| If the number of television viewers
| |
| | The Germans, who had recently annexed
|
| watching a sporting event is any guide to
| |
| | Austria invited the Austrian players to
|
| its popularity, then the FIFA World Cup
| |
| | choose to play for either Austria or
|
| is the world's favorite, with an
| |
| | Germany. Six of the Austrians chose to
|
| estimated viewer ship of nearly 30
| |
| | play for Germany. It wasn't a good move
|
| billion. How very different from the
| |
| | as Switzerland knocked Germany out in the
|
| early days.
| |
| | first round. The Italians cruised to the
|
| In the early 20th century, the only
| |
| | final, beating France and Brazil on the
|
| tournament where national teams could
| |
| | way. Hungary were no match for them in
|
| compete, albeit on an amateur basis was
| |
| | the final itself, Italy winning 4-2.
|
| as part of the Olympic Games. The
| |
| | Statistics
|
| Federation Internationale de Football
| |
| | 1938
|
| Association (FIFA) recognized the Olympic
| |
| | Host Country: France
|
| tournament as a "world football
| |
| | Countries: Belgium, Brazil, Cuba,
|
| championship for amateurs" in 1914 and
| |
| | Czechoslovakia, Dutch East Indies ,
|
| undertook to organize the event under the
| |
| | France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
|
| Olympic umbrella.
| |
| | Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania,
|
| Due to the First World War the
| |
| | Sweden, Switzerland
|
| introduction of the FIFA organized event
| |
| | Final: Italy 4, Hungary 2
|
| was delayed until the 1920 Summer
| |
| | Top goal scorer: Leonidas da Silva,
|
| Olympics. Belgium won the tournament
| |
| | Brazil (8) The Second World War After
|
| that year with Uruguay winning the next
| |
| | 1939 the world had more important matters
|
| two titles in 1924 and 1928. During the
| |
| | to think about other than football and
|
| early planning stages of the 1932 Summer
| |
| | Italy kept the World Cup Trophy under the
|
| Olympics the International Olympic
| |
| | bed of Ottorino Barassi, the Italian vice
|
| Committee decided to drop the football
| |
| | president of FIFA, who feared it would be
|
| tournament because of the low popularity
| |
| | a prime target for Nazis. Thankfully
|
| of football in the United States. In
| |
| | this action kept the trophy safe and in
|
| response, Jules Rimet, the then President
| |
| | 1946 as a tribute to Jules Rimet, whose
|
| of FIFA passed a vote initiating a
| |
| | initiative led to the creation of the
|
| tournament to be held in 1930 totally
| |
| | World Cup Competition, the trophy was
|
| under FIFA' s control. Thus the World
| |
| | officially named The Jules Rimet Trophy.
|
| Cup was born. 1930 To honor its 100th
| |
| | As most of Europe lay in ruins and the
|
| birthday and to acknowledge the fact that
| |
| | world's economies were devastated by the
|
| it had won the last two Olympic
| |
| | war the next World Cup competition did
|
| competitions, Uruguay was chosen as the
| |
| | not take place until 1950.
|
| first host of the World Cup. Only four
| |
| | 1950 After a twelve-year lay off, the
|
| European teams took part despite
| |
| | World Cup competition returned to South
|
| Uruguay's willingness to pay travel
| |
| | America, this time Brazil. The lack of
|
| expenses.
| |
| | participating countries caused the
|
| The first match was France versus Mexico.
| |
| | organizers a headache so the format was
|
| Less than 1000 fans turned up to see the
| |
| | changed. Instead of a final Brazil,
|
| French win 4-1. In another match, again
| |
| | Spain, Sweden and Uruguay played in a
|
| involving France, but this time against
| |
| | league format that ended with Brazil just
|
| Argentina, the referee set the depressing
| |
| | needing a draw in its final game to win
|
| pattern of poor decisions in the World
| |
| | the cup. But it was not to be. Brazil's
|
| Cup by ending the game over six minutes
| |
| | opponents spoiled the party by winning
|
| early. The ensuing invasion of the pitch
| |
| | 2-1.
