During the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Colombian defender Andrés Escobar made a tragic mistake. The ball deflected off his foot and went into his own net, resulting in Colombia’s elimination from the tournament. Just 10 days later, Escobar was shot six times and killed. Before his death, someone once asked him why he loved football so much. He replied: “Unlike bullfighting, nobody dies in football.”Ironically, football itself ended up costing him his life. Today, football is the world’s biggest sport, watched by nearly 5 billion people. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to break even more records, with prize money exceeding ₹8,000 crore. But the story of football stretches back over 2,000 years.
The Origins of Football
The earliest written record of football dates back to the 3rd century BC China, where a game called Cuju (“kick ball”) was played. According to legend, after defeating their enemies, soldiers of the Chinese emperor Huangdi would stuff straw into the stomachs of dead enemies to create balls and kick them around as part of military celebrations.
Football Arrives in England
The first mention of football in England appears in 1174. At that time, there were no organized teams, no official rules, and sometimes even lives were lost during violent matches. In 1314, King Edward II banned football in London because of its disorderly nature. After the ban, efforts began to organize the sport. As railways expanded during the Industrial Revolution, clubs from different cities started competing against one another.
Birth of Modern Football
In 1863, England established The Football Association (FA), which created the first official rulebook. The new rules included:
- Players could not use their hands.
- The size and weight of the ball were standardized.
- Rubber footballs were introduced.
In 1872, Scotland and England played the world’s first official international football match, which ended in a 0–0 draw.
FIFA Is Founded
In 1904, FIFA was founded in Paris with only seven member nations. Today, FIFA has 211 member associations, more than the 193 member states of the United Nations. Football is simple:
- Two teams compete.
- Each match lasts 90 minutes.
- The objective is to score more goals than the opponent.
The First FIFA World Cup
The inaugural FIFA World Cup took place in 1930 in Uruguay. At the time, European teams had to travel by ship for nearly three weeks to reach South America. Many players also had full-time jobs, so several European nations declined to participate. Only 13 teams competed. In the final, Uruguay defeated Argentina 4–2. An interesting fact: the first half was played with Argentina’s match ball, while the second half used Uruguay’s ball.
Brazil’s Heartbreak in 1950
The 1950 World Cup was held in Brazil. Brazilian newspapers declared Brazil champions before the final was even played. The government had already commissioned gold watches for the players. However, in front of nearly 200,000 spectators, Brazil suffered a shocking defeat to Uruguay in what became known as the Maracanazo.
The Kuwaiti Prince’s Protest
During the 1982 FIFA World Cup, Kuwait made its first World Cup appearance. In one match, Prince Fahad of Kuwait walked onto the pitch demanding that a goal scored against Kuwait be disallowed. Despite the unprecedented protest, Kuwait still lost the match
The Incredible Story of the World Cup Trophy
The original World Cup trophy, introduced in 1930, was designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur. Made of sterling silver coated with gold, it featured Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. During World War II, FIFA Vice President Ottorino Barassi hid the trophy inside a shoebox under his bed to keep it safe from the Nazis. In 1966, during an exhibition in England, the trophy was stolen. A dog named Pickles later discovered it wrapped in newspaper. In 1983, the trophy was stolen again from the Brazilian Football Confederation and has never been recovered. Since then, World Cup winners have received the original trophy only during the presentation ceremony and have later been given a replica to keep.
Why the 2026 World Cup Is Special
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is historic for several reasons:
- The United States, Mexico, and Canada are co-hosting it.
- It features 48 teams, the largest tournament ever.
- A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 cities.
- Mexico becomes the first nation to host the World Cup three times.
- Jordan and Uzbekistan have qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup.
- Four-time champions Italy failed to qualify.
- Total prize money is 50% higher than in 2022.
- Even teams eliminated in the group stage will receive approximately ₹114 crore.
- For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the final will include a halftime entertainment show, with performances expected from stars such as Shakira, Madonna, and BTS.
- It is estimated that more than six billion viewers worldwide will watch the tournament.