FIFA.com - FIFA World Cup™ FIFA World Cup™ You're logging in with Facebook You're logging in with Twitter You're logging in with Google+ Connect Login Error The email address/password you submitted is wrong or could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club, please register first. The email address/password you submitted is wrong or could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club, please register first. This Facebook account is already present Your Club account has been locked due to a breach of our Terms of Service. Please set up a new account in line with the Club rules. Review the Club Rules . Alternatively, you can email us by completing our contact form . Please enter a valid email address The email address/password you submitted is wrong or could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club, please register first. Log-in unsuccessful FIFA World Cup™ © Foto-net The FIFA World Cup™ is the biggest single-event sporting competition in the world and is contested by the senior men's national teams from the 208 Member Associations of FIFA.

The competition has been played every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of the Second World War. It fulfils FIFA’s objectives to touch the world, develop the game, and build a better future through a variety of ways. Tournament format The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of one month – this phase is often called the Final Competition. A qualification phase, the Preliminary Competition which currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament together with the host nation(s). The preliminary competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ sees a total of 204 entries across six continents competing for 31 available spots. For the last FIFA World Cup, 200 teams played a total of 853 matches as 31 teams qualified for South Africa.

Both the preliminary and final competitions act as a massive promotion for the game of football and for the host nation(s) and are therefore wonderful opportunities to help promote values of respect, fair play and discipline to the watching world. Understandably, the organisation of such an event is a huge task for FIFA and the Local Organising Committee and is therefore one of the main activities of FIFA over a four-year period. Facts and figures The 19 FIFA World Cup tournaments have been won by eight different national teams. Brazil have won five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament. The other winners are Italy, with four titles; Germany, with three wins; Argentina and inaugural winners Uruguay, with two; and England, France, and Spain, with one title each. The FIFA World Cup is the world's most widely viewed sporting event; an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany and the 2010 event in South Africa was broadcast to 204 countries on 245 different channels.

Inside the stadiums, a total of 3,170,856 spectators attended the 64 matches an average of 49,670 per match and the third highest aggregate attendance behind USA 1994 and Germany 2006. There were also over six million people who attended public viewing events in 16 sites across the world: ten within South Africa and a further six across the globe in Rome, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro. A total of 350,000 fans attended the International FIFA Fan Fest in Berlin for the semi-final match between Germany and Spain. 177,853 accreditations for the last FIFA World Cup were printed, while the hospitality programme attracted almost a quarter of a million guests. Over three quarters of a million litres of beer were sold in the stadiums and 390,600 hot dogs were sold in the public catering concessions; many to the half a million international visitors who descended on South Africa. The FIFA World Cup brings in much needed resources from partners and the TV rights which allows FIFA to invest in social activities related to the tournament.

For South Africa 2010, the 20 Centres for 2010 campaign was launched, aiming promote public health, education and football in disadvantaged communities across Africa. A FIFA World Cup also creates resources for many extra development programmes which proved to be beneficial for member associations of FIFA throughout the course of the four-year cycle. The next three World Cups will be hosted by Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022. FIFA World Cup history FIFA World Cup history Last Updated: Monday, June 09, 2014, 13:19 The Competition and Countries The inaugural FIFA World Cup was held in and won by Uruguay in 1930. Uruguay, then the best footballing nation -- having already won the Olympic competitions in 1924 and 1928 -- defeated Argentina in the final. The first World Cup was competed by 13 countries. And thus started an enduring saga of man celebrating life never before. Ever since, the greatest spectacle on earth is held every four years, except during the intervening years of the Second World War, in 1942 and 1946.

Known as the Finals, the competition lasts about a month, with the qualification competitions held for each confederation(s) over the preceding years. Only eight countries have ever won the competition. Brazil, which host the 20th edition starting June 12, have won a record five times. They have also scored the most World Cup goals, with 210. Italy follow with four titles, then Germany (as West Germany) with three. Argentina and Uruguay have each won twice and England, France and Spain (holders) once each. Germany have played the most World Cup matches, with 99 which includes seven finals. The Netherlands lost all their three finals in 1974, 1978 and 2010. The number of competing teams increased to 16 in the 1934 World Cup in Italy, then to 24 in the 1982 edition in Spain. Now, it`s a 32-team format which was first incorporated in 1998, France.

