Burkina Faso
Coordinates: 12°20′N 1°50′W
Burkina Faso
Flag of Burkina Faso
Flag
Coat of arms of Burkina Faso
Coat of arms
Motto: "Unité–Progrès–Justice" (French)
"Unity–Progress–Justice"
Anthem: Une Seule Nuit / Ditanyè (French)
One Single Night / Hymn of Victory
1:48
Burkina Faso (orthographic projection).svg
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Capital
and largest city
Ouagadougou
12°22′N 1°32′W
Official languages French
Ethnic groups (2010 est.)[1]
51% Mossi
8.4% Fula
7% Gurma
4.9% Bobo
4.6% Gurunsi
4.5% Senufo
2.4% Lobi
1.9% Tuareg
0.8% Dyula
Religion (2006)[2]
60.5% Islam
23.2% Christianity
15.3% Indigenous beliefs
1.0% Irreligious and others
Demonym(s) Burkinabè
Government Unitary semi-presidential republic under a military junta
• Interim President and MPSR President
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba
• Prime Minister
Albert Ouédraogo (interim)
Legislature National Assembly
History
• Republic of Upper Volta proclaimed
11 December 1958
• Independence from France
5 August 1960
• 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état
3 January 1966
• 2014 Burkinabè uprising
28 October – 3 November 2014
• 2022 Burkinabè coup d'état
23–24 January 2022
Area
• Total
274,200 km2 (105,900 sq mi) (74th)
• Water (%)
0.146%
Population
• 2020 estimate
21,510,181[3] (58th)
• 2006 census
14,017,262
• Density
64/km2 (165.8/sq mi) (137th)
GDP (PPP) 2020 estimate
• Total
$45.339 billion
• Per capita
$2,207[4]
GDP (nominal) 2020 estimate
• Total
$16.226 billion
• Per capita
$926[5]
Gini (2020) Steady 38.9[6]
medium
HDI (2019) Increase 0.452[7]
low · 182nd
Currency West African CFA franc[8] (XOF)
Time zone UTC (GMT)
Date format dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side right
Calling code +226
ISO 3166 code BF
Internet TLD .bf
Preceded by
Republic of Upper Volta
The data here is an estimation for the year 2005 produced by the International Monetary Fund in April 2005.
Burkina Faso (UK: /bɜːrˌkiːnə ˈfæsoʊ/, US: /- ˈfɑːsoʊ/ (listen);[9] French: [buʁkina faso]) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of 274,200 km2 (105,900 sq mi), bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and the Ivory Coast to the southwest. It has a population of 20,321,378.[10] Previously called Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), it was renamed Burkina Faso by President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabè (/bɜːrˈkiːnəbeɪ/ bur-KEE-nə-beh), and its capital and largest city is Ouagadougou.
The largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso is the Mossi people, who settled the area in the 11th and 13th centuries. They established powerful kingdoms such as the Ouagadougou, Tenkodogo, and Yatenga. In 1896, it was colonized by the French as part of French West Africa; in 1958, Upper Volta became a self-governing colony within the French Community. In 1960, it gained full independence with Maurice Yaméogo as President. In its early years, the country was subject to instability, droughts, famines and corruption. Various coups have also taken place in the country, in 1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, an attempt in 1989, 2015, and 2022. Thomas Sankara served as the country's President from 1982 until he was killed in the 1987 coup led by Blaise Compaoré who became president and ruled the country until his removal on 31 October 2014. Sankara launched an ambitious socioeconomic programme which included a nationwide literacy campaign, land redistribution to peasants, railway and road construction, and the outlawing of female genital mutilation, forced marriages, and polygamy.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]
Burkina Faso has been severely affected by the rise of Islamist terror in the Sahel since the mid-2010s. Several militias, partly allied with Islamic State (IS) or al-Qaeda, operate across the borders to Mali and Niger. More than one million of the country's 21 million inhabitants are internally displaced persons. On 24 January 2022, the military and its "Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration" (MPSR) declared itself to be in power. Previously the military had executed a coup against President Roch Marc Kaboré. On 31 January, the military junta restored the constitution and appointed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim president.[18]
Burkina Faso is a least developed country with a GDP of $16.226 billion. 63% of its population practices Islam and 22% practice Christianity. Due to French colonialism, the country's official language of government and business is French. There are 60 indigenous languages officially recognized by the Burkinabè government, with the most common language, Mooré, spoken by over 50% of Burkinabè.[19][20] The country is governed as a semi-presidential republic with executive, legislative and judicial powers. Burkina Faso is a member of the United Nations, La Francophonie and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It is currently suspended from ECOWAS and the African Union.
Etymology
Formerly the Republic of Upper Volta, the country was renamed "Burkina Faso" on 4 August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara. The words "Burkina" and "Faso" stem from different languages spoken in the country: "Burkina" comes from Mossi and means "upright", showing how the people are proud of their integrity, while "Faso" comes from the Dioula language (as written in N'Ko: ߝߊ߬ߛߏ߫ faso) and means "fatherland" (literally, "father's house"). The "-bè" suffix added onto "Burkina" to form the demonym "Burkinabè" comes from the Fula language and means "women or men".[21] The CIA summarizes the etymology as "land of the honest (incorruptible) men".[22]
The French colony of Upper Volta was named for its location on the upper courses of the Volta River (the Black, Red and White Volta).[23]
History
Main article: History of Burkina Faso
Early history
The northwestern part of present-day Burkina Faso was populated by hunter-gatherers from 14000 BCE to 5000 BCE. Their tools, including scrapers, chisels and arrowheads, were discovered in 1973 through archaeological excavations.[24] Agricultural settlements were established between 3600 and 2600 BCE.[24] The Bura culture was an Iron-Age civilization centred in the southwest portion of modern-day Niger and in the southeast part of contemporary Burkina Faso.[25] Iron industry, in smelting and forging for tools and weapons, had developed in Sub-Saharan Africa by 1200 BCE.[26][27] To date, the oldest evidence of iron smelting found in Burkina Faso dates from 800 to 700 BC and form part of the Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy World Heritage Site.[28] From the 3rd to the 13th centuries CE, the Iron Age Bura culture existed in the territory of present-day southeastern Burkina Faso and southwestern Niger. Various ethnic groups of present-day Burkina Faso, such as the Mossi, Fula and Dioula, arrived in successive waves between the 8th and 15th centuries. From the 11th century, the Mossi people established several separate kingdoms.
West Africa circa 1875
8th century to 18th century
There is debate about the exact dates when Burkina Faso's many ethnic groups arrived to the area. The Proto-Mossi arrived in the far Eastern part of what is today Burkina Faso sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries,[29] the Samo arrived around the 15th century,[30] the Dogon lived in Burkina Faso's north and northwest regions until sometime in the 15th or 16th centuries[31] and many of the other ethnic groups that make up the country's population arrived in the region during this time.
The cavalry of the Mossi Kingdoms were experts at raiding deep into enemy territory, even against the formidable Mali Empire.
Armed men prevent the French explorer Louis-Gustave Binger from entering Sia (Bobo-Dioulasso) during his stay in April 1892.
During the Middle Ages, the Mossi established several separate kingdoms including those of Tenkodogo, Yatenga, Zandoma, and Ouagadougou.[32] Sometime between 1328 and 1338 Mossi warriors raided Timbuktu but the Mossi were defeated by Sonni Ali of Songhai at the Battle of Kobi in Mali in 1483.[33]
During the early 16th century the Songhai conducted many slave raids into what is today Burkina Faso.[30] During the 18th century the Gwiriko Empire was established at Bobo Dioulasso and ethnic groups such as the Dyan, Lobi, and Birifor settled along the Black Volta.[34]
From colony to independence (1890s–1958)
Main articles: Upper Senegal and Niger and French Upper Volta
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Starting in the early 1890s during the European Scramble for Africa, a series of European military officers made attempts to claim parts of what is today Burkina Faso. At times these colonialists and their armies fought the local peoples; at times they forged alliances with them and made treaties. The colonialist officers and their home governments also made treaties amongst themselves. The territory of Burkina Faso was invaded by France, becoming a French protectorate in 1896.[35]
French West Africa circa 1913
The eastern and western regions, where a standoff against the forces of the powerful ruler Samori Ture complicated the situation, came under French occupation in 1897. By 1898, the majority of the territory corresponding to Burkina Faso was nominally conquered; however, French control of many parts remained uncertain.[24]
The Franco-British Convention of 14 June 1898 created the country's modern borders. In the French territory, a war of conquest against local communities and political powers continued for about five years. In 1904, the largely pacified territories of the Volta basin were integrated into the Upper Senegal and Niger colony of French West Africa as part of the reorganization of the French West African colonial empire. The colony had its capital in Bamako.
The language of colonial administration and schooling became French. The public education system started from humble origins. Advanced education was provided for many years during the colonial period in Dakar.
The indigenous population was highly discriminated against. For example, African children were not allowed to ride bicycles or pick fruit from trees, "privileges" reserved for the children of colonists. Violating these regulations could land parents in jail.[36]
Draftees from the territory participated in the European fronts of World War I in the battalions of the Senegalese Rifles. Between 1915 and 1916, the districts in the western part of what is now Burkina Faso and the bordering eastern fringe of Mali became the stage of one of the most important armed oppositions to colonial government: the Volta-Bani War.[37]
The French government finally suppressed the movement but only after suffering defeats. It also had to organize its largest expeditionary force of its colonial history to send into the country to suppress the insurrection. Armed opposition wracked the Sahelian north when the Tuareg and allied groups of the Dori region ended their truce with the government.
The capital, Ouagadougou, in 1930
French Upper Volta was established on 1 March 1919. The French feared a recurrence of armed uprising and had related economic considerations. To bolster its administration, the colonial government separated the present territory of Burkina Faso from Upper Senegal and Niger.
The new colony was named Haute Volta, named for its location on the upper courses of the Volta River (the Black, Red and White Volta), and François Charles Alexis Édouard Hesling became its first governor. Hesling initiated an ambitious road-making program to improve infrastructure and promoted the growth of cotton for export. The cotton policy – based on coercion – failed, and revenue generated by the colony stagnated. The colony was dismantled on 5 September 1932, being split between the French colonies of Ivory Coast, French Sudan and Niger. Ivory Coast received the largest share, which contained most of the population as well as the cities of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso.
France reversed this change during the period of intense anti-colonial agitation that followed the end of World War II. On 4 September 1947, it revived the colony of Upper Volta, with its previous boundaries, as a part of the French Union. The French designated its colonies as departments of metropolitan France on the European continent.
On 11 December 1958 the colony achieved self-government as the Republic of Upper Volta; it joined the Franco-African Community. A revision in the organization of French Overseas Territories had begun with the passage of the Basic Law (Loi Cadre) of 23 July 1956. This act was followed by reorganization measures approved by the French parliament early in 1957 to ensure a large degree of self-government for individual territories. Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French community on 11 December 1958. Full independence from France was received in 1960.[38]
Upper Volta (1958–1984)
Maurice Yaméogo, the first President of Upper Volta, examines documents pertaining to the ratification of the country's independence in 1960
Main article: Republic of Upper Volta
The Republic of Upper Volta (French: République de Haute-Volta) was established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing colony within the French Community. The name Upper Volta related to the nation's location along the upper reaches of the Volta River. The river's three tributaries are called the Black, White and Red Volta. These were expressed in the three colors of the former national flag.
Before attaining autonomy, it had been French Upper Volta and part of the French Union. On 5 August 1960, it attained full independence from France. The first president, Maurice Yaméogo, was the leader of the Voltaic Democratic Union (UDV). The 1960 constitution provided for election by universal suffrage of a president and a national assembly for five-year terms. Soon after coming to power, Yaméogo banned all political parties other than the UDV. The government lasted until 1966. After much unrest, including mass demonstrations and strikes by students, labor unions, and civil servants, the military intervened.
Lamizana's rule and multiple coups
The 1966 military coup deposed Yaméogo, suspended the constitution, dissolved the National Assembly, and placed Lt. Col. Sangoulé Lamizana at the head of a government of senior army officers. The army remained in power for four years. On 14 June 1976, the Voltans ratified a new constitution that established a four-year transition period toward complete civilian rule. Lamizana remained in power throughout the 1970s as president of military or mixed civil-military governments. Lamizana's rule coincided with the beginning of the Sahel drought and famine which had a devastating impact on Upper Volta and neighboring countries. After conflict over the 1976 constitution, a new constitution was written and approved in 1977. Lamizana was re-elected by open elections in 1978.
Lamizana's government faced problems with the country's traditionally powerful trade unions, and on 25 November 1980, Col. Saye Zerbo overthrew President Lamizana in a bloodless coup. Colonel Zerbo established the Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress as the supreme governmental authority, thus eradicating the 1977 constitution.
Colonel Zerbo also encountered resistance from trade unions and was overthrown two years later by Maj. Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo and the Council of Popular Salvation (CSP) in the 1982 Upper Voltan coup d'état. The CSP continued to ban political parties and organizations, yet promised a transition to civilian rule and a new constitution.[39][40]
1983 coup d'état
Infighting developed between the right and left factions of the CSP. The leader of the leftists, Capt. Thomas Sankara, was appointed prime minister in January 1983, but was subsequently arrested. Efforts to free him, directed by Capt. Blaise Compaoré, resulted in a military coup d'état on 4 August 1983.
