The countdown to the World Cup in Qatar has already started for soccer enthusiasts. It’s always fascinating to watch the best soccer players in the world play live, so we can’t wait to travel to Qatar with our visitors to watch the next FIFA World Cup.
We have put up a list of World Cup facts to keep you up to speed and ensure that you are the most knowledgeable guest at the next gathering you attend.
Countries And Continents
- Only Europe and South America have won the FIFA World Cup as continent champions. In fact, 18 of the 20 World Cups have seen European nations reach the finals.
- 79 national teams have participated in the championship competitions as of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. After Qatar makes its debut in 2022, this will become 80.
- They have even twice served as the host nation, in 1970 and 1986. Iceland is the nation that has ever participated in the FIFA World Cup with the fewest population (population: 334,000). Mexico has qualified for the World Cup more times than any other country
- While Brazil has participated in the most World Cups, Germany has played the most World Cup games (106) and has made the most final appearances (8), semi-final appearances (13), and quarter-final appearances.
- The only side to win the World Cup finals without also winning the championship game was Uruguay in 1950. This is due to FIFA, the International Football Association Federation, changing the regulations just for that competition.
- Teams moved into another group rather than transitioning from a group stage to a knockout system. It just so happened that the only two teams that might have won the competition, hosts Brazil and 1930 champions Uruguay, met in the championship game. Even though they were the clear favorites, Brazil lost 2-1.
- Given that they drew all three of their group-stage matches, New Zealand is the only team to go undefeated in the 2010 World Cup, which is an interesting World Cup fact. Spain, who ultimately won the competition, fell to Switzerland in their opening group-round encounter.
- Five of the last six World Cups have been won by European countries, with Brazil being the lone non-European nation to do so.
- France is the only nation to have won numerous World Cup finals in that span, having won two of the last seven competitions.
- The youngest starting lineup in FIFA World Cup history was used by Yugoslavia in 1930. The average age of the players was 21.258 days.
- 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 against Mexico was 31 years and 304 days, holds the record for being the next closest.
- The Indian team was eligible to compete in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, but they withdrew. The team’s decision 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.
- With 31 goals against American Samoa, Australia broke the record for the highest-scoring game and largest winning margin in a World Cup qualification match. The game took place two days after Australia destroyed Tonga 22-0, which at the time was a world record. Archie Thompson surpassed his previous high of 10 goals against American Samoa with 13 goals.
The Home Country
- The last nation to win the FIFA World Cup while hosting was France in 1998.
- In six of the last 20 World Cups, the host nation has won. South Africa, the only host country, was eliminated in the first round.
- Southeast Asia or Oceania has never hosted the contest.
- Qatar will play host to the first-ever first-winter World Cup in 2022. Every other host nation has always held the tournament during the summer.
- A few of Qatar’s infrastructure initiatives include the building of hotels, motorways, and stadiums. These initiatives will cost the nation an astounding $200 billion. The cost of this World Cup will be the highest.
- For a half-liter of beer, the main fan area at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar will charge 50 Qatari riyals ($13.73).
- With just 4,416 square miles and 0.12% of the size of the US, it is the smallest country to have ever hosted the World Cup.
- Only eight stadiums will be 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 is this time around. There were just six stadiums used.
- For the first time ever, Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup in stadiums with complete air conditioning.
