Football is the most popular game in the world and has the most followers compared to other sports. Game’s global governing body Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has been organizing the world championship every four years since 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War.
FIFA under the presidency of Jules Rimet wished its own tournament like Olympic Football tournament. Amsterdam was the witness when FIFA congress on 28 May 1928 decided to organise the first World Cup and in the result of these efforts, the inaugural tournament was held in Uruguay.
So far, 16 different Nations have hosted 19 World Cup. Uruguay hosted inaugural tournament and then Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Chile, England, Argentina, United States of America, South Africa, Brazil and joint-host of 2002 Football World Cup Japan with South Korea have honour of hosting one tournament each while Italy, Mexico, France, Germany hosted two tournaments each.
In the first World Cup held in 1930 at Montevideo, Uruguay, 13 teams participated while 16 and 15 teams took part in the 1934 and 1938 World Cups respectively. Later in 1950, 13 teams contested and 16 teams participated in the world Cups from 1954 to 1978 according to the format. The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in 1982 till 1994 World Cup in the USA. Then the format was revised and 32 teams were allowed to participate in the latter tournaments.
Now the 20th World Cup is about to kick off in Brazil from the 12th of June, involving 32 teams including defending champions, Spain. This is the first time in the World Cup history that the tournament is being held back to back out side Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the debutant team in 2014 football World Cup.
[junkie-alert style=”white”] European and South American teams have dominated in the World tournaments so far. Only USA and South Korea are the teams which have qualified for the semis in the World Cup history outside the Europe and South America. [/junkie-alert]
Brazil is the most successful team with five World Cup titles. Italy is at second place with four World Cup trophies. Germany has won it for three times. Argentina and Uruguay won two titles each while France, England and current champions Spain secured one title each. Argentina, England, Italy and France have won their titles on home soil while Sweden, Brazil remained runners up while playing at home.
Including 2014 World Cup, Brazil has the record to appear in all the events of world championship while Germany and Italy have participated in the world cups for 18 times. Germany played 99 matches which are the most matches played by a single team in the World Cup while Indonesia played only one match. Brazil has record 67 wins out of 97 matches they played in the World Cup and also has the record of winning seven matches in a single tournament in 2002. Mexico lost 24 matches, the most by a team in the World Cup history. Italy has the record of the most number of draws — 21.
Football giant Brazil scored 210 goals till date while most goals conceded in 19 tournaments were 117 by Germany. Argentina with 103 Yellow cards, 1 Second Yellow Card and 9 Red Cards is the team with the most cards in the World Cup history.
Legendary Footballer Lothar Matthaeus of Germany and Antonio Carbajal of Mexico have appeared in the most number of tournaments (five). The symbol of the golden era of Brazilian football team Pele is the only player who lifted the World Cup trophies three times for his country.
Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside was the youngest player appeared in a World Cup at the age of 17 years, 41 days against Yugoslavia in 1982 while 42-year-and-39- day-old Roger Milla of Cameroon has been recorded as the oldest player in the World Cup. Lothar Matthaeus played 25 matches from 1982 to 1988 which is the maximum number of matches played by an individual. Brazilian Striker Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, popularly known as “Ronaldo” set the record of making the maximum number of goals by a player in World Cup history (15). Oliver Kahn became the first Goalkeeper who was awarded as the man of the tournament in 2002.
Now, more records are expected to be set or broken in the 20th edition of the Football World Cup.
By Abdullah Waheed