The countdown to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA is underway. With just 12 days remaining until the opening match on June 11, it’s a good time to reflect on some of the most memorable moments in the tournament’s history.
Hungary’s Early Lead Overturned
Hungary went into the 1954 World Cup final as overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy for the first time. They had Ferenc Puskas, considered by many to be the greatest striker in the world. Puskas opened the scoring at the Wankdorf Stadium. Zoltan Czibor then doubled Hungary’s lead with only eight minutes played.
Germany quickly responded. Maximilian Morlock pulled one back two minutes later. Helmut Rahn then scored his nation’s second with 18 minutes gone.
Rahn Secures Victory in the ‘Miracle of Bern’
Helmut Rahn scored his second and Germany’s third with six minutes remaining. This secured a 3-2 victory in a final that became known as the Miracle of Bern. In the process, Rahn became the first, and so far only, number 12 to score in a World Cup final.
Other World Cup Facts and Firsts
The 1938 World Cup is notable for a unique reason. Austria were forced to withdraw after they ceased to exist as an independent nation. They had been invaded prior to the tournament.
England were invited to take their place, but declined. This meant that only 15 teams participated in the World Cup, the only time this has happened.
Miroslav Klose holds the record for the most goals in World Cup history. He scored 16 times across four tournaments. Just Fontaine of France is fourth on the list, having scored 13 goals.
All 13 of Fontaine’s goals came in a single tournament, the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. France ultimately finished third.
- Fontaine scored six times in the group stages, including a hat-trick against Paraguay.
- He added two more against Northern Ireland in the quarter-finals.
- He then scored once against Brazil in the semi-finals, and four times in a 6-3 win over West Germany.
The World Cup trophy weighs just under 7kg. It is made of 18-carat gold with a hollow interior.
We’ll soon find out who’ll go the distance as we cross the two-week threshold until the tournament kicks off.