The FIFA World Cup is the world’s most prestigious international soccer tournament. The global phenomenon is held every four years and features the world’s best soccer players suiting up for their country for a month of elite competition.
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The global phenomenon is held every four years, and features the world’s best soccer players suiting up for their country for a month of elite competition. The final in 2022 reached 1.5 billion viewers worldwide.
After 24 years of having a 32-team tournament, the FIFA World Cup will get an upgrade in 2026, expanding the field to make it the largest World Cup ever.
The Premier League and other similar club leagues are professional organizations like the NFL or NBA, where owners purchase player contracts. World Cup teams, on the other hand, are organized by citizenship.
In 1930, the first World Cup was held in Uruguay after the Olympics refused to allow professional soccer players to play in the 1932 games. The host country made it to the final of the 13-team event, playing against Argentina. Watch this remastered film of the 1930 match with Uruguay defeating Argentina 3 to 2 in front of 68,000 screaming fans at the newly opened Estadio Centenario.
If you're expecting a staid back-and-forth, then you'll be surprised by the World Cup, which is often filled with high drama and even higher tensions. This list highlights how controversy has been a constant on soccer’s biggest stage, influencing outcomes, sparking debates, and sometimes leading to rule changes.
The 1966 match is known for its controversial third goal scored by Geoff Hurst, called “The Ghost Goal.” Watch the original footage, including the legendary call from announcer Kenneth Wolstenholme, and decide for yourself if the ball went in.
While on display at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, England, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen while a church service was being held in another room. It was eventually sniffed out a week later by Pickles, a black-and-white collie.
After a 12-year pause for WWII, the World Cup returned in 1950 in Brazil. Brazil dominated the era, claiming titles in 1958, ‘62, and ‘70 behind teen sensation Pelé, who went from poverty to a soccer legend before turning 17.
He’s one of history’s most famous soccer players: Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé. This piece follows the Brazilian soccer legend through various public appearances and interviews, highlighting the commercialization of his image and his own reflection on a life of stardom.
The first unofficial Women’s World Cup was played in 1970 in Italy, and momentum grew throughout the 1980s with multiple international tournaments. In 1988, FIFA tested the event's viability with a 12-team invitational in China. The first official Women’s World Cup was held in 1991 in China, and was won by the US.
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