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World Cup 2026 (Archive)

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Spain vs Cape Verde Islands · 62% confident

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Spain

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Cape Verde Islands

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World Cup Facts Through the Ages

1930

FIFA World Cup 1930

🏆

The Birth of the World Cup

Uruguay hosted and won the very first FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina 4–2 in Montevideo. Only 13 nations competed — 4 from Europe, who crossed the Atlantic by ship just to play.

1934

FIFA World Cup 1934

🏛️

Mussolini's World Cup

Italy won on home soil in controversial fashion under Mussolini's watchful eye. The final went to extra time, with Angelo Schiavio's winner sealing a 2–1 victory over Czechoslovakia.

1938

FIFA World Cup 1938

⭐

Italy Back-to-Back

Italy became the first team to successfully defend the World Cup title, beating Hungary 4–2 in Paris. It would be 64 years before Brazil matched this feat in 2002.

1950

FIFA World Cup 1950

😱

El Maracanazo

Uruguay stunned 200,000 fans inside the Maracanã by beating Brazil 2–1 in the deciding match. Brazil had been so certain of victory that newspapers had already printed the celebrations. It is still called the greatest football shock of all time.

1954

FIFA World Cup 1954

⚡

The Miracle of Berne

West Germany defeated the unbeatable Hungary 3–2 in the final after trailing 0–2 inside 8 minutes. Hungary's 'Golden Team' had gone 32 games unbeaten. It is called "Das Wunder von Bern" — the Miracle of Berne.

1958

FIFA World Cup 1958

⭐

Pelé: The Boy Wonder

A 17-year-old Pelé lit up Sweden 1958 with 6 goals in 4 matches, including a hat-trick in the semi-final and two in the final. Brazil won 5–2. He remains the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.

1962

FIFA World Cup 1962

🐦

Brazil Without Pelé

Pelé was injured after two games, yet Garrincha carried Brazil to a second successive title. The 'Little Bird' scored twice in the semi-final and twice in the quarter-final. Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3–1 to retain the Jules Rimet trophy.

1966

FIFA World Cup 1966

🦁

The Wembley Triumph

England won their only World Cup on home soil, with Geoff Hurst scoring a legendary hat-trick in the 4–2 final against West Germany. "They think it's all over... it is now!" Still the only hat-trick ever scored in a World Cup final.

1970

FIFA World Cup 1970

💫

The Beautiful Game

Brazil's 1970 squad — Pelé, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto — is widely considered the greatest international team ever assembled. Their 4–1 final dismantling of Italy, crowned by Carlos Alberto's thunderbolt, set the standard for how football could be played.

1974

FIFA World Cup 1974

🟠

Total Football Falls Short

Johan Cruyff's Netherlands invented Total Football and dazzled the world. But West Germany won 2–1 at home, after the Dutch had taken the lead inside 2 minutes — before Germany had touched the ball. Cruyff never won the World Cup.

1978

FIFA World Cup 1978

🎊

Argentina First Title

Argentina won their first World Cup on home soil in Buenos Aires, beating the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time. Ticker tape rained from the skies at the Estadio Monumental as Mario Kempes, their tournament top scorer, sealed the dream.

1982

FIFA World Cup 1982

👟

Paolo Rossi's Golden Boots

Paolo Rossi scored 6 goals in 3 games — including a hat-trick against Brazil — after coming off a match-fixing ban. Italy beat West Germany 3–1 in the final. Rossi won the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and the World Cup in the space of 3 weeks.

1986

FIFA World Cup 1986

🤚

Maradona's Hand & Genius

Diego Maradona scored with his hand AND then scored the Goal of the Century in the same quarter-final against England. He then led Argentina past Belgium in the semi-final and beat West Germany 3–2 in the final. The greatest individual World Cup performance ever.

1990

FIFA World Cup 1990

😢

The Ugly Beautiful Game

Italia 90 was the lowest-scoring World Cup in history, with just 2.21 goals per game. West Germany beat Argentina 1–0 in a dour final decided by a penalty. But the tournament gave us Roger Milla dancing, Gazza's tears, and Pavarotti's Nessun Dorma.

1994

FIFA World Cup 1994

😭

Baggio's Tears

Italy's Roberto Baggio carried his team to the final almost single-handedly — only to step up to a deciding penalty shootout kick and blaze it over the bar. Brazil won on penalties. The image of Baggio, head bowed, is one of football's most iconic photographs.

1998

FIFA World Cup 1998

🐓

Zidane & Les Bleus

France hosted and won their first World Cup, with Zinedine Zidane scoring twice with his head against Brazil in the final. But the pre-match mystery remains: a convulsing Ronaldo started the game despite reports he had a seizure the night before. France won 3–0.

2002

FIFA World Cup 2002

⚡

Ronaldo Redeemed

After the mysterious 1998 final, Ronaldo scored both goals as Brazil beat Germany 2–0 in Yokohama. He finished with 8 goals and the Golden Boot. South Korea became the first Asian side to reach the semi-finals, knocking out Spain, Italy and Portugal along the way.

2006

FIFA World Cup 2006

🔴

Zidane's Last Act

Zinedine Zidane's final act of his glittering career was a headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in extra time of the final. He was sent off. Italy won on penalties. What Materazzi said to provoke him has never been officially confirmed.

2010

FIFA World Cup 2010

🔴

Spain & the Vuvuzela

Spain became the first European team to win a World Cup outside Europe, winning in South Africa with Andrés Iniesta's extra-time goal against the Netherlands. The tournament was defined by the incessant drone of vuvuzelas — and Paul the Octopus, who predicted every Spain result correctly.

2014

FIFA World Cup 2014

😭

The 7–1 Mineirazo

Brazil hosted the World Cup and suffered the greatest humiliation in their history — a 7–1 semi-final thrashing by Germany at the Estádio Mineirão. Brazilians called it 'O Mineirazo'. Mario Götze then scored the only goal in the final against Argentina to win Germany their fourth title.

2018

FIFA World Cup 2018

⭐

France's New Generation

France won their second World Cup in Russia, with a golden generation led by 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé — only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final. They beat Croatia 4–2 in a thrilling final. Luka Modric won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

2022

FIFA World Cup 2022

🏆

Messi's Dream

Lionel Messi finally lifted the World Cup in the greatest final in football history. Argentina and France played out a 3–3 draw after extra time, with Mbappé scoring a hat-trick in the second half. Argentina won 4–2 on penalties. Messi had done everything — and now he had everything.

2026

FIFA World Cup 2026

🌍

The Biggest World Cup Ever

For the first time in history, 48 nations compete across 3 host countries — USA, Canada and Mexico. 104 matches, 16 stadiums, 1 champion. The opening match kicks off at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June 2026.

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