EduNXT Tech Learning · Youth Sports Special
FIFA Football
World Cup 2026
The Complete Story
From a dusty stadium in Montevideo 1930 to the roar of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — the definitive editorial on 96 years of the world’s greatest sporting tournament. History. Heroes. Heartbreak. Glory.
↓
Scroll to explore
Chapter One
The History of the
FIFA Football World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is the single greatest sporting spectacle on Earth — a tournament that has halted wars, united continents, and turned athletes into eternal symbols of a nation’s pride. Its origin story begins not in a gleaming stadium, but in a debate about football’s soul.
In the early twentieth century, football was spreading from its English birthplace into every corner of the globe. The Olympic Games had staged amateur football since 1900, but as professionalism grew, a new platform was needed. Jules Rimet, president of FIFA from 1921 to 1954, was the visionary who pushed hardest for a global competition open to professional players. After years of lobbying and political negotiation, FIFA voted in 1928 to hold the first World Cup. Uruguay — then the dominant force in world football and already Olympic champions — was selected as host, partly because the country agreed to cover all travelling costs.
1930 — URUGUAY
The First Kick — Montevideo, Uruguay
On 13 July 1930, France and Mexico played the World Cup’s first match at Estadio
Pocitos. Thirteen nations participated — all from Europe or the Americas. Uruguay defeated
Argentina 4–2 in the final at the Estadio Centenario before a crowd of 93,000. Football had
found its greatest stage. The Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded for the first time.
1934–1938 — ITALY & FRANCE
Fascism, Politics & European Domination
Italy hosted and won in 1934 under Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime — critics argued political
pressure influenced refereeing. Italy retained the trophy in France 1938, becoming the first
nation to win back-to-back World Cups. Uruguay boycotted both editions in protest at European
nations not travelling to their 1930 tournament.
1942–1946 — CANCELLED
World War II Silences the Beautiful Game
The Second World War forced the cancellation of two editions. The Jules Rimet Trophy was hidden
under a bed by Italian Football Federation official Ottorino Barassi to prevent the Nazis
from seizing it. Football would have to wait.
1950 — BRAZIL
The Maracanazo — Football’s Greatest Shock
The World Cup returned at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The final group-stage
match — effectively the final — between hosts Brazil and Uruguay
drew an estimated 200,000 spectators. Uruguay won 2–1 in what Brazilians forever
call O Maracanazo — the Maracanã blow. The silence that fell over Brazil that evening
became one of football’s most haunting stories.
1954–1966 — THE GOLDEN AGE
Pelé, Garrincha & the Birth of Legends
West Germany produced the “Miracle of Bern” in 1954. Then came Brazil’s era:
the 1958 tournament in Sweden introduced a 17-year-old prodigy named Edson Arantes
do Nascimento — Pelé. He scored twice in the final against Sweden. Brazil won again
in 1962 despite Pelé’s injury, with Garrincha carrying the team. England’s
solitary triumph arrived at Wembley in 1966, Geoff Hurst’s historic hat-trick sealing a 4–2
win over West Germany.
1970 — MEXICO
Brazil’s Crowning Glory — The Greatest Team in History
The 1970 tournament is widely regarded as the finest in World Cup history. Brazil, featuring
Pelé, Tostão, Jairzinho, Gerson, and Carlos Alberto, played football of breathtaking artistry.
Their 4–1 final demolition of Italy and Carlos Alberto’s thunderous team goal
remain the benchmark for everything football can be. Brazil became the first nation to win
three World Cups, permanently keeping the Jules Rimet Trophy.
1974–1982 — EUROPE FIGHTS BACK
Total Football, Cruyff & Italian Redemption
West Germany won at home in 1974, ending the Dutch “Total Football” dream of
Johan Cruyff. Argentina won their first title on home soil in 1978 amid
political controversy under the military junta. Italy’s Paolo Rossi inspired
the Azzurri’s third title in Spain 1982 with a magical hat-trick against Brazil.
