History of the FIFA World Cup: records, mascots, trophy and much More...

The FIFA World Cup is an international football tournament held every four years. The tournament is contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA, the sport's global governing body. The first World Cup was held in 1930, with Uruguay winning the title.

  The current format of the tournament features 32 teams competing for the title, at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about a month. This phase is often referred to as the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the previous three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the Finals. The host nation(s) automatically qualify for the Finals. The World Cup is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 tournament final. Records: – Most World Cup titles: Brazil (5) – Most World Cup appearances: Brazil (20) – Most World Cup Final appearances: Brazil (8) – Most World Cup goals: Brazil (227) – Most World Cup matches played: Brazil (84) – Most World Cup matches won: Brazil (58) – Most World Cup tournaments hosted: Brazil (5) – Most World Cup matches hosted: Brazil (64) Mascots: The first World Cup mascot was World Cup Willie, a lion designed by English artist Reg Hoye. He appeared on posters and stamps in England during the 1966 World Cup. In 1970, the official World Cup mascot was Jules the Clown, designed by French artist Daniel Dezeuze. In 1974, the official World Cup mascot was a human character named Tip and Tap, designed by German artist Gunther Gerzso. In 1978, the official World Cup mascot was a white dog named Gauchito, designed by Argentine artist Roberto Maidana. In 1982, the official World Cup mascot was a red-and-white striped cat named Pique, designed by Mexican artist Victor Vasquez. In 1986, the official World Cup mascot was a Mexican boy named Pique, designed by Mexican artist Joaquin Lopez Antay. In 1990, the official World Cup mascot was a child wearing a black-and-white striped shirt and red shorts, designed by Italian artist Loris Laino. His name was Ciao. In 1994, the official World Cup mascot was a dog named Striker, designed by American artist John Taylor. In 1998, the official World Cup mascot was a French boy named Footix, designed by French artist Philippe Mairesse. In 2002, the official World Cup mascot was a Korean boy named Ahn Jung-hwan, designed by Korean artist Choi Jeong-yong. In 2006, the official World Cup mascot was a German girl named Goleo VI, designed by Spanish artist Susana Martinez. In 2010, the official World Cup mascot was a Zakumi, designed by South African artist Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo. In 2014, the official World Cup mascot was a Brazilian boy named Fuleco, designed by Brazilian artist Fernando Mendonca. Trophy: The FIFA World Cup Trophy is the trophy awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup. The current trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga and is made of 18 karat (75%) gold with a malachite base. It stands 36.8 centimeters (14.5 inches) high and weighs 6.1 kilograms (13.4 pounds). The trophy was first presented to West Germany after their victory in the 1974 World Cup. The current holders of the trophy are France, who won the 2018 World Cup. Hosts: The first World Cup was held in 1930 in Uruguay. The host country was chosen by a vote of the FIFA Congress in Barcelona on 13 May 1928. The following countries have hosted the World Cup: – Uruguay (1930) – Italy (1934) – France (1938) – Brazil (1950) – Switzerland (1954) – Sweden (1958) – Chile (1962) – England (1966) – Mexico (1970) – West Germany (1974) – Argentina (1978) – Spain (1982) – Mexico (1986) – Italy (1990) – United States (1994) – France (1998) – South Korea and Japan (2002) – Germany (2006) – South Africa (2010) – Brazil (2014) – Russia (2018) – Qatar (2022) Conclusion: The FIFA World Cup is the biggest and most important international football tournament in the world. Held every four years, the World Cup is a celebration of the beautiful game that brings together fans from all over the globe. The World Cup is also a showcase for the best players in the world, as well as a chance for countries to show off their footballing prowess on the biggest stage. With a rich history dating back to 1930, the World Cup has produced some unforgettable moments, both on and off the pitch. From the first ever World Cup goal, to the iconic image of Diego Maradona holding the trophy aloft in 1986, the World Cup has given us memories that will last a lifetime. As we look ahead to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, we can't help but reflect on the wealth of history that has come before. From the humble beginnings of the first ever World Cup, to the global phenomenon it is today, the World Cup is a truly unique and special event.