The 23rd FIFA World Cup is being hosted by three countries for the first time. Brazil has played in every World Cup, but Germany has won the most medals, 12. Till now only 8 teams have become champions and this time the winner will get ₹477 crore.
New Delhi: The Mahakumbh of football, i.e. the 23rd FIFA World Cup, is going to start from Thursday, June 11, 2026. Before this big tournament, we have brought for you 23 such facts from the world of football, which every fan should know.
1. Brazil: The only team that played in every World Cup
There have been a total of 22 World Cups so far and Brazil is the only team to have played in all of them. This time it will be his 23rd World Cup. Germany is at second place with 21 World Cups.
2. Till now only 8 teams have won the title
There have been 22 World Cups since 1930, but only 8 teams have become champions. Only Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Uruguay, England, Italy and Spain have won this cup.
3. Klose holds the record for most goals (16)
Germany’s Miroslav Klose holds the record for scoring most goals in the FIFA World Cup. He has scored 16 goals in 24 matches in 4 World Cups. Klose retired in 2016.
4. 3 countries are hosting for the first time
This is the first time that the World Cup is being hosted jointly by three countries – Mexico, America and Canada. Earlier in 2002, South Korea and Japan had hosted together.
5. First World Cup of 891 players
This is the sixth World Cup of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But there are 891 players who will play the World Cup for the first time. This time a total of 1248 players are participating in the tournament.
6. Every team will get at least Rs 100 crore!
This time, every team that qualifies for the World Cup will get at least Rs 100 crore. The team eliminated from the group stage will also get Rs 85.5 crore. Rs 14.3 crore has already been given to each team for preparations.
7. The winning team will get Rs 477 crore!
The winning team of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will get prize money of Rs 477 crore and the runner-up team will get Rs 314 crore. In 2022, Argentina got Rs 348 crore and runner-up France got Rs 248 crore.
8. Till now 80 countries have played the World Cup
So far 80 countries have participated in the Football World Cup. This time teams like Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan can debut, taking this number to 84.
9. Brazil has scored the maximum 237 goals
Brazil, the only team to play in every World Cup, has scored a total of 237 goals so far, which is a record. Germany is at second place with 232 goals.
10. 35 more teams than the first World Cup
Only 13 teams participated in the first FIFA World Cup held in 1930. This time 48 teams are playing. That means 35 teams have increased compared to the first edition.
11. 20 countries have never won a single match
So far 80 countries have played in the World Cup, but only 60 of these have won at least one match. 20 teams including New Zealand, Egypt, Israel, Iraq and Qatar have not won a single match till date.
12. Germany has the highest number of medals
Even though Brazil has won the Cup the most number of times, Germany has the most medals (12). Germany has won 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals. Brazil has won a total of 9 medals with 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.
13. Only 2 teams have won the title consecutively
In the history of the FIFA World Cup, only two teams have become champions twice consecutively. Italy achieved this feat in 1934 and 1938, while Brazil achieved this feat in 1958 and 1962. This time Argentina has this chance.
14. Mexico: First country to host 3 times
Mexico will become the first country to host three World Cups. Earlier also in 1970 and 1986 the World Cup had been held here.
15. Third World Cup at Azteca Stadium
Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium will be the first stadium in the world to host three World Cups (1970, 1986 and 2026).
16. Youngest Gilberto, oldest Gordon
Mexico’s 17-year-old Gilberto Mora will be the youngest player in the 2026 World Cup. At the same time, 43-year-old Craig Gordon of Scotland will be the oldest player.
17. This time 22 players under 20 years of age
In this World Cup, 22 players under the age of 20 will take the field. These also include Gilberto, Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Egypt’s Ibrahim Embaye, Brazil’s Andric and Ryan.
18. Names of American stadiums changed for the World Cup
Many stadiums in America are named after major brands, such as Gillette, Mercedes-Benz, and Levi’s Stadium. But due to FIFA rules, the names of all these stadiums have been temporarily changed for this World Cup.
19. The record of most goals scored in an innings has been unbroken for 68 years.
The record for scoring most goals in a single World Cup is in the name of France’s Just Fontaine. He scored 13 goals in 6 matches in the 1958 World Cup. Even after 68 years, no one has been able to break this record.
20. Pele: The only player to win the World Cup 3 times
The great Brazilian player Pele is the only player in the world who has won the FIFA World Cup 3 times. He was part of the champion Brazil teams of 1958, 1962 and 1970. Apart from them, 20 players have won the cup two times each.
21. Till now 471 players have become world champions
A total of 471 players have won the FIFA World Cup at least once since 1930. But till date no captain has been able to win the World Cup twice.
22. Monty: Only player to play finals for two countries
Luis Monti is the only player to play in FIFA World Cup finals for two different countries. He played in the finals for Argentina in 1930 and Italy in 1934.
23. The weight of the FIFA World Cup trophy is more than 6 kg.
The FIFA World Cup trophy weighs 6.175 kg and is 14.5 inches tall. This trophy is made of 18 carat gold, which contains 75% gold. There are two rings of malachite stone installed on its base.