The 32 teams in 2014 World Cup will represent five confederations and except hosts Brazil, have qualified through the qualification involving an `unrivalled` 204 nations from six confederations. The Trophy Earlier, between 1930 and 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy -- named after the FIFA president Jules Rimet -- was awarded to the winning team. This trophy was won outright by Brazil when in 1970, they won the competition for the third time. It was designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur. The present one, simply known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was chosen in 1970 from 53 models coming from seven countries. The 36 cm tall trophy of solid 18 carat gold was sculpted by Italian designer Silvio Gazzaniga. This trophy cannot be won outright. Besides the winning team trophy, other awards are also presented for individual efforts. The Golden Ball, by far the best known among such awards, is meant for the best player of the tournament. The Silver Ball and the Bronze Ball are awarded to the second and third best players respectively. It is determined by a vote of media members.

It was first awarded in 1982. The same year, the Golden Boot (also called the Golden Shoe) for the top goalscorer was introduced. But, retrospectively all the top scorers in the previous World Cup starting 1930 were accorded the same honour. The award for the best goalkeeper is called the Golden Glove Award. Formerly known as the Yashin Award after the Russian great, Lev Yashin, it is decided by the FIFA Technical Study Group. It was first awarded in 1994. Players Brazil legend, Ronaldo scored a record 15 goals from 1998 to 2006. He is followed by Germany`s Miroslav Klose and West Germany`s Gerd Muller (1970–1974) with 14 goals each. France`s Just Fontaine scored a record 13 goals in a single World Cup in 1958. The Morrocon immigrant is also still the fourth highest goalscorer.

Both Mexico`s Antonio Carbajal (1950–1966) and Germany`s Lothar Matthaus (1982–1998) have played in record five tournaments, with Matthaus holding the record for most appearances at 25. But the ultimate glory is with Pele, who lays claim to three World Cup winners` medals. He won the World Cup with Brazilian national team in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Brazil`s Mario Zagallo and West Germany`s Franz Beckenbauer are the only two players to have won the World Cup as both player and coach. Zagallo won in 1958 and 1962 as a player and in 1970 as coach, while Beckenbauer won in 1974 as captain and in 1990 as coach. First Published: Monday, June 09, 2014, 13:19 The footballs during the FIFA World Cup™ 2014 Brazil The brazuca, which means 'Brazilian' and refers to the Brazilian way of life, is the most-tested adidas ball in history.

It was, over a two-and-a-half-year period, tried out by over 600 of the world’s top players or former players including Iker Casillas, Dani Alves, Lionel Messi, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Zinedine Zidane, and 30 teams in ten countries across three continents. The brazuca was also used at a selection of international football matches, albeit with a different design, including a friendly between Sweden and Argentina last February. The brazuca’s colours and ribbon design of the ball panels symbolise the traditional multi-coloured wish bracelets worn in the country, in addition to reflecting the vibrancy and fun associated with football in the South American country. It has a new structural innovation, with a unique symmetry of six identical panels alongside a different surface structure will provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch. 2010 South Africa The adidas Jabulani, which means ‘to celebrate’ in isiZulu, was the official match ball of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and is already the 11th edition of adidas's FIFA World Cup balls.

The 11 colours that are present on the Jabulani pay tribute to both football and the country in which Africa’s first-ever FIFA World Cup will be held. Grip 'n' groove Jabulani ushers in some major advances in football technology. The grip ’n’ groove’s profile circles twist around round the entire ball in an optimal aerodynamic way and the integrated grooves provide unmatched flight characteristics, making this the most stable and most accurate adidas ball ever. Minimal seam, more perfection As opposed to the flat-paneled molding of previous adidas footballs, Jabulani comprises eight thermally bonded 3D panels that have been, for the first time ever, spherically molded to make this ball a perfectly round football that is more accurate than ever before. 2006 Germany More than three years of extensive research and development were needed to present the adidas +Teamgeist™, the company’s best performing ball ever. Thanks to a revolutionary 14-panel ball configuration, players were able to show their true skills, as the quality and performance characteristics were identical every time they kicked the ball.

The adidas Innovation Team (a.i.t) rigorously tested the new ball for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, first under the toughest laboratory conditions possible, later also with professional players and clubs on the field of play. Scientific tests were conducted together with the Sports Technology Research Group of the University of Loughborough, one of the leading institutions of its kind worldwide. These tests confirmed that the adidas +Teamgeist™ was more round, precise and consistent than any top competitor’s match ball. Italy won their fourth world crown in Germany, beating France on penalties in Berlin. If Zinedine Zidane's red card was the final's defining image, Italy's triumph will be remembered as a team effort, with ten different Azzurri players finding the net during the course of the tournament. 2002 Korea/Japan The ball for the FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ was known as the “Fevernova”. It was the result of three years of improvement on the “Tricolore” at the adidas research centre in Scheinfeld in southern Germany.

