World Cup Trivia

Since the World Cup's inception in 1930, there have been 19 editions (1942 and 1946 were interrupted due to WWII) with just eight countries winning the coveted Jules Rimet/FIFA World Cup Trophy:

Brazil (5)

Italy (4)

West Germany (3)

Argentina (2)

Uruguay (2)

England

France

Spain

Of the 19 World Cups, ten have been held in Europe, seven in the Americas, one in Asia, and one in Africa.  Brazil will host the 20^th World Cup in 2014.

On six occasions, the host country also emerged as the World Cup champion:  Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934, England in 1966, West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978, and France in 1998.  Brazil will have a second chance to pull off this feat in 2014.

Interestingly, in nine out of the ten times that the World Cup was held in Europe, a European team was crowned champion (except in 1958, when Brazil won in Switzerland).  And in the seven times the World Cup was held in the Americas, a South American country won each time.  Of the the two “neutral” sites – Asia and Africa – the results were split, with Brazil winning in Japan/Korea and Spain winning in Africa.

All I can say is that given the national disillusionment following Brazil's defeat to Uruguay before 200,000 partisans in the Maracana at the 1950 World Cup Final, there is incredible pressure on Brazil this time around!