The FIFA World Cup remains one of the best competitions in the world of sports. It is the biggest, most popular sporting event worldwide. Billions of people watch the competition and root for one of the 32 teams to lift the trophy. The story started in 1930, and since then, it has only improved.
UEFA competitions are the only ones that come close in soccer, but even those are smaller in comparison. You might find many people engaging in making Europa League predictions. However, more people are looking to win big with the FIFA games. The exciting thing is that for 28 days, everyone around the world remains occupied.
It is a sensational event that would see us enjoy some incredible experiences. We can always retain our excitement with the growing popularity. And like you would make Europa League predictions today, you can get involved in predicting World Cup games. You might just be lucky to catch the upsets.
As we follow the 2022 FIFA World Cup and look forward to a country making history, let’s check out some facts about this event. These facts can even help you with your predictions, like when you follow trends to make Europa League picks. So, without wasting time, let’s get into it.
Only Two Continents Have Produced FIFA World Cup Champions
Since the start of the FIFA World Cup, only South America and Europe have produced champions. The first champions came from South America, but Europe has more champions. Italy, Germany, Spain, England, and France are the champions of the FIFA World cup from Europe. For South America, the champions are Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil.
Fontaine, With 13 Goals, has the Best Goal Scoring Record
Throughout World Cup history, France’s Fontaine has the most FIFA World Cup goals in a single competition. He scored 13 in 1958, and since then, no player has been able to break it. We would expect it to get broken at one point. However, Fontaine is fourth on the list of the players with the most goals at the FIFA World Cup.
Six Players Have Represented Two Countries at the World Cup
Today, it is impossible to see a player play for two different countries at the World Cup due to the recent regulations from FIFA. However, it was a thing of the past. Luis Monti was the first player to represent two countries. He played for Argentina and Italy. Aside from Monti, the following players represented two nations.
- Robert Prosinecki – Yugoslavia and Croatia
- Robert Jarni – Yugoslavia and Croatia
- Jose Santamaria – Uruguay and Spain
- Ferenc – Hungary and Spain
- Mazola – Brazil and Italy
The Last Host Nation to Win the Competition
Uruguay, Argentina, and many more are nations to have won the competition as the host. However, the last time a team hosted the tournament and won was in 1998. France was the last country to host the competition and win it. Korea, Germany, and Brazil all got to the semifinals of their respective competitions, but they couldn’t win the competition as hosts.
Goalkeeper With the Most Clean Sheets
Fabian Barthez and Peter Shilton hold the record for the most clean sheets in FIFA World Cup history. These goalkeepers both have had ten clean sheets over the years. They both had incredible careers with exciting moments. Unfortunately, neither of these players was able to lift the trophy. But they did well in the tournament.
Best Teams at the World Cup
Although the nations competing at the FIFA World Cup continue to produce brilliant moments, some teams have had a more consistent performance. Brazil remains one of the best teams in the tournament. Italy, Germany/West Germany, Argentina, and Spain follow Brazil.
First Match at the FIFA World Cup
Unlike now, the host nation didn’t kickstart the FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930. The first-ever World Cup match was between France and Mexico. The match ended in favor of France, winning the game 4-1. Lucien Laurent scored the first goal of the tournament.
Qatar Becomes the First Nation to Lose an Opening Match
Before Qatar, every host had never lost the opening match. It either ended as a draw or a win for the host nation. Everyone expected that tradition to continue, but it didn’t when Qatar faced Ecuador in the opening game. The game ended with Enner Valencia scoring two. It could’ve been three if Valencia’s second-minute goal was not chopped off.