The material consisted of six layers or coatings starting with a natural latex bladder inside, then a three-ply Raschel knitted fabric, syntactic foam, a polyurethane layer, a protected iriodine print and finally transparent polyurethane abrasion-resistant coating. The adidas triad design had now become two single, enlarged triads with the points turning into clockwise arrows in the colours of grey, red and gold. The background was no longer a traditional pure white but more of a champagne colour. Over 2,500 balls were supplied for the finals and an estimated six million of the high-quality match balls and replica-quality balls were sold worldwide. The final was between the two most successful FIFA World Cup™ nations of all time – Brazil and Germany. Ronaldo’s two second-half goals gave Brazil their fifth FIFA World Cup™ title and firmly put the ghosts of the France ’98 final to rest. It was a hard-fought and equal match befitting a clash of two of world football’s titans, but Ronaldo had the touch of greatness that separated the two teams in Yokohama, Japan.

1998 France The “Tricolore” used in 1998 was the first coloured ball to be designed for the FIFA World Cup™. Its triads incorporated the symbols of the host nation, France, i.e. a cockerel, a high-speed train and a turbine. The ball itself was based on an entirely new synthetic material featuring “syntactic foam”, claiming to give better compression and more explosive rebound characteristics than its predecessor. The foam was made up of gas-filled micro-bubbles that distributed energy equally when the ball was kicked. This was the final that everyone had hoped for. The world champions against the home nation, but it was a strangely subdued Brazil who took the field, the crowd rife with rumours that there was a fitness problem with Brazil’s star player Ronaldo. France were determined to win on home territory, and they did so easily with two headed goals from their future World Player of the Year, Zinedine Zidane. Emmanuel Petit added a third to make it 3-0.

So, at last France, the home of Jules Rimet, the creator of the FIFA World Cup™ and the team that had been an unlucky semi-finalist in both 1982 and 1986, had got their just deserts and the country partied the night away. 1994 USA The ball was called the “Questra” to indicate the USA’s quest for the stars, so the shapes were incorporated into the triads. The ball itself was developed in France and then thoroughly tested by teams and players in both Europe and the USA. The ball was manufactured from five different materials with a final durable but flexible outer layer made from polyurethane. Brazil met Italy in the final – a repeat of 1970. Brazil were unable to break down the Italian defence even though there were some near misses. Roberto Baggio had been Italy’s star striker in the earlier rounds, but he was suffering with a hamstring injury and was not at his best. At the end of 120 minutes, the score was 0-0. So for the first time, a World Cup final was decided on penalties. Brazil’s Marcio Santos missed, as did Baresi and Massaro for Italy.

Up stepped Baggio to try and level the scores but he fired the ball straight over the top of Taffarel’s goal and Brazil had won their fourth FIFA World Cup™. 1990 Italy The “Etrusco” triads featured an Etruscan lion within their design. The ball was again manufactured entirely from fully synthetic fibre layers, including one of latex to create stability and resistance to tearing, a layer of neoprene to make the ball water-tight and an outer skin of polyurethane for abrasion resistance and good rebound qualities. Argentina met Germany FR – for the second World Cup running – in the final. The only goal in a very poor game came from an 85th-minute penalty after Völler had been brought down in the area. Brehme’s spot kick won the match for the Germans. Two Argentinians were sent off – Monzon for a tackle on Klinsmann and, in the 87th minute, Dezotti was shown the red card when he tried to wrestle the ball off Kohler, whom he considered was trying to waste time. Franz Beckenbauer became only the second man to win a World Cup both as a player and a manager.

1986 Mexico The “Azteca” was a completely new model made of synthetic material in layers, each with different properties to give strength to the ball, help it retain its shape and be fully waterproof. This was also the first ball to feature a unique FIFA World Cup™ design – the triads were based on an Aztec mural. The final was between a workmanlike Germany FR, coached by former captain Franz Beckenbauer, and an inspired Argentina. Argentina were 2-0 up in the second half and appeared to be coasting to victory, but German determination shone through – not for the first time in a World Cup final – and by the 82nd minute they had levelled the score. Willed on by the crowd, Argentina surged forward and captain Maradona sent a perfectly weighted pass into space for Burruchaga, who confidently slotted the ball past Schumacher to make it 3-2. Maradona did not score in the final itself but there was no doubt about who had now inherited the title of the world’s best player.