The coup brought Sankara to power and his government began to implement a series of revolutionary programs which included mass-vaccinations, infrastructure improvements, the expansion of women's rights, encouragement of domestic agricultural consumption, and anti-desertification projects.[14]
Burkina Faso (since 1984)
Republic of Upper Volta (1983–1984)
République de Haute-Volta
Burkina Faso (1984–1987)
1983–1987
Flag of Burkina Faso
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg
Flag
Coat of arms of Burkina Faso
Coat of arms
Motto: "Unité–Progrès–Justice" (French)
"Unity–Progress–Justice"
Anthem: Une Seule Nuit / Ditanyè (French)
One Single Night / Hymn of Victory
1:48
Capital Ouagadougou
Official languages French
Recognised national languages Mòoré
Fula
Dioula[41]
Demonym(s)
Burkinabè
Government Unitary Marxist-Leninist one-party socialist state under a military junta
President
• 1983–1987
Thomas Sankara
Establishment 4 August 1983
History
• 1983 Burkinabè coup d'état
1983
• Agacher Strip War
December 25, 1985
• 1987 Burkinabè coup d'état
October 15, 1987
• Disestablished
1987
Area
• Total
274,200 km2 (105,900 sq mi)
GDP (PPP) 1986 estimate
• Total
$2.036 billion
Currency West African CFA franc[8] (XOF)
ISO 3166 code BF
On 2 August 1984, on President Sankara's initiative, the country's name changed from "Upper Volta" to "Burkina Faso", or land of the honest men; (the literal translation is land of the upright men.)[42][43][need quotation to verify][44][45] The presidential decree was confirmed by the National Assembly on 4 August. The demonym for people of Burkina Faso, "Burkinabè", includes expatriates or descendants of people of Burkinabè origin.
Sankara's government comprised the National Council for the Revolution (CNR – French: Conseil national révolutionnaire), with Sankara as its president, and established popular Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs). The Pioneers of the Revolution youth programme was also established.
Sankara launched an ambitious socioeconomic programme for change, one of the largest ever undertaken on the African continent.[14] His foreign policies centred on anti-imperialism, with his government rejecting all foreign aid, pushing for odious debt reduction, nationalising all land and mineral wealth and averting the power and influence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. His domestic policies included a nationwide literacy campaign, land redistribution to peasants, railway and road construction and the outlawing of female genital mutilation, forced marriages and polygamy.[15][14]
Sankara pushed for agrarian self-sufficiency and promoted public health by vaccinating 2,500,000 children against meningitis, yellow fever, and measles.[15] His national agenda also included planting over 10,000,000 trees to halt the growing desertification of the Sahel. Sankara called on every village to build a medical dispensary and had over 350 communities build schools with their own labour.[14][46]
In the 1980s, when ecological awareness was still very low, Thomas Sankara, was one of the few African leaders to consider environmental protection a priority. He engaged in three major battles: against bush fires "which will be considered as crimes and will be punished as such"; against cattle roaming "which infringes on the rights of peoples because unattended animals destroy nature"; and against the anarchic cutting of firewood "whose profession will have to be organized and regulated". As part of a development program involving a large part of the population, ten million trees were planted in Burkina Faso in fifteen months during the "revolution. To face the advancing desert and recurrent droughts, Thomas Sankara also proposed the planting of wooded strips of about fifty kilometers, crossing the country from east to west. He then thought of extending this vegetation belt to other countries. Cereal production, close to 1.1 billion tons before 1983, will rise to 1.6 billion tons in 1987. Jean Ziegler, former UN special rapporteur for the right to food, emphasized that the country "had become food self-sufficient.[47]
1987 coup d'état
On 15 October 1987, Sankara, along with twelve other officials, was assassinated in a coup d'état organized by Blaise Compaoré, Sankara's former colleague, who would go on to serve as Burkina Faso's president from October 1987 until October 2014.[48] After the coup and although Sankara was known to be dead, some CDRs mounted an armed resistance to the army for several days.[citation needed] A majority[quantify] of Burkinabè citizens hold that France's foreign ministry, the Quai d'Orsay, was behind Compaoré in organizing the coup.[citation needed] There is some evidence for France's support of the coup.[49]
Compaoré gave as one of the reasons for the coup the deterioration in relations with neighbouring countries.[50] Compaoré argued that Sankara had jeopardised foreign relations with the former colonial power (France) and with neighbouring Ivory Coast.[13] Following the coup Compaoré immediately reversed the nationalizations, overturned nearly all of Sankara's policies, returned the country back into the IMF fold, and ultimately spurned most of Sankara's legacy. Following an alleged coup-attempt in 1989, Compaoré introduced limited democratic reforms in 1990. Under the new (1991) constitution, Compaoré was re-elected without opposition in December 1991. In 1998 Compaoré won election in a landslide. In 2004, 13 people were tried for plotting a coup against President Compaoré and the coup's alleged mastermind was sentenced to life imprisonment.[51] As of 2014, Burkina Faso remained one of the least-developed countries in the world.[52]
Compaoré's government played the role of negotiator in several West-African disputes, including the 2010–11 Ivorian crisis, the Inter-Togolese Dialogue (2007), and the 2012 Malian Crisis.
Between February and April 2011, the death of a schoolboy provoked protests throughout the country, coupled with a military mutiny and a magistrates' strike.
October 2014 protests
Main article: 2014 Burkinabè uprising
Starting on 28 October 2014 protesters began to march and demonstrate in Ouagadougou against President Blaise Compaoré, who appeared[need quotation to verify] ready to amend the constitution and extend his 27-year rule. On 30 October some protesters set fire to the parliament building[53] and took over the national TV headquarters.[54] Ouagadougou International Airport closed and MPs suspended the vote on changing the constitution (the change would have allowed Compaoré to stand for re-election in 2015). Later in the day, the military dissolved all government institutions and imposed a curfew.[55]
On 31 October 2014, President Compaoré, facing mounting pressure, resigned after 27 years in office.[56] Lt. Col. Isaac Zida said that he would lead the country during its transitional period before the planned 2015 presidential election, but there were concerns[by whom?] over his close ties to the former president.[57] In November 2014 opposition parties, civil-society groups and religious leaders adopted a plan for a transitional authority to guide Burkina Faso to elections.[58] Under the plan Michel Kafando became the transitional President of Burkina Faso and Lt. Col. Zida became the acting Prime Minister and Defense Minister.
2015 coup d'état
Main article: 2015 Burkina Faso coup d'état
On 16 September 2015, the Regiment of Presidential Security (RSP) seized the country's president and prime minister and then declared the National Council for Democracy the new national government.[59] However, on 22 September 2015, the coup leader, Gilbert Diendéré, apologized and promised to restore civilian government.[60] On 23 September 2015 the prime minister and interim president were restored to power.[61]
November 2015 election
Main article: 2015 Burkinabè general election
General elections took place in Burkina Faso on 29 November 2015. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré won the election in the first round with 53.5% of the vote, defeating businessman Zéphirin Diabré, who took 29.7%.[62] Kaboré was sworn in as president on 29 December 2015.[63]
November 2020 election
Main article: Burkinabè general election, 2020
In 2020 general election, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was re-elected. However, his party Mouvement du people MPP, failed to reach absolute parliamentary majority. It secured 56 seats out of a total of 127. The Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP), the party of former President Blaise Compaoré, was distant second with 20 seats.[64]
Terrorist attacks
Main article: 2016 Ouagadougou attacks
See also: Terrorism in Burkina Faso
In February 2016 a terrorist attack occurred at the Splendid Hotel and Capuccino café-bar in the centre of Ouagadougou: 30 people died. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al-Mourabitoun, two groups which until then had mostly operated in neighbouring Mali, claimed responsibility for the attack. Since then, similar groups have carried out numerous[quantify] attacks in the northern and eastern parts of the country. One terrorist attack occurred on the evening of Friday, 11 October 2019, on a mosque in the village of Salmossi near the border with Mali, leaving 16 people dead and two injured.[65][66]
On 8 July 2020, the United States raised concerns after a Human Rights Watch report revealed mass graves with at least 180 bodies, which were found in northern Burkina Faso where soldiers were fighting jihadists.[67]
On June 4, 2021, the Associated Press reported that according to the government of Burkina Faso, gunmen killed at least 100 people in Solhan village in northern Burkina Faso near the Niger border. A local market and several homes were also burned down. A government spokesman blamed jihadists. This was the deadliest attack recorded in Burkina Faso since the West African country was overrun by jihadists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State about five years ago, said Heni Nsaibia, senior researcher at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.[68]
2022 coup d'état
Main article: 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état
In a successful coup on January 24, 2022, mutinying soldiers arrested and deposed President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré following gunfire.[69] The Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) supported by the military declared itself to be in power,[70][71] led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.[72] On 31 January, the military junta restored the constitution and appointed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim president. In the aftermath of the coup, ECOWAS and African Union suspended Burkina Faso's membership.[73][74] On 10 February, the Constitutional Council declared Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba President of Burkina Faso.[75] He was sworn in as President on 16 February.[76] On March 1, 2022, the junta approved a charter allowing a military-led transition of 3 years.[77] The charter provides for the transition process to be followed by the holding of elections.[78] President Kaboré, who had been detained since the military junta took power, was released on 6 April 2022.[79]
Government
Main article: Politics of Burkina Faso
See also: 2015 Burkinabe coup d'état
President Blaise Compaoré ruled Burkina Faso from a coup d'état in 1987 until he lost power in 2014.
The National Assembly building in downtown Ouagadougou
With French help, Blaise Compaoré seized power in a coup d'état in 1987. He overthrew his long-time friend and ally Thomas Sankara, who was killed in the coup.[80]
The constitution of 2 June 1991 established a semi-presidential government: its parliament could be dissolved by the President of the Republic, who was to be elected for a term of seven years. In 2000, the constitution was amended to reduce the presidential term to five years and set term limits to two, preventing successive re-election. The amendment took effect during the 2005 elections. If passed beforehand, it would have prevented Compaoré from being reelected.
Other presidential candidates challenged the election results. But in October 2005, the constitutional council ruled that, because Compaoré was the sitting president in 2000, the amendment would not apply to him until the end of his second term in office. This cleared the way for his candidacy in the 2005 election. On 13 November 2005, Compaoré was reelected in a landslide, because of a divided political opposition.
In the 2010 presidential election, President Compaoré was re-elected. Only 1.6 million Burkinabè voted, out of a total population 10 times that size.
The 2011 Burkinabè protests were a series of popular protests that called for the resignation of Compaoré, democratic reforms, higher wages for troops and public servants and economic freedom.[81][82][83] As a result, governors were replaced and wages for public servants were raised.[84][85]
The parliament consisted of one chamber known as the National Assembly, which had 111 seats with members elected to serve five-year terms. There was also a constitutional chamber, composed of ten members, and an economic and social council whose roles were purely consultative. The 1991 constitution created a bicameral parliament, but the upper house (Chamber of Representatives) was abolished in 2002.
The Compaoré administration had worked to decentralize power by devolving some of its powers to regions and municipal authorities. But the widespread distrust of politicians and lack of political involvement by many residents complicated this process. Critics described this as a hybrid decentralisation.[86]
Political freedoms are severely restricted in Burkina Faso. Human rights organizations had criticised the Compaoré administration for numerous acts of state-sponsored violence against journalists and other politically active members of society.[87][88]
In mid-September 2015 the Kafando government, along with the rest of the post-October 2014 political order, was temporarily overthrown in a coup attempt by the Regiment of Presidential Security (RSP). They installed Gilbert Diendéré as chairman of the new National Council for Democracy.[16] On 23 September 2015, the prime minister and interim president were restored to power.[89][90] The national elections were subsequently rescheduled for 29 November.
Kaboré won the election in the first round of voting, receiving 53.5% of the vote against 29.7% for the second place candidate, Zephirin Diabré.[62] He was sworn in as president on 29 December 2015.[63] The BBC described the president as a "French-educated banker ... [who] sees himself as a social democrat, and has pledged to reduce youth unemployment, improve education and healthcare, and make health provision for children under six free of charge".[91]
The prime minister is head of government and is appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly. He is responsible for recommending a cabinet for appointment by the president. Paul Kaba Thieba was appointed PM in early 2016.[92]
According to a World Bank Report in late 2018, the political climate was stable; the government was facing "social discontent marked by major strikes and protests, organized by unions in several economic sectors, to demand salary increases and social benefits .... and increasingly frequent jihadist attacks". The next elections would be held in 2020.[93]
Constitution
Further information: Constitution of Burkina Faso
In 2015, Kaboré promised to revise the 1991 constitution. The revision was completed in 2018. One condition prevents any individual from serving as president for more than ten years either consecutively or intermittently and provides a method for impeaching a president. A referendum on the constitution for the Fifth Republic was scheduled for 24 March 2019.[94]
Certain rights are also enshrined in the revised wording: access to drinking water, access to decent housing and a recognition of the right to civil disobedience, for example. The referendum was required because the opposition parties in Parliament refused to sanction the proposed text.[95]
Foreign relations
Further information: Foreign relations of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a member of the G5 Sahel, Community of Sahel–Saharan States, La Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and United Nations. It is currently suspended from ECOWAS and the African Union.
