Since we are on the countdown towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it would be great to talk about the history of the FIFA World Cup and the events that led to the World Cup. After reading about the World Cup, it has to be concluded that there were two periods divided by one year and one person [1930 and Jules Rimet]. Even though football [soccer] was played in various forms in Europe especially during the Middle Ages, England and Scotland played one of the first official games in 1872. Football [Soccer] eventually became accepted as a sport with the FA [English Football Association] and other organizations sponsoring football [soccer] events].

FIFA was founded in 1904 and was responsible for organizing various World Cups in Europe such as the Sir Thomas Lipton Tournament. FIFA was also responsible for organizing amateur teams within the Olympic Games. The concept for the World Cup started to consolidate under the FIFA Presidency of Jules Rimet from 1921 to 1954 and since there were disagreements between FIFA and the International Olympic Committee. The disagreement was based on the fact that the 1932 Olympics were to be held in Los Angeles California. Football [Soccer] was not included in the roster of the Olympics since Football [Soccer] was not as popular as Basketball, Baseball, and American Football in the USA.

The response of Jules Rimet was to hold the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 in order to commemorate one hundred years of independence for that country and to serve as an alternative for those who could not enjoy football [soccer] in the USA. The countries that participated in the First World Cup were Argentina, Chile, France, Mexico, USA, Yugoslavia, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Romania, Peru, Paraguay, and Belgium. In the 1930 World Cup, Uruguay won first place followed by Argentina, USA, and Yugoslavia.

The 1934 World Cup took place in Italy while the 1938 World Cup took place in France. It was in the two World Cups that Italy was the first place winner. Brazil was the only South American Country that went to Europe to participate in the 1934 and 1938 World Cup. Regardless, Europe was undergoing the tensions and instability that was to lead to World War II and the cancellation of the World Cup tournaments in 1942 and 1946.

It was in 1950 with the World Cup in Brazil that the FIFA World Cup was able to prosper. There were changes with television and radio coverage as well as England participating for the first time. It should be remembered that England withdrew from FIFA in the 1920’s for reasons unrelated to football [soccer]. In the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, Uruguay won. The 1960’s saw the presence of mascots and players such as Pele as well as the dominance of Germany, and Brazil in Football [Soccer]. The 1970’s were also a time for new talent and 1978 Argentina was the first World Cup that I heard on my shortwave radio. The 1978 World Cup in Argentina was the time when Argentina won its First World Cup. It was a thrill listening to the championship and celebrating. I also listened to the 1982, 1986, and 1990 World Cups on my Shortwave Radio as well. Italy won the 1982 World Cup [which was in Spain], Argentina won the 1986 World Cup [which was in Mexico], and Germany [reunified in 1990] won the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

The biggest surprise was the World Cup in 1994. The USA was the host of the 1994 World Cup and it had to learn fast forward how to play football [soccer]. It should be remembered that the USA had other sports [Basketball, American Football, Baseball, and Boxing] and there was a hiatus from 1930 to 1994 in Football [Soccer]. One of the conditions from FIFA was the formation of a national football [soccer] league which lead to the formation of the MLS [Major League Soccer]. The 1994 World Cup was a success with more than 60,000 spectators attending the games. The only tragedy in the 1994 World Cup was the game between the USA and Colombia in which a Colombian Player made a wrong move and did an own goal giving the USA an advantage. Unfortunately, the Colombian Player paid with his life when he returned to Colombia.

The 1998 World Cup in France was memorable with Croatia defeating Germany while the 2002 World Cup was memorable in the fact that two Asian Countries [Korea and Japan] were the hosts. There were people who spent sleepless nights watching the games in their computers or in the television sets. Others were content to listen to the 2002 World Cup on their Shortwave Radios.

The 2006 World Cup in Germany would have been great if it were not for Zidane and the Italian Team head butting each other. In fact, many people remember the 2006 World Cup for that one incident which was not related to football. Personally, I was a reporter for Univision and wrote articles on how the people in Miami Florida reacted to the World Cup Transmissions. It was an honour and I eternally thank Univision for giving me the opportunity to report from the sidelines in Miami Florida.

The World Cup in 2010 is the first one staged in an African Country, South Africa. Many people have expressed their doubts about South Africa being able to stage the World Cup. Others have expressed their fear of the situation in Zimbabwe spilling over to South Africa. I am one of those people who think that South Africa [like any country in the world] have the ability to host the World Cup. I wish South Africa the best.