History of the World Cup hosts: Between triumph and great disappointment

1930: The history of the World Championships started with a home win. Out of 13 participants (four European), Uruguay was crowned the first world champion. In the final, Argentina was defeated 4-2 in Montevideo.

1934: In the era of fascism before the Second World War, the hosts Italy again won the title after a 2-1 final victory over Czechoslovakia. This time almost all teams came from Europe (12 out of 15).

1938: Hosts France failed in the quarter-finals against the Italians, who ultimately defended their title.

1950: After a 2-1 victory in the final round over the Selecao, Uruguay became world champions (there was no final back then). The game went down in history as “Maracanaco” (shock from the Maracana).

1954: Host Switzerland lost to Austria 5:7 in a legendary quarter-final, Germany became world champions after a 3:2 final victory over Hungary, against whom they had lost 3:8 in the preliminary round. It was the “Miracle of Bern”.

1958: Sweden was the first Scandinavian host country and made it to the final, where they lost 5-2 to Brazil and superstar Pele.

1962: Once again, eventual world champions Brazil toppled the host country – 4-2 in the semi-final against Chile.

1966: For the third time a host became world champion. England won their only title so far with a 4-2 win over Germany.

1970: One of the best World Cups ended in Mexico with a 4-1 final victory for the Brazilians over the Italians, who destroyed the organizers’ hopes in the quarter-finals (4-1).

1974: Again Germany manages a surprising final victory – this time in their own country. There was a 2-1 win against the Netherlands in Munich.

1978: Host Argentina did a lot to ensure that the country became world champions. This was also achieved after a 3-1 win over Ernst Happel’s Dutch team.

1982: Spain was disappointed and shivered its way into the second final round, where it was over. Italy became world champions.

1986: Hosts Mexico lost on penalties in the quarter-finals to the Germans, who lost 3-2 to Argentina in the final.

1990: Organizer Italy failed in the semi-finals on penalty shootouts to Argentina. The Albiceleste lost the final against Germany 0-1.

1994: The USA survived the preliminary round as hosts and lost 0-1 to eventual world champions Brazil in the round of 16.

1998: France was the last team to win a World Cup in their own country (3-0 against Brazil).

2002: For the first time there were two hosts. Japan lost to Turkey in the round of 16 (0-1), South Korea only lost to Germany in the semi-finals (0-1) and came fourth when Brazil triumphed.

2006: The German summer fairy tale ended in the semi-finals with defeat against eventual world champions Italy.

2010: South Africa was the first host to fail in the preliminary round, while Spain won the title.

2014: The second great disgrace in Brazil’s football history: 1:7 in the semifinals against eventual world champions Germany.

2018: In Russia, France won their second World Cup trophy, but the hosts were defeated by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals.

2022: Qatar is the worst host with zero points. Argentina became world champions for the third time.