1982 Spain The “Tango España” designed for Spain 1982 was the first to be made of a mix of real leather and synthetic material. It had a polyurethane coating to provide a more efficient water repellent. No one could accuse Italy of using their traditional defensive tactics in the final against Germany FR. Although they had one of the world’s finest-ever goalkeepers, 40-year-old Dino Zoff, their constant attack left the Germans outclassed. In the 59th minute, Paolo Rossi, who had already scored five goals in the previous two games, put Italy in the lead, diving to head home from a Gentile cross. Italy won 3-1 and missed a penalty to boot! 1978 Argentina By this time, adidas were well into the pattern of choosing names appropriate for the host nation, so “Tango” was the name chosen for the ball used in Argentina in 1978. It was the first to feature the adidas trademark, which was a printed design of interconnected curved-edge triangles known as “triads”. The home team arrived five minutes late on the pitch for the final in Buenos Aires.

This incensed the Dutch, who abandoned their “total football” for a more aggressive game, which was matched by Argentina. It was the ball control of Kempes that made the difference. His second goal was the best, and it came in extra time when he skipped past two defenders and the goalkeeper, beat two more defenders on the line and slotted the ball into the net. Luque scored the final goal to make it 3-1. The Netherlands had the world’s sympathy after losing their second consecutive final, but it was Argentina who lifted the cup in a storm of blue-and-white ticker tape. 1974 Germany The World Cup in Germany FR in 1974 saw a similar design called “Telstar Durlast”. In the final, the hosts were up against the world’s most talented team, the Netherlands. The great Johan Cruyff began the game sensationally with a run from one end of the pitch to the other without a German touching the ball until he was tripped by Hoeness. After scoring from the ensuing penalty, the Dutch, perhaps now overconfident, began to play the ball around the bemused Germans.

But suddenly a penalty was awarded against them when Jansen tripped Breitner – 1-1. Each team then bombarded the other’s goal until just before half time when Bonhof raced down the wing and crossed for Müller to seal the match with his 68th goal for his country ... and to allow that other great German player, Franz Beckenbauer, to lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the third attempt. 1970 Mexico Mexico saw the dawn of a new era when adidas began its long-standing partnership with FIFA to supply footballs for all FIFA tournaments. It was also the first time a ball had been given a unique FIFA World Cup™ name appropriate to the time. “Telstar” was a small spherical communications satellite launched from Florida in 1962, but it probably became the most famous satellite of all time partly because of the pop instrumental of the same name, which was a worldwide hit for The Tornados. The 32-panel leather ball with white hexagons and black pentagons bore a strong resemblance to the satellite, which had a light background covered in dark panels.

Many designs have superseded the “Telstar” but it still remains the definitive design used by artists, graphic designers and cartoonists when they want to illustrate a football. adidas delivered a mere 20 balls for use in the finals and sold an estimated 600,000 match balls and replica balls following the tournament. Brazil v. Italy matched attack against defence in the final. Brazil took the lead when Pelé rose high above the defence to score with a spectacular header. A careless back-heel from Clodoaldo let Italy back into the match but soon Gerson hit a low shot to make it 2-1. Jairzinho, the only player to score in every round, ran the ball into the net for a third and captain Carlos Alberto thundered in the fourth with a magnificent, powerful drive. Having won their third final, Brazil rightly claimed the Jules Rimet Trophy as their own. 1966 England The FIFA World Cup™ was held in England in 1966 and The Football Association invited the top manufacturers to supply an unmarked ball each, from which the final choice would be made. Slazenger, a sports manufacturer based in Dewsbury in Yorkshire, was one of the chosen few.

It was decided that Malcolm Wainwright, then 32, who had been making balls since he was 15 and was regarded as the firm’s best stitcher, would produce the sample ball. “I made about 20 balls all told,” he said. “They were 24-panel balls, which meant that there were six panels made up of three long strips of leather but the centre panels of these three strips had a further seam at right angles just to give more strength. I was asked to take extra care over them.” “They checked them for weight but then the manager would also check them over visually. Simply by using his eyes and his experience, he could tell see whether or not the shape was completely round and the seams were perfect. Anyway, he took the best one and sent it down to London.” The balls were laid out on a table in at FA headquarters in London. None were branded, but merely numbered, and were then examined by experts for circumference, loss of pressure, weight, bounce and so on. Happily for Slazenger, their ball was chosen. Wainwright and seven others were tasked with stitching the 300 balls needed for the 1966 FIFA World Cup™.

