87 Fun Facts About World Cup

Which country hosted the inaugural FIFA World Cup tournament?

Uruguay hosted and won the first-ever FIFA World Cup in 1930, celebrating the centenary of its first constitution.

Which nation has won the most FIFA World Cup titles?

Brazil's five titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) lead the table, ahead of Germany and Italy with four each.

Which nation won the 2018 World Cup in Russia?

France won the 2018 World Cup, beating Croatia 4-2 in the final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on 15 July 2018, their second title after 1998.

Which country has reached three World Cup finals, more than any other nation never to have won it, and lost all three?

The Netherlands lost to West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978 and Spain in 2010, the last of them in extra time in Johannesburg.

Who found the stolen World Cup trophy under a hedge a week after its 1966 theft in London?

The trophy was found by a collie dog named Pickles, wrapped in newspaper under a hedge in Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, on 27 March 1966, a week after its theft from Westminster Central Hall.

Which player scored a hat-trick in the 1966 final at Wembley as England beat West Germany 4-2?

Geoff Hurst's controversial 101st-minute goal put England 3-2 up, and he completed his hat-trick in the last minute of extra time for a 4-2 win.

Which nation stunned England 1-0 at Belo Horizonte in the 1950 World Cup?

The United States beat England 1-0 in Belo Horizonte on 29 June 1950, Joe Gaetjens heading the only goal in one of the World Cup's greatest upsets.

What caused the cancellation of the scheduled 1942 and 1946 World Cups?

The Second World War forced FIFA to abandon the 1942 and 1946 tournaments; Germany and Brazil had both bid to host 1942 before war broke out in 1939.

The competition was renamed in 1946 for which FIFA president, who set up the first tournament?

Jules Rimet, FIFA president from 1921 to 1954, drove the creation of the 1930 tournament; the trophy was renamed the Jules Rimet Cup in 1946 for his 25 years in office.

How many teams took part in the 2026 World Cup, the first expansion of the finals since 1998?

The 48 teams were split into 12 groups of four, and a brand-new round of 32 was added to the knockout stage.

Which stadium hosted the 2026 World Cup final on July 19?

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home of the NFL's Giants and Jets, staged the final on 19 July 2026; the United States hosted 78 matches, including every quarterfinal and both semifinals.

Which is the only stadium to have staged matches at three different World Cups (1970, 1986 and 2026)?

Mexico became the first country to host the tournament three times, and the Azteca opened the 2026 edition with Mexico's first group match on June 11.

Zayu, one of the three official mascots of the 2026 World Cup, is what kind of animal?

Zayu is a jaguar representing Mexico, alongside Maple the moose for Canada and Clutch the bald eagle for the United States; the trio was unveiled in September 2025.

What was the name of the Adidas match ball used at the 2026 World Cup?

Trionda combines the Spanish words for three and wave; the ball carries a maple leaf, an eagle and a star for Canada, Mexico and the United States, the three host nations.

The United 2026 bid beat which rival country's bid at the 2018 FIFA Congress?

Morocco lost the vote 134 to 65 but was later chosen as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

Which country co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea?

Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea, the first tournament held in Asia and the first shared by two nations; the final was played in Yokohama.

In which city was FIFA founded on 21 May 1904?

FIFA was founded in Paris on 21 May 1904 at the headquarters of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques, which is why its French name and acronym survive.

In which Swiss city is FIFA headquartered?

FIFA has been based in Zurich since 1932 and opened its Home of FIFA headquarters on the Zürichberg in 2007; the IOC and UEFA sit in Lausanne and Nyon.

Who was the first president of FIFA?

Robert Guérin, a French journalist, was FIFA's first president from 1904 until 1906, when he was replaced by England's Daniel Burley Woolfall.

Who was elected FIFA president in February 2016 after Sepp Blatter's suspension?

Infantino was UEFA's general secretary at the time and pushed the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams.

How many national associations belong to FIFA, more than the United Nations has member states?

FIFA has had 211 member associations since Gibraltar and Kosovo joined in 2016, against 193 UN member states, because non-sovereign entities such as England, Scotland, Hong Kong and Macau belong in their own right.

Which Italian designer created the World Cup Trophy introduced in 1974, one of 53 entries?

Silvio Gazzaniga of Milan won a contest of 53 entries; he described his trophy as two athletes rising in spirals to receive the world, and it stands 36.8 cm tall.

In which year was the original World Cup trophy, retired after 1970, stolen for good and never recovered?

The Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen from the Brazilian confederation's Rio de Janeiro headquarters in December 1983; Brazil had kept it permanently after its third title in 1970, and thieves are believed to have melted it down.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy is made of solid gold of what purity?

