Host Nations Progress At FIFA World Cup Over The Years

After 12 lengthy years of anticipation and preparation, the hosts Qatar performed their first-ever males’s World Cup match. Nevertheless, touching the height of anticlimax, The Maroon have been kicked out of their group throughout the subsequent 5 days, making Qatar the earliest males’s host nation to be eradicated from the event. 

However the continuing competitors, the boys’s FIFA World Cup normally are usually a cheerful looking floor for host international locations. In its 92-year historical past, soccer’s prime spectacle has been performed 21 occasions in 22 nations (the 2002 World Cup was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea). Barring South Africa in 2010, all host international locations have not less than progressed to the subsequent spherical, whereas on eight events they’ve featured within the ultimate of the event, lifting the cup six occasions. 

FootTheBall glances at how every house nation fared once they have been bestowed with the privilege of internet hosting this nice footballing extravaganza.  

1930, Uruguay – Champions

Having gained two consecutive Olympic golds in European lands, there was little doubt as to which nation was going to carry the primary World Cup, through which 13 groups participated. 

La Celeste thrashed Yugoslavia 6-1 within the semifinals to satisfy Argentina on the newly-constructed, magnificent Estadio Centenario, in what was a rematch of the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics gold-medal match. Uruguay got here again from 2-1 right down to clinch the title 4-2. 

1934, Italy – Champions

With the defending champions, Uruguay, boycotting the 1934 World Cup as a result of solely 4 European nations travelled to the earlier event within the South American nation, the Italians doubled up on the sphere to win the cup whereas Mussolini and his social gathering used the competitors as a propaganda car off the sphere. 

Italy began with an enormous 7-1 in opposition to america. The second-round fixture in opposition to Spain, which lasted for 210 minutes (due to the replay!), was the hardest hurdle for the hosts’ journey to glory. 

They gained the semifinals versus Austria 1-0 and beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 within the ultimate, scoring a dramatic winner in further time. 

1938, France – Quarterfinals

In a 16-team World Cup and not using a group stage, France grew to become the workforce to play the least variety of video games as a bunch nation.

Les Bleus comfortably gained their pre-quarterfinal in opposition to Belgium (3-1) earlier than dropping by the identical margin to the defending and eventual champions, Italy, who reportedly performed the ultimate below the orders, “Win or Die”, given by Italy’s supreme chief

Males’s FIFA World Cup didn’t happen in 1942 and 1946 due to World Conflict II. 

1950, Brazil – Runners-up

Supposedly the one World Cup and not using a one-off ultimate (as a result of the workforce which topped the ultimate group stage was to be adjudged the winner), we have been blessed with a defacto ultimate when Uruguay performed Brazil within the ultimate spherical of matches. The latter wanted to beat the hosts to change into world champions whereas avoiding defeat would have sealed the deal for Brazil. 

Alas, it was to not be, as a Brazilian facet that had dismantled Sweden and Spain 7-1 and 6-1 respectively misplaced 2-1 to the Uruguayan golden technology on the Maracanã in entrance of reportedly 175,000 supporters in an epic battle often known as Maracanazo, which interprets as The Maracanã Smash. 

Germany are nonetheless within the recreation ⚔️#WorldCup2022 #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/zbMtxPb5wI

— FootTheBall FC (@FootTheBallFC) November 27, 2022

1954, Switzerland – Quarterfinals

The hosts have been drafted in Group 4 alongside Italy, Belgium, and England however the unusual nature of the group-stage format meant that every workforce would solely play two matches. 

Switzerland gained 2-1 in opposition to the Azzuri earlier than falling brief versus England. Consequently, they arrange a play-off for a spot within the quarterfinals in opposition to Italy once more. The hosts convincingly beat the then two-time world champions 4-1 however crashed out 7-5 versus Austria in essentially the most high-scoring recreation in World Cup historical past.

1958, Sweden – Runners-up 

Sweden embraced the internet hosting duties with grace as they reached the ultimate of the event, which is so far the deepest Sweden has ever been in a World Cup. 

Les Blågult have been the very best workforce of their group, outperforming Wales, Mexico, and Hungary. In addition they defeated the likes of the Soviet Union and the holders, West Germany earlier than succumbing on the final hurdle in opposition to Brazil (5-2) in Råsunda Stadium, Solna. 

This event additionally noticed the rise of a sure 17-year-old Brazilian striker who scored twice within the ultimate and 6 occasions in all the marketing campaign. He glided by the title of Pelé. 

1962, Chile – Third-place

Defying expectations, La Roja mustered a method out of their group, which additionally concerned West Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and a “Battle of Santiago” versus the Azzuri. 

Chile obtained the higher of the Soviet Union within the quarterfinals however a rampant Brazil, who ultimately would efficiently defend their crown, proved an excessive amount of for La Roja. As a comfort, Chile defeated Yugoslavia in a decent 2-1 affair within the third-place playoff. 

1966, England – Champions

After a protracted wait of 32 years, the host nation but once more triumphed when The Three Lions crushed West Germany 4-2 at Wembley in entrance of an viewers of over 95,000 followers. 

Their gilded journey additionally concerned victories over heavyweights like France within the group stage and Argentina and Portugal within the knockouts. 

1970, Mexico – Quarterfinals

Having beforehand gained only one World Cup finals fixture throughout six earlier tournaments, El Tri took inspiration from the house help and doubled this quantity, defeating El Salvador and Belgium.

Nevertheless, whereas the followers have been rooting for Mexico, luck wasn’t as they completed second within the group behind the Soviet Union regardless of being degree on factors and purpose distinction. A draw of heaps was used to interrupt the deadlock.

