And the Confederation of African Football; two shared between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. And a guaranteed place in the Oceania Football Confederation.
Platini’s Vision
Platini was clear about why he wanted to expand the World Cup. He said: “[The World Cup is] not based on the quality of the teams. Because you don’t have the best 32 at the World Cup; but it’s a good compromise.
It’s a political matter so why not have more Africans? The competition is to bring all the people of the world. If you don’t give them the possibility to participate; they don’t improve.”
In October 2016; FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated his support; for a 48-team World Cup in 2026. On 10 January 2017; FIFA confirmed the 2026 World Cup will have 48 finalist teams.
2015 FIFA Corruption Case
By May 2015, the games were under a particularly dark cloud. Because of the 2015 FIFA corruption case; allegations and criminal charges of bribery, fraud, and money laundering.
To corrupt the issuing of media and marketing rights; (rigged bids) for FIFA games; with FIFA officials accused of taking bribes totaling more than $150 million over 24 years.
In late May, the US Department of Justice announced; a 47-count indictment with charges of racketeering.
14 FIFA Officials in Fraud
Wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy; against 14 people.
Arrests of over a dozen FIFA officials; were made since that time. Particularly on 29 May and 3 December. By the end of May 2015; a total of nine FIFA officials and five executives of sports and broadcasting markets;
Had already been charged with corruption. At the time, FIFA president Sepp Blatter; announced he would relinquish his position in February 2016.
In light of the allegations surrounding bribery; in the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Then-secretary general Jérôme Valcke stated;
Suspension of Blatter and Platini
“Due to the situation, I think it’s nonsense to start any bidding process; for the time being.” On 28 October 2015, Blatter and FIFA VP Michel Platini;
A potential candidate for the presidency was suspended for 90 days. Both maintained their innocence in statements made to the news media.
On 3 December 2015; two FIFA vice presidents were arrested on suspicion of bribery. In the same Zurich hotel where seven FIFA officials had been arrested in May. An additional 16 indictments by the US Department of Justice were announced on the same day.
Plan for Biennial World Cup
A biennial World Cup plan; was first proposed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. At the 71st FIFA Congress on 21 May 2021; and prominently backed by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.
And national federations in Africa and Asia. However, according to a FIFA-commissioned poll; and the FIFA Council discussion on 20 October 2021;
The majority of football fans still support the four-year World Cup cycle. And continental confederations such as UEFA; and CONMEBOL are not on board with the plan.
FIFA Women’s World Cup
An equivalent tournament for women’s football; the FIFA Women’s World Cup, was first held in 1991 in China. The women’s tournament is smaller in scale.
And profile than the men’s, but is growing; the number of entrants for the 2007 tournament was 120. More than double that of 1991. Men’s football has been included in every Summer Olympic Games except in 1896; and 1932.
Unlike many other sports, the men’s football tournament at the Olympics is not a top-level tournament. And since 1992, an under-23 tournament with each team allowed three over-age players. Women’s football made its Olympic debut in 1996.
FIFA Confederations Cup
The FIFA Confederations Cup was a tournament held one year before the World Cup. At the World Cup host nation(s) as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup.
It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships; along with the FIFA World Cup champion and the host country.
The first edition took place in 1992, and the last edition was played in 2017. In March 2019, FIFA confirmed that the tournament would no longer be active. Owing to an expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021.
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FIFA Youth Tournaments
FIFA also organizes international tournaments; for youth football (FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup; FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup).
Club football (FIFA Club World Cup), and football variants such as futsal (FIFA Futsal World Cup). And beach soccer (FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup).
The latter three do not have a women’s version. Although a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup has been proposed. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is held biannually; including the year before each Women’s World Cup.
The World Cup Trophy
Both tournaments were awarded in a single bidding process; on three occasions, with the U-20 tournament serving as a dress rehearsal. For the larger competition each time (2010, 2014, and 2018).
From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy; was awarded to the World Cup-winning team. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde;
But in 1946 it was renamed after FIFA president Jules Rimet; who set up the first tournament. In 1970, Brazil’s third victory in the tournament; entitled them to keep the trophy permanently.
