Fifa World Cup 2018

World Cup
FOOTBALL
Alternative Title: FIFA World Cup
WRITTEN BY: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
World Cup, formally FIFA World Cup, in football (soccer), quadrennial tournament that determines the sport’s world champion. It is likely the most popular sporting event in the world, drawing billions of television viewers every tournament.

Brazil's Ronaldo (yellow shirt) maneuvering around opposing German players during the final match of the 2002 World Cup, held in Yokohama, Japan; Brazil defeated Germany, 2–0.
Brazil's Ronaldo (yellow shirt) maneuvering around opposing German players during the final match of the 2002 World Cup, held in Yokohama, Japan; Brazil defeated Germany, 2–0.
Thomas Kienzle/AP

The first competition for the cup was organized in 1930 by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and was won by Uruguay. Held every four years since that time, except during World War II, the competition consists of international sectional tournaments leading to a final elimination event made up of 32 national teams. Unlike Olympic football, World Cup teams are not limited to players of a certain age or amateur status, so the competition serves more nearly as a contest between the world’s best players. Referees are selected from lists that are submitted by all the national associations.

The trophy cup awarded from 1930 to 1970 was the Jules Rimet Trophy, named for the Frenchman who proposed the tournament. This cup was permanently awarded in 1970 to then three-time winner Brazil (1958, 1962, and 1970), and a new trophy called the FIFA World Cup was put up for competition. Many other sports have organized “World Cup” competitions.

Uruguay scoring its first goal in the World Cup final against Argentina, in Montevideo, Uruguay, July 30, 1930.
Uruguay scoring its first goal in the World Cup final against Argentina, in Montevideo, Uruguay, July 30, 1930.
AP
For a list of World Cup champions, see table.

FIFA World Cup—men
year result
Won after extra time (AET).
Won on penalty kicks.
1930 Uruguay 4 Argentina 2
1934 Italy 2 Czechoslovakia 1
1938 Italy 4 Hungary 2
1950 Uruguay 2 Brazil 1
1954 West Germany 3 Hungary 2
1958 Brazil 5 Sweden 2
1962 Brazil 3 Czechoslovakia 1
1966 England 4 West Germany 2
1970 Brazil 4 Italy 1
1974 West Germany 2 Netherlands 1
1978 Argentina 3 Netherlands 1
1982 Italy 3 West Germany 1
1986 Argentina 3 West Germany 2
1990 West Germany 1 Argentina 0
1994 Brazil** 0 Italy 0
1998 France 3 Brazil 0
2002 Brazil 2 Germany 0
2006 Italy** 1 France 1
2010 Spain* 1 Netherlands 0
2014 Germany* 1 Argentina 0
LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles:
Japan
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Ballack, Michael
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When FIFA established the World Cup championship, British insouciance toward the international game continued.…
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MORE ABOUT World Cup
10 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES
Assorted References
Beckenbauer
In Franz Beckenbauer
Blatter
In Sepp Blatter
football
In football: International organization
Forlán
In Diego Forlán
Japan and South Korea
In Japan: International relations
In South Korea: The Sixth Republic
In Chung Mong-Joon
Kahn
In Oliver Kahn
Maradona
In Diego Maradona
Matthäus
In Lothar Matthäus

©2018 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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