WORLD CUP HISTORY

World Cup, formally FIFA World Cup, in football (soccer), quadrennial tournament that determines the sport’s world champion. It is likely the most popular sporting event in the world, drawing billions of television viewers every tournament.

The first competition for the cup was organized in 1930 by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and was won by Uruguay. Held every four years since that time, except during World War II, the competition consists of international sectional tournaments leading to a final elimination event made up of 32 national teams. Unlike Olympic football, World Cup teams are not limited to players of a certain age or amateur status, so the competition serves more nearly as a contest between the world’s best players. Referees are selected from lists that are submitted by all the national associations.

The trophy cup awarded from 1930 to 1970 was the Jules Rimet Trophy, named for the Frenchman who proposed the tournament. This cup was permanently awarded in 1970 to then three-time winner Brazil (1958, 1962, and 1970), and a new trophy called the FIFA World Cup was put up for competition. Many other sports have organized “World Cup” competitions.

FIFA World Cup—men

year result

*Won after extra time (AET).

**Won on penalty kicks.

1930 Uruguay 4 Argentina 2

1934 Italy* 2 Czechoslovakia 1

1938 Italy 4 Hungary 2

1950 Uruguay 2 Brazil 1

1954 West Germany 3 Hungary 2

1958 Brazil 5 Sweden 2

1962 Brazil 3 Czechoslovakia 1

1966 England* 4 West Germany 2

1970 Brazil 4 Italy 1

1974 West Germany 2 Netherlands 1

1978 Argentina* 3 Netherlands 1

1982 Italy 3 West Germany 1

1986 Argentina 3 West Germany 2

1990 West Germany 1 Argentina 0

1994 Brazil** 0 Italy 0

1998 France 3 Brazil 0

2002 Brazil 2 Germany 0

2006 Italy** 1 France 1

2010 Spain* 1 Netherlands 0

2014 Germany* 1 Argentina 0

2018 France 4 Croatia 2

Women’s World Cup, formally FIFA Women’s World Cup, international football (soccer) competition that determines the world champion among women’s national teams.

Like the men’s World Cup, the Women’s World Cup is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and takes place every four years. The field for the Women’s World Cup is determined by various international sectional competitions held over the course of several years before the final elimination event. The inaugural tournament, in 1991, was won by the United States. This initial contest and the 1995 iteration of the Women’s World Cup featured 12 international teams in the final tournament. The field expanded to 16 teams in 1999 and to 24 teams in 2015.

FIFA World Cup—women

year result

*Won on penalty kicks.

1991 United States 2 Norway 1

1995 Norway 2 Germany 0

1999 United States* 0 China 0

2003 Germany 2 Sweden 1

2007 Germany 2 Brazil 0

2011 Japan* 2 United States 2

2015 United States 5 Japan 2

2019 United States 2 Netherlands 0

Mia Hamm, byname of Mariel Margaret Hamm, (born March 17, 1972, Selma, Alabama, U.S.), American football (soccer) player who became the first international star of the women’s game. Playing forward, she starred on the U.S. national team that won World Cup championships in 1991 and 1999 and Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004. She was revered for her all-around skill, competitive spirit, and knack for goal scoring. She retired from the national team in 2004 with 158 goals in international competition, the most by any player, male or female (her record was broken by countrywoman Abby Wambach in 2013). She was twice named Women’s World Player of the Year (2001–02) by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

Hamm’s goal-scoring talent as a teenager drew attention from top college programs as well as the national team. At age 15 she became the youngest person ever to become a member of the U.S. team. In 1989 Hamm entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and, by the time she graduated in 1994, she had helped the Tar Heels win four National Collegiate Athletic Association championships.

Hamm made 276 appearances with the national team. During her career, in addition to winning the four major championships, the U.S. women finished third in the 1995 and 2003 World Cup tournaments and took a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics. With Hamm as the star, they enjoyed media attention unprecedented for a women’s sports team, especially during the 1999 World Cup held in the United States. Jerseys with her number 9 became a top seller, and her popularity, which continued into her retirement, rivaled that of the best-known male athletes.

Hamm also played professionally for the Washington Freedom of the short-lived Women’s United Soccer Association (2001–03). After retiring from competitive play in 2004, she remained involved in the sport. Notably, in 2014 Hamm became a co-owner—along with her husband, former baseball player Nomar Garciaparra, and numerous others—of the Los Angeles Football Club of Major League Soccer; the team began play in 2018.

Hamm cowrote (with Aaron Heifetz) Go for the Goal: A Champion’s Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life (1999).