The World Cup trophy was stolen in 1983 and the Current One
However, the trophy was stolen in 1983; and has never been recovered; melted down by the thieves. The current trophy (held by France forward Ousmane Dembélé in 2018);
Has been presented since 1974; After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy; was designed. The experts of FIFA, coming from seven countries;
Evaluated the 53 presented models; finally opting for the work of the Italian designer, Silvio Gazzaniga. The new trophy is 36 cm (14.2 in) high; made of solid 18-carat (75%) gold; and weighs 6.175 kg (13.6 lb).
FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know
The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974.
The description of the trophy by Gazzaniga was: “The lines spring out from the base; rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world.
From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body; of the sculpture rise the figures of the two athletes. At the stirring moment of victory.”
Award of the Current Trophy
This new trophy is not awarded to the winning nation permanently. World Cup winners retain the trophy only until the post-match celebration is finished.
They are awarded a gold-plated replica; rather than the solid gold original immediately afterward. Currently, all members (players, coaches, and managers) of the top three teams;
Receive medals with an insignia of the World Cup Trophy; winners’ (gold), runners-up’ (silver), and third-place (bronze). In the 2002 edition; fourth-place medals were awarded to hosts South Korea.
Before the 1978 Tournament
Before the 1978 tournament; medals were only awarded to the eleven players on the pitch. At the end of the final and the third-place match.
In November 2007, FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads; between 1930 and 1974, were to be retroactively awarded winners’ medals.
Since 2006, winners of the competition are also awarded the right to wear the FIFA Champions Badge. Up until the time at which the winner of the next competition is decided.
How Qualifying Tournaments for the FIFA World Cup Are Held
Since the second World Cup in 1934; qualifying tournaments have been held to thin the field for the final tournament. They are held within the six FIFA continental zones;
(Africa, Asia, North, and Central America. And Caribbean, South America, Oceania; and Europe). Overseen by their respective confederations.
For each tournament, FIFA decides the number of places; awarded to each of the continental zones beforehand. Generally based on the relative strength of the confederations’ teams.
FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know
The qualification process; can start as early as almost three years before the final tournament. And last over two years.
The formats of the qualification tournaments; differ between confederations. Usually, one or two places are awarded to winners of intercontinental play-offs.
For example, the winner of the Oceanian zone; and the fifth-placed team from the Asian zone; entered a play-off for a spot in the 2010 World Cup.
1938 World Cup
From the 1938 World Cup onwards; host nations receive automatic qualification to the final tournament. This right was also granted to the defending champions.
Between 1938 and 2002. But was withdrawn from the 2006 FIFA World Cup onward; requiring the champions to qualify. Brazil, winners in 2002; was the first defending champions to play qualifying matches.
The current final tournament; has been used since 1998. And features 32 national teams competing over a month; in the host nations. There are two stages: the group stage followed by the knockout stage.
The Group Stage
In the group stage, teams compete within eight groups of four teams each. Eight teams are seeded; including the hosts, with the other seeded teams. Selected using a formula based on the FIFA World Rankings.
Or performances in recent World Cups; and drawn to separate groups. The other teams are assigned to different “pots”, usually based on geographical criteria; and teams in each pot are drawn at random to the eight groups.
Since 1998, constraints have been applied to the draw. To ensure that no group contains more than two European teams; or more than one team from any other confederation.
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A round-robin tournament
Each group plays a round-robin tournament; In which each team is scheduled for three matches. Against other teams in the same group. This means that a total of six matches; are played within a group.
The last round of matches of each group; is scheduled at the same time to preserve fairness among all four teams. The top two teams from each group advance; to the knockout stage.
Points are used to rank the teams within a group. Since 1994, three points have been awarded for a win. One for a draw and none for a loss (before, winners received two points).
All possible outcomes
If one considers all possible outcomes (win, draw, loss); for all six matches in a group. There are 729 (= 36) outcome combinations possible.
