88 years of World Cup History: The Journey Of The Biggest Football Event - How It All Started

World Cup, formally FIFA World Cup has been the most popular sporting event in the world, drawing billions of viewers every tournament. Football has been one of the successful games in the world and had fans of every age.

Football has been a subject of interest to young, teen, and old at present. There are fewer people who do not know about football.

FIFA was founded on May 22, 1904, in Paris, comprising football a s sociations from different countries pledging to join.

In the beginning, it was contested as an IOC-recognized Olympic games at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics as well as the 1906 Intercalated Games. It became an official FIFA-supervised Olympic competition at the 1908 Summer Olympics.

FIFA’s wish for its world championship was intensified, after the success of the Olympic Football Tournament.

Questionnaires were sent to the affiliated a s sociations asking about the agreement of tournament. FIFA Congress, Amsterdam decided to stage a world championship tournament organized by FIFA, on May 28, 1928.

Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden submitted their candidatures, as the organizing country had to be chosen.

Uruguay, 1930

Champion	Uruguay (1st title)
Runner-up	Argentina
Venues	3 venues in 1 host city
Matches played	18
Goals scored	70
Attendance	590,549
Top scorer	Guillermo Stábile (Argentina) - 8 goals

Uruguay was the favorite right from the start, not only for its Olympic gold medal wins, the country was celebrating its 100^th anniversary of independence in 1930 at great expense. Uruguay was a s signed as the first host country by the FIFA Congress in Barcelona in 1929.

The first World Cup opened at the brand-new Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on July 18, 1930.  It was the starting of a new era in the history of world football, and the inaugural event proved a remarkable success, both in a sporting and a financial sense. The match was contested as a final tournament of 13 teams.

Since then, the World Cup expanded and remodeled to 32-team final tournament preceded by a 2-year qualifying process with the involvement of over 200 teams from around the world.

Uruguay became the first nation to win the first World Cup, host in the country itself.

Uruguay made a 4-2 win over Argentina in front of a crowd of 93,000 people at Estadio Centenario, Montevideo.

Italy, 1934

Champion	Italy (1st title)
Runner-up	Czechoslovakia
Venues	8 venues in 8 host cities
Matches played	17
Goals scored	70
Attendance	363,000
Top scorer	Old?ich Nejedlý (Czechoslovakia) - 5 goals

The second World Cup was hosted by Italy. It was the first World Cup to include a qualification stage. The matches were played in 8 venues in 8 host cities.

The opening match was between Spain and Brazil on May 27, 1934, at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa. Spain won (3-1) against Brazil in the match. Egypt became the first African country to compete but lost to Hungary in the first round.

Italy won the final tournament becoming the first European to do so. They had a 2-1 victory over Czechoslovakia at Stadio Nazionale PNF in Rome.

France, 1938

Champion	Italy (2nd title)
Runner-up	Hungary
Venues	10 venues in 10 host cities
Matches played	18
Goals scored	84
Attendance	375,700
Top scorer	Leônidas (Brazil) - 7 goals

The 1938 FIFA World Cup, the third staging of the World Cup was held in France. The matches were hosted in 10 venues in 10 cities. France was chosen as a host country over Argentina and Germany in the first round of voting.

The first round of the tournament was held at Parc des Princes, Paris on June 4, 1938. The match was against Switzerland and Germany.

Italy retained the title in a 4-2 victory over Hungary. The match was held at Stade Olympique de Colombes, Paris on June 19, 1938.

It was the second consecutive victory for Italy. It was the last World Cup before the World War II.

Cancelation due to World War II

The 1942 FIFA game was canceled and was bettered after 56 years in the 1994 World Cup. Germany officially applied to host the 1942 FIFA Cup at the 23^rd FIFA Congress on 13 August 13, 1936, in Berlin.

The 1942 FIFA was canceled before a host country was selected. The starting of European hostilities in late 1939 prompted further plans for the tournament to be canceled.

FIFA struggled to keep itself afloat, during World War II but had no financial or personnel resources with which to plan a peacetime tournament for when hostilities ended.

As the war ended in 1945, it became clear that FIFA would have no hope of planning and scheduling a 1946 World Cup in a single year. The FIFA had their first meeting on July 1, 1946. It planned the next World Cup for 1949, but no country would host it.

The major international tournament in the year was the 1946 South American Championship in which Argentina beat Brazil 2–0. The match was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on February 10, 1946. The tournament was considered as the unofficial World Cup by many South-Americans. This is not recognized by FIFA.