Consequently, El Tri have been squared up within the quarterfinals in opposition to a powerful Italian facet, who thumped them 4-1 on the Azteca Stadium in Mexico Metropolis.

1974, West Germany – Champions

Though the West Germans misplaced their solely ever match in opposition to East Germany within the marketing campaign, they amended their faults and delighted the house followers by lifting their second World Cup. Coming twenty years after their first, they edged previous a Johan Cruyff-inspired Netherlands 2-1 within the ultimate in Munich. 

En path to the ultimate, they defeated Poland, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Chile, and Australia as properly. 

1978, Argentina – Champions

By securing the closely politicised and propagandised World Cup, Argentina adopted within the footsteps of West Germany by beating the Netherlands within the World Cup ultimate and hoisting the golden trophy in entrance of house followers of their capital metropolis of Buenos Aires. They defeated the Dutch 3-1 in further time. 

Curiously, there was a time within the event when La Selección discovered themselves in a ditch. They have been required to beat Peru by 4 targets or extra to progress additional. Nevertheless, they climbed out of the predicament by profitable 6-0. 

1982, Spain – Spherical Two

To succeed in the semifinals on this event, groups needed to funnel via two rounds of the group stage. 

It was a extremely underwhelming marketing campaign for the house workforce as they barely made out of the primary group stage having misplaced to Northern Eire. Within the subsequent stage, they completed final of their group which consisted of West Germany and England. 

La Furia Roja might win merely as soon as from their 5 matches. 

1986, Mexico – Quarterfinals

Changing into the primary nation to host the World Cup twice, El Tri made their followers proud with a heartening marketing campaign that concluded with a 4-1 loss in penalties in opposition to mighty West Germany within the quarterfinals. 

Earlier than that, they dispatched Bulgaria, Iraq, and Belgium with conviction. It was additionally the final time they reached the final 8 within the World Cup finals!

1990, Italy – Third-Place

After Mexico, Italy obtained the chance to host the gala for the second time, they usually served their followers an emotional rollercoaster. 

Rock-solid on the again, they agonisingly conceded their first purpose (and equaliser) within the event in opposition to Argentina within the semi-finals via a penalty, and ultimately misplaced 4-3 to La Selección on penalties in Naples. 

Nevertheless, by besting England to 3rd place, they gathered some comfort. 

1994, USA – Spherical of 16

Solely the hosts’ second look within the World Cup, the primary since 1950, the States squeezed out of their group as the very best third-ranked workforce, because of a 2-1 shock win over Columbia. 

Within the subsequent spherical, they obtained the privilege of enjoying the eventual winners, Brazil, in opposition to whom they held their very own and misplaced by a good scoreline of 1-0. 

1998, France – Champions

Les Bleus’ squad of gladiators is the final nation to carry out the marvel of going all the way in which in a house World Cup. 

The French bumped their strategy to the ultimate however taught Brazil, the best worldwide workforce, a lesson of their very own e book by defeating them 3-0 on the Stade de France

2002, South Korea and Japan – Fourth place/Spherical of 16

South Korea and Japan shared the honour of turning into the primary Asian nations to host the boys’s FIFA World Cup, and each international locations have been spectacular, with South Korea’s run to the semifinals undoubtedly being the showstopper. 

The South Koreans delivered crimson notices to the likes of Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Italy, earlier than bowing out 1-0 in opposition to Germany within the semi-finals. A lot to the heartbreak of the house nation, they misplaced third place to the shock package deal of the event, Turkey. 

The Samurai Blue started their marketing campaign on a excessive as properly, topping the group that included Belgium, Russia, and Tunisia. Nevertheless, within the final 16, in addition they yielded to Turkey. 

2006, Germany – Third-place

Off the again of a poor displaying in Euro 2004, Die Mannschaft had a lot to show, they usually displayed mettle and maturity all through the event. 

With three wins in three, they outclassed everybody of their group and adopted it up with hard-fought victories over Sweden and Argentina. Nevertheless, their luck ran out within the semifinals versus Italy once they conceded twice within the final minutes of additional time. 

The Germans noticed off the Portuguese 3-1 with ease within the third-place playoff.  

2010, South Africa – Group stage

The inaugural males’s FIFA world cup in Africa was a rememberable gala, and credit score needs to be given to the followers, house and away. who created an environment of celebration. 

South Africa, nonetheless, grew to become the primary host nation that didn’t progress via the primary spherical. However, it’s honest to say fortunes weren’t favouring Bafana Bafana as they have been positioned within the “Group of Loss of life” that included Uruguay, Mexico, and France. 

But, they gave their nation sufficient motive to be happy with their workforce. They completed degree on factors with Mexico however in third place resulting from an inferior purpose distinction, they usually surprised France out of the event. 

2014, Brazil – Fourth Place

There are unhealthy house World Cup campaigns, after which there’s Brazil’s displaying in 2014. 

Reaching the semifinals of a males’s World Cup could be an achievement for a lot of international locations. It will also be an appropriate end result for a workforce like La Seleção however not in Brazil, 2014. The humbling, the humiliating, the stupefying method of their 7-1 loss to Germany within the semifinal at house is a wound that they will maybe by no means heal from. 

The third-place match that adopted the defeat might need been essentially the most meaningless match ever for a Brazilian workforce, who clearly misplaced to Uruguay. 

2018, Russia – Quarterfinals

Whereas the golden days of Russian soccer have been up to now, the Russians did properly to climb out of their group by beating Egypt and Saudi Arabia and netting 8 targets in doing so. The peak of their achievement was sending the Spanish house 4-3 on penalties within the Spherical of 16. 

Nevertheless, the house workforce’s run of enjoyable and fairytale was stopped of their tracks by a Croatian workforce within the quarterfinals who themselves have been aiming to enterprise into the realm of folklore.