Fifa World Cup 2026: Japan beat Tunisia 4-0 in the 1000th game at the World Cup
A history of the World Cup - the winners, the moments and the memories - from the very first tournament
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Germany seal progression to the knockout stages after coming from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1
The Netherlands cruised past Sweden 5-1 to all but mathematically guarantee a place in the last 32
Curacao claimed their first-ever World Cup point in a goalless draw with Ecuador
Who is through and who is out? Plus full groups, schedule and who could play who in knockouts here
That's a fine memory to finish on, including an actual meeting with Pele, hats off to you John.
Right, how about the World Cup finals yet to come?
The current edition of this tournament is already shaping up to be one of the best.
Let's now focus on our immediate future and the next four group games, shall we?
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Gordon Banks' save of the century from Pele's header in 1970. Had the privilege of meeting Pele in Orlando 20 years ago and mentioned the save, his answer was "I score hundreds and hundreds of goals and everyone just mentions the save" 😀
John, Newport
1,000 World Cup games
The 2022 World Cup final will always be remembered as the game in which Lionel Messi got his hands on the trophy that had eluded him during his time with the national team and which, until that date, separated his achievements from those of the great Diego Maradona.
Taking place at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 3-3 after extra time, and was quickly regarded as one of the greatest World Cup finals of all time.
From Argentina's lightning-fast start to Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick and then Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's match-saving stop in the 120th minute, this final had everything.
Argentina were firmly in control before Mbappe netted a brace in the 80th and 81st minutes to force extra time. Messi then scored again and Mbappe's 118th-minute penalty took the match to penalties.
Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed their spot-kicks, as Argentina won their first World Cup since 1986 and their third overall.
Image source, Getty Images1,000 World Cup games
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 2010 World Cup is remembered as the tournament where Spain shed their reputation as one of the best footballing nations never to win it, leaving the Netherlands as proud sole owners of the bridesmaids tag.
Their opponents in the final, yes, you've guessed it, three-time runners-up Netherlands (1974, 1978, 2010).
It also signified a dominant era for Spain, who won the 2008 European Championships and then also followed up their 2010 success with victory at the 2012 Euros as well.
Image source, Getty ImagesFour years later, Lionel Messi came agonisingly close to winning the World Cup, but Germany followed up their historic 7-1 dismantling of hosts Brazil in the semi-finals with an extra-time victory over Argentina at the Maracana Stadium.
Mario Gotze scored in the 113th minute to clinch Germany's fourth World Cup, and first since German reunification.
The 2018 World Cup final was won by France, who defeated surprise finalists Croatia 4-2 in Moscow.
It was their first title since 1998 and, in scoring at the Luzhniki Stadium, Kylian Mbappe became only the second teenager to net in a World Cup final (after Pele in 1958).
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Carlos Alberto's goal in the 1970 final encapsulated everything about beautiful football. Teamwork, vision, individual skill, patient build-up play, Bbrilliant finishing, even luck at the end with the bobble and the ball going through the Italian defender's legs.
Adam, Cambridge
1,000 World Cup games
Image source, Getty ImagesBrazil beat Germany 2-0 in Japan to win the 2002 World Cup, and won every single game on their way to the title - this feat has never been matched to date.
Man of the match Ronaldo (R9) scored twice to help Brazil win their fifth World Cup title - the most of any country.
Image source, Getty ImagesFour years later, the World Cup final was contested by Italy and France in Berlin. This match is famous for Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi and subsequent red card, in what was the final match of his career.
Despite this, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, as his nation were beaten 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Italy's success gave them a first World Cup title in 24 years, their fourth overall, but since then have struggled. They finished 26th in 2010 and 22nd in 2014 and have not qualified for the past three finals.
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Being only 7 and sent to bed in 1978 I still remember coming back down and peeking through the crack of the lounge door to watch the Argentina vs 'Holland' match. Parents noticed and let me stay up to watch the whole thing. Magical!
Martin, Stamford
Fortune favours the brave Martin!
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England vs Colombia 2018. England finally winning a World Cup penalty shootout after many years of failing. It was practically one of the best things I've seen in World Cup football for the England team.
Matthew, Camberley
1,000 World Cup games
Oleg Salenko had just two caps going into 1994, began that year’s World Cup on the bench, and never played international football after it.
Russia needed to thrash Cameroon, and needed results to go their way to reach the knockout phase.
After 75 minutes at Stanford Stadium in California, Salenko dinked home his fifth goal, all from his right boot, to inspire a 6-1 victory.
From that day, Salenko still holds the record for most goals scored by an individual in a single World Cup match.
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Spain 82, Gerry Armstrong v Spain
Dave, Elgin
1,000 World Cup games
The 1998 World Cup was nothing to shout about for England, but it was certainly the tournament where 18-year-old Michael Owen became a superstar.
England's last-16 tie against Argentina at France 1998 was locked at 1-1 when Owen seized his moment.
The young Liverpool striker collected a chipped pass from David Beckham before going on a mazy run through the Argentina back line before firing beyond goalkeeper Carlos Roa.
While the game ended in another penalty shootout heartbreak for England, Owen's sensational run and finish is fondly remembered as one of his country's greatest World Cup goals.