1986 — MEXICO
Maradona — The Hand of God & the Goal of the Century
One man. One tournament. Diego Maradona’s 1986 campaign in Mexico is universally cited as
the greatest individual World Cup performance in history. Against England in the quarter-finals,
he scored the infamous Hand of God goal and the Goal of the Century — a 60-metre
solo run past five English defenders — in the same match. Argentina won the final 3–2 against
West Germany. It was pure, unrepeatable genius.
1990–1998 — DRAMA & REVOLUTION
Baggio’s Miss, Zidane’s Rise & France 98
Italy 1990 was arguably the most dramatic tournament — semi-finals decided by penalty
shootouts for the first time. USA 1994 produced the first final settled on penalties;
Roberto Baggio‘s heartbreaking miss gave Brazil their fourth title.
France 1998 was Zinedine Zidane’s coronation: two headers in the final against Brazil
gave the hosts a 3–0 win and their first World Cup.
2002–2010 — NEW FRONTIERS
Asia, Africa & Spanish Dominance
The 2002 co-hosting by South Korea and Japan took the World Cup to Asia for the
first time. Brazil’s Ronaldo scored eight goals to become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
South Africa 2010 was history’s first World Cup on African soil; Spain’s tiki-taka football
powered them to a first ever World Cup title, Andrés Iniesta‘s extra-time winner
defeating the Netherlands.
2014 — BRAZIL
The Mineirazo — Brazil 1–7 Germany
The host nation suffered a catastrophe of historic proportions in the semi-final:
Germany 7 – Brazil 1. The scoreline, still almost incomprehensible, shocked
the football world. Germany won the final 1–0 against Argentina in extra time through
Mario Götze‘s stunning volley.
2018 — RUSSIA
France’s New Generation
Russia 2018 was a tournament of upsets and youthful energy. France won their
second title 4–2 in a breathless final against Croatia, with 19-year-old
Kylian Mbappé becoming the second teenager — after Pelé — to score in a
World Cup final. Croatia, a nation of just four million, reached their first ever final.
2022 — QATAR
The Greatest Final Ever Played — Messi’s Destiny
The first World Cup in the Arab world delivered what many consider the greatest match
in football history. Argentina led France 2–0 before Mbappé scored twice in 97 seconds
to equalise. 3–3 after extra time. Penalties. Argentina won.
Lionel Messi, the sport’s greatest player, finally had the one trophy that had
eluded him. Football’s greatest debate was settled on the grandest stage of all.
“The World Cup is like no other event on Earth. It stops the planet. For one month, football is everything.”
— Pelé, three-time World Cup championChapter Two
Nations That Have Conquered the World
In 96 years of competition, only eight nations have lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy. The exclusivity of this list speaks to the tournament’s extraordinary difficulty — and to the talent, determination, and tactical brilliance required to conquer the world.
South American nations have won ten World Cups in total; European nations twelve. No nation from Africa, Asia, or North America has yet won the tournament — though the expanded 48-team format at 2026 raises hope that this could change. Every four years, billions watch to see if history might be rewritten.
🇧🇷
Brazil
🏆 5 Titles — Most Decorated
1958 · 1962 · 1970 · 1994 · 2002
The only nation to compete in every single edition of the tournament.
The only nation to compete in every single edition of the tournament.
🇩🇪
Germany
🏆 4 Titles
1954 · 1974 · 1990 · 2014
Includes two titles as West Germany (1954 & 1974). Eight finals total — a record.
Includes two titles as West Germany (1954 & 1974). Eight finals total — a record.
🇮🇹
Italy
🏆 4 Titles
1934 · 1938 · 1982 · 2006
First team to win back-to-back World Cups (1934 & 1938).
First team to win back-to-back World Cups (1934 & 1938).
🇦🇷
Argentina
🏆 3 Titles — Reigning Champions
1978 · 1986 · 2022
2022 final vs France widely called the greatest World Cup match in history.
2022 final vs France widely called the greatest World Cup match in history.
🇫🇷
France
🏆 2 Titles
1998 · 2018
Won their first title on home soil; their 2018 team was among the most talented in history.
Won their first title on home soil; their 2018 team was among the most talented in history.
