The Greatest Sporting Event on the Planet
The Soccer Worldcup – The planet’s largest
sport event of all time. Over a billion people follow this four
yearly the month long spectacle between the top 32 soccer
playing nations. From it’s early and humble beginnings in
1930 the Soccer World Cup has grown to be one of the
worlds most spectacular sporting events.
Organized by Federation Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA), the sport’s governing body.
The Worldcup is undisputedly the world’s most important international
soccer competition.
The current champions – Spain won the event in 2010, hosted by South Africa.
This event, “SWC 2010“, was the first soccer world cup to be held
in Africa. It is fitting that the host country for this was South Africa.
It is the most beautiful country on the continent and well worth a visit,
even if you don’t watch soccer.
Over 160 national teams take part in the regional qualifications to qualify as one of the 32 teams that will take part in the finals.
For a moment lets reflect on this global tournament…
The Soccer Worldcup – A Short History
On May 26th, 1928 the Soccer Worldcup was born. History was changed forever as five European countries plus a chosen host of Uruguay planned to hold the first tournament on May 18th, 1929 at the congress of Barcelona.
The seeds which marked the beginning of this great event were planted by the president of the World Football Federation, There would be no world cup history if it were not for Jules Rimet, who first took the presidency in 1921.
The positive message infused by Rimet is summarized by his famous words “Soccer could reinforce the ideals of a permanent and real peace”, as he pushed to organize an international tournament that would make no discrimination on the grounds of professional or amateur status. As his words were spoken the plans for a world tournament involving all of the federations was being planned for the coming 3 to 4 years.
Along with the help of 5 other officials, Rimet organized the event for 1930. Via congressional meetings of the World Football Federation the semantics for the tournament were laid out and finalized.
Uruguay was chosen as the first host nation based on their outstanding Olympic record, and as Rimet was encouraging a regime of international peace, utilizing the reputation the Olympic games already held was simply intelligent leveraging.
The actual event did not transpire until the year later, when on July 13th, 1930 the first game of the first world cup kicked off in Pocitos Stadium, and France beat Mexico 4 to 1. This truly marked the beginning of a long and wonderful world cup track record.
Zakumi Official Mascot for South Africa 2010
The first Soccer Worldcup was the only event to not involve the modern qualifying rounds. The only European teams involved were France, Belgium, Yugoslavia, and Romania. Other European teams either wished to remain in purely Amateur events, or argued that the expected trip time was far too long. Other than Uruguay six additional South American teams participated, including Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.
Two teams remained to complete the final 13 for 1930, Mexico and the United States.
In the end it was Uruguay battling Argentina for the cup. Victory and the first Soccer Worldcup went to Uruguay as they beat the Argentina 4 to 2.
As you now know the tournament has now grown to be the largest international competition, moving around the globe every 4 years with nations competing intensely to host to every event.
This years event in South Africa, was once again a super cession to its predecessor and presented another spectacular world cup.
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