World Cup Trivia: List of World Cup hosts and winners

The First World Cup was hosted in 1930 Uruguay and incidentally, Uruguay was the first World Cup champions. Below is the list of the 20 World cups hosts and winners:

1930       Host: Uruguay
                Winner: Uruguay

1934       Host:  Italy
                Winner: Italy

1938       Host:  France
                Winner: Italy

1942       Cancelled

1946       Cancelled

1950       Host: Brazil
                Winner: Uruguay

1954       Host:  Switzerland
                Winner: West Germany

1958       Host: Sweden
                Winner: Brazil

1962       Host: Chile
                Winner: Brazil

1966       Host: England
                Winner: England

1970       Host: Mexico
                Winner: Brazil

1974       Host: West Germany
                Winner: West Germany

1978       Host: Argentina
                Winner: Argentina

1982       Host: Spain
                Winner: Italy

1986       Host: Mexico
                Winner: Argentina

1990       Host: Italy
                Winner: West Germany

1994       Host: United States
                Winner: Brazil

1998       Host: France
                Winner: France

2002       Host: Japan and South Korea
                Winner: Brazil

2006       Host: Germany
                Winner: Italy

2010       Host: South Africa
                Winner: Spain

2014       Host: Brazil
                Winner: I’d say BRAZIL

Some interesting trivia

It is interesting to note that out of the previous 19 World Cups, 6 have seen the hosts also winning the Cup. That gives Brazil more than 30% chance by the same logic and with their skills and showing so far, I’d say they have a good shot!

You also be surprised to know that Uruguay was chosen to host the first ever World Cup simply because all the other contenders withdrew for some reason.

In fact, out of the 20 World Cups, 9 did not require a voting as there was only one choice. 1930 – Uruguay, 1934 – Italy, 1950 – Brazil, 1954 – Switzerland, 1958 – Sweden, 1974 - West Germany, 1978 - Argentina, 1982 – Spain, 1986 – Colombia. (However Colombia eventually did not host the World Cup due to economical challenges.)

The more recent bids for hosting rights have seen stronger competition of 4-5 countries. Possibly because of the sheer publicity World Cup can give as well as more countries are economically able.

Hope this was useful for you!
EUFASS                

World Cup Trivia(WCT) is a series designed for the current World Cup 2014 to give fans more than one ways to savour the game.