A Short History of the FIFA World Cup
Every four years, billions of people stop what they are doing to watch the FIFA World Cup. But the tournament started small, almost a century ago.
1930: where it all began
The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. Only 13 teams took part, and many European nations stayed at home because the boat trip to South America took weeks. The hosts, Uruguay, beat Argentina 4-2 in the final to become the first world champions.
Growing bigger
The tournament was not played in 1942 or 1946 because of the Second World War. After that it grew steadily: 16 teams for many years, then 24 from 1982, and 32 from 1998.
The giants of the World Cup
- Brazil have won the most titles, with five.
- Germany and Italy have four each.
- Argentina have three, the latest in Qatar in 2022.
- France and Uruguay have two each.
Africa's rise
African teams have made huge steps. Cameroon reached the quarter-finals in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010. In 2022, Morocco went even further and became the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-finals.
2026: a new era
The 2026 World Cup is the first with 48 teams, and the first hosted by three countries: the USA, Canada and Mexico. More teams means more nations get to dream, and more surprise stories for fans everywhere.
Why we love it
The World Cup is more than football. It brings countries together, creates heroes overnight and gives small nations a chance to shock the giants. That magic is why it remains the most watched sporting event on the planet.
Tell us: what is your favourite World Cup memory?