|
| by the Argentinean fans persuaded the
| |
| | Statistics Host Country: Brazil
|
| referee to play the extra six minutes
| |
| | Countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
|
| once the pitch had been cleared. Just as
| |
| | England, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Spain,
|
| well for Argentina. They won 1-0. The
| |
| | Sweden, Switzerland, United States,
|
| final was a real grudge-match between
| |
| | Uruguay, Yugoslavia
|
| Uruguay and Argentina. They couldn't
| |
| | Final: Uruguay 2, Brazil 1
|
| even agree on what type of ball to use so
| |
| | Top goal scorer: Ademir de Menezes,
|
| a compromise was reached where a
| |
| | Brazil (9)
|
| different ball was used for each half of
| |
| | 1954 This was the first World Cup to be
|
| the match. Over 90,000 fans watched
| |
| | televised and the few people with
|
| Uruguay become the first World Cup
| |
| | television sets in those days were
|
| Champions by beating Argentina 4-2.
| |
| | treated to a feast of goals, the average
|
| Statistics Host Country: Uruguay
| |
| | being 5.38 per game. Some of the highest
|
| Countries: Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia,
| |
| | scoring games were - Hungary 9 South
|
| Brazil, Chile, France, Mexico, Paraguay,
| |
| | Korea 0, Hungary 8 West Germany 3, (a
|
| Peru, Romania, United States, Uruguay and
| |
| | group stage match that the West German
|
| Yugoslavia.
| |
| | coach wanted to lose to avoid meeting
|
| Final: Uruguay 4, Argentina 2
| |
| | Brazil too early) and West Germany 7
|
| Top scorer: Guillermo Stabile, Argentina
| |
| | Turkey 2. The highest scoring match in
|
| (8)
| |
| | World Cup history took place during this
|
| 1934 On to Benito Mussolini's fascist
| |
| | competition. It was the quarter final
|
| Italy for the 1934 World Cup. The
| |
| | where Austria beat Switzerland 7-5. The
|
| Italians didn't offer traveling expenses
| |
| | final was a re-match of the earlier game
|
| so the previous champions Uruguay so they
| |
| | West Germany versus Hungary. This time
|
| chose not to defend their title. The USA
| |
| | the West German coach Sepp Herberger
|
| in their second World Cup suffered a 7-1
| |
| | fielded his strongest side and beat
|
| defeat at the hands of the eventual
| |
| | Hungary 3-2
|
| winners Italy who beat Czechoslovakia 2-1
| |
| | Statistics Host Country: Switzerland
|
| after extra time.
| |
| | Countries: Austria, Czechoslovakia,
|
| Statistics Host Country: Italy
| |
| | Belgium, Brazil, England, France,
|
| Countries: Argentina, Austria, Belgium,
| |
| | Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Scotland, South
|
| Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France,
| |
| | Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, West
|
| Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands,
| |
| | Germany, Yugoslavia
|
| Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
| |
| | Final: West Germany 3, Hungary 2
|
| United States
| |
| | Top goal scorer: Sandor Kocsis, Hungary
|
| Final: Italy 2, Czechoslovakia 1 (after
| |
| | (11)
|
| extra time)
| |
| | 1958 Again in Europe, this time Sweden,
|
| Top goal scorer (Joint) : Conen, Germany,
| |
| | the 1958 World Cup saw the debut on the
|
| Oldrich Nejedly, Czechoslovakia, Angelo
| |
| | world stage of a 17 year old Brazilian
|
| Schiavio, Italy (4)
| |
| | destined to become the most famous
|
| 1938 With war clouds heavy over Europe
| |
| | footballer in the world - Pele. He
|
| the World Cup moved to France. Italy
| |
| | scored a total of six goals in the
|
| were the favorites but their future
| |
| | tournament including three in the final
|
| allies Germany fancied their chances.
| |
| | against hosts Sweden that Brazil won 5-2.
|