However, 207 of these combinations; lead to ties between the second and third places. In such cases; the ranking among these teams is determined as follows:
- Greatest combined goal difference in all group matches
- The greatest combined number of goals scored in all group matches
If more than one team remains level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined as follows:
FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know
- The greatest number of points in head-to-head matches among those teams
- Greatest goal difference in head-to-head matches among those teams
- The greatest number of goals scored in head-to-head matches among those teams
Fair play points, defined by the number of yellow and red cards received in the group stage:
- Yellow card: minus 1 point
- Indirect red card (as a result of a second yellow card): minus 3 points
- Direct red card: minus 4 points
- Yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points
If any of the teams above remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined by the drawing of lots.
Knock Out Stage
The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament. In which teams play each other in one-off matches. With extra time and penalty shootouts;
Used to decide the winner if necessary. It begins with the round of 16 (or the second round). In which the winner of each group plays against the runner-up of another group.
This is followed by the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the third-place match (contested by the losing semi-finalists), and the final.
The 48-team World Cup
On 10 January 2017; FIFA approved a new format. The 48-team World Cup (to accommodate more teams); consists of 16 groups of three teams each. With two teams qualifying from each group. To form a round of 32 knockouts;
Stage; to be implemented by 2026. Early World Cups were given to countries. At meetings of FIFA’s congress. The locations were controversial because South America and Europe; were by far the two centers of strength.
In football and travel between them; required three weeks by boat. The decision to hold the first World Cup in Uruguay; for example, led to only four European nations competing. The next two World Cups were both held in Europe.
Urgentina and Uruguay
The decision to hold the second of these in France was disputed. As the South American countries understood; the location would alternate between the two continents. Both Argentina and Uruguay; thus boycotted the 1938 FIFA World Cup.
Since the 1958 FIFA World Cup; to avoid future boycotts or controversy. FIFA began a pattern of alternating the hosts between the Americas and Europe. Which continued until the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup; hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan, was the first one held in Asia. And the first tournament with multiple hosts.
First African nation to host the World Cup
South Africa became the first African nation; to host the World Cup in 2010. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Brazil. The first was held in South America in Argentina in 1978. And was the first occasion where consecutive World Cups were held outside Europe.
The host country is now chosen in a vote by FIFA’s Council. This is done under an exhaustive ballot system. The national football association of a country;
Desiring to host the event receives a “Hosting Agreement” from FIFA; which explains the steps and requirements that are expected from a strong bid.
Bidding Association
The bidding association also receives a form; the submission of which represents the official confirmation. Of the candidacy. After this, a FIFA-designated group of inspectors;
Visit the country to identify that the country meets the requirements; needed to host the event and produce a report on the country.
The decision on who will host the World Cup is usually made; six or seven years in advance of the tournament. However, there have been occasions where the hosts of multiple future tournaments;
First Middle Eastern country to host
Were announced at the same time. As was the case for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Which were awarded to Russia and Qatar. Qatar became the first Middle Eastern country; to host the tournament.
For the 2010 and 2014 World Cups; the final tournament is rotated between confederations. Allowing only countries from the chosen confederation (Africa in 2010, South America in 2014);
To bid to host the tournament. The rotation policy was introduced; after the controversy surrounding Germany’s victory over South Africa; in the vote to host the 2006 tournament.
The policy of continental rotation
However, the policy of continental rotation did not continue; beyond 2014, so any country, except; those belonging to confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments.
Can apply as hosts for World Cups starting from 2018. This is partly to avoid a similar scenario; to the bidding process for the 2014 tournament. Where Brazil was the only official bidder.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was chosen to be held in the United States. Canada and Mexico. Marking the first time a World Cup has been shared by three host nations.
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2026 Tournament
The 2026 tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever held. With 48 teams playing 80 matches. Sixty matches will take place in the US. Including all matches from the quarter-finals onward. While Canada and Mexico will host 10 games each.
Six of the eight champions have won one of their titles; while playing in their homeland. The exception was Brazil; who finished as runners-up after losing the deciding match.
On home soil in 1950 and lost their semi-final against Germany in 2014. And Spain, which reached the second round on home soil in 1982.
Countries that won their first titles as host nations
England (1966) won its only title; while playing as a host nation. Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), Argentina (1978), and France (1998) won their first titles as host nations. But have gone on to win again, while Germany (1974) won their second title on home soil.
Other nations have also been successful when hosting the tournament. Switzerland (quarter-finals 1954), Sweden (runners-up in 1958), Chile (third place in 1962); South Korea (fourth place in 2002).