Each would have written his name inside the ball. This was normal practice for the stitchers because, before sewing the final seam, each ball went to a specialist for the bladder to be inserted and was then returned to the same man for the final seam to be sewn. An important point given that the stitchers were paid on piece work! The actual ball used in England’s 4-2 win over Germany FR in the 1966 final disappeared for many years. It should have gone to Geoff Hurst, the only man ever to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup™ final, but it ended up being taken by the West German player Helmut Haller, whose son apparently kicked it about in his back garden for many years. It is now in the National Football Museum in Preston in England and the only way to find out who made the actual ball would be to unpick a seam and take a look at the name inside – a tempting thought! 1962 Chile The balls used in Chile 1962 did not correspond at all with European standards. During wet weather, there were complaints that the balls were “drinking” water and were losing their colour in the sun.

Indeed, before kick-off in the very first match between Chile and Switzerland, the referee, Ken Aston of England, asked to see the five balls that were to be used for the game. He was so horrified by their parlous, peeling state that he sent for a new ball, which only arrived ten minutes into the second half. Therefore, a number of European balls were quickly used as substitutes for the local brands for many of the remaining matches. In the final, champions Brazil met surprise finalists Czechoslovakia in Santiago. The Czechs scored first. They were supposed to be strong defensively but in this match it was their goalkeeper Schroif who was at fault for all the Brazilian goals. First he allowed Amarildo to put the ball between himself and the goalpost from a seemingly impossible angle, then he was out of position for the second – a header by Zito, and finally, he fumbled and dropped a hopeful cross from Djalma Santos and Vava happily pumped the ball into the net for the 3-1 win. 1958 Sweden Just Fontaine of France set a tournament record of 13 goals in these finals, which still stands but nevertheless, it was Brazil and host nation Sweden who met in the final in Stockholm.

Sweden surprisingly scored first but Garrincha swerved miraculously past two defenders and cut the ball back for Vava to score. Twenty minutes later, Vava scored again. Pelé, only 17, scored the third, trapping the ball on his thigh, hooking it over his head, swivelling and volleying past Svensson. For his second, he rose high above the defence to power in a majestic header. Brazil won 5-2 and were on their way towards becoming the world’s best football team with the man who would eventually be named as the world’s best-ever footballer. The 18-panel ball was designed with zig-zag interlocking seams so that there was less stress on the stitching. 1954 Switzerland Hungary were two goals up within eight minutes in the final in Berne, but remarkably Germany FR had equalised within another eight. Pouring rain drenched the players and the crowd during the game but German goalkeeper Turek was in fine form, making save after save on the slippery pitch.

Five minutes from the end, Schaefer crossed the ball into a crowded goalmouth and it eventually reached Rahn, who controlled it, advanced, seemed to pause and then drove it past Hungarian goalkeeper Grosics with his left foot. Perhaps if Puskas, their great left-footed striker, had been fully fit Hungary might have won. The Magnificent Magyars lost only one match between 1950 and 1956, and that was the most important match of all. The 18-panel ball similar to the one illustrated left made its first appearance here and was used, in various forms, until 1966. 1950 Brazil The first post-war finals in Brazil in 1950 still saw the use of the traditional 12-panel ball, but with curved edges to create less stress on the seams. Again, the balls used in the finals would have been made by a local manufacturer. This particular ball is from the legendary match in Belo Horizonte when the heavyweights of England played the United States.

In those days, football or “soccer” was very much a minority sport in the USA and when the unfancied Americans beat the English 1-0, the entire football world was astounded. Such was the magnitude of the occasion that the ball was kept as a souvenir and it can now been see in the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York State, USA. For the record, in the final itself, the hosts Brazil were devastated to be beaten 2-1 by rivals Uruguay. 1938 France Cup-holders Italy this time faced the majestic Hungarians in the final in Paris. The Italians were dynamic, employing modern tactics that left the Hungarians looking static although they did manage to score two goals. Some fine midfield and wing play had put Italy 3-2 up when, ten minutes from the end, following some skilful interpassing, Biavati back-heeled a pass to centre-forward Piola, who smashed it into the goal to make it 4-2. France was at war a year later and there would be no more FIFA World Cups™ for 12 years.

