International Sports Championships

Brazil holds the record with five World Cup titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002), more than any other nation. Italy and Germany have four each, and Argentina fewer.

The original FIFA World Cup trophy, used from the inaugural 1930 tournament until 1970, was named the Jules Rimet Trophy after the FIFA president who founded the competition. It was retired after Brazil won it outright in 1970, after which the current FIFA World Cup Trophy was introduced. The other listed names are fabricated.

Great Britain, represented by the English amateur side Upton Park FC, won the first Olympic football gold medal at the 1900 Paris Olympics. Football became an official Olympic sport in 1908, where Great Britain also won gold. Uruguay's Olympic football triumphs came later in 1924 and 1928.

Brazil reached three consecutive World Cup finals in 1994, 1998, and 2002, winning two. Germany (as West Germany) also achieved this feat, appearing in the 1982, 1986, and 1990 finals. Neither Uruguay nor South Korea has matched this record.

Goleo VI, a lion mascot wearing a Germany shirt, was the official mascot of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, accompanied by a talking football named Pille. The other options (Frodo, Rodeo, Poleo) are not real World Cup mascots.

Diego Maradona made his FIFA World Cup debut at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, at age 21. He was controversially left out of the 1978 Argentina squad as coach Menotti deemed him too young. Mexico 1986 was where he won the title, not his debut.

Germany hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Italy won the tournament but did not host it.

Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, defeating France in the final on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Berlin.

Germany (including West Germany) has conceded the most goals in World Cup history, a consequence of having played a very large number of tournament matches over many editions.

Before South Africa 2010, the most recent Southern Hemisphere World Cup was Argentina 1978. Chile 1962 was also in the Southern Hemisphere but earlier, while Mexico 1970 and USA 1994 were Northern Hemisphere hosts.