Image source, Getty Images1,000 World Cup games
Probably the most famous image from the 1990 World Cup was Three Lions' star midfielder Paul Gascoigne in tears.
Gazza was booked in the semi-final against Germany, meaning he would miss the final if England got there.
He realised the significance immediately struggled to hold back tears as the game went on around him.
Gary Lineker was famously caught on camera pointing to his eyes after turning to the England bench, urging manager Bobby Robson to "have a word".
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My second World Cup watching England, what a tournament Italia 90 was, until we lost the semi-final to Germany on pens, and the iconic football song Nessum Dorma was born.
Wayne, East Sussex
The correct term may be re-born, rather than born, but we take your point. Puccini's aria, sung by Luciano Pavarotti, was used for BBC TV's opening credits and certainly struck a chord with viewers...
1,000 World Cup games
Image source, Getty ImagesAs we leave the chaos of the 80s behind, we step into a decade of football where football got serious.
Italia 90 saw West Germany avenge their 1986 final defeat to Argentina when they won the final 1-0 thanks to an 85th minute penalty.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrazil secured their fourth World Cup title when the tournament headed Stateside for the first time in 1994.
A Selecao team featuring the likes of Aldair, Dunga, Bebeto and Romario beat Italy 3-2 on penalties - the first World Cup final to be settled by a penalty shootout.
Image source, Getty ImagesA Zinedine Zidane-inspired France were victorious on home soil in 1998, sealing a maiden World Cup title with a convincing final win over holders Brazil.
The build-up to the final was dominated by doubts over the availability of Brazil star Ronaldo, who had blazed a trail at the tournament with a series of explosive performances.
He was eventually passed fit for the Paris showdown but was a shadow of the player who had terrified defences throughout the competition.
As it was, another global superstar stole the show, with Zidane scoring twice in a 3-0 win.
"The first World Cup that makes sense is always your favourite" - discuss.
It seems that age 10, or thereabouts, is the age we were for the World Cup we remember most fondly.
I was 11 in 1986 and do have a soft-spot for that tournament, but then again, I was 15 in 1990, bewitched by the Manchester music scene - cue New Order and World In Motion - and absolutely in awe of Gazza, David Platt and John Barnes' rap.
The football may not have been the best, but didn't Italia 1990 have it all?
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Brazil 2 Italy 3, Spain 1982. Home from school to watch Rossi’s hat-trick, Falcao's shimmy and the first lesson for a 10-year-old idealist that the best team won’t always win. They say the first World Cup that makes sense is your favourite. True in my case.
Marcus, Cirencester
1,000 World Cup games
Image source, Getty ImagesEngland's World Cup hopes being dashed in the knockout stages is a common theme that may have started in 1970 but continues to this day - the 1980s were no exception.
This was an era of mullets, muddy pitches and when Diego Maradona punched the ball into the net. He was also pretty good at running it into the net as well.
Before the 1986 tournament, Italy won their third World Cup title in 1982, and first since 1938.
Striker Paulo Rossi became his nation’s talisman at the tournament when he hit a hat-trick in a famous 3-2 second-round group-stage victory over Brazil.
The red-hot Rossi then bagged a brace as Italy saw off Poland 2-0 in the last four, before scoring the opener in a 3-1 win against West Germany in the final in Madrid.
The 1986 tournament arrived, and so did Maradona.
His two goals in Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final win over England showcased his skill, control and balance with his feet... and hands.
Maradona also hit a double in the last-four win over Belgium, before Argentina finished the job in the final, although England's Gary Lineker would win the Golden Boot with six goals for the tournament.
Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in final that sealed Maradona’s tournament and his legendary status.
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1970, as a 10-year-old it was the most exciting World Cup, all in colour. The magnificent Brazil team winning every game sweeping Italy aside in the final. The heartbreak of seeing England beaten in the quarter-finals still hurts after all this time.
Tim, Portsmouth
Nothing hurts more than seeing your World Cup dreams dashed aged 10 - sadly, generations of football fans still 10-year-old at heart share your pain, Tim
1,000 World Cup games
Image source, GettBrazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning team is widely revered as one of the greatest ever to grace the game.
As well as the irrepressible Pele, Brazil’s line-up also featured world-class talents such as Carlos Alberto, Gerson, Tostao, Rivellino and Jairzinho.
In the final clash at Azteca Stadium, Brazil delivered perhaps the most complete performance in World Cup history, overwhelming their esteemed opponents 4-1 in front of a crowd of more than 100,000.
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Germany won their second World Cup in 1974, coming from behind to beat the Netherlands in a compelling Munich final.
The 1974 final also featured the new World Cup trophy for the first time, which was lifted by German captain Franz Beckenbauer (updated).
Argentina also thrilled their fanatical home support to win their maiden World Cup in 1978.
The great Mario Kempes inspired their triumph, scoring six goals to take home the tournament's Golden Boot.
But the goal of the tournament? There were plenty of long-range stunners to choose from but I will refer you to Jeff from Southport for the correct answer...
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West Ham United winning the World Cup for England in 1966! ⚒️
Martin, Eastbourne
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
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| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
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| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
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| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
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| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
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| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
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| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 |
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| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
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