The trophy is 18 carat gold with a malachite base and weighs 6.175 kg; winners hold the original only at the ceremony and keep a gold-plated bronze replica.

Which French forward scored the first goal in World Cup history, on 13 July 1930?

Lucien Laurent volleyed France's opener against Mexico after 19 minutes in Montevideo, the first goal in World Cup history; France won 4-1.

Just Fontaine's record of 13 goals at a single World Cup was set at which tournament?

Just Fontaine scored 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup, including four against West Germany in the third-place match; he never played at another World Cup.

Who is the only head coach to have won two World Cups?

Vittorio Pozzo led Italy to back-to-back titles in 1934 and 1938; Scolari, Schön and Parreira each won once.

Along with Beckenbauer and Deschamps, which Brazilian won the World Cup as both a player and a head coach?

Zagallo won as a player in 1958 and 1962 and then coached the celebrated 1970 team, later serving as assistant when Brazil won again in 1994.

From 1994 to 2006 the World Cup's best-goalkeeper prize was named after which keeper?

Lev Yashin, nicknamed the Black Spider, won the Ballon d'Or in 1963; the prize bearing his name was renamed the Golden Glove for the 2010 tournament.

In which year was the World Cup first shown on television?

The 1954 tournament was the first shown on television, with some matches broadcast live across Europe through the newly launched Eurovision network.

The 2026 World Cup broke the total-attendance record that had stood since which earlier tournament?

The 1994 record of 3,587,538 fans, set in the United States, fell with 44 matches of 2026 still to play; the final total was 6,810,966.

Which body, rather than FIFA alone, is responsible for maintaining football's Laws of the Game?

IFAB, founded by the four British associations in 1886, gives FIFA four of its eight votes and England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland one each; a law change needs six votes.

Which country hosted the 2022 World Cup, staged in November and December to avoid the heat?

Qatar staged the 2022 World Cup from 20 November to 18 December, the first held in the Middle East; the 2026 tournament returned to the June-July slot.

The first FIFA Women's World Cup was held in 1991 in which country?

China hosted the first Women's World Cup in November 1991, with matches in Guangdong province; the United States beat Norway 2-1 in the final in Guangzhou.

How many host cities staged matches at the 2026 World Cup?

The 16 host cities were split eleven in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada, with Mexico City the only national capital among them.

In which year were the Golden Ball and Golden Boot first awarded at a World Cup?

Both prizes were first awarded at the 1982 World Cup in Spain; the Golden Shoe was renamed the Golden Boot in 2010, and the Fair Play Trophy dates from 1970.

Which three South American nations were picked as 2030 World Cup co-hosts in 2024?

Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay were each given one centenary match of the 2030 tournament, with the rest in Spain, Portugal and Morocco; the FIFA Congress ratified the plan in December 2024.

Which was the only World Cup that the reigning champions did not enter?

Holders Uruguay boycotted the 1934 tournament in Italy because only four European teams had sailed to the 1930 finals it hosted and won.

Which nation was the first African team to qualify for a World Cup finals, in 1934?

Egypt was one of only four non-European sides in Italy that year, and lost its sole match 4–2 to Hungary.

The Dutch East Indies, the first Asian team at a World Cup (1938), is which country today?

The Dutch East Indies became Indonesia on independence in 1945; the team lost 6-0 to Hungary in Reims in its only World Cup match.

Which 1938 event removed an already-qualified Austria from that year's World Cup?

The Anschluss of March 1938 absorbed Austria into Germany; some Austrian players joined the German squad, but the star Matthias Sindelar refused to play for Nazi Germany.

Austria beat which host nation 7–5 in 1954, the highest-scoring match in World Cup history?

Hosts Switzerland led 3-0 before losing 7-5 to Austria in the quarter-final in Lausanne on 26 June 1954; Austria went on to finish third.

Which team scored a record 27 goals at a single World Cup, in 1954, yet did not win it?

Hungary's Mighty Magyars scored 27 goals in five matches in 1954, thrashing West Germany 8-3 in the group stage before losing the final 3-2 to the same opponents.

West Germany's 3–2 upset of the heavy favourites in the 1954 final is known in Germany as what?

The win is credited with giving post-war West Germany a sense of regained international standing.

Which host nation lost the 1958 final 5–2?

Sweden lost the 1958 final 5-2 to Brazil at the Råsunda Stadium in Solna on 29 June 1958, the 17-year-old Pelé scoring twice.

With two players sent off and police intervening four times, the Chile–Italy match at the 1962 World Cup became known as what?

The Battle of Santiago earned its name from the violence: two men sent off, numerous punches thrown and four police interventions.