Military
Main article: Military of Burkina Faso
The army consists of some 6,000 men in voluntary service, augmented by a part-time national People's Militia composed of civilians between 25 and 35 years of age who are trained in both military and civil duties. According to Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessment, Burkina Faso's Army is undermanned for its force structure and poorly equipped, but has wheeled light-armour vehicles, and may have developed useful combat expertise through interventions in Liberia and elsewhere in Africa.[96]
In terms of training and equipment, the regular Army is believed to be neglected in relation to the élite Regiment of Presidential Security (French: Régiment de la Sécurité Présidentielle – RSP). Reports have emerged in recent years of disputes over pay and conditions.[97] There is an air force with some 19 operational aircraft, but no navy, as the country is landlocked. Military expenses constitute approximately 1.2% of the nation's GDP.
In April 2011, there was an army mutiny; the president named new chiefs of staff, and a curfew was imposed in Ouagadougou.[98]
Law enforcement
Main article: Law enforcement in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso employs numerous police and security forces, generally modeled after organizations used by French police. France continues to provide significant support and training to police forces. The Gendarmerie Nationale is organized along military lines, with most police services delivered at the brigade level. The Gendarmerie operates under the authority of the Minister of Defence, and its members are employed chiefly in the rural areas and along borders.[99]
There is a municipal police force controlled by the Ministry of Territorial Administration; a national police force controlled by the Ministry of Security; and an autonomous Regiment of Presidential Security (Régiment de la Sécurité Présidentielle, or RSP), a 'palace guard' devoted to the protection of the President of the Republic. Both the gendarmerie and the national police are subdivided into both administrative and judicial police functions; the former are detailed to protect public order and provide security, the latter are charged with criminal investigations.[99]
All foreigners and citizens are required to carry photo ID passports, or other forms of identification or risk a fine, and police spot identity checks are commonplace for persons traveling by auto, bush-taxi, or bus.[100][101]
Administrative divisions
Main articles: Regions of Burkina Faso, Provinces of Burkina Faso, and Departments of Burkina Faso
The country is divided into 13 administrative regions. These regions encompass 45 provinces and 301 departments. Each region is administered by a governor.
Geography
Satellite image of Burkina Faso
Main article: Geography of Burkina Faso
Map of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso lies mostly between latitudes 9° and 15° N (a small area is north of 15°), and longitudes 6° W and 3° E.
It is made up of two major types of countryside. The larger part of the country is covered by a peneplain, which forms a gently undulating landscape with, in some areas, a few isolated hills, the last vestiges of a Precambrian massif. The southwest of the country, on the other hand, forms a sandstone massif, where the highest peak, Ténakourou, is found at an elevation of 749 meters (2,457 ft). The massif is bordered by sheer cliffs up to 150 m (492 ft) high. The average altitude of Burkina Faso is 400 m (1,312 ft) and the difference between the highest and lowest terrain is no greater than 600 m (1,969 ft). Burkina Faso is therefore a relatively flat country.
The country owes its former name of Upper Volta to three rivers which cross it: the Black Volta (or Mouhoun), the White Volta (Nakambé) and the Red Volta (Nazinon). The Black Volta is one of the country's only two rivers which flow year-round, the other being the Komoé, which flows to the southwest. The basin of the Niger River also drains 27% of the country's surface.
The Niger's tributaries – the Béli, Gorouol, Goudébo, and Dargol – are seasonal streams and flow for only four to six months a year. They still can flood and overflow, however. The country also contains numerous lakes – the principal ones are Tingrela, Bam, and Dem. The country contains large ponds, as well, such as Oursi, Béli, Yomboli, and Markoye. Water shortages are often a problem, especially in the north of the country.
Savannah near the Gbomblora Department, on the road from Gaoua to Batié
Burkina Faso lies within two terrestrial ecoregions: Sahelian Acacia savanna and West Sudanian savanna.[102]
Climate
Map of Köppen climate classification
Burkina Faso has a primarily tropical climate with two very distinct seasons. In the rainy season, the country receives between 600 and 900 mm (23.6 and 35.4 in) of rainfall; in the dry season, the harmattan – a hot dry wind from the Sahara – blows. The rainy season lasts approximately four months, May/June to September, and is shorter in the north of the country. Three climatic zones can be defined: the Sahel, the Sudan-Sahel, and the Sudan-Guinea. The Sahel in the north typically receives less than 600 mm (23.6 in)[103] of rainfall per year and has high temperatures, 5–47 °C (41–117 °F).
A relatively dry tropical savanna, the Sahel extends beyond the borders of Burkina Faso, from the Horn of Africa to the Atlantic Ocean, and borders the Sahara to its north and the fertile region of the Sudan to the south. Situated between 11° 3′ and 13° 5′ north latitude, the Sudan-Sahel region is a transitional zone with regards to rainfall and temperature. Further to the south, the Sudan-Guinea zone receives more than 900 mm (35.4 in)[103] of rain each year and has cooler average temperatures.
Damage caused by the Dourtenga floods in 2007
Geographic and environmental causes can also play a significant role in contributing to Burkina Faso's food insecurity.[104] As the country is situated in the Sahel region, Burkina Faso experiences some of the most radical climatic variation in the world, ranging from severe flooding to extreme drought.[105] The unpredictable climatic shock that Burkina Faso citizens often face results in strong difficulties in being able to rely on and accumulate wealth through agricultural means.[106]
Burkina Faso's climate also renders its crops vulnerable to insect attacks, including attacks from locusts and crickets, which destroy crops and further inhibit food production.[107] Not only is most of the population of Burkina Faso dependent on agriculture as a source of income, but they also rely on the agricultural sector for food that will directly feed the household.[108] Due to the vulnerability of agriculture, more and more families are having to look for other sources of non-farm income,[109] and often have to travel outside of their regional zone to find work.[108]
Natural resources
Burkina Faso's natural resources include gold, manganese, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, and salt.
Wildlife
Further information: Wildlife of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has a larger number of elephants than many countries in West Africa. Lions, leopards and buffalo can also be found here, including the dwarf or red buffalo, a smaller reddish-brown animal which looks like a fierce kind of short-legged cow. Other large predators live in Burkina Faso, such as the cheetah, the caracal or African lynx, the spotted hyena and the African wild dog, one of the continent's most endangered species.[110]
Burkina Faso's fauna and flora are protected in four national parks:
The W National Park in the east which passes Burkina Faso, Benin, and Niger
The Arly Wildlife Reserve (Arly National Park in the east)
The Léraba-Comoé Classified Forest and Partial Reserve of Wildlife in the west
The Mare aux Hippopotames in the west
and several reserves: see List of national parks in Africa and Nature reserves of Burkina Faso.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Burkina Faso
A proportional representation of Burkina Faso exports, 2019
GDP per capita in Burkina Faso, since 1950
The value of Burkina Faso's exports fell from $2.77 billion in 2011 to $754 million in 2012.[111] Agriculture represents 32% of its gross domestic product and occupies 80% of the working population. It consists mostly of rearing livestock. Especially in the south and southwest, the people grow crops of sorghum, pearl millet, maize (corn), peanuts, rice and cotton, with surpluses to be sold. A large part of the economic activity of the country is funded by international aid, despite having gold ores in abundance.
The top five export commodities in 2017 were, in order of importance: gems and precious metals, US$1.9 billion (78.5% of total exports), cotton, $198.7 million (8.3%), ores, slag, ash, $137.6 million (5.8%), fruits, nuts: $76.6 million (3.2%) and oil seeds: $59.5 million (2.5%).[112]
A December 2018 report from the World Bank indicates that in 2017, economic growth increased to 6.4% in 2017 (vs. 5.9% in 2016) primarily due to gold production and increased investment in infrastructure. The increase in consumption linked to growth of the wage bill also supported economic growth. Inflation remained low, 0.4% that year but the public deficit grew to 7.7% of GDP (vs. 3.5% in 2016). The government was continuing to get financial aid and loans to finance the debt. To finance the public deficit, the Government combined concessional aid and borrowing on the regional market. The World Bank said that the economic outlook remained favorable in the short and medium term, although that could be negatively impacted. Risks included high oil prices (imports), lower prices of gold and cotton (exports) as well as terrorist threat and labour strikes.[93]
Burkina Faso is part of the West African Monetary and Economic Union (UMEOA) and has adopted the CFA franc. This is issued by the Central Bank of the West African States (BCEAO), situated in Dakar, Senegal. The BCEAO manages the monetary and reserve policy of the member states, and provides regulation and oversight of financial sector and banking activity. A legal framework regarding licensing, bank activities, organizational and capital requirements, inspections and sanctions (all applicable to all countries of the Union) is in place, having been reformed significantly in 1999. Microfinance institutions are governed by a separate law, which regulates microfinance activities in all WAEMU countries. The insurance sector is regulated through the Inter-African Conference on Insurance Markets (CIMA).[113]
Processing facilities at the Essakane Mine in Burkina Faso
In 2018, tourism was almost non-existent in large parts of the country. The U.S. government (and others) warn their citizens not to travel into large parts of Burkina Faso: "The northern Sahel border region shared with Mali and Niger due to crime and terrorism. The provinces of Kmoandjari, Tapoa, Kompienga, and Gourma in East Region due to crime and terrorism".[114]
The 2018 CIA World Factbook provides this updated summary. "Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that depends on adequate rainfall. Irregular patterns of rainfall, poor soil, and the lack of adequate communications and other infrastructure contribute to the economy's vulnerability to external shocks. About 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and cotton is the main cash crop. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. Cotton and gold are Burkina Faso's key exports ...The country has seen an upswing in gold exploration, production, and exports.
While the end of the political crisis has allowed Burkina Faso's economy to resume positive growth, the country's fragile security situation could put these gains at risk. Political insecurity in neighboring Mali, unreliable energy supplies, and poor transportation links pose long-term challenges." The report also highlights the 2018–2020 International Monetary Fund program, including the government's plan to "reduce the budget deficit and preserve critical spending on social services and priority public investments".[22]
A 2018 report by the African Development Bank Group discussed a macroeconomic evolution: "higher investment and continued spending on social services and security that will add to the budget deficit". This group's prediction for 2018 indicated that the budget deficit would be reduced to 4.8% of GDP in 2018 and to 2.9% in 2019. Public debt associated with the National Economic and Social Development Plan was estimated at 36.9% of GDP in 2017.[115]
Burkina Faso is a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA).[116] The country also belongs to the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.[117]
Mining
Main article: Mining in Burkina Faso
There is mining of copper, iron, manganese, gold, cassiterite (tin ore), and phosphates.[118] These operations provide employment and generate international aid. Gold production increased 32% in 2011 at six gold mine sites, making Burkina Faso the fourth-largest gold producer in Africa, after South Africa, Mali and Ghana.[119]
A 2018 report indicated that the country expected record 55 tonnes of gold in that year, a two-thirds increase over 2013. According to Oumarou Idani, there is a more important issue. "We have to diversify production. We mostly only produce gold, but we have huge potential in manganese, zinc, lead, copper, nickel and limestone".[120]
Food insecurity
According to the Global Hunger Index, a multidimensional tool used to measure and track a country's hunger levels,[121] Burkina Faso ranked 65 out of 78 countries in 2013.[122] It is estimated that there are currently over 1.5 million children who are at risk of food insecurity in Burkina Faso, with around 350,000 children who are in need of emergency medical assistance.[122] However, only about a third of these children will actually receive adequate medical attention.[123] Only 11.4 percent of children under the age of two receive the daily recommended number of meals.[122] Stunted growth as a result of food insecurity is a severe problem in Burkina Faso, affecting at least a third of the population from 2008 to 2012.[124] Additionally, stunted children, on average, tend to complete less school than children with normal growth development,[123] further contributing to the low levels of education of the Burkina Faso population.[125]
The European Commission expects that approximately 500,000 children under age 5 in Burkina Faso will suffer from acute malnutrition in 2015, including around 149,000 who will suffer from its most life-threatening form.[126] Rates of micronutrient deficiencies are also high.[127] According to the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS 2010), 49 percent of women and 88 percent of children under the age of five suffer from anemia.[127] Forty percent of infant deaths can be attributed to malnutrition, and in turn, these infant mortality rates have decreased Burkina Faso's total work force by 13.6 percent, demonstrating how food security affects more aspects of life beyond health.[122]
These high rates of food insecurity and the accompanying effects are even more prevalent in rural populations compared to urban ones, as access to health services in rural areas is much more limited and awareness and education of children's nutritional needs is lower.[128]
An October 2018 report by USAid stated that droughts and floods remained problematic, and that "violence and insecurity are disrupting markets, trade and livelihoods activities in some of Burkina Faso's northern and eastern areas". The report estimated that over 954,300 people needed food security support, and that, according to UNICEF, an "estimated 187,200 children under 5 years of age will experience severe acute malnutrition". Agencies providing assistance at the time included USAID's Office of Food for Peace (FFP) working with the UN World Food Programme, the NGO Oxfam Intermón and ACDI/VOCA.[129]
Approaches to improving food security
World Food Programme
The United Nations’ World Food Programme has worked on programs that are geared towards increasing food security in Burkina Faso. The Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation 200509 (PRRO) was formed to respond to the high levels of malnutrition in Burkina Faso, following the food and nutrition crisis in 2012.[130] The efforts of this project are mostly geared towards the treatment and prevention of malnutrition and include take home rations for the caretakers of those children who are being treated for malnutrition.[130] Additionally, the activities of this operation contribute to families' abilities to withstand future food crises. Better nutrition among the two most vulnerable groups, young children and pregnant women, prepares them to be able to respond better in times when food security is compromised, such as in droughts.[130]
The Country Programme (CP) has two parts: food and nutritional assistance to people with HIV/AIDS, and a school feeding program for all primary schools in the Sahel region.[131] The HIV/AIDS nutrition program aims to better the nutritional recovery of those who are living with HIV/AIDS and to protect at-risk children and orphans from malnutrition and food security.[131] As part of the school feeding component, the Country Programme's goals are to increase enrollment and attendance in schools in the Sahel region, where enrollment rates are below the national average.[130] Furthermore, the program aims at improving gender parity rates in these schools, by providing girls with high attendance in the last two years of primary school with take-home rations of cereals as an incentive to households, encouraging them to send their girls to school.[130]
The WFP concluded the formation of a subsequently approved plan in August 2018 "to support the Government's vision of 'a democratic, unified and united nation, transforming the structure of its economy and achieving a strong and inclusive growth through patterns of sustainable consumption and production.' It will take important steps in WFP's new strategic direction for strengthened national and local capacities to enable the Government and communities to own, manage, and implement food and nutrition security programmes by 2030".[132]
World Bank
The World Bank was established in 1944, and comprises five institutions whose shared goals are to end extreme poverty by 2030 and to promote shared prosperity by fostering income growth of the lower forty percent of every country.[133] One of the main projects the World Bank is working on to reduce food insecurity in Burkina Faso is the Agricultural Productivity and Food Security Project.[134] According to the World Bank, the objective of this project is to "improve the capacity of poor producers to increase food production and to ensure improved availability of food products in rural markets."[134] The Agricultural Productivity and Food Security Project has three main parts. Its first component is to work towards the improvement of food production, including financing grants and providing 'voucher for work' programs for households who cannot pay their contribution in cash.[134] The project's next component involves improving the ability of food products, particularly in rural areas.[134] This includes supporting the marketing of food products, and aims to strengthen the capabilities of stakeholders to control the variability of food products and supplies at local and national levels.[134] Lastly, the third component of this project focuses on institutional development and capacity building. Its goal is to reinforce the capacities of service providers and institutions who are specifically involved in project implementation.[134] The project's activities aim to build capacities of service providers, strengthen the capacity of food producer organizations, strengthen agricultural input supply delivery methods, and manage and evaluate project activities.[134]
The December 2018 report by the World Bank indicated that the poverty rate fell slightly between 2009 and 2014, from 46% to a still high 40.1%. The report provided this updated summary of the country's development challenges: "Burkina Faso remains vulnerable to climatic shocks related to changes in rainfall patterns and to fluctuations in the prices of its export commodities on world markets. Its economic and social development will, to some extent, be contingent on political stability in the country and the subregion, its openness to international trade, and export diversification".[135]
Infrastructure and services
Water
The Grand marché in Koudougou, Burkina Faso
While services remain underdeveloped, the National Office for Water and Sanitation (ONEA), a state-owned utility company run along commercial lines, is emerging as one of the best-performing utility companies in Africa.[136] High levels of autonomy and a skilled and dedicated management have driven ONEA's ability to improve production of and access to clean water.[136]
Since 2000, nearly 2 million more people have access to water in the four principal urban centres in the country; the company has kept the quality of infrastructure high (less than 18% of the water is lost through leaks – one of the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa), improved financial reporting, and increased its annual revenue by an average of 12% (well above inflation).[136] Challenges remain, including difficulties among some customers in paying for services, with the need to rely on international aid to expand its infrastructure.[136] The state-owned, commercially run venture has helped the nation reach its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets in water-related areas, and has grown as a viable company.[136]
However, access to drinking water has improved over the last 28 years. According to UNICEF, access to drinking water has increased from 39 to 76% in rural areas between 1990 and 2015. In this same time span, access to drinking water increased from 75 to 97% in urban areas.[137]
Electricity
A 33-megawatt solar power plant in Zagtouli, near Ouagadougou, came online in late November 2017. At the time of its construction, it was the largest solar power facility in West Africa.[138]
Other
The growth rate in Burkina Faso is high although it continues to be plagued by corruption and incursions from terrorist groups from Mali and Niger.[139]
Transport
The railway station in Bobo Dioulasso was built during the colonial era and remains in operation.
