21st World Cup
Russia 2018 will be the 21st World Cup in FIFA history. It will also be the first time that Russia hosts the soccer event. Are you ready?
21st World Cup
Newcomers
Panama and Iceland are taking part in the World Cup for the first time ever! In 2010, Slovakia was the last team to make their debut and qualify to the next round.
Newcomers
Round Of 16
Every host country’s soccer team has made it to the Last 16… but with one exception. South Africa is the only country to have hosted a World Cup (2010) and not made it past the group stage.
Round Of 16
Braziliant
Brazil is the only country in the world to have taken part in every single World Cup since the first tournament in 1930. They are also the side with the most wins in the competition – 5!
Braziliant
Mexican’t
Mexico’s team holds the record for attending the World Cup the most times without ever taking the trophy home. At least they keep coming back without letting up.
Mexicant
Seeing Red
When it comes to getting red cards, Brazil leads the pack with the most (11) throughout the World Cup years. Not far behind is Argentina (10) and then Uruguay (9). Are South Americans hot blooded, perhaps?
Seeing Red
Goals For Glory
Have you ever wondered how many goals are scored at the World Cup? Well the most were scored in 1998 and 2014 – 171. The least however was a low of 145 in 2010.
Goals For Glory
Making Swiss Cheese
The most goals to ever be scored in a World Cup match is 12. This happened when Austria beat Switzerland 7-5 all the way back in 1954 in Sweden.
Making Swiss Cheese
National Pride
Every single time a country has won the World Cup, the team’s coach has had the same nationality. Should this be a requirement now for ever side?
National Pride
Thinking Inside The Box
Denmark proudly boast having scored 27 goals during their appearances at the World Cup. But it’s interesting to note that ALL of their goals were sent into the back of the net from inside the box.
Thinking Inside The Box
Back To Back
Brazil is the only country to have won the World Cup one time right after the other. The first time was in 1958 and then four years later in 1962.
Back To Back
African Pride
Nigeria has qualified for the World Cup the most times out of any African country. Russia 2018 will be the sixth time the Nigerians make an appearance at the tournament. They’ve only missed one World Cup (2006) since their debut in 1994.
African Pride
Look Out, Belgium
Belgium might just be late-bloomers. In every one of their last 8 World Cup games, they put a ball into the back of the net only after the 70th minute.
Look Out Belgium
Never Too Old
If Egypt’s goalkeeper, Essam El-Hadary, plays in Russia at this year’s tournament, he will become the oldest player in history to do so. Currently he is 45 years and 5 months old, but he’s also been assigned to the bench for now.
Never Too Old
Young Gun
The youngest player to have ever graced the pitch at a World Cup was Norman Whiteside playing for Northern Ireland in 1982. He was just 17 years, 1 month and 10 days old.
Young Gun
Japan And Korea
In 2002, FIFA made history when they allowed both Japan and South Korea to host the World Cup. It was the first time in history that two countries hosted the tournament, making it a truly exciting event.
Japan And Korea
And Again
After the bid for the 2026 World Cup was complete, the results were surprising. The winners of the bid were three countries together – Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This will make it the first time in history that 3 countries host the games, and Mexico’s third time ever.
And Again
48 Teams
While the World Cup currently allows 32 teams to take part in the event, that is going to change in 2026. FIFA has decided to enlarge the number of teams from 32 to 48!
48 Teams
Too Hot To Play
Although the FIFA World Cup traditionally takes place during the summer months of June and July, in 2022 it will be different. Since the competition will be held in Qatar, a country in the desert, the games will take place in November and December.
Too Hot To Play
Oldest Goalscorer
Cameroon’s Roger Milla made history at the 1994 World Cup when he scored a goal against Russia. It wasn’t necessarily a beautiful goal, but the fact that Milla was 42 years old meant he was the oldest player to score a goal at the World Cup.
Oldest Goalscorer
Boots Needed
Believe it or not, even India almost played in a World Cup, back in 1950. The rumor is that they were denied entry because they insisted on playing barefoot.
Boots Needed
Stressful Days
Not long before the World Cup of 1966, which took place in England, started, the tournament’s trophy went missing after it was stolen. It was a very stressful 7 days until it was found.
Stressful Days
Tied Up
Most fans don’t want to see a draw at any tournament, let alone the greatest sporting event of all time. But for Italian fans it seems to have happened the most often. Italy has a record of 21 World Cup ties!
Tied Up
Just One
In 1938, Indonesia made their first, last, and only appearance in a World Cup tournament. At the time, the competition was only a knockout stage; no group stage. It is the country with the fewest appearances at the competition other than those who haven’t appeared at all.
Just One
Biggest Losers
Despite the fact that Mexico has drawn 14 games and won 16, they have also suffered an incredible 27 losses during their World Cup tenure.
Biggest Losers
Mr. Salenko
When Cameroon faced Russia in the 1994 games, they were not expecting Oleg Salenko to score a record five goals in the match. In fact this number of goals by one player is still the world record.
Mr. Salenko
Having Babies
This one will make you think! Rumors and unproven evidence, shows that the winning country of the World Cup has generally seen a baby-boom after the competition. Can we expect the same now in France?