As in the two previous finals, the 12-panel ball would have come from local suppliers and would have been of brown leather. 1934 Italy The second FIFA World Cup™ found hosts Italy up against Czechoslovakia in the final. Eight minutes from the end, the Czechs were 1-0 up when Italy’s Orsi, receiving the ball from Guaita, ran through the Czech defence, feinted with his left foot but shot with his right. The ball swerved wildly for some reason and curled past the outstretched goalkeeper and into the net. Italy scored again in extra time to take the trophy. The following day, Orsi tried 20 times to repeat his ball-bending trick for the benefit of photographers and failed, even with an empty net! The ball would have been similar to the one illustrated here and it is possible that it may have become slightly distorted by the end of the match, which may have caused the swerve rather than being it entirely due to Orsi’s skill! 1930 Uruguay The 1930 ball would have been a 12-piece construction similar to the illustration on the left, but in fact two balls were used in the final itself!

This saw hosts Uruguay pitted against Argentina. There was a heated argument about which ball was to be used – the Uruguayan ball or the Argentinian ball. The ball from the hosts, Uruguay, was allegedly somewhat larger than that of Argentina, although, given that the required circumference of the ball has always been between 68 and 70cm, the difference should hardly have been noticeable. In the end, the only way to resolve the disagreement was for the teams to agree to use the Argentinian ball in the first half and the Uruguayan ball in the second half. Suffice to say that Argentina led 2-1 at half time and Uruguay won the game 4-2! Football facts 2018 Russia World Cup | WorldCup.com.au | World Cup Greatest Players at the Soccer World Cup The Soccer World Cup, officially known as the FIFA World Cup, is held every four years and pits the finest soccer players of each nation against each other in a global competition. National Teams from over 209 “nations” around the world compete in qualification tournaments over three years, with only 32 teams allowed to progress through to compete in the Soccer World Cup finals.

FIFA has more members than the UN, as it recognises 23 non-sovereign entities as nations, including places such as Palestine and Scotland. FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the international governing body of the Soccer World Cup, was founded in 1904. Initial attempts to organise international matches outside of the Olympics were dismal until 2009 when Sir Thomas Lipton (founder of the Lipton tea brand) organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy soccer tournament in Turin, Italy. Sometimes described as the first Soccer World Cup, the competition featured professional teams (but not national sides) from Italy, Germany and Switzerland. The English Football Association chose not to participate, so Sir Thomas Lipton invited an amateur side from England, West Auckland. West Auckland went on to win the competition, and did the same again in 1911. The World Cup Trophy. Image: Meed. In 1914, FIFA became the body responsible for managing soccer competitions at the Olympics, where soccer had become an official sport in 1908.

At the 1920 Olympics, the first genuine intercontinental football competition occurred, with Egypt competing alongside thirteen European teams. Belgium won that year, with Uruguay taking out the next two (1924 and 1928). On the 28th of May, 1928, FIFA made the decision to host their own Soccer World Cup independently of the Olympics. As Uruguay were reigning Olympic champions, and 1930 represented their centenary of independence, they were named host country for the first Soccer World Cup in 1930. Thirteen nations took part in the initial Soccer World Cup; 7 from South America, 2 from North America and 4 from Europe: Argentina Romania Yugoslavia The first goal in Soccer World Cup history was scored by Lucien Laurent of France against Mexico, who they defeated 4-1. Host Uruguay was the first nation to win the Soccer World Cup, defeating Argentina 4-2 in front of a crowd 93,000 strong. Soccer was dropped from the 1932 Olympic Games (held in Los Angeles) due to the relatively low popularity of the sport in the host nation.

It returned in the 1936 Olympics at Berlin, but by this point the Soccer World Cup organised by FIFA was the leading international competition. The Soccer World Cup has been held every four years since it began in 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 as a result of World War II. The current Soccer World Cup champions are Spain, who won the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. The 1934 and 1938 Soccer World Cup tournaments were held in Italy and France respectively. Brazil was the only South American country to compete at both, seizing third place overall in 1938. The Soccer World Cup is one of the world’s most popular sporting events, with over 700 million people tuning in for the final. FIFA estimated in 2007 that there are over 265 million people who play soccer worldwide.