Main article: Transport in Burkina Faso
Transport in Burkina Faso is limited by relatively underdeveloped infrastructure.
As of June 2014 the main international airport, Ouagadougou Airport, had regularly scheduled flights to many destinations in West Africa as well as Paris, Brussels and Istanbul. The other international airport, Bobo Dioulasso Airport, has flights to Ouagadougou and Abidjan.
Rail transport in Burkina Faso consists of a single line which runs from Kaya to Abidjan in Ivory Coast via Ouagadougou, Koudougou, Bobo Dioulasso and Banfora. Sitarail operates a passenger train three times a week along the route.[140]
There are 15,000 kilometres of roads in Burkina Faso, of which 2,500 kilometres are paved.[141]
Science and technology
Main article: Science and technology in Burkina Faso
In 2009, Burkina Faso spent 0.20% of GDP on research and development (R&D), one of the lowest ratios in West Africa. There were 48 researchers (in full-time equivalents) per million inhabitants in 2010, which is more than twice the average for sub-Saharan Africa (20 per million population in 2013) and higher than the ratio for Ghana and Nigeria (39). It is, however, much lower than the ratio for Senegal (361 per million inhabitants). In Burkina Faso in 2010, 46% of researchers were working in the health sector, 16% in engineering, 13% in natural sciences, 9% in agricultural sciences, 7% in the humanities and 4% in social sciences.[142] Burkina Faso was ranked 115th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021, up from 118th in 2020.[143][144][145][146][147]
In January 2011, the government created the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation. Up until then, management of science, technology and innovation had fallen under the Department of Secondary and Higher Education and Scientific Research. Within this ministry, the Directorate General for Research and Sector Statistics is responsible for planning. A separate body, the Directorate General of Scientific Research, Technology and Innovation, co-ordinates research. This is a departure from the pattern in many other West African countries where a single body fulfils both functions. The move signals the government's intention to make science and technology a development priority.[142]
In 2012, Burkina Faso adopted a National Policy for Scientific and Technical Research, the strategic objectives of which are to develop R&D and the application and commercialization of research results. The policy also makes provisions for strengthening the ministry's strategic and operational capacities. One of the key priorities is to improve food security and self-sufficiency by boosting capacity in agricultural and environmental sciences. The creation of a centre of excellence in 2014 at the International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering in Ouagadougou within the World Bank project provides essential funding for capacity-building in these priority areas.[142]
A dual priority is to promote innovative, effective and accessible health systems. The government wishes to develop, in parallel, applied sciences and technology and social and human sciences. To complement the national research policy, the government has prepared a National Strategy to Popularize Technologies, Inventions and Innovations (2012) and a National Innovation Strategy (2014). Other policies also incorporate science and technology, such as that on Secondary and Higher Education and Scientific Research (2010), the National Policy on Food and Nutrition Security (2014) and the National Programme for the Rural Sector (2011).[142]
In 2013, Burkina Faso passed the Science, Technology and Innovation Act establishing three mechanisms for financing research and innovation, a clear indication of high-level commitment. These mechanisms are the National Fund for Education and Research, the National Fund for Research and Innovation for Development and the Forum of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation.[142]
Society
Demographics
A Burkinabè Tuareg man in Ouagadougou
Main article: Demographics of Burkina Faso
Population[148][149]
Year Million
1950 4.3
2000 11.6
2021 22.1
Burkina Faso is an ethnically integrated, secular state where most people are concentrated in the south and centre, where their density sometimes exceeds 48 inhabitants per square kilometre (120/sq mi). Hundreds of thousands of Burkinabè migrate regularly to Ivory Coast and Ghana, mainly for seasonal agricultural work. These flows of workers are affected by external events; the September 2002 coup attempt in Ivory Coast and the ensuing fighting meant that hundreds of thousands of Burkinabè returned to Burkina Faso. The regional economy suffered when they were unable to work.[150]
In 2015, most of the population belonged to "one of two West African ethnic cultural groups: the Voltaic and the Mandé. Voltaic Mossi make up about 50% of the population and are descended from warriors who moved to the area from Ghana around 1100, establishing an empire that lasted over 800 years".[10]
The total fertility rate of Burkina Faso is 5.93 children born per woman (2014 estimates), the sixth highest in the world.[151]
In 2009 the U.S. Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report reported that slavery in Burkina Faso continued to exist and that Burkinabè children were often the victims.[152] Slavery in the Sahel states in general, is an entrenched institution with a long history that dates back to the trans-Saharan slave trade.[153] In 2018, an estimated 82,000 people in the country were living under "modern slavery" according to the Global Slavery Index.[154]
Largest cities or towns in Burkina Faso
According to the 2006 Census[155]
Rank Name Region Pop.
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Bobo-Dioulasso
Bobo-Dioulasso 1 Ouagadougou Centre 1,475,223 Koudougou
Koudougou
Banfora
Banfora
2 Bobo-Dioulasso Hauts-Bassins 489,967
3 Koudougou Centre-Ouest 88,184
4 Banfora Cascades 75,917
5 Ouahigouya Nord 73,153
6 Pouytenga Centre-Est 60,618
7 Kaya Centre-Nord 54,365
8 Tenkodogo Centre-Est 44,491
9 Fada N'gourma Est 41,785
10 Houndé Hauts-Bassins 39,458
Ethnic groups
Main article: Ethnic groups in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso's 17.3 million people belong to two major West African ethnic cultural groups—the Voltaic and the Mandé (whose common language is Dioula). The Voltaic Mossi make up about one-half of the population. The Mossi claim descent from warriors who migrated to present-day Burkina Faso from northern Ghana around 1100 AD. They established an empire that lasted more than 800 years. Predominantly farmers, the Mossi kingdom is led by the Mogho Naba, whose court is in Ouagadougou.[150]
Languages
Native Languages in Burkina Faso
Languages percent
Mossi
50.5%
Fula
9.3%
Gourmanche
6.1%
Bambara
4.9%
Bissa
3.2%
Bwamu
2.1%
Dagara
2%
San
1.9%
Lobiri
1.8%
Lyele
1.7%
Bobo
1.4%
Senoufo
1.4%
Nuni
1.2%
Dafing
1.1%
Tamasheq
1%
Kassem
0.7%
Gouin
0.4%
Dogon
0.3%
Songhai
0.3%
Gourounsi
0.3%
Ko
0.1%
Koussasse
0.1%
Sembla
0.1%
Siamou
0.1%
Other National
5%
Other African
0.2%
French
1.3%
Other non-indigenous
0.1%
Further information: Languages of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a multilingual country. The official language is French, which was introduced during the colonial period. French is the principal language of administrative, political and judicial institutions, public services, and the press. It is the only language for laws, administration and courts. Altogether, an estimated 69 languages are spoken in the country,[156] of which about 60 languages are indigenous. The Mooré language is the most spoken language in Burkina Faso, spoken by about half the population, mainly in the central region around the capital, Ouagadougou.
According to the 2006 Census, the languages spoken natively in Burkina Faso were Mooré by 50.5% of the population, Fula by 9.3%, Gourmanché by 6.1%, Bambara by 4.9%, Bissa by 3.2%, Bwamu by 2.1%, Dagara by 2%, San by 1.9%, Lobiri with 1.8%, Lyélé with 1.7%, Bobo and Sénoufo with 1.4% each, Nuni by 1.2%, Dafing by 1.1%, Tamasheq by 1%, Kassem by 0.7%, Gouin by 0.4%, Dogon, Songhai, and Gourounsi by 0.3% each, Ko, Koussassé, Sembla, and Siamou by 0.1% each, other national languages by 5%, other African languages by 0.2%, French (the official language) by 1.3%, and other non-indigenous languages by 0.1%.[157]
In the west, Mandé languages are widely spoken, the most predominant being Dioula (also known as Jula or Dyula), others including Bobo, Samo, and Marka. Fula is widespread, particularly in the north. Gourmanché is spoken in the east, while Bissa is spoken in the south.
Health
Main article: Health in Burkina Faso
In 2016, the average life expectancy was estimated at 60 for males and 61 for females. In 2018, the under-five mortality rate and the infant mortality rate was 76 per 1000 live births.[158] In 2014, the median age of its inhabitants was 17 and the estimated population growth rate was 3.05%.[151]
In 2011, health expenditures was 6.5% of GDP; the maternal mortality ratio was estimated at 300 deaths per 100000 live births and the physician density at 0.05 per 1000 population in 2010. In 2012, it was estimated that the adult HIV prevalence rate (ages 15–49) was 1.0%.[159] According to the 2011 UNAIDS Report, HIV prevalence is declining among pregnant women who attend antenatal clinics.[160] According to a 2005 World Health Organization report, an estimated 72.5% of Burkina Faso's girls and women have had female genital mutilation, administered according to traditional rituals.[161]
Central government spending on health was 3% in 2001.[162] As of 2009, studies estimated there were as few as 10 physicians per 100,000 people.[163] In addition, there were 41 nurses and 13 midwives per 100,000 people.[163] Demographic and Health Surveys has completed three surveys in Burkina Faso since 1993, and had another in 2009.[164]
A Dengue fever outbreak in 2016 killed 20 patients. Cases of the disease were reported from all 12 districts of Ouagadougou.[165]
Religion
Main article: Religion in Burkina Faso
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Ouagadougou
Statistics on religion in Burkina Faso can be misleading because Islam and Christianity are often practiced in tandem with indigenous religious beliefs. The government of Burkina Faso's 2006 census reported that 60.5% of the population practice Islam, and that the majority of this group belong to the Sunni branch,[166][167] while a small minority adheres to Shia Islam.[168]
A significant number of Sunni Muslims identify with the Tijaniyah Sufi order. The government estimated that 23.2% of the population are Christians (19% being Roman Catholics and 4.2% members of Protestant denominations); 15.3% follow traditional indigenous beliefs such as the Dogon religion, 0.6% have other religions, and 0.4% have none.[166][167]
Education
Main article: Education in Burkina Faso
The Gando primary school. Its architect, Diébédo Francis Kéré, received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004.
