List of FIFA World Cup opening matches
The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition established in 1930. It is contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament has taken place every four years, except in 1942 and 1946, when the competition was cancelled due to World War II.
The World Cup opening match is the first of the competition, opening match regulations changed many times.[1] Between 1974 and 2002, defending champion is involved in the opening match. Since 2006, as defending champions no longer qualify automatically, the opening matches involves the host nations.
List of opening matches[]
Early years (1930–1970)[]
Year | Team 1 | Final score | Team 2 | Venue | Location | Attendance | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1930 | France | 4–1 | Mexico | Estadio Pocitos | Montevideo, Uruguay | 4,444 | Report | 2 matches on the first day were all played at the same time |
United States | 3–0 | Belgium | Estadio Parque Central | Montevideo, Uruguay | 18,346 | Report | ||
1934 | Italy | 7–1 | United States | Stadio Nazionale PNF | Rome, Italy | 25,000 | Report | 8 matches on the first day were all played at the same time |
Spain | 3–1 | Brazil | Stadio Luigi Ferraris | Genoa, Italy | 21,000 | Report | ||
Austria | 3–2 | France | Stadio Benito Mussolini | Turin, Italy | 16,000 | Report | ||
Hungary | 4–2 | Egypt | Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli | Naples, Italy | 9,000 | Report | ||
Czechoslovakia | 2–1 | Romania | Stadio Littorio | Trieste, Italy | 9,000 | Report | ||
Switzerland | 3–2 | Netherlands | Stadio San Siro | Milan, Italy | 33,000 | Report | ||
Germany | 5–2 | Belgium | Stadio Giovanni Berta | Florence, Italy | 8,000 | Report | ||
Sweden | 3–2 | Argentina | Stadio Littoriale | Bologna, Italy | 14,000 | Report | ||
1938 | Switzerland | 1–1 | Germany | Parc des Princes | Paris, France | 27,152 | Report | It was the first opening match that was a tie game in FIFA world cup history |
1950 | Brazil | 4–0 | Mexico | Maracanã Stadium | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 81,649 | Report | Brazil is host country |
1954 | Brazil | 5–0 | Mexico | Charmilles Stadium | Geneva, Switzerland | 13,470 | Report | 4 matches on the first day were all played at the same time |
Yugoslavia | 1–0 | France | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise | Lausanne, Switzerland | 16,000 | Report | ||
Uruguay | 2–0 | Czechoslovakia | Wankdorf Stadium | Bern, Switzerland | 20,500 | Report | ||
Austria | 1–0 | Scotland | Hardturm Stadium | Zürich, Switzerland | 25,000 | Report | ||
1958 | Sweden | 3–0 | Mexico | Råsunda Stadium | Solna, Sweden | 34,107 | Report | Sweden is host country |
1962 | Uruguay | 2–1 | Colombia | Estadio Carlos Dittborn | Arica, Chile | 7,908 | Report | 4 matches on the first day were all played at the same time |
Chile | 3–1 | Switzerland | Estadio Nacional | Santiago, Chile | 65,006 | Report | ||
Brazil | 2–0 | Mexico | Estadio Sausalito | Viña del Mar, Chile | 10,484 | Report | ||
Argentina | 1–0 | Bulgaria | Estadio El Teniente | Rancagua, Chile | 7,134 | Report | ||
1966 | England | 0–0 | Uruguay | Wembley Stadium | London, England | 87,148 | Report | England is host country |
1970 | Mexico | 0–0 | Soviet Union | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico | 107,160 | Report | Mexico is host country |
Defending champion era (1974–2002)[]
Year | Defending champion |
Final score | Opponent | Venue | Location | Attendance | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Brazil | 0–0 | Yugoslavia | Waldstadion | Frankfurt, West Germany | 62,000 | Report | |
1978 | West Germany | 0–0 | Poland | Estadio Monumental | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 67,579 | Report | |
1982 | Argentina | 0–1 | Belgium | Camp Nou | Barcelona, Spain | 95,000 | Report | |
1986 | Italy | 1–1 | Bulgaria | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico | 96,000 | Report | |
1990 | Argentina | 0–1 | Cameroon | San Siro | Milan, Italy | 73,780 | Report | |
1994 | Germany | 1–0 | Bolivia | Soldier Field | Chicago, United States | 63,117 | Report | |
1998 | Brazil | 2–1 | Scotland | Stade de France | Saint-Denis, France | 80,000 | Report | |
2002 | France | 0–1 | Senegal | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Seoul, South Korea | 62,561 | Report |
Host country era (2006–present)[]
Year | Host country |
Final score | Opponent | Venue | Location | Attendance | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Germany | 4–2 | Costa Rica | FIFA WM Stadion München | Munich, Germany | 66,000 | Report | |
2010 | South Africa | 1–1 | Mexico | Soccer City | Johannesburg, South Africa | 84,490 | Report | |
2014 | Brazil | 3–1 | Croatia | Arena de São Paulo | São Paulo, Brazil | 62,103 | Report | |
2018 | Russia | 5–0 | Saudi Arabia | Luzhniki Stadium | Moscow, Russia | 78,011 | Report |
See also[]
- List of association football competitions
- List of FIFA Confederations Cup finals
- List of FIFA World Cup finals
References[]
External links[]
Categories:
- FIFA World Cup openings
- Lists of FIFA World Cup matches