Fifa World Cup History

Do you want to read about FIFA World Cup history? Baseball may be America's pastime, but worldwide, the sport of choice is football -- and its premiere event, the FIFA World Cup, has provided fans with a rich and memorable history. The World Cup is the global championship of football, involving teams on every continent except Antarctica. The FIFA World Cup is relatively young as a competition -- the tournament has taken place every year since 1930. But given its scale, the FIFA World Cup has provided fans with colorful history and lots of memories. 

Origins. The FIFA World Cup is a true creation of the country of France. A group of sports administrators in that country, impressed by the level of interest in football from the Olympics, sought to emulate that success by creating a sport specific global championship. Particularly influential in the history of the World Cup was Jules Rimet, who chaired a committee to study the feasibility of a global football championship. (The original trophy to the winner of the World Cup carried Rimet's name.)

The first FIFA World Cup. Five countries bid to host the first FIFA World Cup to be competed in. Organizers awarded the tournament to Uruguay, which at the time would be in the midst of its centennial celebration. For the first tournament in FIFA World Cup history, there were thirteen entrants, most from Central and South America. The Final Four came down to Uruguay, the United States, Argentina and Yugoslavia, with the home nation topping Argentina in the final.

Break for World War II. The FIFA World Cup was competed again in 1934 and 1938, both won by Italy. The Italians beat Czechoslovakia and Hungary, respectively. But then world events got in the way. The FIFA World Cup was halted for twelve years due to World War II.

The First Powerhouses. Uruguay won the FIFA World Cup again in 1950, before new powerhouse teams began making history for the game. Germany won the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, followed by two straight triumphs by Brazil (Sweden in 1958 and Chile in 1962.) The Germans and Brazilians have consistently been among the final four teams in the sport since that time. Overall, there have been sixteen World Cups, won by seven nations total.

Personalities Take Over. Colorful players are a consistent part of FIFA World Cup history. The Sweden World Cup in 1958 introduced the world to Edson Arantes do Nascimento of Brazil -- otherwise known as Pele, who went on to become the most famous player in the history of the sport. Pele scored six goals in his inaugural World Cup as a 17-year-old. Four years later brought the famed Franz Beckenbauer of Germany to the big stage. Other top names who have made history include Eusebio of Portugal; Geoff Hurst of England; and Diego Maradona of Argentina.

New territory. Football has never been a mass market sport within the United States, so it was a risk when FIFA awarded the tournament to America, in 1994, for the first time. The United States loves big events, though, and supported the FIFA World Cup in 1994 with abandon -- a record attendance of more than 3.5 million people. Brazil topped Italy in the championship.