Which English referee of the 1962 Chile–Italy brawl later invented yellow and red cards?

Aston is said to have got the idea from traffic lights while driving home from a 1966 World Cup match.

Which debutants beat Italy 1–0 at the 1966 World Cup on their way to the quarter-finals?

North Korea, on debut, beat Italy 1-0 at Middlesbrough through Pak Doo-ik, then led Portugal 3-0 in the quarter-final before Eusébio's four goals turned it into a 5-3 defeat.

World Cup Willie, the first official tournament mascot in 1966, was a cartoon what?

Willie was a lion in a Union Jack jersey, drawn by children's book illustrator Reg Hoye, and became the first official World Cup mascot at England 1966.

The Adidas Telstar, the 32-panel black-and-white ball of the 1970 World Cup, took its name from what?

A communications satellite, the 1962 Telstar, was roughly spherical and dotted with solar panels; the ball's pattern was chosen to show up on black-and-white TV sets, and only 20 were supplied.

Who was top scorer at the 1970 World Cup with 10 goals?

Gerd Müller scored 10 goals at Mexico 1970, including hat-tricks against Bulgaria and Peru, and struck West Germany's winner in the 1974 final.

Who scored the fastest goal in a World Cup final, after 1 min 28 s in 1974?

Johan Neeskens converted a second-minute penalty won by Cruyff before any West German had touched the ball; Breitner and Müller replied and the hosts won 2-1.

Pioneered at Ajax, the fluid Dutch style that dazzled at the 1974 World Cup, with players swapping positions freely, was called what?

Total Football virtually abolished specialised positions for outfield players, who became defenders, midfielders or strikers as the situation required.

Which team made its only World Cup appearance in 1974, beating the eventual champions 1–0?

East Germany beat West Germany 1-0 in Hamburg on 22 June 1974 through Jürgen Sparwasser, the only senior meeting of the two Germanys; the hosts went on to win the title.

Who was top scorer of the 1978 World Cup with six goals for the host nation?

Mario Kempes scored six goals for hosts Argentina in 1978, including two in the final, which Argentina won 3-1 after extra time against the Netherlands.

Which striker won the 1982 Golden Boot, his six goals being his first for Italy in three years?

Paolo Rossi, fresh from a two-year ban for the Totonero betting scandal, scored a hat-trick against Brazil, two against Poland and one in the final against West Germany.

West Germany's lifeless 1–0 win over Austria in 1982, the 'Disgrace of Gijón', eliminated whom?

The 1-0 result sent West Germany and Austria through on goal difference at Algeria's expense, and FIFA responded by making final group matches kick off simultaneously from 1986.

Who became the youngest player in World Cup history at 17 years 41 days?

Norman Whiteside, a Northern Ireland forward, played against Yugoslavia in 1982 at 17 years 41 days, breaking the record Pelé had set in 1958.

Which 40-year-old goalkeeper is the oldest player ever to win the World Cup, in 1982?

Dino Zoff captained Italy to the 1982 title at 40 years 133 days, having made a last-gasp goal-line save from Oscar's header to beat Brazil 3-2.

Maradona called his 1986 handball goal 'symbolic revenge' for which conflict?

Maradona said the goal felt like 'symbolic revenge' for Argentina's defeat in the 1982 Falklands War; he only admitted handling the ball on his television show in 2005.

Who won the 1986 Golden Boot with six goals?

Gary Lineker's six goals included a first-half hat-trick against Poland, two against Paraguay and England's consolation in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat by Argentina.

Which country was originally chosen to host the 1986 World Cup but withdrew in 1982?

Colombia, awarded the 1986 finals in 1974, withdrew in November 1982 because FIFA's expansion from 16 to 24 teams made the cost unaffordable; Mexico took over in 1983.

Which team became the first African side to reach a World Cup quarter-final, in 1990?

Cameroon opened Italia 90 by beating holders Argentina 1-0, then lost the quarter-final 3-2 to England after extra time, two Lineker penalties deciding it.

Which substitute striker became Italy's surprise star of the 1990 World Cup?

Salvatore Schillaci had one cap before Italia 90, came off the bench to score against Austria, and finished as the tournament's top scorer with six goals.

Who became the oldest World Cup goalscorer at 42, in 1994?

Roger Milla scored for Cameroon against Russia at 42 years 39 days in 1994, having already become the oldest scorer at 38 in 1990 with his corner-flag dances.

Who scored a record five goals in one World Cup match, for Russia in 1994?

Russia still went out in the group stage, yet Salenko shared the Golden Boot with six goals in just three games.

Maradona was thrown out of the 1994 World Cup after testing positive for what?

