the World Cup showcase of Champions:
A Picture History Of International Football's main event
The World Cup, sponsored by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), is the world's most popular sporting event.
This football match (Americans would call it soccer) is held every four years in a different host country each time. National teams from all over the world train all year to participate in this event.
The beautiful gold statue received by the winning team is among the most coveted trophies in International sports.
Scroll down for a colorful visual history of FIFA's World Cup, and event that began in 1930, and has been held every four years ever since, except in 1942 and 1946, when the festivities were cancelled because of WWII.
world cup champions through the ages
Above: The first World Cup was played in Uruguay in 1930. The Uruguay team (shown above) reigned victorious. Could it have been their home field advantage?
image: socratesdergi.com
In 1934, the Cup was hosted in Italy, and was won by the Italian team pictured above. It would be more than 30 years before another host country won this event.
image: fifa.com
In 1938 the World Cup was hosted in France, and the Italian team (shown above) successfully defended their title.
image: gentlemanultra.com
Above: In 1950, fully 12 years since the last World Cup, the event was hosted in Brazil, where Uruguay won again.
image: akhayar.com
Above: In 1954 the World Cup event took place in Switzerland. The team from West Germany were the Champions that year.
image: historytoday.com
Above: In 1958, Sweden was chosen as the host country for FIFA's 6th World Cup event. The Brazilian team (player shown above) secured their first victory there. Brazil would someday be noted as the winner of the most World Cups (5 so far, the last one in 2002).
image: whoateallthepies.tv
Shown above: The Brazilian team who successfully defended their title from the same event four years earlier. This year, the host country was Chile.
image: coleka.com
Above: This year, the event was held in England. The England team won, either because of their home field advantage, or just because they were such damn good players.
image: Newsweek.com
Above: In 1970 the event was hosted by Mexico and the team from Brazil, probably angry from their loss to England at the previous event, became World Cup Champions once again.
image: Brittanica.com
Above: That so-called home field advantage seems to have struck again. West Germany, the host country in 1974, wins the World Cup Championship.
image: birminghammail.co.uk
Above: In 1978, Argentina hosted the event, where they won their very first World Cup title.
image: alamy.com
Above: The 1982 match was hosted by Spain. Italy reigned supreme that year, scoring its third World Cup victory.
image: shutterstock.com
Above: In 1986 the World Cup took place in Mexico. This was FIFA's first foray onto North American soil. Argentina's players were the Champions that year.
image: sportsnet.ca
Above: The 1990 World Cup took place in Italy, which had already won three Championships. Unfortunately for Italy's team, West Germany won that year.
image: de.fifa.com
Above: The USA was the location of the 1994 event. Brazil won the match to secure its 4th World Cup victory.
image: soccerfootballwhatever.bogspot.com
Above: In 1998, France hosted the event, and won it.
image: sport.net
Above: 2002 was FIFA's first trip to Asia. The matches were held in both Japan and South Korea. Brazil won the event.
image: pinterest.com
Above: The World Cup of 2006 took place in Germany. Italy won the Championship that year to own their 4th title.
image: the18.com
Above: The 2010 event was held in South Africa. Spain won the Championship, earning its very first World Cup title.
image: spokesman.com
Above: The World Cup of 2014 took place in Brazil, where the footballers had already earned a dangerous reputation, and also had a home field advantage. Despite all this, Germany won the Championship that year.
image: koreatimesus.com
Above: In 2018, Russia was the host country for FIFA's big event. France won again, earning their country its second World Cup title. That year's event featured more than 3 million spectators live at the stadiums.
image: fifa.com
Above: The World Cup of 2022 will be held in Qatar. That team had better start practicing!
image: abcnews.go.com
related links
Other International Studies (World flags, maps, translations, and more)
College Sports at American Universities
More College Sports in America
Look Here Right Now to see the ONLY Authenticated Photo Image of Crazy Horse known to exist. Also read the FREE full text story of his life, with many more images included. Prepare to be Amazed!