Brazil, 1950

Champion	Uruguay (2nd title)
Runner-up	Brazil
Venues	6 venues in 6 host cities
Matches played	22
Goals scored	88
Attendance	1,045,246
Top scorer	Ademir (Brazil) - 8 goals

The competition resumed with a 1950 World Cup hosted by Brazil. The matches were held in 6 venues in 6 cities. The tournament was first to include British participants. The 1930 FIFA champion, Uruguay made their return to the tournament leaving previous two World Cups.

Eastern European countries like Hungary, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia did not participate due to political reasons. Title holder, Italy took part in the tournament despite the 1949 Superga air disaster in which entire Grande Torino team were killed.

Uruguay earned a 2-1 victory over hosts Brazil at Estádio does Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro.

This was the second victory by Uruguay in the history of World Cup.

Switzerland, 1954

Champion	West Germany (1st title)
Runner-up	Hungary
Venues	6 venues in 6 host cities
Matches played	26
Goals scored	140
Attendance	768,607
Top scorer	Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) – 11 goals

The 1954 World Cup is the first televised tournament in the history of FIFA. The tournament was hosted by Switzerland. The matches were played in 6 venues in 6 cities.

The Soviet Union did not participate due to their dismal performance at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Scotland was the first country to participate the event.

West Germany became the winner of the final game after a 3-2 defeat to Olympic Champions Hungary. The match is known as the Miracle of Bern in Germany.

Sweden, 1958

Champion	Brazil (1st title)
Runner-up	Sweden
Venues	12 venues in 12 host cities
Matches played	35
Goals scored	126
Attendance	829,810
Top scorer	Just Fontaine (France) - 13 goals
Best Young Player	Pelé (Brazil)

The 1958 FIFA Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was held in Sweden. The tournament is known for making the debut appearance of a then 17-year-old player, Pelé.

 

Brazil won (5-2) the final match against Sweden at Råsunda Stadium, Solna. It was the first victory for Brazil in the World Cup history.

Chile, 1962

Champion	Brazil (2nd title)
Runner-up	Czechoslovakia
Venues	4 venues in 4 host cities
Matches played	32
Goals scored	89
Attendance	893,172
Top scorers	Garrincha (Brazil), Vavá (Brazil), Leonel Sánchez(Chile), Flórián Albert (Hungary), Valentin Ivanov (Soviet Union), Dražan Jerkovi? (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) – 4 goals each

Chile hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1962. Before that, the country faced the largest ever earthquake recorded at 9.5 magnitudes, prompting officials to rebuild damage to infrastructure.

Champions Brazil retained their title defeating Czechoslovakia (3-1) in the final held at Estadio Nacional, Santiago. This was the second consecutive victory for Brazil.

England, 1966

Champion	England (1st title)
Runner-up	West Germany
Venues	8 venues in 7 host cities
Matches played	32
Goals scored	89
Attendance	1,563,135
Top scorer	Eusébio (Portugal) - 9 goals
Best Young Player	Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)

England, one of the oldest team in football, hosted the 1966 FIFA World Cup. England was the country to embrace marketing, featuring a mascot and official logo.

World Cup Willie was the official mascot of the tournament. The mascot represents a lion, a typical symbol of the United Kingdom, wearing a Union Flag jersey with the words "WORLD CUP." The official trophy was stolen in the run-up to the tournament but was found by a dog, a week later.

England beat West Germany (4-2) in the final winning the Jules Rimet Trophy. This was the first victory by England and is the third host nation to win FIFA Cup after Uruguay and Italy.

Mexico, 1970

Champion	Brazil (3rd title)
Runner-up	Italy
Venues	5 venues in 5 host cities
Matches played	32
Goals scored	95
Attendance	1,604, 065
Top scorer	Gerd Müller (West Germany) - 10 goals
Best Young Player	Teófilo Cubillas  (Republic of Peru)
Fair Play Award	Peru

The 1970 World Cup was held in Mexico. It was the first world to be held in North America. The official mascot for the competition was Juanito, a boy wearing Mexico's kit and a sombrero with the words "MEXICO 70."

Brazil made a 4-1 victory over Italy in the final at Estadio Azteca, Mexico. The victory gave Brazil its third World Cup title which allowed them to keep Jules Rimet Trophy permanently.

The victorious team led by Carlos Alberto featuring players such as Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivellino, and Tostão, often cited as the greatest-ever team in the history of World Cup.