And Mexico (quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986); all have their best results when serving as hosts. So far, South Africa (2010) has been the only host nation. To fail to advance beyond the first round.
Media
The World Cup was first televised in 1954. And is now the most widely viewed, and followed sporting event in the world. The cumulative viewership of all matches of the 2006 World Cup; was estimated to be 26.29 billion.
715.1 million individuals watched the final match; of the tournament, almost a ninth of the entire population; of the planet.
The 2006 World Cup draw; which decided the distribution of teams into groups; was watched by 300 million viewers. The World Cup attracts many sponsors such as Coca-Cola; McDonald’s and Adidas.
$4.8 billion in revenue from the 2014 tournament
For these companies and many more; being a sponsor strongly impacts their global brands. Host countries typically experience a multimillion-dollar revenue increase; from the month-long event.
The governing body of the sport, FIFA, generated $4.8 billion in revenue; from the 2014 tournament, and $6.1 billion from the 2018 tournament.
Each FIFA World Cup since 1966 has its mascot or logo. World Cup Willie, the mascot for the 1966 competition; was the first World Cup mascot.
1966 World Cup Adidas
World Cups feature official match balls; specially designed for each tournament. After Slazenger produced the ball for the 1966 World Cup Adidas became the official supplier to FIFA.
Each World Cup also has an official song; which has been performed by artists ranging from Shakira to Will Smith. Other songs, such as “Nessun Dorma”; were performed by The Three Tenors at four World Cup concerts. I have also become identified with the tournament.
Forming a partnership with FIFA in 1970; Panini published its first sticker album for the 1970 World Cup. Since then, collecting and trading stickers and cards;
79 Nations
Has become part of the World Cup experience. Especially for the younger generation. FIFA has also licensed World Cup video games since 1986. With Electronic Arts the current license holder.
In all, 79 nations have played in at least one World Cup. Of these, eight national teams have won the World Cup. And they have added stars to their badges;
With each star representing a World Cup victory. (Uruguay, however, choose to display four stars; on their badge, representing their two gold medal. At the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics;
Brazil
Which are recognized by FIFA as World Championships. And their two World Cup titles in 1930 and 1950). With five titles, Brazil is the most successful World Cup team;
And also the only nation; to have played in every World Cup (21) to date. Brazil was also the first team; to win the World Cup for the third (1970), fourth (1994), and fifth (2002) time.
Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962); are the only nations to have won consecutive titles. West Germany (1982–1990) and Brazil (1994–2002);
FIFA World Cup. Everything you need to know
Are the only nations to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals. Germany has made the most top-four finishes (13), medals (12), as well as the most finals (8).
To date, the final of the World Cup; has only been contested by teams from the UEFA (Europe). And CONMEBOL (South America) confederations.
European nations have won twelve titles; while South America has won nine. Only two teams from outside these two continents have ever reached the semi-finals, of the competition:
The best result of an African team
United States (North, Central America, and Caribbean) in 1930 and South Korea (Asia) in 2002. The best result of an African team is reaching the quarter-finals:
Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010. Only one Oceanian qualifier, Australia in 2006. Has advanced to the second round.
Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and Germany are the only teams; to win a World Cup outside their continental confederation; Brazil came out victorious in Europe (1958);
World Cups have been won by teams from the same continent
North America (1970 and 1994) and Asia (2002). Argentina won a World Cup in North America in 1986; while Spain won in Africa in 2010. In 2014, Germany became the first European team to win in the Americas.
Only on five occasions have consecutive World Cups; been won by teams from the same continent. The current run of four champions from one continental confederation (Italy, Spain, Germany, and France); has not happened before.
Italy and Brazil successfully defended their titles in 1938 and 1962 respectively. While Italy’s triumph in 2006 has been followed by wins for Spain in 2010; Germany in 2014 and France in 2018.
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In the Archives
Currently, it is also the first time that one of the currently winning continents (Europe); is ahead of the other (South America) by more than one championship.
At the end of each World Cup, awards are presented to the players and teams for accomplishments other than their final team positions in the tournament.
