World Cup History
From 1930 to 2026 - The legendary journey of the greatest show on earth
The First World Cup
The inaugural World Cup in Uruguay with 13 teams. Hosts Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the final.
Italy's Double
Italy won back-to-back World Cups in 1934 (home) and 1938 (France), becoming the first nation to successfully defend the title.
The Maracanã Blow
Brazil's 1-2 loss to Uruguay in front of 200,000 fans at Maracanã remains one of the biggest upsets in sports history.
Pelé Emerges
A 17-year-old Pelé led Brazil to their first title, scoring a hat-trick in the semi-final and two goals in the final.
England's Glory
England won their only World Cup. Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in the final against West Germany included the famous "They think it's all over" moment.
The Greatest Team Ever
Brazil's third title, keeping the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently. This Brazil team is widely considered the greatest of all time.
Maradona's Masterpiece
Diego Maradona almost single-handedly won the World Cup for Argentina, producing the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" against England.
France's First Star
Zinedine Zidane scored two headers in the final as France won their first World Cup on home soil.
Spain's Tiki-Taka Triumph
Spain won their first World Cup with their possession-based tiki-taka style. Iniesta scored the winner in extra time of the final.
Germany's Fourth Star
Germany demolished Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final and beat Argentina in the final. Götze's extra-time winner was iconic.
Messi's Destiny
Lionel Messi finally won the World Cup in a 3-3 thriller against France, decided on penalties. Arguably the greatest final ever.
Looking Ahead
48 teams, 16 cities, 104 matches. The biggest World Cup in history is coming to North America.