Soccer World Cup Qualification There are six FIFA Confederations: AFC – Asian Football Confederation (of which Australia has been a member since 2006) CAF – Confederation of African Football CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football CONMEBOL – Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (South American Football Confederation) OFC – Oceania Football Confederation UEFA – Union of European Football Associations FIFA Confederations. Image: FIFA Each Confederation administers soccer in its own region. A prerequisite to joining FIFA is membership of one of the six Confederations. The Confederations are responsible for organising matches which enable nations to qualify for the Soccer World Cup. The host nation automatically qualifies. Overall, 820 Soccer World Cup qualification matches took place prior to the 2014 Soccer World Cup. The Soccer World Cup qualification process differs between different Confederations. Most employ a knockout stage followed by a group system. Winners of certain groups are allowed to progress. There is some interplay between confederations.

For example: for the 2014 Soccer World Cup, in the AFC, the two third placed teams out of the two final groups (from an initial group stage of 5 groups of 4 teams) played off against the fifth team from the CONMEBOL for a qualifying position. Some Confederations use existing international competitions to determine qualifying teams. For example, the 2012 OFC Nations Cup was also a qualifying round for the OFC Confederation. Soccer World Cup Finals The Soccer World Cup Finals are what most people refer to as the World Cup. Between 1934 and 1978, 16 teams competed in the Soccer World Cup Finals (with the exception of 1938, when Austria’s annexation by Germany occurred after qualification rounds, and 1950, when India, Scotland and Turkey withdrew). In 1982, the finals were expanded to include 24 teams. In 1998, the Soccer World Cup Finals allowed 32 teams to play in the finals, and it has remained at that number since.

Soccer World Cup Winners The defending champions in the 2014 World Cup are Spain, who defeated the Netherlands 1-0 with an incredible goal from Andres Iniesta towards the end of extra time. Only eight different countries have won the 19 Soccer World Cup tournaments. These are: Nation Spain 2010 Brazil, the most successful team, is the only nation to have played in every World Cup Finals tournament. Australia in the Soccer World Cup The Socceroos in West Germany in 1974. Source: News Ltd Australia has participated in the Soccer World Cup three times, and is due to participate in the 2014 Soccer World Cup. Australia’s performance on the world stage has been commendable, especially as they have regularly lined up against international soccer powerhouses such as Germany, Brazil and Spain. In recent years, the reputation of Australian soccer has exploded, with multiple players joining squads in national competitions such as the EPL and Major League Soccer. Participating in the finals at three consecutive World Cups will only serve to bolster this growing prestige.

Australia – 1974 Soccer World Cup Australia’s first appearance in the Soccer World Cup was in 1974, when it was hosted by West Germany. Australia was placed in Group 1, alongside West Germany, East Germany and Chile. Date 0 – 0 Chile Australia was eliminated from the 1974 Soccer World Cup after the first round, partly because a majority of the team were amateur players. Following the 1974 Soccer World Cup, Australia did not qualify for over thirty years. During this period, Australia developed a reputation for near-misses in qualifying rounds, losing playoffs in 1986 (to Scotland), 1994 (to Argentina), 1998 (to Iran) and 2002 (to Uruguay). During this period, however, the Australian national side (dubbed the “Socceroos”) were able to defeat Argentina 4-1, defeat Uruguay 1-0 and draw with Brazil 0-0. Australia – 2006 Soccer World Cup In 2005, Australia left the OFC and joined the AFC. However, they were still required to compete for Soccer World Cup qualification through the OFC.

After winning the OFC Nations Cup, Australia was required to play Uruguay. After losing the first match at Uruguay 1-0, Australia hosted the second match. At 90 minutes, Australia was up 1-0, which meant the aggregate score across both games was tied. Still deadlocked after two periods of extra time, the game proceeded to a penalty shootout. Australia won the shoot out 4-2 and subsequently became the first team to ever qualify for the Soccer World Cup via a penalty shootout. Australia triumphed over Japan, lost to Brazil and drew with Croatia in the Group stages of the 2006 Soccer World Cup. Unfortunately, after progressing to the Round of 16, Australia went down 1-0 to Italy following a highly controversial penalty kick, converted by Italy’s Francesco Totti in the final seconds of injury time. Australia’s game against Croatia is significant in that referee Graham Poll awarded three yellow cards to Croatian player Josip Simunic, when he should have received a red card after his second yellow card. Date Australia Australia – 2010 Soccer World Cup Australia played a significant role in their Group (D) in the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Ghana, Serbia and Germany all lost one game and won another against each other, with all scores being 1-0. As such, the results of those three teams against Australia essentially decided the competition. Germany beat Australia with a resounding 4-0 victory, and won overall. Ghana drew with Australia 1-1, finishing second overall. Serbia’s 2-1 loss to Australia left them in fourth place. Tim Cahill’s handball in the box during the final minutes of the game against Serbia would have given them a chance to equalise, however the referees did not see the incident and no penalty kick was awarded. Tim Cahill went on to receive the award for Man of the Match. Date History of the World Cup Trophy - CBC Sports - Soccer History of the World Cup Trophy First awarded in 1930, the trophy has been on a wild ride for 80 years By John F.

