FIFA Soccer World Cup History

The seeds which marked the beginning of this great event were planted by the president of the World Football Federation, in 1926. There would be no such thing as a world cup history if it were not for Jules Rimet, who first took the presidency in 1921. The positive message infused by Rimet is summarized by his famous words "Soccer could reinforce the ideals of a permanent and real peace", as he pushed to organize an international event that would make no discrimination on the grounds of professional or amateur status. As his words were spoken the plans for a world tournament involving all of the federations was being planned for the coming 3 to 4 years. Along with the help of 5 other officials, Rimet organized the event for 1930. Via congressional meetings of the World Football Federation the semantics for the tournament were laid out and finalized.

On May 26th, 1928 the World Cup was born. History was changed forever as five European countries plus a chosen host of Uruguay planned to hold the first tournament on May 18th, 1929 at the congress of Barcelona. Uruguay was chosen as host based on their outstanding Olympic record, and as Rimet was encouraging a regime of international peace, utilizing the reputation the Olympic games already held was simply intelligent leveraging.

The actualization of the event did not transpire until the year later, when on July 13th, 1930 the first game of the first world cup kicked off in Pocitos Stadium, and France beat Mexico 4 to 1. This truly marked the beginning of a long and wonderful world cup history.

The first world cup was the only event to not involve the modern qualifying rounds. The only European teams involved were France, Belgium, Yugoslavia, and Romania. Other European teams either wished to remain in purely Amateur events, or argued that the expected trip time was far too long. Other than Uruguay six additional south American teams participated, including Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.

Two teams remained to complete the final 13 for 1930, Mexico and the United States. The U.S. was utilizing a heavily Scottish roster for the event.

In the end it was Uruguay battling Argentina for the cup. Victory and the first world cup went to Uruguay as they beat the Argentineans 4 to 2.

Germany 2006 Soccer World Cup

June 9, 2006, is the date — the start of the FIFA World Cup in Germany. It will be the biggest international event held in Germany for years. The world will be our guest, and for four whole weeks the world will be looking at Germany.

More than 30 billion viewers on all continents will be following the 64 games in the twelve World Cup stadiums on television. This is reason enough, not only during the tournament, but also in the run-up to it, to make every effort to ensure that our country shows its best side: enthusiastic about football, but most of all, hospitable, open to the world, tolerant, modern, innovative.

Previous FIFA World Cups

Korea/Japan 2002	France 1998	United States 1994
Italy 1990	Mexico 1986	Spain 1982
Argentina 1978	Germany 1974	Mexico 1970
England 1966	Chile 1962	Sweden 1958
Switzerland 1954	Brasil 1950	France 1938
Italy 1934	Uruguay 1930

Korea / Japan 2002

The first round of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ reflected a changing football world as upsets and surprises thrilled right from the start. In the end however, it was two familiar faces, Germany and Brazil, who played for the world championship, and it was the South Americans who won their unprecedented fifth FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo, who suffered a famously poor final four years earlier, was the hero for the Seleçao, scoring both in the 2-0 victory. He ended up with eight goals in the tournament – the most in a FIFA World Cup since Gerd Müller scored ten times at Mexico ‘70.

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France 1998

The 16th FIFA World Cup™ was the largest ever, contested by 32 teams with 64 matches played. The eight groups of four teams were spread out throughout France in the ten new or refurbished stadia, with the opening game and the final held in the splendid new Stade de France just north of Paris.

32 countries meant 30 qualifying spots, providing more opportunities for teams from Africa and Asia. The four-team groups also reflected the geographical spread, with all but one of the pools comprising two Europeans, one from the Americas and one from Africa or Asia.

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United States 1994

A superb FIFA World Cup™ marred only by a disappointing final which Brazil won on penalties after a goalless draw with Italy. There were plenty of goals, excitement, drama and surprises. Bulgaria, who had never won a FIFA World Cup match in 16 previous attempts, were the biggest upsets beating Germany en route to the semi-finals.

There was drama when Diego Maradona, Argentina's hero of 1986, tested positive for drugs and was expelled from the tournament, and there was tragedy too when Colombian Andres Escobar was murdered days after returning home from scoring an own goal against the United States.

The hosts were not disgraced, going out to Brazil in the second round. The Brazilians were the best team in the tournament and were deserved winners, even if the nature of their final victory left a hollow taste for many.

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Italy 1990

A disappointing FIFA World Cup™ with too much dull defensive football and matches won on penalty kicks. The final itself between West Germany and Argentina was the least inspiring in the history of the competition and ironically decided by a late penalty converted by West Germany's Andreas Brehme. Argentina became the first team not to score in the final -- and also the first team to have not one, but two players sent off in the final.

