The World Cup – the most exciting football tournament on the planet – has a history of nearly 100 years filled with many fascinating records.
Almost every World Cup season witnesses a new record being broken, a new record being set, or dramatic events that linger in the memories of many. With the 2022 World Cup approaching, let’s take a look back at the records and interesting stories that few people know have occurred in this most captivating tournament.
1. The Most Attended Match in World Cup History
This record belongs to the 1950 World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay. The official attendance recorded was 173,850. However, some speculate that this number is inaccurate, with estimates suggesting that around 199,854 to 200,000 people were crammed into the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
This match is also infamous for causing many Brazilian fans to commit suicide after their team lost.
2. The Player with the Most World Cup Titles in History
Brazilian football star Pelé won his first World Cup title in 1958 in Sweden, marking Brazil’s first victory. He then helped Brazil win the title again in the following tournament in 1962 and ultimately led his team to victory in 1970. In total, Pelé has won the World Cup three times with his national team.
3. The Player with the Most Goals in World Cup History
Miroslav Klose of Germany holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup history, with a total of 16 goals, surpassing Ronaldo’s previous record. He scored 5 goals in his first tournament in 2002, followed by another 5 goals in the 2006 tournament. Klose continued to score 4 goals in 2010 and 2 goals in the 2014 tournament.
4. The Most Goals Scored by a Player in a Single World Cup
Just Fontaine of France scored 13 goals during the 1958 tournament in Sweden, the highest number of goals scored by a player in a single World Cup.
5. 3.2 Billion People Watched the 2018 World Cup
Nearly half of the world’s population watched matches from the 2018 World Cup. This figure includes those who watched the games on television and digital platforms.
6. The First World Cup Held by Uruguay in 1930
Uruguay was the first host nation and ultimately became the first World Cup champion.
7. The 2002 Tournament Was the First Co-Hosted by Two Countries
Initially, South Korea and Japan both bid to host the championship. Japan later rejected the idea of co-hosting but changed its decision and executed what FIFA declared a significant decision to demonstrate how sports can overcome differences.
8. The Oldest Player Ever to Play in the World Cup
Essam El Hadary, the goalkeeper from Egypt, played in the 2018 World Cup in Russia at the age of 45. The tournament also granted him the title of the oldest player to successfully save a penalty when he saved a penalty kick from Saudi Arabia.
9. The Fastest Goal in World Cup History
Turkish player Hakan Şükür scored the first goal just 10.89 seconds into the match against South Korea in the third-place playoff.
10. The 1966 World Cup Trophy Was Stolen
Before the 1966 tournament in England, the gold championship trophy was displayed at the Central Hall of Westminster in London. A thief managed to evade security and escaped with the trophy. However, it was later found by a remarkable character—a dog named Pickles discovered the prestigious trophy hidden under a bush in a residential area.
11. The Team with the Most Losses in World Cup History
Mexico has lost a total of 25 matches since the inception of the world’s largest football tournament.
12. Only Two Countries Have Won the World Cup Twice in a Row
The Italian national team won the World Cup in 1934 and 1938, while Brazil claimed the title in 1958 and 1962.
13. The Two Countries That Have Faced Each Other the Most in World Cup Finals
Argentina and Germany have played against each other more than any other countries. They faced off in the finals in 1986, 1990, and 2014.
14. Indonesia Has Only Played One World Cup Match in History
The Asian team made its World Cup debut in the 1938 tournament under the name Dutch East Indies. They played against Hungary and lost with a score of 6-0.
The First FIFA World Cup Demountable Stadium
Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, was constructed from shipping containers and will be completely dismantled after the tournament concludes. The goal of the demountable stadium is to help minimize overall waste during the stadium construction and component production process.
