Gathering World Cup Facts

I see they didn't specify the year for the World Cup, so I can provide general information about its history and the various countries that have participated. I think it’s a good idea to prepare a list of interesting, bite-sized facts. Should I ask if they want specific editions like the 2022 Qatar World Cup or the 2026 qualifiers? I want to keep the facts evergreen since my knowledge stops in October 2024.

Grouping the facts by regions could be helpful. I can stick to using clear labels for each fact along with the respective country. I’ll also be mindful of avoiding any copyrighted content. Let’s aim for a neat list with around 25 items!Compiling World Cup Facts

I’ve gathered some interesting World Cup facts! For example, the Netherlands wears orange, reflecting the House of Orange. Italy’s team, the "Azzurri," wears blue from the Savoy royal blue, which is interesting since their flag isn’t blue. Germany’s "Die Mannschaft" takes its colors from Prussia, and they have stars on their badge denoting World Cup wins. Brazil is notable for participating in every World Cup since 1930 and boasts five titles. Morocco was the first African team to top a World Cup group in 1986 and reached the semi-finals in 2022. Croatia, though small with a population of about 4 million, achieved impressive results in 2018 and 1998. Lastly, Uruguay counts four stars on their badge for two World Cups and two Olympic titles.Clarifying World Cup Facts

I’m wondering about the four stars on Uruguay’s badge. There’s some controversy about that since they have two World Cup titles but use four stars to include two Olympic titles. Uruguay’s nickname is La Celeste, which is a nice touch.

Switzerland has used referendums regarding doping, but that seems less relevant. The England national team proudly features three lions from Richard I on their crest.

Also, Australia switched from the OFC to the AFC in 2006 to enhance competition and has since qualified for every World Cup starting in 2006. Mexico holds the record for the most World Cup group stage appearances without winning and has hosted the tournament twice (1970 and 1986), and will co-host in 2026, with Estadio Azteca being notable for hosting three finals.Reviewing World Cup Records

It's true that Estadio Azteca is the first stadium to host matches across three different World Cup editions. This adds to its significance!

I’ve confirmed that Roger Milla remains the oldest goalscorer at the World Cup at 42 years and 39 days, achieved in 1994, and Essam El-Hadary is the oldest player at 45 years during the 2018 tournament.

Iceland made history in 2018 as the smallest nation by population to reach the World Cup finals, surpassing Trinidad and Tobago in 2006. Senegal also had a remarkable moment in 2002 by defeating France. South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the semifinals in 2002, which is quite noteworthy! Japan advanced in 2018 thanks to fair play points over Senegal. Lastly, France in 1998 was the first host since 1978 to win the Cup.