WORLD CUP ’94 : WORLD CUP / USA 1994 : Through the Years

CHAMPIONS

1930: URUGUAY 1934: ITALY 1938: URUGUAY 1950: W. GERMANY 1954: BRAZIL 1958: BRAZIL 1962: ENGLAND 1966: BRAZIL 1970: BRAZIL 1974: W. GERMANY 1978: ARGENTINA 1982: ITALY 1986: ARGENTINA 1990: W. GERMANY

WORLD CUP HISTORY

1904--FIFA holds its inaugural meeting

1908--Five nations compete in first Olympic soccer tournament.

1912--Olympic field increases to 11.

1919--Henri Delaunay of France elected FIFA secretary.

1920--Olympic field is up to 14, including the first non-European entry, Egypt.

1921--Jules Rimet of France elected FIFA president.

1928--At FIFA’s congress, Delaunay, backed by Rimet, proposes the first soccer world championship, to be held every four years, between Olympic years.

1928--Uruguay selected as host nation after it offers to pay all expenses of visiting teams. The nation is a three-week boat ride away for European nations, however. Italy, Holland, Sweden and Spain drop out when their bids to host are rejected. British nations walk out on FIFA.

1930--Only four European nations, Romania, France, Belgium and Yugoslavia, are in the field of 13 for the first World Cup. U.S. team loses in semifinals, 6-1, to Argentina, which loses the final to Uruguay, 4-2.

1934--Host Italy wins the Cup, defeating Czechoslovakia, 2-1, in the final, bringing a smile to Benito Mussolini.

1938--Fifteen teams compete in France, where Italy defeats Hungary in final, 4-2.

1939-1950--World Cup suspended because of World War II.

1950--Because of postwar difficulties in many countries, only 13 teams compete in Brazil, where Uruguay stuns the host nation, 2-1 in the final, before an estimated 200,000 at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. United States shocks England, 1-0, in first round.

1954--FIFA celebrates its 50-year anniversary by bringing the World Cup to Zurich, Switzerland, home of FIFA headquarters. West Germany defeats Hungary, 3-2, in the final.

1958--A 17-year-old forward named Pele makes his World Cup debut, scoring twice as Brazil defeats host Sweden in the final, 5-2.

1962--Brazil repeats as champion, defeating Czechoslovakia, 3-1, in the final in Chile.

1966--The World Cup is held in England for the first time, but not before the trophy, made of solid gold, is stolen while on display. Pickles, a dog, finds it in a garden. England defeats West Germany, 4-2, in overtime for the title. Geoff Hurst’s hat trick is the only one ever in a final. An English lion, dubbed World Cup Willie, is the first mascot.

1970--The red and yellow card system is added in Mexico to protect players like Pele, who leads Brazil to the title with a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory over Italy in the final. With three victories, Brazil takes permanent possession of the Jules Rimet Trophy.

1974--With Pele retired from Cup play, West Germany, playing at home and led by Franz Beckenbauer, outduels Johan Cruyff and a dominant team from Holland, 2-1.

1978--A then-record 101 nations compete for the right to play in Argentina, where Mario Kempes scores two goals and has an assist as the host nation wins the final, 3-1, over the Netherlands.

1982--For the first time, 24 teams reach the main event, held in Spain, where a resurgent Paolo Rossi leads Italy to the title with a 3-1 victory over West Germany.

1983--Mexico is named the site of the 1986 Cup after Colombia, which had agreed to be the host nation, withdraws for economic reasons.

1986--The tournament belongs to Diego Maradona, who leads Argentina to victory, including a 3-2 triumph over West Germany in the final. Led by current U.S. Coach Bora Milutinovic, Mexico reaches the quarterfinals, but loses to the Germans on penalty kicks.

1990--Andy Brehme’s penalty kick on a controversial call gives West Germany a 1-0 victory over Argentina in Rome.

SOURCE: “The Simplest Game,” by Paul Gardner, 1994