List of FIFA World Cup opening matches
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The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition established in 1930. It is contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament has taken place every four years, except in 1942 and 1946, when the competition was cancelled due to World War II.
The World Cup opening match is the first of the competition. Opening match regulations have changed many times.[1] Between 1974 and 2002, the defending champions were involved in the opening match. Since 2006, as the defending champions no longer qualify automatically, the opening matches involve the host nations.
List of opening matches
[edit]Early years (1930–1970)
[edit]Defending champion era (1974–2002)
[edit]Year | Defending champion | Final score | Opponent | Venue | Location | Attendance | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Brazil ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Waldstadion | Frankfurt, West Germany | 62,000 | Report | |
1978 | West Germany ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Estadio Monumental | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 67,579 | Report | |
1982 | Argentina ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Camp Nou | Barcelona, Spain | 95,000 | Report | |
1986 | Italy ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico | 96,000 | Report | |
1990 | Argentina ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | San Siro | Milan, Italy | 73,780 | Report | |
1994 | Germany ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Soldier Field | Chicago, United States | 63,117 | Report | |
1998 | Brazil ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Stade de France | Saint-Denis, France | 80,000 | Report | |
2002 | France ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Seoul, South Korea | 62,561 | Report |
Host country era (2006–)
[edit]Year | Host country | Final score | Opponent | Venue | Location | Attendance | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Germany ![]() | 4–2 | ![]() | FIFA WM Stadion München | Munich, Germany | 66,000 | Report | |
2010 | South Africa ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Soccer City | Johannesburg, South Africa | 84,490 | Report | |
2014 | Brazil ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Arena de São Paulo | São Paulo, Brazil | 62,103 | Report | |
2018 | Russia ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() | Luzhniki Stadium | Moscow, Russia | 78,011 | Report | |
2022 | Qatar ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Al Bayt Stadium | Al Khor, Qatar | 67,372 | Report | |
2026 | Mexico ![]() | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico |
See also
[edit]- List of association football competitions
- List of FIFA Confederations Cup finals
- List of FIFA World Cup finals