Hosts Italy flattered to deceive before losing on penalties in the semi-finals to Argentina. West Germany won the other semi on penalties against England.

The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the pinnacle of Roger Milla's career. At 38, he had taken his leave of the big time to play for JS Saint-Pierroise, a team of modest abilities on Reunion Island. But he came out of retirement to leave a memorable mark on the Italian FIFA World Cup propelling Cameroon into the quarter-finals.

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Mexico 1986

The 13th FIFA World Cup™ was awarded to Mexico, who thus became the first country to host the competition on two occasions. However, the Mexicans were selected only as replacement hosts after the original choice, Colombia, announced in 1983 that it could no longer afford to stage football's greatest tournament. Terrible earthquakes were the prelude to the tournament, but the stadiums were not affected and it was decided to go ahead with the preparations.

Brazil fell in the quarter-finals on penalties to France, who were in turn muscled out by the West Germans in the semi-finals.

Maradona, with two goals against both England -- one a handball he proudly dubbed scored by "the hand of God", the other one of the greatest goals ever scored -- and Belgium, led Argentina through and in the final they overcame West Germany 3-2 in front of 115,000 at the Aztec Stadium.

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Spain 1982

Italy survived the opening round on goal difference and then went on to win the trophy for a third time after a creative Brazilian team had bowed out to them in an astonishing match in the second phase.

Zico, Socrates, Falcao and Eder could not stop attacking and Brazil paid for it when they lost 3-2 to a Paolo Rossi hat-trick. Italy went on to the final and beat West Germany 3-1. Rossi finished top scorer with six goals.

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Argentina 1978

Having reached the final in 1930, Argentina had to wait a while before winning the FIFA World Cup™, which they eventually did on own soil in 1978. The great support for the home team helped carry them to victory over the Netherlands in the final, Cruyff having turned his back as he refused to travel to Argentina because of the political situation.

Argentina were outplayed by Italy in the opening round group games, but charged back to reach the final with a 6-0 win over Peru.

In Daniel Passarella, Osvaldo Ardiles and Mario Kempes, top scorer with six goals, they had outstanding players. They beat the Dutch 3-1 after extra time in the final.

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Germany 1974

Another host triumph as the West Germans took the new FIFA World Cup™ for the first time with a quite exceptional display of the hard-running, interchanging style in a tournament remembered for the arrival of "total football".

The Netherlands, with Johan Cruyff outstanding, beat Argentina 4-0 and Brazil 2-0 to announce their arrival, but could not overcome West Germany in the final and went down 2-1, Gerd Müller, "Der Bomber', typically scoring the winner.

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Mexico 1970

The ninth FIFA World Cup™ also became a major TV spectacle and to fit in with television company requests, some matches kicked off at 12 noon. This was an unpopular decision with many players and managers because of the intense heat in Mexico at that time of day.

There was none of the violence throughout the tournament that had plagued the two previous competitions. The 1970 FIFA World Cup passed without a single player being sent off, equalling the 1950 FIFA World Cup record. For the first time substitutes were allowed, as well as yellow and red cards being introduced.

Pelé returned after vowing never to play in another FIFA World Cup and Brazil won the Jules Rimet trophy outright with a near-perfect team including Clodoaldo, Gerson, Rivelino, Tostao, Jairzinho, Pelé and Carlos Alberto.

In the final at Mexico City's Aztec Stadium, Brazil dazzled and danced to a memorable 4-1 win over Italy with Jairzinho becoming the only player to have scored in every match. Italy had beaten West Germany 4-3 in an astonishing semi-final, the only match in FIFA World Cup history to have produced five goals in extra time.

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England 1966

Since its launch in 1930, the FIFA World Cup™ had grown in stature to become clearly the world's senior international football tournament.

After the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen while on display in London, the hosts triumphed again when it was recovered by a dog called Pickles under a bush in a suburban front garden in south London a few days later.

Pelé was again battered, this time by Bulgaria and Portugal as Brazil's bid for a third consecutive title faltered. England, shrewdly managed by Alf (later Sir Alf) Ramsey, beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time in a thrilling final at Wembley, when Geoff Hurst made history with a hat-trick, including the most controversial goal ever scored. Did the ball really cross the line after bouncing down from the crossbar? The debate still rages.

