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Since the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, to the expanded format in 2026, football's biggest tournament has been staged in 17 different countries across five continents. However, history has shown that home advantage is not always a guarantee of success.
Hosting a World Cup brings high expectations and immense pressure for the home team. To date, only six host countries have managed to win the trophy on their own soil.
Uruguay were the first to achieve the feat in 1930, after defeating Argentina in the final. Four years later, Italy triumphed over Czechoslovakia in the 1934 World Cup. England made the most of their home-field advantage in 1966, winning their only World Cup title after beating West Germany in the final.
In 1974, West Germany was declared champions on home soil, while Argentina repeated the success in 1978. The last national team to lift the trophy in front of its fans was France in 1998, after defeating Brazil in the final.
However, the triumphs of the organizers remain rare cases in the history of the World Cup, where the weight of expectations has often turned into additional pressure for the home teams.
The dramas and disappointments of the organizers
Not all host countries managed to crown the tournament with success. Brazil experienced one of the most painful moments in football history in 1950, when they lost the final to Uruguay at the Maracana Stadium.
Sweden also reached the final in 1958 but failed to win the trophy. Chile secured third place in the 1962 World Cup, while Italy repeated this result in 1990.
Mexico, the hosts in 1970 and 1986, reached the quarter-finals in both editions. One of the biggest surprises came in 2002, when South Korea made history by finishing fourth in the World Cup co-hosted with Japan.
When the house advantage isn't enough
There have also been times when the organizers failed to make a mark on the tournament. France in 1938, Spain in 1982 and the United States in 1994 did not go beyond the decisive stages of the competition.
In recent years, South Africa in 2010 and Qatar in 2022 were eliminated in the group stage. Qatar recorded the worst performance by a host in World Cup history, losing all of its matches and finishing last in the group.
Unlike Qatar, South Africa managed to secure a win and some points during its tournament.
Expectations for the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup will mark another historic milestone for the competition. The tournament will be hosted by three countries — the United States, Mexico and Canada — bringing the total number of host countries in World Cup history to 17.
Mexico will become the first country to host a World Cup three times, while Canada will make its debut as host. The United States will host the tournament for the second time.
History has shown that fan support and emotional advantage can have a positive impact on home teams, but they are not always enough to win the trophy. The World Cup continues to be a competition where home triumph is a privilege reserved for only a few national teams.
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