There are currently five post-tournament awards from the FIFA Technical Study Group:
- the Golden Ball (currently commercially termed “Adidas Golden Ball”) for best player, first awarded in 1982;
- the Golden Boot (currently commercially termed “Adidas Golden Boot”, formerly known as the “Adidas Golden Shoe” from 1982 to 2006) for top goalscorer, first awarded in 1982;
- the Golden Glove (currently commercially termed “Adidas Golden Glove”, formerly known as the “Lev Yashin Award” from 1994 to 2006) for best goalkeeper, first awarded in 1994;
- the FIFA Young Player Award (formerly known as the “Best Young Player Award” from 2006 to 2010) for the best player under 21 years of age at the start of the calendar year, first awarded in 2006;
- the FIFA Fair Play Trophy for the team that advanced to the second round with the best record of fair play, first awarded in 1970;
More Awards
There is currently one award; given during the tournament from the FIFA Technical Study Group:
- the Man of the Match (currently commercially termed as “Budweiser Man of the Match”) for outstanding performance during each game of the tournament, first awarded in 2002;
There are currently two awards voted on by fans after the conclusion of the tournament:
- the Goal of the Tournament, as determined by a poll of the general public, was first awarded in 2006;
- the Most Entertaining Team for the team that has entertained the public the most, during the World Cup final tournament, as determined by a poll of the general public.
One other award was given between 1994 and 2006:
an All-Star Team comprising the best players of the tournament chosen by the FIFA Technical Study Group. From 2010 onwards, all Dream Teams or Statistical Teams are unofficial, as reported by FIFA itself.
The Numbers
Germany’s Lothar Matthäus played a record 25 World Cup matches; across a joint record five tournaments. Three players share the record for playing in the most World Cups;
Mexico’s Antonio Carbajal (1950–1966) and Rafael Márquez (2002–2018); and Germany’s Lothar Matthäus (1982–1998) all played in five tournaments.
Matthäus has played the most World Cup matches overall. With 25 appearances. Brazil’s Djalma Santos (1954–1962), West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer (1966–1974);
World Cup All-Star Teams
And Germany’s Philipp Lahm (2006–2014); is the only player to be named to three World Cup All-Star Teams. Miroslav Klose of Germany (2002–2014); is the all-time top scorer at the World Cup with 16 goals.
He broke Ronaldo of Brazil’s record of 15 goals (1998–2006). During the 2014 semi-final match against Brazil. West Germany’s Gerd Müller (1970–1974) is third, with 14 goals.
The fourth-placed goalscorer, France’s Just Fontaine; holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup; all his 13 goals were scored in the 1958 tournament.
November 2007
In November 2007; FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974; were to be retroactively awarded winners’ medals.
This made Brazil’s Pelé; the only player to have won three World Cup winners’ medals (1958, 1962; and 1970, although he did not play in 1962 final due to injury);
With 20 other players who have won two winners’ medals. Seven players have collected all three types of World Cup medals. (winners’, runner-ups’, and third-place);
West Germany’s squad
Five players were from West Germany’s squad; of 1966–1974: Franz Beckenbauer, Jürgen Grabowski, Horst-Dieter Höttges, Sepp Maier, and;
Wolfgang Overath (1966–1974), Italy’s Franco Baresi (1982, 1990, 1994); and the most recent has been Miroslav Klose of Germany (2002–2014). With four consecutive medals.
Brazil’s Mário Zagallo, West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer; and France’s Didier Deschamps. Are the only people to date to win the World Cup; as both player and head coach.
Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo
Zagallo won in 1958 and 1962 as a player. And in 1970 as head coach. Beckenbauer won in 1974 as captain and in 1990 as head coach, and Deschamps repeated the feat in 2018; after having won in 1998 as captain.
Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo is the only head coach to ever win two World Cups (1934 and 1938). All World Cup-winning head coaches were natives of the country they coached to victory.
Among the national teams, Germany and Brazil have played the most World Cup matches. Germany appeared in the most finals (8), semi-finals (13); and quarter-finals (16). While Brazil has appeared in most World Cups;
Most Wins
Has the most wins (73) and has scored the most goals (229). The two teams have played each other twice in the World Cup, in 2002 final, and the 2014 semi-final.
