The 2018 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 14 until July 15 in Russia. It’s the first time the tournament returns to Europe since 2006 (Germany).
Maybe you’re not that into soccer but as a Latin American MAM I couldn’t be more excited because this isn’t just another World Cup, this is a special occasion. The Peruvian national soccer team, my team, is going to be there after 36 years, you can imagine the emotion and the pride we feel.
Here are some interesting World Cup facts:
- Russia 2018 will be the 21st staging of the FIFA World Cup, with the inaugural tournament being held in 1930 and won by Uruguay.
- An astounding 3.2 billion people (ALMOST HALF OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION) tuned in to watch the 2014 World Cup.
- Brazil holds the most titles with five. Italy and Germany are close behind with four each.
- For the first time in the history of soccer, the 2002 World Cup was held in two different countries: South Korea and Japan.
- The oldest goal scorer in the World Cup was Roger Milla, who was 42 (MAM soccer player) in 1994 when he scored a goal for Cameroon against Russia.
- The average attendance per game at the 2014 World Cup was over 53,000 fans!
- While 32 teams will qualify for the 2018 tournament, the number will jump to 48 in 2026.
- The World Cup winning country is rumored to see a baby boom 9 months after the World Cup. In fact, Hyundai even created a commercial based on this fact.
So… the clock is ticking, and the party is about to begin… Don’t miss it!!!