World Cup Facts: Amazing, Interesting Information Every Fan Should Know
The World Cup in Qatar has already started for soccer enthusiasts. It's always fascinating to see the finest soccer players in the world play live, so many fans have traveled to Qatar to witness the FIFA World Cup.
We've compiled a list of World Cup facts to help you be the smartest person at the next party you attend.
Below you will find the Top 50 World cup Facts, every fans should know:
1. Coupe Jules Rimet was the first FIFA World Cup trophy. It was developed in 1930 by Frenchman Abel Lafleur.
2. The first World Cup game took place on July 13, 1930. Mexico and France faced off in Montevideo, Uruguay. France won 4-1.
3. In the same game, the first World Cup goal was scored. Frenchman Lucien Laurent scored from outside the penalty area.
4. In the 92-year history of the FIFA World Cup, no host nation had ever lost the first match. In the opening game of 2022, the national football squad of Qatar created regrettable history.
5. Jimmy Douglas of the United States kept the first clean record throughout the 1930 World Cup competition. On July 13, 1930, they defeated Belgium 3-0.
6. Peru's Placido Galindo was the first player ever to be sent out of a World Cup game during the 1930 round. He was taken out of the game against Romania after 70 minutes. The first player ever to receive a red card at a World Cup was Carlos Caszely of Chile. That occurred in 1974.
7. Only two continents have been FIFA World Cup champions. Europe and South America. In fact, European nations have been finalists in 18 of his 20 World Cups.
8. On May 27, 1934, a World Cup game was played with extra time. After extra time, Austria defeated France 3-2 in a Round of 16 knockout match.
9. The 1954 World Cup, held in Switzerland, was the first event to be shown live on television. This had a crucial role in the global expansion of soccer.
10. In the 1970 World Cup, yellow cards and substations were implemented. Kakhi Asatiani of the USSR was the first player to earn a yellow card warning on May 31, 1970. They were competing against the shady Mexican team.
11. More than any other nation, Mexico has qualified for the World Cup without winning any of the competitions (16 times). They have even twice served as the host nation, in 1970 and 1986.
12. Iceland is the nation ever to have participated in the FIFA World Cup with the fewest population (population: 334,000)
13. While Brazil has participated in the most World Cups, Germany has played the most World Cup games (106) and has had the most final appearances (8), semi-final appearances (13), and quarter-final appearances (16). (20).
14. The FIFA World Cup tournament in 2002 was split (hosted by ) between South Korea and Japan.
15. The youngest starting lineup in FIFA World Cup history was selected by Yugoslavia in 1930. The average age of the players was 21.258 days.
16. The oldest World Cup starting lineup ever used was Germany's against Iran in 1998. The average age of the players was 31 years and 345 days. Belgium, whose average age versus Mexico was 31 years and 304 days, holds the record for being the next closest.
17. The Indian squad was eligible to compete in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, but they withdrew. The team's choice was influenced by both economical considerations and FIFA's rule that players must wear shoes during games because the Indian players had only ever played barefoot.
18. France in 1998 was the last country to win the FIFA World Cup while serving as the host nation.
19. Six of the 20 World Cups have been won by the host nation.
20. South Africa is the only host nation that did not advance to the second round.
21. The competition has never taken place in Southeast Asia or Oceania.
22. In 2022, Qatar has host the inaugural first-winter World Cup. The event has always been conducted in the summer in every other host nation.
23. A few of Qatar's infrastructure initiatives include the building of hotels, motorways, and stadiums. These initiatives has cost the nation an astounding $200 billion. The cost of this World Cup is the highest.
24. With just 4,416 square miles and 0.12% of the size of the US, Qatar is the smallest country to have ever hosted the World Cup.
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| All 8 Qatar stadiums for world cup 2022 |
25. Only eight stadiums is used in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Since Argentina hosted the World Cup in 1978, there have been fewer stadiums than there are this time around. There were just six stadiums utilized.
26. For the first time ever, Qatar has host the FIFA World Cup in stadiums with complete air conditioning.
27. With his 13 goals in 1958, French soccer star Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup. On the list of players with the most goals scored at a World Cup, he ranks fourth.