🇺🇾
Uruguay
🏆 2 Titles — Founders of the Trophy
1930 · 1950
First ever World Cup hosts and champions. The Maracanazo of 1950 is legendary.
First ever World Cup hosts and champions. The Maracanazo of 1950 is legendary.
🏴
England
🏆 1 Title — The Inventors
1966
The nation that invented football won the World Cup just once — at Wembley, on home soil.
The nation that invented football won the World Cup just once — at Wembley, on home soil.
🇪🇸
Spain
🏆 1 Title — Tiki-Taka Masters
2010
First European team to win a World Cup outside of Europe. Iniesta’s golden goal in extra time.
First European team to win a World Cup outside of Europe. Iniesta’s golden goal in extra time.
🌟
A New Champion in 2026?
The expanded 48-team format gives nations from Africa, Asia, and CONCACAF more representation
than ever. Could Morocco — who reached the 2022 semi-finals — become Africa’s first World Cup
champion? Could hosts USA or Mexico make a historic run on home soil? The stage is set at
FIFA World Cup 2026
for history to be made.
Chapter Three
The Stages of Football’s Greatest Drama
From the clay of Uruguay’s Estadio Centenario to the air-conditioned arenas of Qatar and the giant NFL cathedrals of North America — the World Cup’s venues are as varied and storied as the tournament itself.
🏟️
Historic Host Venues — 1930 to 2022
| Year | Host Country | Final Venue | Final Match & Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo | Uruguay 4–2 Argentina |
| 1934 | Italy | Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome | Italy 2–1 Czechoslovakia (AET) |
| 1938 | France | Stade Olympique de Colombes, Paris | Italy 4–2 Hungary |
| 1950 | Brazil | Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | Uruguay 2–1 Brazil (Group Final) |
| 1954 | Switzerland | Wankdorfstadion, Berne | West Germany 3–2 Hungary |
| 1958 | Sweden | Råsunda Stadium, Solna | Brazil 5–2 Sweden |
| 1962 | Chile | Estadio Nacional, Santiago | Brazil 3–1 Czechoslovakia |
| 1966 | England | Wembley Stadium, London | England 4–2 West Germany (AET) |
| 1970 | Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Brazil 4–1 Italy |
| 1974 | West Germany | Olympiastadion, Munich | West Germany 2–1 Netherlands |
| 1978 | Argentina | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires | Argentina 3–1 Netherlands (AET) |
| 1982 | Spain | Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid | Italy 3–1 West Germany |
| 1986 | Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Argentina 3–2 West Germany |
| 1990 | Italy | Stadio Olimpico, Rome | West Germany 1–0 Argentina |
| 1994 | USA | Rose Bowl, Pasadena | Brazil 0–0 Italy (Brazil won 3–2 on pens) |
| 1998 | France | Stade de France, Paris | France 3–0 Brazil |
| 2002 | South Korea / Japan | Nissan Stadium, Yokohama | Brazil 2–0 Germany |
| 2006 | Germany | Olympiastadion, Berlin | Italy 1–1 France (Italy won 5–3 on pens) |
| 2010 | South Africa | Soccer City, Johannesburg | Spain 1–0 Netherlands (AET) |
| 2014 | Brazil | Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | Germany 1–0 Argentina (AET) |
| 2018 | Russia | Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow | France 4–2 Croatia |
| 2022 | Qatar | Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail | Argentina 3–3 France (AET, Argentina won 4–2 on pens) |
🗺️
FIFA World Cup 2026 — The 16 Host Cities
For the first time in history, three nations jointly host the World Cup: the United States (11 cities), Mexico (3 cities), and Canada (2 cities). The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — the largest stadium in tournament history — on 19 July 2026. The Estadio Azteca in Mexico City hosts the opening match on 11 June, making it the only stadium to host World Cup games in three different tournaments (1970, 1986, and 2026).
