Soccer Facts!

">Suriname (South America)
Latin AmericaDid you know- In the latter half of the 20th century,
Did you know- Latin America, from Mexico toSuriname, a Dutch-speaking nation in South America,
Argentina, has hosted the FIFA World Cup six times:has provided the Netherlands with some of its best
Uruguay (1930), Brazil (1950), Chile (1962), Mexico (1970footballers: Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Aron
& 1986), and Argentina (1978). However, it hasWinter, Edson Braafheid, Stanley Menzo, and Jimmy
won the international title nine times: Uruguay (1930,Floyd Hosselbaink.
1950), Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002), andBlack Africa
Argentina (1978 & 1986).Did you know- When African republics boycotted the
Costa Rica (Central America)1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal (Canada), Nigeria,
Did you know- At the FIFA Under-20 WorldZambia and Ghana did not have the opportunity to
Championship in Nigeria (Africa) in April 1999, Costacompete in soccer.
Rica beat Germany 2-1. It was one of the biggestParaguay (South America)
surprises in the global event.Did you know- By 2004 Paraguay, a soccer-loving
Guinea (West Africa)country in the Americas, won its first Olympic medal
Did you know- On July 31, 1985, Guinea defeated thewhen the national team earned a silver medal in the
United States 1-o at the FIFA Under-16 WorldSummer Games in Athens, the capital city of Greece.
Tournament in the People's Republic of China.This Spanish-speaking country was one of the last
Bermuda (Caribbean)Latin American nations to win a medal in Olympic
Did you know- By 1967, Bermuda, one of the smallesthistory.
British dependencies on the Caribbean, finished secondEgypt (North Africa)
in the men's football at the V Pan American Games inDid you know- On July 14, 1987, Egypt beat Canada,
Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada).the country host, 3-0 at the Second FIFA Under-16
America (North America)World Championship.
Did you know- The United States of America finishedEl Salvador (Central America)
sixth in the men's football at the VIII Pan AmericanDid you know- ES has competed twice in the FIFA
Games in San Juan de Puerto Rico, behind Brazil,World Cup in the 20th century. It first competed in June
Argentina, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.1970 and then not again until June 1982. At the Central
Qatar (Middle East)American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El
Did you know- The X FIFA Under-20 WorldSalvador, the host country's team won the gold medal.
Championship was held in Qatar's capital of Doha inTunisia (North Africa)
the mid-1990s.Did you know- Tunisia, a soccer-loving nation in North
Brazil (South America)Africa, made history when it hosted the First Under- 20
Did you know- As one of the leading nations in theWorld Cup in 1977. The champion was the USSR
sport of football, Brazil has had several coaches in the(now Russia), followed in order by Mexico (runner-up),
world: Carlos Parreira (South Africa), AlexanderBrazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Honduras, Spain, France,
Guimaraes (Costa Rica), Arthur Antunes CoimbraHungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast (today Cote
(Japan), Marcos Paqueta (Saudi Arabia), and Waldyrd'Ivoire), Austria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Pereira (Peru).