Education in Burkina Faso is divided into primary, secondary and higher education.[169] High school costs approximately CFA 25,000 (US$50) per year, which is far above the means of most Burkinabè families. Boys receive preference in schooling; as such, girls' education and literacy rates are far lower than their male counterparts. An increase in girls' schooling has been observed because of the government's policy of making school cheaper for girls and granting them more scholarships.
To proceed from primary to middle school, middle to high school or high school to college, national exams must be passed. Institutions of higher education include the University of Ouagadougou, The Polytechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso, and the University of Koudougou, which is also a teacher training institution. There are some small private colleges in the capital city of Ouagadougou but these are affordable to only a small portion of the population.
There is also the International School of Ouagadougou (ISO), an American-based private school located in Ouagadougou.
The 2008 UN Development Program Report ranked Burkina Faso as the country with the lowest level of literacy in the world, despite a concerted effort to double its literacy rate from 12.8% in 1990 to 25.3% in 2008.[170]
Culture
Main article: Culture of Burkina Faso
A masked Winiama dancer, c. 1970
Literature in Burkina Faso is based on the oral tradition, which remains important. In 1934, during French occupation, Dim-Dolobsom Ouedraogo published his Maximes, pensées et devinettes mossi (Maximes, Thoughts and Riddles of the Mossi), a record of the oral history of the Mossi people.[171]
The oral tradition continued to have an influence on Burkinabè writers in the post-independence Burkina Faso of the 1960s, such as Nazi Boni and Roger Nikiema.[172] The 1960s saw a growth in the number of playwrights being published.[171] Since the 1970s, literature has developed in Burkina Faso with many more writers being published.[173]
The theatre of Burkina Faso combines traditional Burkinabè performance with the colonial influences and post-colonial efforts to educate rural people to produce a distinctive national theatre. Traditional ritual ceremonies of the many ethnic groups in Burkina Faso have long involved dancing with masks. Western-style theatre became common during colonial times, heavily influenced by French theatre. With independence came a new style of theatre inspired by forum theatre aimed at educating and entertaining Burkina Faso's rural people.
Arts and crafts
Main article: Art of Burkina Faso
Artisan garland of decorative painted gourds in Ouagadougou
In addition to several rich traditional artistic heritages among the peoples, there is a large artist community in Burkina Faso, especially in Ouagadougou. Much of the crafts produced are for the country's growing tourist industry.
Burkina Faso also hosts the International Art and Craft Fair, Ouagadougou. It is better known by its French name as SIAO, Le Salon International de l' Artisanat de Ouagadougou, and is one of the most important African handicraft fairs.
Cuisine
Main article: Cuisine of Burkina Faso
A plate of fufu (right) accompanied with peanut soup
Typical of West African cuisine, Burkina Faso's cuisine is based on staple foods of sorghum, millet, rice, maize, peanuts, potatoes, beans, yams and okra.[174] The most common sources of animal protein are chicken, chicken eggs and fresh water fish. A typical Burkinabè beverage is Banji or Palm Wine, which is fermented palm sap; and Zoom-kom, or "grain water" purportedly the national drink of Burkina Faso. Zoom-kom is milky-looking and whitish, having a water and cereal base, best drunk with ice cubes. In the more rural regions, in the outskirts of Burkina, you would find Dolo, which is drink made from fermented millet.[175]
Cinema
Main article: Cinema of Burkina Faso
The cinema of Burkina Faso is an important part of West African and African film industry.[176] Burkina's contribution to African cinema started with the establishment of the film festival FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou), which was launched as a film week in 1969. Many of the nation's filmmakers are known internationally and have won international prizes.
For many years the headquarters of the Federation of Panafrican Filmmakers (FEPACI) was in Ouagadougou, rescued in 1983 from a period of moribund inactivity by the enthusiastic support and funding of President Sankara. (In 2006 the Secretariat of FEPACI moved to South Africa, but the headquarters of the organization is still in Ouagadougou.) Among the best known directors from Burkina Faso are Gaston Kaboré, Idrissa Ouedraogo and Dani Kouyate.[177] Burkina produces popular television series such as Les Bobodiouf. Internationally known filmmakers such as Ouedraogo, Kabore, Yameogo, and Kouyate make popular television series.
Sports
Burkina Faso national football team in white during a match
Main article: Sport in Burkina Faso
Sport in Burkina Faso is widespread and includes soccer, basketball, cycling, rugby union, handball, tennis, boxing and martial arts. Soccer is the most popular sport in Burkina Faso, played both professionally, and informally in towns and villages across the country. The national team is nicknamed "Les Etalons" ("the Stallions") in reference to the legendary horse of Princess Yennenga.
In 1998, Burkina Faso hosted the Africa Cup of Nations for which the Omnisport Stadium in Bobo-Dioulasso was built. Burkina Faso qualified for the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa and reached the final, but then lost to Nigeria 0–1. The country is currently ranked 53rd in the FIFA World Rankings, and has shown improvement in recent years, although they have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup.[178]
Basketball is another sport which enjoys much popularity for both men and women.[179] The country's men's national team had its most successful year in 2013 when it qualified for the AfroBasket, the continent's prime basketball event.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics, the athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango won Burkina Faso's first Olympic medal, winning bronze in the men's triple jump.[180] Cricket is also picking up in Burkina Faso with Cricket Burkina Faso running a 10 club league.[181]
Music
Main article: Music of Burkina Faso
Media
A cameraman in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 2010
Main articles: Media of Burkina Faso and Communications in Burkina Faso
The nation's principal media outlet is its state-sponsored combined television and radio service, Radiodiffusion-Télévision Burkina (RTB).[182] RTB broadcasts on two medium-wave (AM) and several FM frequencies. Besides RTB, there are privately owned sports, cultural, music, and religious FM radio stations. RTB maintains a worldwide short-wave news broadcast (Radio Nationale Burkina) in the French language from the capital at Ouagadougou using a 100 kW transmitter on 4.815 and 5.030 MHz.[183]
Attempts to develop an independent press and media in Burkina Faso have been intermittent. In 1998, investigative journalist Norbert Zongo, his brother Ernest, his driver, and another man were assassinated by unknown assailants, and the bodies burned. The crime was never solved.[184] However, an independent Commission of Inquiry later concluded that Norbert Zongo was killed for political reasons because of his investigative work into the death of David Ouedraogo, a chauffeur who worked for François Compaoré, President Blaise Compaoré's brother.[185][186]
In January 1999, François Compaoré was charged with the murder of David Ouedraogo, who had died as a result of torture in January 1998. The charges were later dropped by a military tribunal after an appeal. In August 2000, five members of the President's personal security guard detail (Régiment de la Sécurité Présidentielle, or RSP) were charged with the murder of Ouedraogo. RSP members Marcel Kafando, Edmond Koama, and Ousseini Yaro, investigated as suspects in the Norbert Zongo assassination, were convicted in the Ouedraogo case and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.[185][186]
Since the death of Norbert Zongo, several protests regarding the Zongo investigation and treatment of journalists have been prevented or dispersed by government police and security forces. In April 2007, popular radio reggae host Karim Sama, whose programs feature reggae songs interspersed with critical commentary on alleged government injustice and corruption, received several death threats.[187]
Sama's personal car was later burned outside the private radio station Ouaga FM by unknown vandals.[188] In response, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) wrote to President Compaoré to request his government investigate the sending of e-mailed death threats to journalists and radio commentators in Burkina Faso who were critical of the government.[184] In December 2008, police in Ouagadougou questioned leaders of a protest march that called for a renewed investigation into the unsolved Zongo assassination. Among the marchers was Jean-Claude Meda, the president of the Association of Journalists of Burkina Faso.[189]
Cultural festivals and events
Every two years, Ouagadougou hosts the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), the largest African cinema festival on the continent (February, odd years).
Held every two years since 1988, the International Art and Craft Fair, Ouagadougou (SIAO), is one of Africa's most important trade shows for art and handicrafts (late October-early November, even years).
Also every two years, the Symposium de sculpture sur granit de Laongo takes place on a site located about 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Ouagadougou, in the province of Oubritenga.
The National Culture Week of Burkina Faso, better known by its French name La Semaine Nationale de la culture (SNC), is one of the most important cultural activities of Burkina Faso. It is a biennial event which takes place every two years in Bobo Dioulasso, the second-largest city in the country.
The Festival International des Masques et des Arts (FESTIMA), celebrating traditional masks, is held every two years in Dédougou.
See also
map Africa portal
Index of Burkina Faso-related articles
Outline of Burkina Faso
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Marchais, Julien (2006). Burkina Faso (in French). Petit Futé. pp. 91–92. ISBN 978-2-7469-1601-2. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
"Oxfam's Cool Planet – Food in Burkina Faso". Oxfam. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
"article in French on Burkinabe Zoom-kom".
Spaas, Lieve (2000) "Burkina Faso," in The Francophone Film: A Struggle for Identity, pp. 232–246. Manchester: Manchester University Press, ISBN 0719058619.
Turégano, Teresa Hoefert (2005) African Cinema and Europe: Close-Up on Burkina Faso, Florence: European Press Academic, ISBN 888398031X.
"The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
Keim, Marion (2014) [1st pub. 2014]. "COUNTRY PROFILE OF SPORT AND DEVELOPMENT – Sport and Popularity". Sport and Development Policy in Africa – Results of collaborative study of selected country cases. SUN PRESS. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-920689-20-9.
Culpepper, Chuck (5 August 2021). "The thing about poignant triple-jump moments? They sneak up on you". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
"Cricket in Francophone Africa: Report from Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire". Emerging Cricket. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
"Radiodiffusion-Télévision Burkina". Rtb.bf. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
Radio Station World, Burkina Faso: Governmental Broadcasting Agencies
Committee to Protect Journalists, Burkina Faso
Reporters Sans Frontieres, What’s Happening About The Inquiry Into Norbert Zongo’s Death? Archived 21 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
Reporters Sans Frontieres, Outrageous Denial Of Justice 21 July 2006
IFEX, Radio Station Temporarily Pulls Programme After Host Receives Death Threats, 26 April 2007
FreeMuse.org, Death threat against Reggae Radio Host Archived 26 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, 3 May 2007
Keita, Mohamed, Burkina Faso Police Question Zongo Protesters, Committee to Protect Journalists, 15 December 2008
Bibliography
Rupley, Lawrence; Bangali, Lamissa & Diamitani, Boureima (2013). Historical Dictionary of Burkina Faso. The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6770-3.
Further reading
Engberg-Perderson, Lars, Endangering Development: Politics, Projects, and Environment in Burkina Faso (Praeger Publishers, 2003).
Englebert, Pierre, Burkina Faso: Unsteady Statehood in West Africa (Perseus, 1999).
Howorth, Chris, Rebuilding the Local Landscape: Environmental Management in Burkina Faso (Ashgate, 1999).
McFarland, Daniel Miles and Rupley, Lawrence A, Historical Dictionary of Burkina Faso (Scarecrow Press, 1998).
Manson, Katrina and Knight, James, Burkina Faso (Bradt Travel Guides, 2011).
Roy, Christopher D and Wheelock, Thomas G B, Land of the Flying Masks: Art and Culture in Burkina Faso: The Thomas G.B. Wheelock Collection (Prestel Publishing, 2007).
Sankara, Thomas, Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution 1983–1987 (Pathfinder Press, 2007).
Sankara, Thomas, We are the Heirs of the World's Revolutions: Speeches from the Burkina Faso Revolution 1983–1987 (Pathfinder Press, 2007).
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FIFA World Cup
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This article is about the men's association football tournament. For the women's tournament, see FIFA Women's World Cup.
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup wordmark.svg
Organising body FIFA
Founded 1930; 92 years ago
Region International
Number of teams 32 (finals)
Current champions France (2nd title)
(2018)
Most successful team(s) Brazil (5 titles)
Television broadcasters List of broadcasters
Website fifa.com/worldcup
2022 FIFA World Cup
France champion of the Football World Cup Russia 2018.jpg
France, the current world champions
Tournaments
19301934193819501954195819621966197019741978198219861990199419982002200620102014201820222026
The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of the Second World War. The current champion is France, which won its second title at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
The current format involves a qualification phase, which takes place over the preceding three years, to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase. In the tournament phase, 32 teams, including the automatically qualifying host nation(s), compete for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over about a month.
As of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, twenty-one final tournaments have been held and a total of 79 national teams have competed. The trophy has been won by eight national teams. Brazil have won five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament. The other World Cup winners are Germany and Italy, with four titles each; Argentina, France, and inaugural winner Uruguay, with two titles each; and England and Spain, with one title each.
The World Cup is the most prestigious association football tournament in the world, as well as the most widely viewed and followed single sporting event in the world. The cumulative viewership of all matches of the 2006 World Cup was estimated to be 26.29 billion with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the final match, a ninth of the entire population of the planet.[1][2][3][4]
17 countries have hosted the World Cup. Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, and Mexico have each hosted twice, while Uruguay, Switzerland, Sweden, Chile, England, Argentina, Spain, the United States, Japan and South Korea (jointly), South Africa, and Russia have each hosted once. Qatar will host the 2022 tournament, and 2026 will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, which will give Mexico the distinction of being the first country to host games in three World Cups.
