1930-2010: History of the World Cup
Pele is hoisted on shoulders of his teammates after Brazil beat Italy in the 1970 World Cup final. (AP)
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet.
Nothing compares to it. Not the Stanley Cup. Not the Super Bowl. Not the World Series. Not the Olympics. Nothing.
But how did the World Cup come to be the biggest show on earth? Sportsnet offers this comprehensive history of the World Cup, looking at the birth of the competition and reviewing each and every tournament.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: THE BIRTH OF THE WORLD CUP
Soccer is the world game, the beautiful game, and the World Cup is its showcase event, surpassing even the Olympics in terms of popularity, size and spectacle.
1930 WORLD CUP: URUGUAY WELCOMES THE SOCCER WORLD
Uruguay welcomed and then conquered the world, using home-field advantage to defeat South American rivals Argentina in the final of the inaugural World Cup.
1934 WORLD CUP: ITALY WINS FOR IL DUCE
Buoyed by the hometown crowds—and possibly the undue influence of dictator Benito Mussolini—Italy won the first of its four World Cups, defeating Czechoslovakia in the final in Rome.
1938 WORLD CUP: ITALY REPEATS AS CHAMPIONS
Vittorio Pozzo cemented his legend as one of the greatest national team managers by guiding the Azzurri to a win over Hungary in Paris as Italy became the first country to repeat as champions.
1950 WORLD CUP: GETTING BACK ON TRACK AFTER WORLD WAR II
The modern era of the World Cup was born in 1950 as Uruguay reclaimed soccer's greatest prize for the first time in 20 years after beating Brazil in Rio, sending the country into a state of national mourning.
1954 WORLD CUP: THE MIRACLE OF BERN
In a World Cup that many thought would serve as the coronation of a Hungary side that won the Olympics and swept aside all before them in the buildup to the tournament, West Germany stunned the field to come out on top in Switzerland in 1954.
1958 WORLD CUP: THE LEGEND OF PELE IS BORN
A 17-year-old Pele announced his presence to the world at the 1958 World Cup by guiding Brazil to victory over Sweden in the final in Stockholm.
1962 WORLD CUP: BRAZIL WINS AGAIN
With Pele injured for most of the tournament, Brazil flew on the wings of Garrincha to victory in Chile in 1962, defeating Czechoslovakia in the final to repeat as World Cup champions.
1966 WORLD CUP: FOOTBALL COMES HOMES
England vanquished the Germans at Wembley in 1966 to win their only World Cup to date, but not without a bit of controversy. Oh, and Eusebio ran riot for Portugal, scoring hatfuls of goals.
1970 WORLD CUP: PELE TAKES HIS FINAL BOW
Pele went back on his word never to play in the World Cup again, guiding Brazil to a 4-1 win over Italy in 1970 in Mexico City as the South American nation became the first nation to win the tournament three times.
1974 WORLD CUP: BECKENBAUER VS. CRUYFF
Twenty years after the "Miracle of Bern," the Germans were again champions of the world in 1974, defeating the Netherlands on home soil in a battle of Total Football devotees.
1978 WORLD CUP: A FIRST TITLE FOR ARGENTINA
Almost 50 years after crossing the River Plate by boat and losing in Uruguay in the inaugural World Cup final, Argentina beat the Netherlands in Buenos Aires and was crowned World champions on home soil.
1982 WORLD CUP: ROSSI TO THE RESCUE FOR ITALY
A World Cup of startling upsets, improbable finishes and unmatched drama—with a fair bit of controversy thrown in for good measure—ended with Italy claiming its third title after beating West Germany in Madrid.
1986 WORLD CUP: THE MARADONA SHOW
Mexico replaces Colombia as host in 1986, Diego Maradona puts on a one-man show, England cries foul over “The Hand of God,” Canada competes at its first World Cup, and Argentina beats West Germany in the final.
1990 WORLD CUP: BEWARE OF THE GERMANS
West Germany joined Brazil and Italy as three-time winners after beating Argentina in Rome in the worst World Cup final in history.
1994 WORLD CUP: COMING TO AMERICA
The World Cup came to America in 1994 as record crowds watched the tournament unfold, including Brazil’s penalty shootout win over Italy in the final to become the first four-time winner.
1998 WORLD CUP: FRENCH REVOLUTION
Buoyed by Zinedine Zidane and a Golden Generation of players, France finally fulfilled their World Cup dreams in 1998 by beating Brazil in the final.
2002 WORLD CUP: BRAZIL AND THE FINAL FRONTIER
The World Cup went to Asia for the first time in 2002, and while South Korea captured the hearts of the locals and neutrals, Brazil ended up winning its fifth title.
2006 WORLD CUP: ITALY PAINTS THE TOWN BLUE
Italy quietly went about its business through the opening rounds before beating hosts Germany in the semifinals and France in the final via penalty shootout.
2010 WORLD CUP: SPAIN WIN MARKS NEW ERA
A World Cup of firsts: South Africa became the first African nation to host the tournament, and Spain became the first new nation to win the competition since France in 1998.
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