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Table of Contents
- Unveiling the Secrets: 10 Shocking Facts You Never Knew About the World Cup!
- The World Cup is the Most Watched Sporting Event in the World
- The World Cup Trophy is Not the Original Trophy
- The World Cup Has Only Been Held in Two Continents
- The World Cup Has Been Cancelled Twice
- The World Cup Has a Mascot
- The World Cup Has a Song
- The World Cup Has a Youngest and Oldest Goal Scorer
- The World Cup Has a Most Successful Team
- The World Cup Has a Most Successful Player
- The World Cup Has a Most Expensive Player
- Conclusion
Unveiling the Secrets: 10 Shocking Facts You Never Knew About the World Cup!
The World Cup is the Most Watched Sporting Event in the World
The FIFA World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, with an estimated 3.5 billion people tuning in to watch the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This is more than half of the world’s population! The final match between France and Croatia was watched by over 1 billion people, making it the most-watched television event of the year.
The World Cup Trophy is Not the Original Trophy
The World Cup trophy that is presented to the winning team is not the original trophy. The original trophy, known as the Jules Rimet Trophy, was awarded to Brazil in 1970 after they won the tournament for the third time. However, the trophy was stolen in 1983 and has never been recovered. The current trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was introduced in 1974 and is made of 18-carat gold and weighs 6.175 kg.
The World Cup Has Only Been Held in Two Continents
Despite being a global event, the World Cup has only been held in two continents: Europe and South America. The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, and since then, the tournament has been held in Europe and South America alternately. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be the first time the tournament is held in the Middle East.
The World Cup Has Been Cancelled Twice
The World Cup has been cancelled twice in its history. The first time was in 1942, during World War II, and the second time was in 1946, also due to the aftermath of the war. The World Cup has never been postponed or cancelled for any other reason.
The World Cup Has a Mascot
Since 1966, the World Cup has had a mascot. The first mascot was a lion named World Cup Willie, who was created for the 1966 World Cup in England. Since then, every World Cup has had a mascot, with the most recent being Zabivaka, a wolf, for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The World Cup Has a Song
Since 1962, the World Cup has had an official song. The first official song was “El Rock del Mundial” by Los Ramblers for the 1962 World Cup in Chile. Since then, every World Cup has had an official song, with the most recent being “Live It Up” by Nicky Jam, featuring Will Smith and Era Istrefi, for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The World Cup Has a Youngest and Oldest Goal Scorer
The youngest goal scorer in World Cup history is Norman Whiteside of Northern Ireland, who scored a goal against Yugoslavia in the 1982 World Cup at the age of 17 years and 41 days. The oldest goal scorer in World Cup history is Roger Milla of Cameroon, who scored a goal against Russia in the 1994 World Cup at the age of 42 years and 39 days.
The World Cup Has a Most Successful Team
The most successful team in World Cup history is Brazil, who have won the tournament five times. Brazil won their first World Cup in 1958 and their most recent in 2002. Germany and Italy are tied for second place with four wins each.
The World Cup Has a Most Successful Player
The most successful player in World Cup history is Pelé of Brazil, who won the tournament three times in 1958, 1962, and 1970. Pelé scored a total of 12 goals in World Cup tournaments, including two in the 1970 final against Italy.
The World Cup Has a Most Expensive Player
The most expensive player in World Cup history is Neymar of Brazil, who was bought by Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million in 2017. Neymar played for Brazil in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but his team was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Belgium.
Conclusion
The FIFA World Cup is a global event that captures the attention of billions of people around the world. From the most successful team and player to the youngest and oldest goal scorer, the World Cup is full of fascinating facts and figures. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, the World Cup is a spectacle that never fails to amaze.