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Chile 1962

Another Brazilian triumph, but Pelé played in only the opening game against Mexico before being injured. Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final in Santiago with goals from Amarildo, Zito and Vava. The tournament also staged one of the most notorious matches in FIFA World Cup™ history - the Battle of Santiago between Italy and Chile, in which two Italians were sent off and one had his nose broken by a solid left-hook from a Chilean player.

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Sweden 1958

After Switzerland, Sweden was named host country for the 1958 FIFA World Cup™ - a Cup which, on 16 October 1956, lost its founding father, when Jules Rimet died in Paris at the age of 83.

Brazil, inspired by a 17-year-old youngster called Pelé, won the trophy for the first time. Pelé scored against Wales, hit a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over France in the semi-finals and struck two more in the final, a 5-2 triumph over the hosts.

Frenchman Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in the tournament, a record which still stands. It was also the first FIFA World Cup™ in which a match ended in a 0-0 draw: the first round game between England and Brazil.

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Switzerland 1954

Four years after the frenzy of the Maracana stadium, the Jules Rimet trophy returned to Europe to a calmer atmosphere in Switzerland. The field of play, however, produced breathtaking entertainment. This fifth FIFA World Cup™ was unforgettable for its sensational high-scoring games, and a surprise win for the German Federal Republic.

Hungary were the favourites with a team including Puskas, Bozsik, Kocsis and Hidegkuti, unbeaten in 28 internationals and Olympic champions. But after the infamous "Battle of Berne" with Brazil -- three players were sent off and the teams fought afterwards in the dressing rooms -- the Hungarians were rattled.

In the final, after leading 2-0 against West Germany, whom they had beaten 8-3 in the opening round, they went down 3-2

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Brasil 1950

Throughout the Second World War the Italian Vice-President of FIFA, Dr. Ottorino Barassi, hid the FIFA World Cup™ trophy in a shoe-box under his bed and thus saved it from falling into the hands of occupying troops.

The qualifying competition turned into something of a farce with teams qualifying then withdrawing - and teams already eliminated being offered places. India withdrew because FIFA would not let them play in bare feet. So only 13 teams participated in the final tournament.

The FIFA World Cup™ returned and Uruguay won it for a second time in the "final which was not a final".

Before that, however, the United States beat England 1-0 in Belo Horizonte and Sweden's amateurs beat Italy 3-2 in Sao Paulo.

A mini-league format was used and Brazil, Sweden, Spain and Uruguay were the final contestants. Brazil needed only a draw in their clash with Uruguay to clinch the trophy, but lost 2-1 in front of a crowd of 174,000 in Rio's Maracana Stadium.

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France 1938

The third FIFA World Cup™ was played in France as the war clouds gathered throughout Europe and politics kept away a number of top nations. Austria qualified, but withdrew -- though some of their players appeared in the colours of Germany -- and Spain was ravaged by civil war. Argentina and Uruguay also stayed away.

Brazil and Poland produced one of the greatest games of all time in Strasbourg with the South Americans triumphing 6-5 after extra time, thanks to four goals from Leonidas who played barefoot for a spell. In the final, Italy beat Hungary 4-2 in Paris.

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Italy 1934

Italy, one of the unsuccessful applicants for the honour of staging the 1930 tournament, was chosen as host by the FIFA for the second FIFA World Cup™.

Italy's triumph left both Argentina and Brazil disenchanted after travelling 8,000 miles (13,000 km) for just one game each in the first round. Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 after extra time in the final after trailing 1-0 until eight minutes from time.

Staged between 27 May and 10 June 1934, this FIFA World Cup was markedly more encouraging than its forerunner. Thirty-two nations took part so that a preliminary round was necessary (even the hosts, Italy, had to qualify), which qualified 16 teams for the finals. As a retort to the many withdrawals of European teams four years earlier, several South American nations, such as Argentina and Brazil, did not send their best teams to Italy. Uruguay declined to participate and defend its title.

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Uruguay 1930

FIFA's decision to hold the first FIFA World Cup™ in Uruguay did not meet universal acclaim, as Europe was plunged in the midst of an economic crisis. Participation in a FIFA World Cup taking place overseas involved a long sea journey. Moreover, for some clubs it meant having to go without their best players for two months - a problem that is still topical today.

The organisation of the first FIFA World Cup looked rather different from today's with no qualifying competition, the 13 teams entered by invitation and the final draw was not made until the teams arrived in Uruguay.

France met Mexico in the opening match and duly won 4-1, but the first final was contested by the hosts and their neighbours Argentina. After trailing 2-1 at the interval, Uruguay went on to prevail 4-2 and thus won the cup which had been designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur.

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