History
Main article: History of the FIFA World Cup
Previous international competitions
The world's first international football match was a challenge match played in Glasgow in 1872 between Scotland and England,[5] which ended in a 0–0 draw. The first international tournament, the inaugural British Home Championship, took place in 1884.[6] As football grew in popularity in other parts of the world at the start of the 20th century, it was held as a demonstration sport with no medals awarded at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics (however, the International Olympic Committee has retroactively upgraded their status to official events), and at the 1906 Intercalated Games.[7]
After FIFA was founded in 1904, it tried to arrange an international football tournament between nations outside the Olympic framework in Switzerland in 1906. These were very early days for international football, and the official history of FIFA describes the competition as having been a failure.[8]
At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, football became an official competition. Planned by The Football Association (FA), England's football governing body, the event was for amateur players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show rather than a competition. Great Britain (represented by the England national amateur football team) won the gold medals. They repeated the feat at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.[9]
With the Olympic event continuing to be contested only between amateur teams, Sir Thomas Lipton organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy tournament in Turin in 1909. The Lipton tournament was a championship between individual clubs (not national teams) from different nations, each one of which represented an entire nation. The competition is sometimes described as The First World Cup,[10] and featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany and Switzerland, but the FA of England refused to be associated with the competition and declined the offer to send a professional team. Lipton invited West Auckland, an amateur side from County Durham, to represent England instead. West Auckland won the tournament and returned in 1911 to successfully defend their title.[11]
In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic tournament as a "world football championship for amateurs", and took responsibility for managing the event.[12] This paved the way for the world's first intercontinental football competition, at the 1920 Summer Olympics, contested by Egypt and 13 European teams, and won by Belgium.[13] Uruguay won the next two Olympic football tournaments in 1924 and 1928. Those were also the first two open world championships, as 1924 was the start of FIFA's professional era.[14][15]
World Cups before World War II
FIFA president Jules Rimet convinced the confederations to promote an international football tournament
Due to the success of the Olympic football tournaments, FIFA, with President Jules Rimet as the driving force, again started looking at staging its own international tournament outside of the Olympics. On 28 May 1928, the FIFA Congress in Amsterdam decided to stage a world championship itself.[16] With Uruguay now two-time official football world champions and to celebrate their centenary of independence in 1930, FIFA named Uruguay as the host country of the inaugural World Cup tournament.[17]
The national associations of selected nations were invited to send a team, but the choice of Uruguay as a venue for the competition meant a long and costly trip across the Atlantic Ocean for European sides. Indeed, no European country pledged to send a team until two months before the start of the competition. Rimet eventually persuaded teams from Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia to make the trip.[17] In total, 13 nations took part: seven from South America, four from Europe, and two from North America.[18]
Estadio Centenario, the location of the first World Cup final in 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay
The first two World Cup matches took place simultaneously on 13 July 1930, and were won by France and the US, who defeated Mexico 4–1 and Belgium 3–0 respectively. The first goal in World Cup history was scored by Lucien Laurent of France.[19] In the final, Uruguay defeated Argentina 4–2 in front of 93,000 people in Montevideo, and became the first nation to win the World Cup.[20] After the creation of the World Cup, FIFA and the IOC disagreed over the status of amateur players, and so football was dropped from the 1932 Summer Olympics.[21][22] After the IOC and FIFA worked out their differences, Olympic football returned at the 1936 Summer Olympics, but was now overshadowed by the more prestigious World Cup.[21]
The issues facing the early World Cup tournaments were the difficulties of intercontinental travel, and war. Few South American teams were willing to travel to Europe for the 1934 World Cup and all North and South American nations except Brazil and Cuba boycotted the 1938 tournament. Brazil was the only South American team to compete in both. The 1942 and 1946 competitions, which Germany and Brazil sought to host,[23] were cancelled due to World War II and its aftermath.[24]
World Cups after World War II
The opening game of the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, shortly before the 1950 FIFA World Cup. From the National Archives of Brazil
The 1950 World Cup, held in Brazil, was the first to include British participants. British teams withdrew from FIFA in 1920, partly out of unwillingness to play against the countries they had been at war with, and partly as a protest against foreign influence on football,[25] but rejoined in 1946 following FIFA's invitation.[26] The tournament also saw the return of 1930 champions Uruguay, who had boycotted the previous two World Cups. Uruguay won the tournament again after defeating the host nation Brazil, in the match called "Maracanazo" (Portuguese: Maracanaço).[27]
In the tournaments between 1934 and 1978, 16 teams competed in each tournament, except in 1938, when Austria was absorbed into Germany after qualifying, leaving the tournament with 15 teams, and in 1950, when India, Scotland, and Turkey withdrew, leaving the tournament with 13 teams.[28] Most of the participating nations were from Europe and South America, with a small minority from North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. These teams were usually defeated easily by the European and South American teams. Until 1982, the only teams from outside Europe and South America to advance out of the first round were: USA, semi-finalists in 1930; Cuba, quarter-finalists in 1938; North Korea, quarter-finalists in 1966; and Mexico, quarter-finalists in 1970.
Expansion to 32 teams
Interior view of the Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, during a match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in 1982,[29] and then to 32 in 1998,[30] also allowing more teams from Africa, Asia and North America to take part. Since then, teams from these regions have enjoyed more success, with several having reached the quarter-finals: Mexico, quarter-finalists in 1986; Cameroon, quarter-finalists in 1990; South Korea, finishing in fourth place in 2002; Senegal, along with USA, both quarter-finalists in 2002; Ghana, quarter-finalists in 2010; and Costa Rica, quarter-finalists in 2014. Nevertheless, European and South American teams continue to dominate, e.g., the quarter-finalists in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2018 were all from Europe or South America and so were the finalists of all tournaments so far.
Two hundred teams entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds; 198 nations attempted to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, while a record 204 countries entered qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[31]
Expansion to 48 teams
In October 2013, Sepp Blatter spoke of guaranteeing the Caribbean Football Union's region a position in the World Cup.[32] In the edition of 25 October 2013 of the FIFA Weekly Blatter wrote that: "From a purely sporting perspective, I would like to see globalisation finally taken seriously, and the African and Asian national associations accorded the status they deserve at the FIFA World Cup. It cannot be that the European and South American confederations lay claim to the majority of the berths at the World Cup."[33] Those two remarks suggested to commentators that Blatter could be putting himself forward for re-election to the FIFA Presidency.[34]
Following the magazine's publication, Blatter's would-be opponent for the FIFA Presidency, UEFA President Michel Platini, responded that he intended to extend the World Cup to 40 national associations, increasing the number of participants by eight. Platini said that he would allocate an additional berth to UEFA, two each to the Asian Football Confederation and the Confederation of African Football, two shared between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, and a guaranteed place for the Oceania Football Confederation.[35] Platini was clear about why he wanted to expand the World Cup. He said: "[The World Cup is] not based on the quality of the teams because you don't have the best 32 at the World Cup ... but it's a good compromise. ... It's a political matter so why not have more Africans? The competition is to bring all the people of all the world. If you don't give the possibility to participate, they don't improve."[35]
In October 2016, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated his support for a 48-team World Cup in 2026.[36] On 10 January 2017, FIFA confirmed the 2026 World Cup will have 48 finalist teams.[37]
2015 FIFA corruption case
Main article: 2015 FIFA corruption case
By May 2015, the games were under a particularly dark cloud because of the 2015 FIFA corruption case, allegations and criminal charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering to corrupt the issuing of media and marketing rights (rigged bids) for FIFA games,[38] with FIFA officials accused of taking bribes totaling more than $150 million over 24 years. In late May, the US Department of Justice announced a 47-count indictment with charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy against 14 people. Arrests of over a dozen FIFA officials were made since that time, particularly on 29 May and 3 December.[39] By the end of May 2015, a total of nine FIFA officials and five executives of sports and broadcasting markets had already been charged on corruption. At the time, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced he would relinquish his position in February 2016.[40]
On 4 June 2015 Chuck Blazer while co-operating with the FBI and the Swiss authorities admitted that he and the other members of FIFA's then-executive committee were bribed in order to promote the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.[41] On 10 June 2015, Swiss authorities seized computer data from the offices of Sepp Blatter.[42] The same day, FIFA postponed the bidding process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in light of the allegations surrounding bribery in the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Then-secretary general Jérôme Valcke stated, "Due to the situation, I think it's nonsense to start any bidding process for the time being."[43] On 28 October 2015, Blatter and FIFA VP Michel Platini, a potential candidate for presidency, were suspended for 90 days; both maintained their innocence in statements made to the news media.[44]
On 3 December 2015 two FIFA vice-presidents were arrested on suspicion of bribery in the same Zurich hotel where seven FIFA officials had been arrested in May.[45] An additional 16 indictments by the US Department of Justice were announced on the same day.[46]
Biennial World Cup proposition
A biennial World Cup plan was first proposed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation at the 71st FIFA Congress on 21 May 2021 and prominently backed by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and national federations in Africa and Asia. However, according to a FIFA-commissioned poll and the FIFA Council discussion on 20 October 2021, the majority of football fans still support the four-year World Cup cycle — and continental confederations such as UEFA and CONMEBOL are not on board with the plan.[47][48]
Other FIFA tournaments
The BC Place in Vancouver hosting a 2015 Women's World Cup match
An equivalent tournament for women's football, the FIFA Women's World Cup, was first held in 1991 in China.[49] The women's tournament is smaller in scale and profile than the men's, but is growing; the number of entrants for the 2007 tournament was 120, more than double that of 1991.[50]
Men's football has been included in every Summer Olympic Games except 1896 and 1932. Unlike many other sports, the men's football tournament at the Olympics is not a top-level tournament, and since 1992, an under-23 tournament with each team allowed three over-age players.[51] Women's football made its Olympic debut in 1996.
The FIFA Confederations Cup was a tournament held one year before the World Cup at the World Cup host nation(s) as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships, along with the FIFA World Cup champion and the host country.[52] The first edition took place in 1992 and the last edition was played in 2017. In March 2019, FIFA confirmed that the tournament would no longer be active owing to an expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021.[53]
FIFA also organises international tournaments for youth football (FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup), club football (FIFA Club World Cup), and football variants such as futsal (FIFA Futsal World Cup) and beach soccer (FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup). The latter three do not have a women's version, although a FIFA Women's Club World Cup has been proposed.[54]
The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup is held the year before each Women's World Cup and both tournaments are awarded in a single bidding process. The U-20 tournament serves as a dress rehearsal for the larger competition.[55]
Trophy
Main article: FIFA World Cup Trophy
Queen Elizabeth II presenting the Jules Rimet trophy to 1966 World Cup winning England captain Bobby Moore
From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to the World Cup winning team. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, but in 1946 it was renamed after the FIFA president Jules Rimet who set up the first tournament. In 1970, Brazil's third victory in the tournament entitled them to keep the trophy permanently. However, the trophy was stolen in 1983 and has never been recovered, apparently melted down by the thieves.[56]
The current trophy (held by France forward Ousmane Dembélé in 2018) has been presented since 1974
After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was designed. The experts of FIFA, coming from seven countries, evaluated the 53 presented models, finally opting for the work of the Italian designer Silvio Gazzaniga. The new trophy is 36 cm (14.2 in) high, made of solid 18 carat (75%) gold and weighs 6.175 kg (13.6 lb).[57] The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974.[57] The description of the trophy by Gazzaniga was: "The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory."[58]
This new trophy is not awarded to the winning nation permanently. World Cup winners retain the trophy only until the post-match celebration is finished. They are awarded a gold-plated replica rather than the solid gold original immediately afterwards.[59]
Currently, all members (players, coaches, and managers) of the top three teams receive medals with an insignia of the World Cup Trophy; winners' (gold), runners-up' (silver), and third-place (bronze). In the 2002 edition, fourth-place medals were awarded to hosts South Korea. Before the 1978 tournament, medals were only awarded to the eleven players on the pitch at the end of the final and the third-place match. In November 2007, FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be retroactively awarded winners' medals.[60][61][62]
Since 2006, winners of the competition are also awarded the right to wear the FIFA Champions Badge, up until the time at which the winner of the next competition is decided.[63]
Format
Qualification
Main article: FIFA World Cup qualification
Since the second World Cup in 1934, qualifying tournaments have been held to thin the field for the final tournament.[64] They are held within the six FIFA continental zones (Africa, Asia, North and Central America and Caribbean, South America, Oceania, and Europe), overseen by their respective confederations. For each tournament, FIFA decides the number of places awarded to each of the continental zones beforehand, generally based on the relative strength of the confederations' teams.
The qualification process can start as early as almost three years before the final tournament and last over a two-year period. The formats of the qualification tournaments differ between confederations. Usually, one or two places are awarded to winners of intercontinental play-offs. For example, the winner of the Oceanian zone and the fifth-placed team from the Asian zone entered a play-off for a spot in the 2010 World Cup.[65] From the 1938 World Cup onwards, host nations receive automatic qualification to the final tournament. This right was also granted to the defending champions between 1938 and 2002, but was withdrawn from the 2006 FIFA World Cup onward, requiring the champions to qualify. Brazil, winners in 2002, were the first defending champions to play qualifying matches.[66]
Final tournament
For the various formats used in previous tournaments, see History of the FIFA World Cup § Format of each final tournament.