| Country | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | New York / New Jersey | MetLife Stadium ★ FINAL | ~82,500 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Dallas | AT&T Stadium | ~80,000 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Los Angeles | SoFi Stadium | ~70,240 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | San Francisco Bay Area | Levi’s Stadium | ~68,500 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Miami | Hard Rock Stadium | ~65,326 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Seattle | Lumen Field | ~68,740 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Boston | Gillette Stadium | ~65,878 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Philadelphia | Lincoln Financial Field | ~67,594 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Kansas City | Arrowhead Stadium | ~76,416 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Atlanta | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | ~71,000 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Houston | NRG Stadium | ~72,220 |
| 🇲🇽 MEXICO | Mexico City | Estadio Azteca ★ OPENER | ~87,523 |
| 🇲🇽 MEXICO | Guadalajara | Estadio Akron | ~49,850 |
| 🇲🇽 MEXICO | Monterrey | Estadio BBVA | ~53,500 |
| 🇨🇦 CANADA | Toronto | BMO Field | ~45,736 |
| 🇨🇦 CANADA | Vancouver | BC Place | ~54,500 |
Chapter Four
The Ten Greatest Players
in World Cup History
The World Cup does not just crown champions — it creates immortals. These are the players who, when the pressure was greatest, produced the moments that football will never forget.
01
Pelé
🇧🇷 Brazil
The undisputed king. Pelé remains the only player in history to win three World Cups
(1958, 1962, 1970). His rise began at 17 — a teenager who mesmerised the world in Sweden,
scoring two sublime goals in the final against the hosts. In Mexico 1970, as captain of what
many call the greatest team in football history, he orchestrated Brazil’s flawless campaign.
Declared a national treasure by Brazil in 1961.
3
Titles
12
Goals
4
Tournaments
02
Diego Maradona
🇦🇷 Argentina
The God of the 1986 tournament. Maradona’s campaign in Mexico is universally cited as the
greatest individual World Cup performance in history. The Hand of God and
the Goal of the Century against England in the same quarter-final. A winner against
Belgium. The pass for Burruchaga’s final winner against West Germany. One man carrying an
entire nation to glory. His 1986 Golden Ball was never in doubt.
1
Title
8
Goals
4
Tournaments
03
Lionel Messi
🇦🇷 Argentina
The only player to win the Golden Ball at two separate World Cups (2014 and 2022).
His 2022 campaign in Qatar — seven goals, three assists, and the most dramatic final in history —
is widely regarded as the greatest individual World Cup performance of the modern era.
The 2022 final’s 3–3 draw against France, settled on penalties, gave Messi the one trophy that had
eluded him throughout his extraordinary career. 26 World Cup appearances — a record.
1
Title
13
Goals
5
Tournaments
04
Ronaldo (R9)
🇧🇷 Brazil
A story of redemption. Unused at 17 during Brazil’s 1994 triumph, Ronaldo was the
tournament’s dominant force in 1998 — until a mysterious seizure the night before the final
left him a shadow of himself in the loss to France. Four years later, fully recovered, he scored
eight goals including both in the final to defeat Germany 2–0 and claim
Brazil’s fifth World Cup. Finished with a then-record 15 World Cup goals.
2
Titles
15
Goals
3
Tournaments
05
Zinedine Zidane
🇫🇷 France
The most complete midfielder the World Cup has ever seen. Zidane’s two headed goals in France’s
3–0 final victory over Brazil in 1998 were the culmination of a masterclass tournament.
He returned at Germany 2006 to guide France to another final with performances of genius —
until his infamous headbutt on Materazzi defined his World Cup farewell. The image of him
walking past the trophy, head bowed, is one of football’s most powerful photographs.
1
Title
5
Goals
3
Tournaments
06
Garrincha
🇧🇷 Brazil
Born with a curved spine and legs bent in opposite directions, Manuel Francisco dos Santos —
known as Garrincha (Little Bird) — was arguably the most naturally gifted dribbler
in football history. He helped Brazil win back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1962, and remarkably
never played on a losing World Cup team. In 1962, with Pelé injured, he single-handedly
carried Brazil to glory with an otherworldly performance.
2
Titles
7
Goals
0
Defeats
07
Kylian Mbappé
🇫🇷 France
At just 19, Mbappé became the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final
as France beat Croatia 4–2 in Russia 2018. His 2022 final in Qatar was extraordinary — scoring a
hat-trick, including two stunning goals in three minutes to drag France back from 2–0 down.
