| FIFA stands for Fédération | | | | Soccer went on to become an official sport in the |
| Internationale de Football Association and the first | | | | 1908 Olympics in England and it was only in 1914 that |
| FIFA world cup came into being in 1930 in Uruguay. | | | | FIFA started recognizing the Olympic soccer |
| The commencement of the first FIFA world cup was | | | | tournament as a "world football championship for |
| history in the making. The soccer world cup came | | | | amateurs." Following their acceptance, FIFA agreed |
| into being only after the game met with success in | | | | upon taking the responsibility of the management of |
| numerous other tournaments across the world. | | | | the event. This opened the doors for the first |
| Soccer Championships - Where it all started | | | | international soccer competition in the form of 1920 |
| The first soccer match ever recorded in history was | | | | Olympics. The champions were Belgium followed by |
| between England and Scotland in Glasgow in 1872. | | | | Uruguay in the next two Olympics in 1924 and 1928. |
| This was followed by the British Home Championship | | | | The FIFA world cup |
| that was started in 1888 and at this point in time, the | | | | The success of soccer in Olympic tournaments made |
| popularity of the sport remained within the United | | | | FIFA reconsider their dream of organizing an |
| Kingdom only. In the early 19th century, soccer | | | | international championship. With President Jules Rimet |
| started becoming popular outside the UK and was | | | | heading from the front, the FIFA congress in a |
| being played largely as a demonstration sport. This | | | | meeting at Amsterdam in 1928 decided to organize a |
| simply meant that there were no medals or awards | | | | world championship. The host country for the first |
| for the taking. In fact, soccer was introduced in the | | | | FIFA world cup was named as Uruguay since they |
| 1900 as well as 1904 Summer Olympics in France and | | | | were two time Olympic Champions. So in 1930, the |
| Canada respectively. Only 3 club teams participated in | | | | first FIFA world cup came into existence. The first |
| the tournament during both the Summer Olympics. | | | | soccer world cup saw participation from 13 countries |
| Soccer was also played in the 1906 Summer | | | | including 7 from South America, 4 from Europe, and 2 |
| Olympics also known as the Intercalated Games in | | | | from North America. |
| Athens and there was participation from 4 teams | | | | The first FIFA world cup matches were held |
| including 3 clubs. | | | | simultaneously on 18 July 1930 and the winners were |
| Following the 1904 Olympics, FIFA | | | | France and USA. Uruguay went on to become the |
| (Fédération Internationale de Football | | | | champions by defeating Argentina 4-2 in front of a |
| Association) was formed. The Federation made an | | | | 93,000 strong home crowd in Montevideo. The FIFA |
| attempt to organize an international soccer | | | | world cup is played once every 4 years with 32 |
| tournament between countries that were outside of | | | | teams participating for the trophy. |
| the Olympic framework. This tournament is | | | | The last FIFA world cup (2006) was held in Germany |
| considered as the first ever step towards modern | | | | and Italy was crowned as the champions. The next |
| soccer championships and this was held in Switzerland | | | | FIFA world cup (2010) is going to be held in South |
| in 1906. The sad news is that FIFA declared this | | | | Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. |
| competition as a complete failure. | | | | |