West Germany, 1974

Champion	West Germany (2nd title)
Runner-up	Netherlands
Venues	9 venues in 9 host cities
Matches played	38
Goals scored	97
Attendance	1,865,762
Top scorer	Grzegorz Lato (Poland) - 7 goals
Best Young Player	W?adys?aw ?muda (Poland)

The 1974 World Cup was held in West Germany. A new trophy was introduced for the 1974 edition.

Tip and Tap, two boys, wearing Germany kits, with the letters WM (Weltmeisterschaft, World Cup) and #74, was the official mascot of the competition.

West Germany won the title beating the Netherlands (2-1) in the final at Westfalenstadion, Dortmund.

West Germany v The Netherlands at the final FIFA Cup 1974.

Argentina, 1978

Champion	Argentina (1st title)
Runner-up	Netherlands
Venues	6 venues in 5 host cities
Matches played	38
Goals scored	102
Attendance	1,545,791
Top scorer	Mario Kempes - 6 goals
Best Young Player	Antonio Cabrini (Italy)

The 11^th staging of FIFA, the 1978 World Cup was held in Argentina. The tournament started from June 1 to June 25, 1978.

The Official mascot for the tournament was Gauchito, a boy wearing an Argentina kit. He wore a hat (with the words ARGENTINA '78), neckerchief, and whip are typical of gauchos.

Argentina won the title defeating Netherlands (3-1) in the final at River Plate's home stadium Estadio Monumental.

This was the first title for Argentina becoming the fifth to be both hosts as well as the winner.

Spain, 1982

Champion	Italy (3rd title)
Runner-up	West Germany
Venues	17 venues in 14 host cities
Matches played	52
Goals scored	146
Attendance	2,109,723
Top scorer	Paolo Rossi (Italy) – 6 goals
Best Player	Paolo Rossi (Italy)
Best Young Player	Manuel Amoros (France)

Spain hosted an expanded edition of the World Cup in 1982 that featured 24 teams. It was the second expansion after 1934. The tournament also featured the first ever penalty shoot-out in FIFA competition.

Naranjito, an orange, a typical fruit in Spain, wearing the kit of the host's national team was the official mascot of the tournament.

Italy retained the title defeating West Germany (3-1) in the final held at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid.

Mexico, 1986

Champion	Argentina (2nd title)
Runner-up	West Germany
Venues	12 venues in 9 host cities
Matches played	52
Goals scored	132
Attendance	2,394,031
Top scorer	Gary Lineker - 6 goals
Best Young Player	Enzo Scifo (Belgium)

Mexico hosted the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The format changed again, with the second round being replaced by a pre-quarterfinal, knockout competition, for which 16 teams would qualify.

The official mascot of the tournament was Pique, a jalapeño pepper, characteristic of Mexican cuisine, with a mustache.

Argentina were the winners of the tournament beating West Germany (3-2).

The match watch was inspired by Diego Maradona who set up player Jorge Burruchaga for the winner.

Italy, 1990

Champion	West Germany (3rd title)
Runner-up	Argentina
Venues	12 venues in 12 host cities
Matches played	52
Goals scored	115
Attendance	2,516,215
Top scorer	Salvatore Schillaci (Italy) – 6 goals
Best Player	Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)
Best Young Player	Robert Prosine?ki (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)

The 1990 World Cup was hosted by Italy. The opening match was between Italy and Austria, held on June 8, 1990, at Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

The official mascot for the 1986 FIFA was Ciao, a stick figure player with a football head and an Italian tricolored body.

The final was held at Stadio Olimpico Stadium, Rome on July 8, 1990.

West Germany made the victory over Argentina (1-0) in the match.

The United States, 1994

Champion	Brazil (4th title)
Runner-up	Italy
Venues	9 venues in 9 host cities
Matches played	52
Goals scored	141
Attendance	3,587,538
Top scorers	Oleg Salenko (Russia), Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) – 6 goals each
Best Player	Romário (Brazil)
Best Young Player	Marc Overmars (the Netherlands)
Best Goalkeeper	Michel Preud’homme (Belgium)

The 1994 World Cup broke the record of average attendance with nearly 69,000 spectators per game. The total attendance of nearly 3.6 million for the final remains the highest record in the World Cup history.

The official mascot for the competition was Striker, the World Cup Pup. The mascot represents a dog, a common US pet animal, wearing a red, white and blue soccer uniform with the words "USA 94".

Russian professional, Oleg Sallenko became the first player to score five goals in a single World Cup finals in his country's 6–1 group stage win over Cameroon. The same match, Roger Milla, a Cameroon footballer became the oldest player ever to score in a World Cup match.

