GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!
All eyes are turned to Brazil, this years host of the 2014 Soccer World Cup. What is the fascination for soccer and how did we come to have the World Cup?
The first soccer fact we need to know: Americans are about the only people group that calls it soccer. Some countries call it «futbol», pronounced «football», while the rest of the world calls-and spells it- «football» «-not to be confused with our American version of football.
The first «Football Tournament», later to be called «World Cup» was held in 1930 in Uruguay and hosted only 13 invited teams. It has since grown to host a whopping 32 teams! But I get ahead of myself…
Soccer (herein to be referred to as football) was originally played in Great Britain, with the first international tournament being played between England and Scotland in the year 1872. They held two international games that season. Their first match ended with a tie, the score being 0-0, played on November 30. The second match was held on March 8, 1873 with the score ending in Englands’ favor at 4 – 2.
Skipping ahead to the 1900’s and we have the first international tournament being held outside of Great Britain. These football matches were held in Uruguay between Uruguay and Argentina. By then, it had become such a popular sport that in 1900 and 1904, they initiated it into the Summer Olympics!
In 1904 FIFA was created. Important? Yes. It stands for «Fédération Internationale de Football Association». What is FIFA? FIFA is the international body that governs the rules and regulations of soccer.
As I stated, World Cup did not come in to play (pun fully intended!) until the 1930’s. In 1932, the summer Olympics was to be held in Los Angeles, California. With football not being a popular sport in the States at this time, it was dropped from the Olympiad Program. What to do?
At this point FIFA President, Jules Rimet, decided it was time to take action and created what is now known as the «World Cup». Since Uruguay had won their past two tournaments, FIFA decided to hold the first set of matches in this country.
The Cup is the world’s largest single event competition. It is held every four years-every year with two exceptions. During World War II (specifically 1942 and 1946), the games were discontinued since all countries were more concerned about the war effort and all resources were focused there. Currently there have been 19 Cup tournaments held, with eight different countries having taken home the prize.
Want to take a guess as to which team has won the most often? That’s right. Brazil takes it with five total World Cup wins!