28. The oldest player to take part in a World Cup match is Roger Milla from Cameroon. This person was in charge of guiding his nation to the 1990 World Cup.
29. Norman Whiteside, a footballer from Northern Ireland, became the youngest person to ever compete in the FIFA World Cup. When he competed against Yugoslavia in 1982, the youthful footballer had only turned 17 years and 41 days old.
30. In the history of the World Cup, Luis Monti was the first player to represent two different nations.
31. Italian Alessandro Nesta was the player that was replaced the fastest after the game began. In a 1998 encounter against Austria, he was taken off after just four minutes and replaced by Giuseppe Bergomi of Italy.
32. In 1986, against Scotland, Jose Batista of Uruguay was sent after just 56 seconds! He was the player to besent off from the World Cup the quickest. Joel Quiniou, a French referee, was compelled to penalize him for the foul on Gordon Strachan.
33. The record for the most cards is held by French and Brazilian superstars Zinedine Zidane and Cafu. They each got six fines.
34. After Ronaldo of Brazil and German Miroslav Klose, Jurgen Klinsmann became the first player to score three or more goals in three straight World Cups.
35. A fun World Cup fact is that only well-known cricketer Sir Viv Richards has ever participated in both World Cup football and World Cup cricket. He also participated in the 1974 World Cup qualifications while playing soccer for Antigua.
36. Germany's Miroslav Klose established a record for scoring the most World Cup goals between 2002 and 2014. Over the course of four straight tournaments, he scored a total of 16 goals.
37. Oleg Slanko of Russia set a record for the most individual goals in a game in 1994 by scoring five goals against Cameroon.
38. The only substitute in the World Cup to score a hat-trick is Laszlo Kiss of Hungary. In 1982, Hungary defeated El Salvador 5-1 in Spain thanks to the first of three goals by Kiss.
39. South Korean Hong Duk-Yung was the goalie that let in the most World Cup goals out of all the opponents. Hong Duk-Yung gave up 16 goals in 1954.
40 The 1990 FIFA World Cup Final saw Bodo Illgner of West Germany become the first goalie to ever hold a clean sheet.
41. When Zaire trailed Yugoslavia 0-3 after 22 minutes in 1974, it was the first time a goalie was substituted at a World Cup for a cause other than injury. Their country lost the game 9-0 because Dimbi Tubilandu, his substitute, was unable to stop the goal rush.
42. Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga holds the World Cup record for longest undefeated streak. He played for 517 minutes without conceding a goal in the 1990 tournament. Claudio Caniggia of Argentina finished his run in the semifinal as Italy lost on penalties.
43. The legendary Lev Yashin participated in three World Cups and was dubbed the "Black Spider" because to his all-black goalie gear (1958, 1962, and 1966). When questioned about his pre-match ritual, he responded, "I prefer to have a cigarette before a match to settle my nerves, then drink a strong drink to tone my muscles.
44. Dino Zoff was the oldest player to win the World Cup finals in 1982 while serving as the captain of the Italian national team. He was 40 years, 4 months, and 13 days old.
45. Juan Jose Tramutola was the youngest coach of a World Cup squad when Argentina faced France in 1930. He was 27 years and 267 days old.
46. When France faced Mexico in the World Cup in 1954, Gaston Barreau was 70 years and 194 days old.
47. The record for most World Cup matches as coach belongs to Helmut Schön, who led the German squad 25 times between 1966 and 1978.
48. A nation has never won the World Cup while being managed by a foreigner.
49. When he presided over the Yugoslavia vs. Bolivia event in 1930, Uruguayan Francisco Mateuccia made history by becoming the youngest official to officiate a World Cup match. Ivan Eklind of Sweden became the youngest official in two World Cup competitions. At the 1934 World Cup, he was 28, while the 1938 competition saw him turn 32.
50. George Reader of England was 53 years and 236 days old when he officiated the 1950 Brazil-Uruguay final, making him the oldest referee to supervise a FIFA World Cup match.