FIFA World Cup™ History

The World Cup is the brainchild of former FIFA President, Jules Rimet, who, after the success of football at the Olympic Games from 1920 - 1928, decided FIFA should host their own international tournament. Today, it is hailed in many parts of the globe as the biggest sporting event in the world.

In 1930 Uruguay hosted the first ever FIFA World Cup and beat 12 other nations to become the inaugural champions in front of 93,000 fans. Fittingly the champion’s trophy was called the Jules Rimet Trophy for the first 40 years of the competition until 1970 when Brazil’s third victory entitled them to keep the trophy. The trophy was stolen from Brazil in 1983 and has never been found.

In 1970 a new trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was chosen from 53 designs. The World Cup Champions are awarded the trophy until the next World Cup when they are presented with a golden replica.

The world’s most coveted prize has only been won by seven nations. Brazil, who is the only nation to compete in every tournament, has won five titles; Italy has won four times; Germany three times; Uruguay and Argentina have won twice while England and France have won one title each.The South American and European nations have a strong dominance in the World Cup Finals. Korea Republic is the only country from outside that region to finish in the top four, which they did in 2002.

In June 2010 South Africa will host the 19^th tournament for which a record 204 nations have competed and over 700million people worldwide will watch. 32 nations will compete vying to be crowned the World Cup Champions but only one nation will walk away victorious.