He finished with four goals in World Cup finals — more than any other player in history.
With the 2026 World Cup at 27 years old, his best may still be to come.
1
Title
12
Goals
3
Tournaments
08
Gerd Müller
🇩🇪 West Germany
Der Bomber der Nation. Gerd Müller may be the most ruthless finisher in World Cup
history. He scored 14 goals in just two tournaments — 10 in Mexico 1970 and
4 in West Germany 1974 — including the winning goal in the 1974 final against the Netherlands.
His 1970 Golden Boot record of 10 goals in a single tournament stood for 52 years until
Fontaine’s 13 record was broken differently by time. Müller’s 14 career World Cup goals
remained the record until Ronaldo surpassed it in 2006.
1
Title
14
Goals
2
Tournaments
09
Johan Cruyff
🇳🇱 Netherlands
The architect of Total Football. Cruyff led the Netherlands to the 1974 final playing
the most revolutionary football the world had ever seen — a fluid, positional system where every
player could play anywhere. Though Holland lost to West Germany in the final, Cruyff’s
tournament is considered one of the greatest individual World Cup campaigns
by a player who did not win. His influence on the game’s philosophy remains unmatched.
0
Titles
3
Goals
1
Tournament
10
Andrés Iniesta
🇪🇸 Spain
Perhaps the most important single kick in the history of club and international football.
With Spain drawing 0–0 against the Netherlands in extra time of the 2010 World Cup final,
Iniesta struck the golden goal in the 116th minute to give Spain their first
ever World Cup title. The quiet, cerebral midfield general was the heartbeat of Spain’s tiki-taka
era that dominated world football from 2008 to 2012. Named Man of the Match in a final
he could have lost.
1
Title
2
Goals
3
Tournaments
Chapter Five
The Most Thrilling
Finals in World Cup History
A World Cup final is the most-watched single sporting event on the planet. Approximately 1.5 billion people watched the 2022 final. These are the matches that transcended sport — the nights when drama, genius, and heartbreak collided on the grandest stage of all.
2022
★ Greatest Final Ever
Argentina vs France
3–3 AET (Argentina won 4–2 on penalties)
📍 Lusail Iconic Stadium, Qatar · 18 December 2022
The match that many believe will never be equalled. Argentina led 2–0 with ten minutes of normal
time remaining — Mbappé’s penalty had just been saved. Then the extraordinary happened:
Mbappé scored twice in 97 seconds — a penalty, then a stunning volley — to
make it 2–2. Into extra time. Messi restored Argentina’s lead in the 108th minute. Mbappé
completed his hat-trick in the 118th with another penalty. Penalties. Gonzalo Montiel’s
winning kick. Lionel Messi, after 17 years of longing, had his World Cup.
The combination of the greatest two players of their generation, four individual moments of
genius, and the emotional weight of the occasion made this the most extraordinary sporting
event in living memory.
1970
Most Beautiful Final
Brazil vs Italy
4–1
📍 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City · 21 June 1970
Not dramatic in the traditional sense — Brazil were simply too good. The match was a
celebration of everything football could be. Pelé opened the scoring with
a towering header. Gerson’s thunderous long-range shot made it 2–1. Jairzinho became the
first player to score in every round of a World Cup. And then Carlos Alberto’s fourth —
the result of a flowing 14-pass move finished by the captain thundering into the bottom
corner — is still considered the greatest team goal in football history.
Brazil kept the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently and secured their place as the greatest
team ever to play the game.
1986
Maradona’s Final
Argentina vs West Germany
3–2
📍 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City · 29 June 1986
The final act of Maradona’s tournament of tournaments. Argentina led 2–0 through José Brown and
Jorge Valdano. West Germany, in a display of extraordinary resilience, equalised through
Rummenigge and Rudi Völler within seven minutes. But three minutes after West Germany’s
equaliser, Maradona produced one final moment of magic — a perfectly weighted
pass that found Burruchaga in space, and Argentina’s number 10 slid the ball home. Final score:
3–2. Maradona wept. An entire nation exhaled. The Azteca had witnessed a miracle.
