The Most Popular World Cup, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the World Cup you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 8, 2024 06:55
When fans gather to discuss the most thrilling World Cup tournaments, opinions often vary, making it difficult to reach a consensus on which was truly the most memorable. Establishing a ranked list through community voting provides a clear and democratic way to see which tournaments resonate most with the greatest number of people.
By participating in the voting process, users have the opportunity to voice their preferences and contribute to a collective historical perspective. This not only enriches the community experience but also helps new fans understand which World Cups have left the most significant impact on audiences worldwide.
What Is the Most Popular World Cup?
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140votesThis World Cup had the highest viewership in history with over 3.5 billion people tuning in to watch the games. It was also the first World Cup to use the video assistant referee (VAR) system.The 2018 FIFA World Cup - Russia was the 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup, which is the most prestigious international soccer tournament. It was held in Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018, and attracted millions of fans from all around the world.
- Year: 2018
- Host Country: Russia
- Dates: June 14 - July 15
- Number of Teams: 32
- Matches Played: 64
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225votesThe 2014 World Cup had the second-highest attendance in history with over 3.4 million people attending the games. It was also the first World Cup to use goal-line technology.The 2014 FIFA World Cup - Brazil was the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup, which took place in Brazil from June 12 to July 13, 2014. It is one of the most popular and widely watched sporting events in the world, bringing together 32 national teams from various countries to compete for the prestigious title of world champions.
- Edition: 20th
- Host Country: Brazil
- Dates: June 12 - July 13, 2014
- Number of Teams: 32
- Matches Played: 64
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318votesThis World Cup had a huge impact on the sport as it was the first time it was held in Asia and jointly hosted by two countries. It also introduced the golden goal rule, which was later discontinued.The 2002 FIFA World Cup - South Korea/Japan was the 17th edition of the FIFA World Cup, held jointly by South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30, 2002. It was the first World Cup hosted by multiple countries and also the first to be held in Asia.
- Winner: Brazil
- Runner-up: Germany
- Golden Boot: Ronaldo (Brazil) - 8 goals
- Host Countries: South Korea and Japan
- Dates: May 31 to June 30, 2002
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413votesThis World Cup had the highest attendance in history with over 3.5 million people attending the games. It was also the first time the host nation won the tournament since 1978.The 1998 FIFA World Cup, hosted by France, was the 16th edition of the international soccer tournament. It took place from June 10 to July 12, 1998, featuring 32 teams from around the world competing for the prestigious title.
- Host Country: France
- Number of Teams: 32
- Matches Played: 64
- Stadiums: 10
- Total Goals Scored: 171
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516votesThis World Cup is famous for Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal and his "Goal of the Century" against England. It was also the first World Cup to be played in a stadium with a retractable roof.The 1986 FIFA World Cup, held in Mexico, was the 13th edition of the international soccer tournament. It is considered one of the most popular World Cups in history, memorable for its standout performances, controversial moments, and Diego Maradona's legendary displays.
- Host Country: Mexico
- Dates: 31 May - 29 June 1986
- Number of Teams: 24
- Champion: Argentina
- Runner-up: West Germany
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616votesThis World Cup is often considered one of the best due to the quality of football played, with Brazil winning their third title. It was also the first World Cup to be broadcast live in color.The 1970 FIFA World Cup, held in Mexico, was the ninth edition of the tournament. It was organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and featured teams from around the world competing for the prestigious trophy. The tournament is widely regarded as one of the most exciting and iconic World Cups in history.
- Host Country: Mexico
- Number of Teams: 16
- Final Match Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Champion: Brazil
- Runner-up: Italy
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79votes
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainThis World Cup is famous for England's only World Cup victory and Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in the final. It was also the first World Cup to use red and yellow cards.The 1966 FIFA World Cup, hosted by England, was the eighth edition of the prestigious international football tournament. It took place from July 11th to July 30th, 1966, and is largely remembered for its memorable final match. This tournament marked the first time that the World Cup was televised in color.- Host Country: England
- Dates: July 11 - July 30, 1966
- Number of Teams: 16
- Number of Matches: 32
- Venues: 8
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85votesThis World Cup is famous for the emergence of a 17-year-old Pele, who led Brazil to their first World Cup victory. It was also the first World Cup to be broadcast internationally.The 1958 FIFA World Cup, held in Sweden, was the sixth edition of the tournament. It was the first World Cup to be televised and involved 16 national teams competing for the championship title. The matches were held in various cities across Sweden, with the final being played at the Rasunda Stadium in Solna.
- Host Country: Sweden
- Number of Teams: 16
- Matches Played: 35
- Final Venue: Rasunda Stadium, Solna
- Champion: Brazil
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96votes
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainThis World Cup is famous for the "Maracanazo" when Brazil lost the final to Uruguay in front of 200,000 spectators at the Maracana Stadium. It was also the first World Cup since World War II.The 1950 FIFA World Cup, also known as the Brazil World Cup, was the fourth edition of the tournament organized by FIFA. It took place in Brazil from June 24 to July 16, 1950. The World Cup final, held at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, is considered one of the most significant football matches in history.- Year: 1950
- Host Country: Brazil
- Duration: June 24 - July 16
- Number of Teams: 13
- Number of Matches: 22
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109votesThis World Cup is the original and the first-ever FIFA World Cup. It had only 13 teams participating, and Uruguay won the tournament in front of their home crowd.The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural edition of the FIFA World Cup, the international soccer championship contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament took place in Uruguay from July 13 to July 30, 1930. It featured 13 teams from four continents, with matches held in three different venues in Montevideo.
- Year: 1930
- Host Country: Uruguay
- Participants: 13 teams
- Continents Represented: 4
- Duration: July 13 to July 30, 1930
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Ranking factors for popular World Cup
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TV ViewershipThe number of people who watched the matches on television is a good indicator of the popularity of a World Cup.
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AttendanceThe number of people who attended the matches in person is another important factor to consider.
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Social media mentions and engagementThe level of engagement and online activity around a World Cup can also be a good indicator of its popularity.
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Sponsorship and advertising revenueThe amount of money generated from sponsorships and advertising during the World Cup is also a good way to measure its popularity.
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Media coverageThe amount of press coverage and media attention that the World Cup receives is another important factor to consider.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular World Cup. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Cup is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2100 views
- 158 votes
- 10 ranked items
Movers & Shakers
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Cup once every 24 hours. The rank of each Cup is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular world cup
The FIFA World Cup is one of the most popular and widely watched sporting events in the world. It is a quadrennial international football tournament that brings together the best teams from different countries to compete for the coveted World Cup trophy. Since its inception in 1930, the World Cup has been held 21 times, with the most recent tournament taking place in Russia in 2018.
Over the years, there have been some memorable World Cups that have captured the imagination of football fans across the globe. From the historic first tournament in Uruguay to the thrilling and dramatic final in 2014, each World Cup has had its own unique story to tell.
But which World Cup can be considered the most popular? Is it the one with the most goals, the most drama, or the most upsets? There are many factors that contribute to a World Cup's popularity, including the quality of the teams, the level of competition, and the overall atmosphere of the tournament.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most popular World Cups in history and explore what made them so special. We will analyze the teams, players, and moments that defined these tournaments and examine why they continue to be remembered and celebrated to this day.
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