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