The inaugural FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay from 13 to 30 July 1930. In the final, hosts and pre-tournament favourites Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in front of a crowd of 68,346 people.

Turkish soccer legend Hakan Sukur scored a goal against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup Bronze medal match just 10.8 seconds after the opening whistle.

Marta is the first footballer of either gender to score at five World Cup editions. She is often regarded as the best female player of all time and was given the nickname "Pelé in skirts" by Pelé himself.

After the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and restored heavy economic sanctions on the country, Nike issued a statement saying, "The sanctions mean that, as a U.S. company, we cannot provide shoes to players in the Iran national team at this time." If they had violated the sanctions, Nike execs could have been subject to criminal penalties of up to $1 million and 20 years in prison.

Because of World War II, the World Cup was not held between 1938 and 1950. As a result, Italy, which won the World Cup in 1934 and 1938, was the reigning World Champion for a record 16 years.

No host country had ever been eliminated in the first round -- until South Africa in 2010.

The 1996 World Cup wasn't just about England's glory on the pitch. With his union flag football shirt and '60s mop-top mane, World Cup Willie, a cartoon lion, broke new ground in World Cup merchandising.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy was introduced in 1974. Made of 18 carat gold with bands of malachite on its base, it depicts two human figures holding up the Earth.

At the age of 42, Cameroonian forward Roger Milla became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history by scoring against Russia in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

On 14 July 1930, only 300 people attended the match between Romania and Peru at Estadio Pocitos, Montevideo, Uruguay.