1966
The Ghost Goal Final
England vs West Germany
4–2 AET
📍 Wembley Stadium, London · 30 July 1966
England’s only World Cup triumph remains one of the most debated finals in history.
Geoff Hurst’s famous third goal — a shot that struck the crossbar and bounced down —
was awarded after the linesman signalled that the ball had crossed the line. Debate continues
to this day. Hurst then completed the only hat-trick in a World Cup final
in the dying seconds, with commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme delivering football’s most famous
line: “Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over… it is now.”
2006
The Headbutt Final
Italy vs France
1–1 AET (Italy won 5–3 on penalties)
📍 Olympiastadion, Berlin · 9 July 2006
Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring with a cheeky Panenka penalty chip — the audacity in a
World Cup final remains breathtaking. Italy equalised through Materazzi’s header. But the
match will forever be remembered for one moment: in extra time, Zidane — the tournament’s
outstanding player — turned and headbutted Marco Materazzi in the chest, received a red card,
and walked past the trophy he would never lift. The image defined a career and
a tournament simultaneously. Italy won on penalties; France lost their
irreplaceable conductor.
1994
Baggio’s Heartbreak
Brazil vs Italy
0–0 AET (Brazil won 3–2 on penalties)
📍 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, USA · 17 July 1994
The first World Cup final decided by a penalty shootout. The match itself was a forgettable,
goalless grind through 120 minutes of stifling heat. But the shootout became unforgettable.
Italy’s finest player of that generation, Roberto Baggio — who had carried Italy
to the final with tournament-defining goals — stepped up for the decisive penalty with Italy
needing it to survive. He blazed it over the bar. He stood, hands on hips, head slightly bowed,
as Brazil celebrated. That image endures as one of sport’s most powerful portraits of
solitude and heartbreak.
2014
Götze’s Golden Moment
Germany vs Argentina
1–0 AET
📍 Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro · 13 July 2014
A tense, tactical final between two perfectly matched sides. Messi — the tournament’s
Golden Ball winner — could not find the winning touch. Then, in the 113th minute of extra time,
Joachim Löw sent on 22-year-old Mario Götze with the instruction: “Show the world
you are better than Messi.” Götze controlled Schürrle’s cross on his chest and volleyed it into
the net with the outside of his left foot. Germany became the first European side to win
a World Cup in the Americas. Messi collected the Golden Ball — but not the golden
trophy he needed.
“No player had scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966 — until Kylian Mbappé in 2022. Football always finds a way to rewrite its own records.”
— FIFA World Cup History, Official RecordsThe Present Chapter
FIFA World Cup 2026
The New Era Begins
The 23rd FIFA World Cup is the biggest, most ambitious, and most geographically expansive tournament in the history of football. From 11 June to 19 July 2026, 48 nations will compete across 16 cities in three countries. History is being written now.
📅
Tournament Dates
11 June – 19 July 2026
Opening: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Final: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Final: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
🌎
Host Nations
First 3-Nation Co-Host in History
🇺🇸 USA · 11 cities
🇲🇽 Mexico · 3 cities
🇨🇦 Canada · 2 cities
🇲🇽 Mexico · 3 cities
🇨🇦 Canada · 2 cities
⚽
Format
Expanded to 48 Teams
104 matches total · 12 groups of 4
Round of 32 for the first time ever
39-day tournament
Round of 32 for the first time ever
39-day tournament
📺
Watch in India
Free · All 104 Matches
🌟
A Message to Young Football Fans
Every player who lifts that gold trophy started as a child who loved the game.
Pelé was practising with a grapefruit because he had no football. Maradona grew up in
Villa Fiorito, a poor neighbourhood outside Buenos Aires. Messi was told at 11 that he
was too small to succeed. The World Cup is proof that sport is the greatest meritocracy on Earth —
that talent, hard work, and love for the game can take you to the most-watched stage in the world.
The next great World Cup story is yet to be written.
Maybe it starts with you.