Having Babies
Growing In Number
Originally the World Cup was made up of 16 teams, but that changed in 1978 when the number jumped to 24. It was in 1994 that 32 became the norm. And as we said, we can expect that number to jump again in 2026.
Growing In Number
Not Just The One
Although the majority of viewership goes to the Men’s FIFA World Cup, we should note that there are variants of the competition. They are: FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Not Just The One
Getting In
There are more than 200 teams that fight their way through qualifying games to make it to the World Cup. There are many countries that have never qualified for the competition.
Getting In
What About The Cup?
Whichever country wins the tournament, gets to keep the iconic cup for four years, until the next tournament. In addition, they have gold replica made for them to keep.
What About The Cup
Few Teams
In 1950, the World Cup saw its smallest pool of teams. The number stood at 13, after three teams pulled out of the competition – Scotland, India and Turkey.
Few Teams
Less Than 100
This one is quite startling! In total, over all the years that this tournament has been running, only 79 countries have taken part in it. Some of those countries don’t exist anymore, like Czechoslovakia and West Germany.
Less Than 100
Technology In Sports
Brazil 2014 marked the start of goal-line technology, and the use of “disappearing spray” by referees. Boy, oh boy, what a difference these things have made.
Technology In Sports
Huge Crowd
Even though we have televisions and the internet, there’s nothing quite like watching a soccer game live. The greatest attendance at a World Cup match took place in 1950 at a match between Brazil and Uruguay. 173,850 people packed the stadium to see the game.
Huge Crowd
Around The Globe
The first time that the World Cup was broadcast in every single country around the world, was in 2010. This also included territories like Antarctica!
Around The Globe
Playing Safe
With the boom in all sorts of technology, security has become one of the greatest beneficiaries. During the competition in Brazil in 2014, Brazilian authorities implemented the use of robots and drones to up the security game.
Playing Safe
10-1
Even though there has been a World Cup match with more goals scored overall, the Hungary vs El Salvador game of 1982 was quite different. Hungary managed to defeat El Salvador with a humiliating 10-1 win.
10 1
Brazil The Champions
Brazil is not only the leading World Cup winners of all time. They also happen to have won the most games in total – 76 to be exact.
Brazil The Champions
Most Goals
Brazil is also the team to have scored the most goals in total when it comes to the World Cup. They currently sit at 229 goals!
Most Goals
Scotland’s Luck
Scotland has successfully qualified for 8 World Cup tournaments. Unfortunately though, they haven’t ever made it past the group stages.
Scotlands Luck
Old Scars
During the Second World War, the FIFA World Cup didn’t take place, just like the Olympic Games. But in addition to this there were some deep scars that ran deep after WWII. Japan and Germany were both banned from the 1950 World Cup.
Old Scars
Ironic Much?
England has taken the World Cup once, back in 1966. They also have a different record, but one they’re not so proud. England has been kicked out of three World Cups in the group stages, but without having ever lost a game.
Ironic Much
Familiar Faces
Sweden and Brazil have met each-other at the World Cup on 7 different occasions – the record. Behind them is Germany, who met Yugoslavia 6 times. The latter can never happen again.
Familiar Faces
Worst Performance
The worst performance ever by a defending champion, was France in 2002. Not only did they get eliminated in the group stages of the tournament, they also didn’t score a single goal.
Worst Performance
Losing Count
The greatest victory for a team in a qualifier’s game was for Australia against American Samoa. The Australian side made an impressive 32-0 win in 2001.
Losing Count
Many Games
Most players probably don’t want their World Cup days to end. And then there was Lothar Matthaeus of Germany, who played a grand total of 25 World Cup matches. The current record.
Many Games
Hat-Trick
Scoring three goals in a game is quite a big deal. But what about scoring three goals in a World Cup final? This has only happened once and it was done by Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.
Hat Trick
First Goal
The first goal ever scored in a World Cup match was by Lucien Laurent of France at the 1930 tournament. Uruguay would go on to win that competition.
First Goal
Back To Back
Only Italy and Brazil have successfully held onto their titles from one World Cup onto the next. Italy did so in 1934 and 1938, whereas Brazil did so in 1958 and then in 1962.
Back To Back
Playing Both Sides
No man other than Luis Monti has played for more than one country at the World Cup. In 1930 he represented Argentina, but in 1934 he represented Italy, who won that year.
Playing Both Sides
Coaching All Sides
There might have been a player who represented two different teams, but there was a coach who led 5! Bora Milutinovic coached Mexico, China, Costa Rica, USA and Nigeria!
Coaching All Sides
Fastest Goal
The best way to take a lead in a game is to score early,and Hakan Sukur of Turkey knows that best. He holds the record for the fastest World Cup goal, which he put away in just 11 seconds against South Korea in 2002.
Fastest Goal
Sent Off
It was the first time ever that a goalkeeper was sent off during a World Cup match in 1994. Italy’s Gianluca Pagliuca received a red card while playing against Norway.
Sent Off
Pele
The greatest footballer of all time is definitely Pele of Brazil. He is also the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup. He was just 17 years and 239 days old.
Pele