Molinaro, CBC Sports Posted: Apr 27, 2010 2:02 PM ET Last Updated: Apr 27, 2010 3:24 PM ET Related Stories Photos: History of the World Cup FIFA president Jules Rimet, left, hands over the World Cup trophy to Dr. Raul Jude, president of the Uruguayan football association, prior to the start of the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. ((STAFF/AFP/Getty Images)) It stands 36.8 centimetres high, weighs 6.1 kilograms, is made of solid, 18-carat gold — and it's one of the most sought-after prizes in all of sports. FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour on CBC Log onto CBCSports.ca on Wednesday for extensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup Trophy's arrival in Canada. The trophy is set to land at Toronto's Pearson International Airport in the morning ( streamed live on CBCSports.ca starting at 7:20 a.m. ET) and will be showcased during a special media event at a private hangar.

The trophy will then be unveiled at the CBC building on Front Street in Toronto during a special World Cup preview show ( streamed live on CBCSports.ca at noon ET) when CBC Sports commentators Nigel Reed and Jason de Vos preview the upcoming tournament in South Africa. Finally, Canadian musician K'naan will perform a short concert at the CBC's Glenn Gould Studio with the trophy on hand ( streamed live on CBCSports.ca at 2 p.m. ET). It's the FIFA World Cup Trophy. First awarded in 1930 at the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay, the trophy has been on a wild ride in the 80 years since, travelling the world many times over and visiting almost every country on the planet. It's important to know that the current World Cup trophy is the second incarnation of soccer's greatest prize. The original statuette, named Victory, stood 35 centimetres tall and weighed 3.8 kilograms. The octagonal cup, held by a winged figure representing Nike — the ancient Greek goddess of victory — was the creation of French sculptor Abel Lafleur. The trophy was first won by Uruguay after it defeated Argentina 4-2 in the 1930 World Cup final.

After the match, then-FIFA president Jules Rimet presented the trophy to Uruguayan captain Jose Nazassi, setting off celebrations in Montevideo that lasted several days. In 1946, the cup was renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy in honour of the FIFA president and awarded to Uruguay a second time in 1950 after the South American powerhouse won the World Cup in Brazil. According to FIFA, Dr. Ottorino Barassi, the Italian vice-president of FIFA, hid the trophy in a shoebox under his bed throughout the Second World War so it would not fall into the hands of the Nazis. But Barassi couldn't prevent it from being stolen in 1966. Months before the tournament kicked off in England, the trophy was stolen while on display at a public exhibition in London. Panic quickly set in as FIFA prepared to stage the World Cup without the trophy and a nationwide hunt for the statuette was launched. Fabio Cannavaro holds the FIFA World Cup Trophy after leading Italy to victory over France in the 2006 final.

((ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)) Seven days after the theft, a dog named Pickles was out for a walk with his owner in south London when he walked up to some bushes to — ahem — "take care of business." Incredibly, wrapped in some newspapers in the bottom of the bushes was the trophy. Jules Rimet Trophy became the permanent possession of Brazil following the 1970 tournament — FIFA guidelines stipulated that a country kept the trophy in perpetuity once it won a third World Cup. Sadly, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen in 1983 when it was taken from a display at the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio. It was never recovered. The 1974 tournament in West Germany marked a new era in World Cup history as a new trophy, simply called the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was introduced, depicting two human figures holding up the Earth. Designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, the current trophy features a base containing two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side bears the engraved year and name of each World Cup winner since 1974.

"The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world," Gazzaniga said of his work. "From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory." Unlike its predecessor, the current World Cup Trophy cannot be won outright: the winners of the tournament receive it on loan for four years and must return it before the next World Cup. The winners receive a replica to keep.

Question: During which year was the inaugural tournament of the FIFA World Cup?
Answer: 1930