Brazil made the victory (3-0) in a penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The victory made Brazil the first country to win four titles. Greece, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia made their first appearances at the FIFA Cup.

France, 1998

Champion	France (1st title)
Runner-up	Brazil
Venues	10 venues in 10 host cities
Matches played	64
Goals scored	171
Attendance	2,784,687
Top scorer	Davor Šuker (Croatia) – 6 goals
Best Player	Ronaldo (Brazil)
Best Young Player	Michael Owen (England)
Best Goalkeeper	Fabien Barthez (France)

The 1998 World Cup, the first tournament with an expanded format of 32 teams, was held in France from June 10-July 12, 1998. The group stage was expanded for the first time from 24 to 32 with eight teams of four. The opening match and the final was staged at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

The official mascot of the competition was Footix, A c* * kerel, one of the national symbols of France, with the words "FRANCE 98" on the chest.

France won the tournament beating Brazil (3-0) in the final.

France won its first title becoming the sixth nation to win the tournament as a host.

South Korea - Japan, 2002

Champion	Brazil (5th title)
Runner-up	Germany
Venues	12 venues in 12 host cities
Matches played	64
Goals scored	161
Attendance	2,705,197
Top scorer	Ronaldo (Brazil) – 8 goals
Best Player	Oliver Kahn (Germany)
Best Young Player	Landon Donovan (U.S.)
Best Goalkeeper	Oliver Kahn (Germany)

The 2002 World Cup, the first tournament held in Asia, took place from May 31 to June 30, 2002, in South Korea and Japan. It was the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by more than one nation.

Ato, Kaz, and Nik (The Spheriks) is the official mascot for the 2002 World Cup. The mascot represents Orange, purple and blue (respectively) futuristic, computer-generated creatures. Ato is the coach while Kaz and Nik are players, collectively members of a team of "Atmoball" (a fictional football-like sport). 

The tournament faced several upsets and surprising results, which include France and Argentina elimination in the group stage match.

Brazil retained the 2002 title becoming the first and the only nation to win the FIFA title to date. Brazil defeated Germany (2-0) in the final match at Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama.

Germany, 2006

Champion	Italy (4th title)
Runner-up	France
Venues	12 venues in 12 host cities
Matches played	64
Goals scored	147
Attendance	2,516,215
Top scorer	Miroslav Klose – 5 goals
Best Player	Zinedine Zidane (France)
Best Young Player	Lukas Podolski (Germany)
Best Goalkeeper	Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)

The 2006 World Cup held in Germany, the 18^th World Cup was one of the most watched events in the TV history with an estimated non-unique viewer over 26.69 billion. The final attracted an estimated audience of 175.1 million people.

Goleo VI Sidekick: Pille was the official mascot of the tournament. The mascot represents a lion wearing a Germany shirt with the number 06, and a talking football named Pille.

Italy won the title defeating France (5-3) in a penalty shoot-out after the extra time finished in a 1-1 draw. It was Italy fourth title to date.

South Africa, 2010

Champion	Spain (1st title)
Runner-up	Netherlands
Venues	10 venues in 9 host cities
Matches played	64
Goals scored	145
Attendance	3,178,856
Top scorers	Diego Forlán (Uruguay), Thomas Müller (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) - 5 goals each
Best Player	Diego Forlán (Uruguay)
Best Young Player	Thomas Müller (Germany)
Best Goalkeeper	Iker Casillas (Spain)

The 2010 World Cup was held in South Africa and was the first ever cup hosted on African soil. The official mascot for the tournament was Zakumi, a leopard with green hair wearing a shirt saying South Africa 2010.

European Champions, Spain grabbed the title defeating the Netherlands (1-0) in the final. Spanish professional, Andrés Iniesta scored the winning goal at the time.

Brazil, 2014

Champion	Germany (4th title)
Runner-up	Argentina
Venues	12 venues in 12 host cities
Matches played	64
Goals scored	171
Attendance	3,429.873
Top scorer	James Rodríguez (Colombia) – 5 goals
Best Player	Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Best Young Player	Paul Pogba (France)
Best Goalkeeper	Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Fair Play Award	Colombia

Brazil hosted the 20^th World Cup after 1950. It took place in Brazil from June 12 to July 13, 2014. The official mascot for the tournament was Fuelco, a Brazilian three-banded armadillo wearing a white T-shirt reading "Brasil 2014."