Maradona tested positive for ephedrine after Argentina's 2-1 win over Nigeria and was sent home, ending a World Cup career that ran from 1982 to 1994.

Which Colombian was shot dead in 1994, days after his own goal against the United States?

Andrés Escobar, nicknamed 'The Gentleman', was shot dead outside a Medellín nightclub on 2 July 1994, ten days after his own goal in Colombia's 2-1 defeat by the United States.

Which debutant nation finished third at the 1998 World Cup?

All four options made their debuts that year; Croatia's Davor Šuker won the Golden Boot with six goals.

Who scored the fastest World Cup goal, straight from kick-off in the 2002 third-place match?

Hakan Şükür scored after 10.8 seconds in Daegu, even though South Korea had kicked off; Turkey won the 2002 third-place match 3-2.

Who is the only goalkeeper ever to win the World Cup Golden Ball, in 2002?

His error in the final let Ronaldo score the opener as Brazil beat Germany 2–0.

In extra time of the 2006 World Cup final, the last match of his career, Zinedine Zidane headbutted which Italian?

Marco Materazzi had pulled at Zidane's jersey after an exchange of words; both men had scored their side's only goal in the final.

Which team played its only World Cup under that name in 2006, days after a split referendum?

Serbia and Montenegro played its only World Cup under that name in 2006 after Montenegro's independence referendum on 21 May; with no time to split the squad, FIFA let the union team play on.

Who scored the first goal of the 2010 World Cup, for the hosts against Mexico?

Siphiwe Tshabalala's 55th-minute strike at Soccer City put South Africa ahead in a 1-1 draw with Mexico, though the hosts became the first to go out in the group stage.

The name of the 2010 match ball, Jabulani, means what in Zulu?

Jabulani means 'rejoice' or 'be happy' in isiZulu; players hated its unpredictable knuckling flight so much that NASA's Ames centre studied its aerodynamics.

Paul the Octopus made his 2010 World Cup predictions at a Sea Life Centre in which German city?

Paul lived at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, in the Ruhr; in 2010 he picked the winner of all seven German matches plus the final, 12 correct calls from 14 in his career.

Whose 116th-minute volley won Spain the 2010 World Cup final?

Andrés Iniesta volleyed in a Cesc Fàbregas pass to beat the Netherlands 1–0 and give Spain its first world title.

What is the plastic horn whose constant drone became the sound of the 2010 World Cup?

The vuvuzela, a plastic horn, produces around 120 decibels at close range, and UEFA banned it from its competitions after the 2010 tournament.

By what score did Germany beat hosts Brazil in the 2014 semi-final?

Germany won 7-1 in Belo Horizonte on 8 July 2014, scoring four goals in six first-half minutes; it was Brazil's heaviest defeat since a 6-0 loss to Uruguay in 1920.

Who scored the 113th-minute winner in the 2014 World Cup final?

Mario Götze, a substitute, chested down André Schürrle's cross and volleyed in after 113 minutes to beat Argentina 1-0 at the Maracanã.

Who won the 2014 Golden Boot with six goals?

James Rodríguez scored six goals for Colombia, the first Colombian to win the award; his chest-and-volley against Uruguay won the 2014 Puskás Award.

Which team beat eventual champions Argentina 2–1 in their opening match of the 2022 World Cup?

Saudi Arabia came from behind with goals by Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari early in the second half after Messi's penalty, winning 2-1 on 22 November 2022.

Which venue hosted the 2022 World Cup final, played on Qatar's National Day?

Lusail Stadium, the 88,000-seat flagship venue north of Doha, staged the final on 18 December 2022; Argentina beat France on penalties after a 3-3 draw in which Mbappé scored a hat-trick.

Which country holds the record of 22 straight failed World Cup qualification attempts, 1934–2026?

Luxembourg entered every qualifying campaign from 1934 to 2026, 22 in all, and never reached the finals; the Grand Duchy's population is only about 680,000.

Which goalkeeper became the oldest player in World Cup history, at 45?

Essam El-Hadary was 45 years 161 days old when he kept goal for Egypt against Saudi Arabia on 25 June 2018, saving a penalty in a 2-1 defeat.

Which Mexican goalkeeper, 'El Cinco Copas', was the first footballer to play at five World Cups?

Antonio Carbajal kept goal for Mexico at every World Cup from 1950 to 1966, earning the nickname 'El Cinco Copas'; Lothar Matthäus became the second five-tournament player in 1998.

Whose goal with eleven minutes left won the 1950 decider for Uruguay at the Maracanã?

Alcides Ghiggia beat Barbosa at his near post in the 79th minute for a 2-1 win; the last survivor of the match, he died on its 65th anniversary, 16 July 2015.