Major Historical Events in Football
1930 – First FIFA World Cup begins in Uruguay The inaugural FIFA World Cup kicked off on July 13, 1930, with matches between France vs. Mexico and the United States vs. Belgium. Both France and the U.S. won their opening games, marking the birth of the world’s biggest sporting tournament.
1958 – Brazil wins its first FIFA World Cup Brazil defeated Sweden 5–2 in the final of the 1958 World Cup. A 17-year-old Pelé scored twice in the final and became the youngest player ever to win the tournament.
2014 – Germany wins the World Cup in Brazil Mario Götze scored a stunning extra-time winner to give Germany a 1–0 victory over Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final at the Maracanã. It was Germany’s fourth World Cup title.
1994 – Roberto Baggio misses decisive penalty In the 1994 World Cup final at the Rose Bowl, Brazil defeated Italy in a shootout after a 0–0 draw. Roberto Baggio missed the final penalty, handing Brazil their fourth title.
2019 – Algeria reaches Africa Cup of Nations final Algeria beat Nigeria 2–1 in the AFCON semi-final, with Riyad Mahrez scoring a last-minute free-kick. It sent Algeria to their first final since 1990.
Notable Football Birthdays – July 13
- Patrick Stewart (1940): Not the actor, but English football referee known for officiating top-flight matches in the 1980s.
- Gerard López (1979): Spanish midfielder who played for Valencia and Barcelona.
- Colin Kazim-Richards (1986): English-born Turkish international forward with a journeyman career.
- Stefan de Vrij (1992): Dutch defender and Serie A champion with Inter Milan.
- Harrison Afful (1986): Ghanaian right-back and key figure at Columbus Crew and in multiple World Cups.
- Daniel Van Buyten (1978): Belgian defender, Champions League winner with Bayern Munich.
- Mark González (1984): Chilean winger known for his speed and time at Liverpool and Real Betis.
Memorable Moments
Germany’s redemption (2014): After the heartbreak of 2002 and 2006, Germany finally lifted the World Cup again thanks to Götze’s sublime 113th-minute volley.
Pelé’s emergence (1958): The world witnessed a football prodigy as Pelé dazzled in the final and tournament, becoming the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.
The World Cup is born (1930): With no television or internet, the tournament launched quietly in Montevideo, but it would grow into the most watched sporting event on Earth.
Trivia of the Day
Who scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final? Answer: Mario Götze
Quote of the Day
“Show the world you’re better than Messi.” — Joachim Löw to Mario Götze before he scored the 2014 World Cup winning goal