Stephen Marchesi - What Is the World Cup?

For DavidBB

For Louis and Dennis, both my brothers and teammatesSM

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Mexico City

On June 21, 1970, more than one hundred thousand screaming soccer fans packed the Estadio Azteca. They were there to watch the World Cup final between Brazil and Italy. For the first time, two two-time World Cup winnersBrazil in 1958 and 1962, and Italy in 1934 and 1938would face off.

This was also the first time that a World Cup game was televised in color, not in black-and-white. The Brazilian players wore canary-yellow shirts and light blue shorts, and the Italians, in blue and white, raced up and down the vivid green turf.

Twenty minutes into the game, Brazilian star Pel headed the ball past the Italian goalkeeper. Brazil was up 10. Then Italy evened up the score. Tensions rose. But the Brazilian team was strong. They dribbled and passed the ball up and down the pitchGOAL!

Brazil was ahead by a point. Could they hold on to the lead? It looked that way. Five minutes later, Brazil scored another goal, making the score 31.

Then, a Brazilian forward in the left-back position passed the ball to a teammate who dribbled past four Italian players! After another pass, Pel had control of the ball. Cool, calm, and collected, Pel passed the ball to team captain Carlos Alberto. Without missing a step, Alberto smashed the ball with his right foot into the corner of the net. Brazilian fans went wild. Not only had Brazil secured a victory, but the world had just witnessed one of the most beautiful and memorable goals in World Cup history.

CHAPTER 1

The Games Kick Off

Every four years, soccer fans crowd into stadiums around the world to cheer on their teams at the World Cup. Millions more watch the matches on television. The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the entire world.

Soccer, known outside of the United States as football, was first played in 1863 in England. Soon after that, a number of football clubs joined together to form the London Football Association. From that beginning, the sport quickly gained popularity throughout the world. Why? Because soccer is basically a simple game to play. All thats needed (besides players) is a field and a ball. Goals can be made from anythinggarbage cans, cones, even backpacks! But in official games, there are rules about the field, ball, and equipment the players use and wear.

FIFA logo from 1977 to 1995

In 1904, an international soccer organization called Fdration Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA, was founded in Paris. At first, just seven countriesFrance, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerlandwere members. Within a year, the number grew to fifteen after Austria, England, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales joined. The heads of FIFA wanted to hold a tournament in 1906. But it never took place. Why? Because none of the teams sent in an application to play!

The Pitch

Soccer can be played on either grass or artificial turf, as long as it is green. The field must be rectangular and marked by two short goal lines and two long touchlines. The center part of the goal lines contain the actual goals. When the ball passes over the goal line where the goal stands, a goal is made. When the ball passes over the touchlines, it is out-of-bounds. The field is divided into two halves. In the middle of the pitch is a lined center circle. Opposing players cant enter it during the other teams kickoff.

Jules Rimet

By 1924, FIFA had a new president, Jules Rimet. At the Summer Olympics in 1928, Rimet and FIFAs congress decided to try again to organize an international soccer match. Uruguay, which had won the Olympic soccer gold medal, was selected to host the first World Cup.

Some other countries in FIFA, however, werent happy about that. Uruguay is in South America, and many complained it would take too long to get there. In those days, people still traveled by ship, which took a very long time. Another problem was the expense. Many players simply did not have the money to travel that far, even though FIFA promised to pay some travel expenses. Also, the European teams did not want to lose their top players for two monthsthat was how long they would be gone!

Countries that competed in the first World Cup

As a result, some of the best teamsEngland, Italy, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlandssat out. The organizers grew nervous. Were there enough teams to compete in Uruguay? Rimet stepped in and convinced Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia to participate. Romanias King Carol II handpicked his countrys team and gave the players a three-month vacation.