16 things you didn't know about the World Cup

Football is the most renowned sport on the planet, it is the most played, has the largest audience, and propels the careers of several of the most famous sports stars in the world. Like every discipline, football has its interesting facts, especially regarding the World Cup. But if you are not that informed and want to appear knowledgeable, discover 16 things you didn't know about the World Cup and show off these facts during the matches or use them to surprise your friends or partner. 16 things you didn't know about the World Cup 1. The first World Cup took place in Uruguay, in 1930; the host country was also declared champion after defeating Argentina 4:2. 2. Only South American and European countries have won a World Cup, no other countries from Asia, Africa, or Oceania have achieved this. 3. Mexico has hosted a World Cup twice: in 1970 and 1986. 4. It is said that the best goal in history was scored by Argentine Diego Armando Maradona, during the Argentina/England match, precisely in Mexico 1986. Revisit it here: 5. Today, there are eight national teams that have been world champions: Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina, France, and Spain. 6. The Netherlands is the team that has played the most finals without ever being crowned champion, having accumulated 3. The last was against Spain in the 2010 South Africa World Cup. 7. The Mexican National Team has never advanced past the fifth match; that is, Mexico has never played beyond the Round of 16. 8. FIFA requires World Cup hosts to have a minimum of eight venues. The 1982 World Cup in Spain had the highest number of venues: 17 stadiums in 14 cities. 9. Only two countries have defended the World Cup consecutively: Italy, which won in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil, which achieved victories in 1958 and 1962. 10. Brazil is the only country that has participated in every edition of the World Cup, a total of 20 consecutive World Cups, including this 2018. 11. Six host countries have won the World Cup on six occasions: Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934, England in 1966, West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978, and France in 1998. 12. The record for the most goals scored by a player in a single World Cup remains intact after 56 years and belongs to French Just Fontaine, who scored 13 in 1958. 13. The numbers from 1 to 23 are the only ones allowed on World Cup jerseys, according to FIFA rules. The number 1 must always belong to a goalkeeper. 14. Regardless of the length of a national anthem, FIFA only allows 90 seconds of the melody to be played. 15. Adidas has designed all the World Cup balls since 1970. 16. The World Cup trophy weighs 6 kilograms, almost twice as much as the Lombardi Trophy, but 4 pounds less than the UEFA Champions League trophy. The winning team, of course, receives a solid gold trophy. The second and third place teams receive medals, and the fourth gets a diploma.     And to enjoy the World Cup even more, here are some recipes to keep surprising your friends and family: World Cup Cake Pops Express Tapas Stadium Guacamole Jicama, Cucumber, and Carrot Crown Football Balls   Find more delicious recipes in Kiwilimón's special World Cup section