The current final tournament has been used since 1998 and features 32 national teams competing over the course of a month in the host nations. There are two stages: the group stage followed by the knockout stage.[67]
In the group stage, teams compete within eight groups of four teams each. Eight teams are seeded, including the hosts, with the other seeded teams selected using a formula based on the FIFA World Rankings or performances in recent World Cups, and drawn to separate groups.[68] The other teams are assigned to different "pots", usually based on geographical criteria, and teams in each pot are drawn at random to the eight groups. Since 1998, constraints have been applied to the draw to ensure that no group contains more than two European teams or more than one team from any other confederation.[69]
Each group plays a round-robin tournament, in which each team is scheduled for three matches against other teams in the same group. This means that a total of six matches are played within a group. The last round of matches of each group is scheduled at the same time to preserve fairness among all four teams.[70] The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Points are used to rank the teams within a group. Since 1994, three points have been awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss (before, winners received two points).
If one considers all possible outcomes (win, draw, loss) for all six matches in a group, there are 729 (= 36) outcome combinations possible. However, 207 of these combinations lead to ties between the second and third places. In such case, the ranking among these teams is determined as follows:[71]
Greatest combined goal difference in all group matches
Greatest combined number of goals scored in all group matches
If more than one team remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined as follows:
Greatest number of points in head-to-head matches among those teams
Greatest goal difference in head-to-head matches among those teams
Greatest number of goals scored in head-to-head matches among those teams
Fair play points, defined by the number of yellow and red cards received in the group stage:
Yellow card: minus 1 point
Indirect red card (as a result of a second yellow card): minus 3 points
Direct red card: minus 4 points
Yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points
If any of the teams above remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined by the drawing of lots
The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament in which teams play each other in one-off matches, with extra time and penalty shootouts used to decide the winner if necessary. It begins with the round of 16 (or the second round) in which the winner of each group plays against the runner-up of another group. This is followed by the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the third-place match (contested by the losing semi-finalists), and the final.[67]
On 10 January 2017, FIFA approved a new format, the 48-team World Cup (to accommodate more teams), which consists of 16 groups of three teams each, with two teams qualifying from each group, to form a round of 32 knockout stage, to be implemented by 2026.[72]
Hosts
Main article: FIFA World Cup hosts
Map of FIFA World Cup final hosts, 1930–2022. Green: once; dark green: twice; light green: planned
Selection process
Early World Cups were given to countries at meetings of FIFA's congress. The locations were controversial because South America and Europe were by far the two centres of strength in football and travel between them required three weeks by boat. The decision to hold the first World Cup in Uruguay, for example, led to only four European nations competing.[73] The next two World Cups were both held in Europe. The decision to hold the second of these in France was disputed, as the South American countries understood that the location would alternate between the two continents. Both Argentina and Uruguay thus boycotted the 1938 FIFA World Cup.[74]
Since the 1958 FIFA World Cup, to avoid future boycotts or controversy, FIFA began a pattern of alternating the hosts between the Americas and Europe, which continued until the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan, was the first one held in Asia, and the first tournament with multiple hosts.[75] South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup in 2010. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Brazil, the first held in South America since Argentina 1978,[76] and was the first occasion where consecutive World Cups were held outside Europe.[77]
Russian delegates celebrate being chosen as the host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
The host country is now chosen in a vote by FIFA's Council. This is done under an exhaustive ballot system. The national football association of a country desiring to host the event receives a "Hosting Agreement" from FIFA, which explains the steps and requirements that are expected from a strong bid. The bidding association also receives a form, the submission of which represents the official confirmation of the candidacy. After this, a FIFA designated group of inspectors visit the country to identify that the country meets the requirements needed to host the event and a report on the country is produced. The decision on who will host the World Cup is usually made six or seven years in advance of the tournament. However, there have been occasions where the hosts of multiple future tournaments were announced at the same time, as was the case for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were awarded to Russia and Qatar, with Qatar becoming the first Middle Eastern country to host the tournament.[78][79]
For the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, the final tournament is rotated between confederations, allowing only countries from the chosen confederation (Africa in 2010, South America in 2014) to bid to host the tournament. The rotation policy was introduced after the controversy surrounding Germany's victory over South Africa in the vote to host the 2006 tournament. However, the policy of continental rotation did not continue beyond 2014, so any country, except those belonging to confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments, can apply as hosts for World Cups starting from 2018.[80] This is partly to avoid a similar scenario to the bidding process for the 2014 tournament, where Brazil was the only official bidder.[81]
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was chosen to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time a World Cup has been shared by three host nations.[82] The 2026 tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever held, with 48 teams playing 80 matches. Sixty matches will take place in the US, including all matches from the quarter-finals onward, while Canada and Mexico will host 10 games each.[82]
Total times teams hosted by confederation
Confederations and years in bold have an upcoming competition.
Confederation Total (Hosts) Years
AFC 2 South Korea Japan 2002, Qatar 2022
CAF 1 South Africa 2010
CONCACAF 4 Mexico 1970, Mexico 1986, United States 1994, Canada Mexico United States 2026
CONMEBOL 5 Uruguay 1930, Brazil 1950, Chile 1962, Argentina 1978, Brazil 2014
OFC 0
UEFA 11 Italy 1934, France 1938, Switzerland 1954, Sweden 1958, England 1966, Germany 1974, Spain 1982, Italy 1990, France 1998, Germany 2006, Russia 2018
Performances
See also: Results of host nations in the FIFA World Cup
Six of the eight champions have won one of their titles while playing in their own homeland, the exceptions being Brazil, who finished as runners-up after losing the deciding match on home soil in 1950 and lost their semi-final against Germany in 2014, and Spain, which reached the second round on home soil in 1982. England (1966) won its only title while playing as a host nation. Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), Argentina (1978), and France (1998) won their first titles as host nations but have gone on to win again, while Germany (1974) won their second title on home soil.[83]
Other nations have also been successful when hosting the tournament. Switzerland (quarter-finals 1954), Sweden (runners-up in 1958), Chile (third place in 1962), South Korea (fourth place in 2002), and Mexico (quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986) all have their best results when serving as hosts. So far, South Africa (2010) has been the only host nation to fail to advance beyond the first round.[84]
Attendance
See also: List of sports attendance figures
Year Hosts Venues/
Cities Total
attendance † Matches Avg.
attendance Highest attendances ‡
Number Venue Game(s)
1930 Uruguay 3/1 590,549 18 32,808 93,000 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo Uruguay 6–1 Yugoslavia, Semi-final
1934 Italy 8/8 363,000 17 21,353 55,000 Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome Italy 2–1 Czechoslovakia, Final
1938 France 10/9 375,700 18 20,872 58,455 Olympique de Colombes, Paris France 1–3 Italy, Quarter-final
1950 Brazil 6/6 1,045,246 22 47,511 173,850[85] Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Brazil 1–2 Uruguay, Deciding match
1954 Switzerland 6/6 768,607 26 29,562 63,000 Wankdorf Stadium, Bern West Germany 3–2 Hungary, Final
1958 Sweden 12/12 819,810 35 23,423 50,928 Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg Brazil 2–0 Soviet Union, Group stage
1962 Chile 4/4 893,172 32 27,912 68,679 Estadio Nacional, Santiago Brazil 4–2 Chile, Semi-final
1966 England 8/7 1,563,135 32 48,848 98,270 Wembley Stadium, London England 4–2 West Germany, Final
1970 Mexico 5/5 1,603,975 32 50,124 108,192 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City Mexico 1–0 Belgium, Group stage
1974 West Germany 9/9 1,865,753 38 49,099 83,168 Olympiastadion, Munich West Germany 1–0 Chile, Group stage
1978 Argentina 6/5 1,545,791 38 40,679 71,712 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires Italy 1–0 Argentina, Group stage
1982 Spain 17/14 2,109,723 52 40,572 95,500 Camp Nou, Barcelona Argentina 0–1 Belgium, Opening match
1986 Mexico 12/11 2,394,031 52 46,039 114,600 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City Mexico 1–1 Paraguay, Group stage
Argentina 3–2 West Germany, Final
1990 Italy 12/12 2,516,215 52 48,389 74,765 San Siro, Milan West Germany 4–1 Yugoslavia, Group stage
1994 United States 9/9 3,587,538 52 68,991 94,194 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California Brazil 0–0 (3–2p) Italy, Final
1998 France 10/10 2,785,100 64 43,517 80,000 Stade de France, Saint-Denis Brazil 0–3 France, Final
2002 South Korea
Japan 20/20 2,705,197 64 42,269 69,029 International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan Brazil 2–0 Germany, Final
2006 Germany 12/12 3,359,439 64 52,491 72,000 Olympiastadion, Berlin Germany 1–1 (4–2p) Argentina, Quarter-final
2010 South Africa 10/9 3,178,856 64 49,670 84,490 Soccer City, Johannesburg Spain 1–0 Netherlands, Final
2014 Brazil 12/12 3,429,873 64 53,592 74,738 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Germany 1–0 Argentina, Final
2018 Russia 12/11 3,031,768 64 47,371 78,011 Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow France 4–2 Croatia, Final
Overall 40,532,478 900 45,036 173,850[85] Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro (1950)
dagger Source: FIFA[86]
double-dagger The best-attended single match, shown in the last three columns, has been the final in 11 of the 21 World Cups as of 2018. Another match or matches drew more attendance than the final in 1930, 1938, 1958, 1962, 1970–1982, 1990, and 2006.
Broadcasting and promotion
See also: List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters
A Coca-Cola bottle promoting the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan
The World Cup was first televised in 1954 and is now the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world. The cumulative viewership of all matches of the 2006 World Cup was estimated to be 26.29 billion.[1] 715.1 million individuals watched the final match of the tournament, almost a ninth of the entire population of the planet. The 2006 World Cup draw, which decided the distribution of teams into groups, was watched by 300 million viewers.[87] The World Cup attracts many sponsors such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Adidas. For these companies and many more, being a sponsor strongly impacts their global brands. Host countries typically experience a multimillion-dollar revenue increase from the month-long event. The governing body of the sport, FIFA, generated $4.8 billion in revenue from the 2014 tournament,[88] and $6.1 billion from the 2018 tournament.[89]
Manufactured by Adidas since the 1970 World Cup, official match balls displayed at FIFA headquarters in Zürich
Each FIFA World Cup since 1966 has its own mascot or logo. World Cup Willie, the mascot for the 1966 competition, was the first World Cup mascot.[90] World Cups feature official match balls specially designed for each tournament. After Slazenger produced the ball for the 1966 World Cup Adidas became the official supplier to FIFA.[91] Each World Cup also has an official song, which have been performed by artists ranging from Shakira to Will Smith.[92][93] Other songs, such as “Nessun dorma”, performed by The Three Tenors at four World Cup concerts, have also become identified with the tournament.[94]
Forming a partnership with FIFA in 1970, Panini published its first sticker album for the 1970 World Cup.[95] Since then, collecting and trading stickers and cards has become part of the World Cup experience, especially for the younger generation.[96] FIFA has also licensed World Cup video games since 1986, with Electronic Arts the current license holder.[95]
Results
See also: List of FIFA World Cup finals
Edition Year Hosts Champions Score and Venue Runners-up Third place Score and Venue Fourth place No. of teams
1 1930 Uruguay
Uruguay 4–2
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Argentina
United States [note 1]
Yugoslavia 13
2 1934 Italy
Italy 2–1 (a.e.t.)
Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome
Czechoslovakia
Germany 3–2
Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli, Naples
Austria 16
3 1938 France
Italy 4–2
Stade de Colombes, Paris
Hungary
Brazil 4–2
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Sweden 15
1942 Not held because of World War II
1946
4 1950 Brazil
Uruguay 2–1
[note 2]
Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Sweden 3–1
[note 2]
Pacaembu, São Paulo
Spain 13
5 1954 Switzerland
West Germany 3–2
Wankdorfstadion, Bern
Hungary
Austria 3–1
Hardturm, Zürich
Uruguay 16
6 1958 Sweden
Brazil 5–2
Råsundastadion, Solna
Sweden
France 6–3
Ullevi, Gothenburg
West Germany 16
7 1962 Chile
Brazil 3–1
Estadio Nacional, Santiago
Czechoslovakia
Chile 1–0
Estadio Nacional, Santiago
Yugoslavia 16
8 1966 England
England 4–2 (a.e.t.)
Wembley Stadium, London
West Germany
Portugal 2–1
Wembley Stadium, London
Soviet Union 16
9 1970 Mexico
Brazil 4–1
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Italy
West Germany 1–0
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Uruguay 16
10 1974 West Germany
West Germany 2–1
Olympiastadion, Munich
Netherlands
Poland 1–0
Olympiastadion, Munich
Brazil 16
11 1978 Argentina
Argentina 3–1 (a.e.t.)
Monumental de Núñez, Buenos Aires
Netherlands
Brazil 2–1
Monumental de Núñez, Buenos Aires
Italy 16
12 1982 Spain
Italy 3–1
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
West Germany
Poland 3–2
Estadio José Rico Pérez, Alicante
France 24
13 1986 Mexico
Argentina 3–2
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
West Germany
France 4–2 (a.e.t.)
Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla
Belgium 24
14 1990 Italy
West Germany 1–0
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Argentina
Italy 2–1
Stadio San Nicola, Bari
England 24
15 1994 United States
Brazil 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Italy
Sweden 4–0
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Bulgaria 24
16 1998 France
France 3–0
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Brazil
Croatia 2–1
Parc des Princes, Paris
Netherlands 32
17 2002 South Korea
Japan
Brazil 2–0
International Stadium, Yokohama
Germany
Turkey 3–2
Daegu Stadium, Daegu
South Korea 32
18 2006 Germany
Italy 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
Olympiastadion, Berlin
France
Germany 3–1
Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart
Portugal 32
19 2010 South Africa
Spain 1–0 (a.e.t.)
Soccer City, Johannesburg
Netherlands
Germany 3–2
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Uruguay 32
20 2014 Brazil
Germany 1–0 (a.e.t.)
Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Argentina
Netherlands 3–0
Estádio Nacional, Brasília
Brazil 32
21 2018 Russia
France 4–2
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Croatia
Belgium 2–0
Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
England 32
22 2022 Qatar TBD TBD
Iconic Stadium, Lusail TBD TBD TBD
Khalifa Stadium, Al Rayyan TBD 32
23 2026 Canada
Mexico
United States TBD TBD
TBD TBD TBD TBD
TBD TBD 48
a.e.t.: after extra time
p: after penalty shoot-out
TBD: to be determined
Notes
There was no third place match in 1930; the two losing semi-finalists are ranked according to their overall records in the tournament.[97]
The final stage in 1950 was a round-robin group of four teams. Coincidentally, one of the last two matches pitted together the top two teams (and the only two who could win the title), and the other was between the bottom two teams. Uruguay v Brazil is often considered the de facto final of the 1950 World Cup.[98][99]
In all, 79 nations have played in at least one World Cup.[100] Of these, eight national teams have won the World Cup, and they have added stars to their badges, with each star representing a World Cup victory. (Uruguay, however, choose to display four stars on their badge, representing their two gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics, which are recognised by FIFA as World Championships, and their two World Cup titles in 1930 and 1950).
With five titles, Brazil are the most successful World Cup team and also the only nation to have played in every World Cup (21) to date.[101] Brazil were also the first team to win the World Cup for the third (1970), fourth (1994) and fifth (2002) time. Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) are the only nations to have won consecutive titles. West Germany (1982–1990) and Brazil (1994–2002) are the only nations to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals. Germany has made the most top-four finishes (13), medals (12), as well as the most finals (8).
Map of countries' best results
Teams reaching the top four
See also: National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup § Comprehensive team results by tournament
Teams reaching the top four
Team Titles Runners-up Third place Fourth place Top 4
Total
Brazil 5 (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) 2 (1950*, 1998) 2 (1938, 1978) 2 (1974, 2014*) 11
Germany1 4 (1954, 1974*, 1990, 2014) 4 (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002) 4 (1934, 1970, 2006*, 2010) 1 (1958) 13
Italy 4 (1934*, 1938, 1982, 2006) 2 (1970, 1994) 1 (1990*) 1 (1978) 8
Argentina 2 (1978*, 1986) 3 (1930, 1990, 2014) 5
France 2 (1998*, 2018) 1 (2006) 2 (1958, 1986) 1 (1982) 6
Uruguay 2 (1930*, 1950) 3 (1954, 1970, 2010) 5
England 1 (1966*) 2 (1990, 2018) 3
Spain 1 (2010) 1 (1950) 2
Netherlands 3 (1974, 1978, 2010) 1 (2014) 1 (1998) 5
Hungary 2 (1938, 1954) 2
Czech Republic2 2 (1934, 1962) 2
Sweden 1 (1958*) 2 (1950, 1994) 1 (1938) 4
Croatia 1 (2018) 1 (1998) 2
Poland 2 (1974, 1982) 2
Austria 1 (1954) 1 (1934) 2
Portugal 1 (1966) 1 (2006) 2
Belgium 1 (2018) 1 (1986) 2
United States 1 (1930) 1
Chile 1 (1962*) 1
Turkey 1 (2002) 1
Serbia3 2 (1930, 1962) 2
Russia4 1 (1966) 1
Bulgaria 1 (1994) 1
South Korea 1 (2002*) 1
* hosts
1 includes results representing West Germany between 1954 and 1990
2 includes results representing Czechoslovakia between 1934 and 1990
3 includes results representing Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro between 1930 and 2006
4 includes results representing the Soviet Union between 1958 and 1990
Best performances by confederations
See also: FIFA World Cup results by confederation
South Koreans watching their nation on the big screens in Seoul Plaza during the 2002 World Cup when they became the first Asian country to reach the semi-finals
To date, the final of the World Cup has only been contested by teams from the UEFA (Europe) and CONMEBOL (South America) confederations. European nations have won twelve titles, while South American have won nine. Only two teams from outside these two continents have ever reached the semi-finals of the competition: United States (North, Central America and Caribbean) in 1930 and South Korea (Asia) in 2002. The best result of an African team is reaching the quarter-finals: Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010. Only one Oceanian qualifier, Australia in 2006, has advanced to the second round.[102]
Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Germany are the only teams to win a World Cup outside their continental confederation; Brazil came out victorious in Europe (1958), North America (1970 and 1994) and Asia (2002). Argentina won a World Cup in North America in 1986, while Spain won in Africa in 2010. In 2014, Germany became the first European team to win in the Americas. Only on five occasions have consecutive World Cups been won by teams from the same continent. The current run of four champions from one continental confederation (Italy, Spain, Germany, and France) has not happened before. Italy and Brazil successfully defended their titles in 1938 and 1962 respectively, while Italy's triumph in 2006 has been followed by wins for Spain in 2010, Germany in 2014 and France in 2018. Currently, it is also the first time that one of the currently winning continents (Europe) is ahead of the other (South America) by more than one championship.
Total times teams qualified by confederation
Confederation AFC CAF CONCACAF CONMEBOL OFC UEFA Total
Teams 37 44 42 85 4 245 457
Top 16 6 9 14 35 1 91 156
Top 8 2 3 5 34 0 100 144
Top 4 1 0 1 22 0 60 84
Top 2 0 0 0 14 0 28 42
1st 0 0 0 9 0 12 21
2nd 0 0 0 5 0 16 21
3rd 0 0 1 3 0 17 21
4th 1 0 0 5 0 15 21
Awards
Main article: FIFA World Cup awards
At the end of each World Cup, awards are presented to the players and teams for accomplishments other than their final team positions in the tournament. There are currently six awards:[103]
The Golden Ball for the best player, determined by a vote of media members (first awarded in 1982); the Silver Ball and the Bronze Ball are awarded to the players finishing second and third in the voting respectively;[104]
The Golden Boot (sometimes called the Golden Shoe) for the top goalscorer (first awarded in 1982, but retrospectively applied to all tournaments from 1930); most recently, the Silver Boot and the Bronze Boot have been awarded to the second and third top goalscorers respectively;[105]
The Golden Glove Award (formerly the Yashin Award) for the best goalkeeper, decided by the FIFA Technical Study Group (first awarded in 1994);[106]
The Best Young Player Award for the best player aged 21 or younger at the start of the calendar year, decided by the FIFA Technical Study Group (first awarded in 2006);[107]
The FIFA Fair Play Trophy for the team with the best record of fair play, according to the points system and criteria established by the FIFA Fair Play Committee (first awarded in 1978);[107]
The Most Entertaining Team for the team that has entertained the public the most during the World Cup, determined by a poll of the general public (first awarded in 1994);[107]
An All-Star Team consisting of the best players of the tournament has also been announced for each tournament since 1998.
Records and statistics
Main article: List of FIFA World Cup records and statistics
See also: List of FIFA World Cup winning players, List of FIFA World Cup winning managers, and National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup
Germany's Lothar Matthäus played a record 25 World Cup matches across a joint record five tournaments
Three players share the record for playing in the most World Cups; Mexico's Antonio Carbajal (1950–1966) and Rafael Márquez (2002–2018); and Germany's Lothar Matthäus (1982–1998) all played in five tournaments.[108] Matthäus has played the most World Cup matches overall, with 25 appearances.[109] Brazil's Djalma Santos (1954–1962), West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer (1966–1974), and Germany's Philipp Lahm (2006–2014) are the only players to be named to three World Cup All-Star Teams.[110]
Miroslav Klose of Germany (2002–2014) is the all-time top scorer at the World Cup with 16 goals. He broke Ronaldo of Brazil's record of 15 goals (1998–2006) during the 2014 semi-final match against Brazil. West Germany's Gerd Müller (1970–1974) is third, with 14 goals.[111] The fourth-placed goalscorer, France's Just Fontaine, holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup; all his 13 goals were scored in the 1958 tournament.[112]
Pelé is the only three-time World Cup winner
In November 2007, FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be retroactively awarded winners' medals.[60] This made Brazil's Pelé the only player to have won three World Cup winners' medals (1958, 1962, and 1970, although he did not play in the 1962 final due to injury),[113] with 20 other players who have won two winners' medals. Seven players have collected all three types of World Cup medals (winners', runner- ups', and third-place); five players were from West Germany's squad of 1966–1974: Franz Beckenbauer, Jürgen Grabowski, Horst-Dieter Höttges, Sepp Maier, and Wolfgang Overath (1966–1974), Italy's Franco Baresi (1982, 1990, 1994) and the most recent has been Miroslav Klose of Germany (2002–2014) with four consecutive medals.[114]
Brazil's Mário Zagallo, West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer and France's Didier Deschamps are the only people to date to win the World Cup as both player and head coach. Zagallo won in 1958 and 1962 as a player and in 1970 as head coach.[115] Beckenbauer won in 1974 as captain and in 1990 as head coach,[116] and Deschamps repeated the feat in 2018, after having won in 1998 as captain.[117] Italy's Vittorio Pozzo is the only head coach to ever win two World Cups (1934 and 1938).[118] All World Cup-winning head coaches were natives of the country they coached to victory.[119]
Among the national teams, Germany and Brazil have played the most World Cup matches (109), Germany appeared in the most finals (8), semi-finals (13), and quarter-finals (16), while Brazil has appeared in the most World Cups (21), has the most wins (73) and has scored the most goals (229).[120][121] The two teams have played each other twice in the World Cup, in the 2002 final and in the 2014 semi-final.[122]
Top goalscorers
Main article: FIFA World Cup top goalscorers
Individual
Miroslav Klose scored a record 16 goals across four World Cups
Rank Player Goals scored
#1 Germany Miroslav Klose 16
#2 Brazil Ronaldo 15
#3 West Germany Gerd Müller 14
#4 France Just Fontaine 13
#5 Brazil Pelé 12
#6 Germany Jürgen Klinsmann 11
Hungary Sándor Kocsis
Country
Rank National Team Goals scored
#1 Brazil 229
#2 Germany 226
#3 Argentina 137
#4 Italy 128
#5 France 120
#6 Spain 99
#7 England 91
#8 Uruguay 87
Hungary 87
#10 Netherlands 86
All-time table for champions
Main article: National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup § Overall team records
The system used in the World Cup up to 1990 was 2 points for a win. In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws. Teams are ranked by total points, then by goal difference, then by goals scored.[123]
Rank Team Participations Titles Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Brazil 21 5 109 73 18 18 229 105 124 237
2 Germany[124] 19 4 109 67 20 22 226 125 101 221
3 Italy 18 4 83 45 21 17 128 77 51 156
4 Argentina 17 2 81 43 15 23 137 93 44 144
5 France 15 2 66 34 13 19 120 77 43 115
6 England 15 1 69 29 21 19 91 64 27 108
7 Spain 15 1 63 30 15 18 99 72 27 105
8 Uruguay 13 2 56 24 12 20 87 74 13 84
See also
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List of association football competitions
List of FIFA World Cup finals
National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup
Citations
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"Record number of 204 teams enter preliminary competition". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
Whittaker, James (23 October 2013). "Caribbean pro league can work". Cayman Islands: CompassCayman.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
Blatter, Sepp (25 October 2013). "A level playing field for Africa!" (PDF). FIFA Weekly. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
Morley, Gary (25 October 2013). "Sepp Blatter calls for more African nations at World Cup finals". CNN. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
Dickinson, Matt (28 October 2013). "Michel Platini sets out his plan for the new world order". The Times. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
World Cup could expand to 48 teams, Fifa’s Gianni Infantino suggests - The Guardian, 3 October 2016
"Ab 2026: 48 Teams - Fifa vergrößert die WM". Der Spiegel. SPIEGEL ONLINE. 10 January 2017.
No byline (3 December 2015). "The FIFA Investigation, Explained". New York Times. New York, NY, USA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Botelho, Greg (28 May 2015). "FIFA corruption probe targets 'World Cup of fraud,' IRS chief says". CNN. Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
"Fifa crisis: US charges 16 more officials after earlier Zurich arrests". BBC News. 4 December 2015.
"Blazer: Bribes accepted for 1998 and 2010 World Cups - Telegraph". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022.
"Swiss police seize IT data from Fifa headquarters", The BBC, 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015
"Fifa World Cup 2026 bidding process delayed". BBC Sport. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
Associated Press (8 October 2015). "Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini handed 90-day FIFA suspensions". CBC Sports. CBC/Radio Canada. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
Ruiz, Rebecca (3 December 2015). "FIFA Corruption: Top Officials Arrested at Zurich Hotel". New York Times. New York, USA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
no byline (3 December 2015). "Fifa crisis: US charges 16 more officials after earlier Zurich arrests". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
"EU opposes biennial World Cup". POLITICO. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
Reuters (10 September 2021). "South America comes out against idea of biennial World Cup". Reuters. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
"FIFA Women's World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
"We Are the World ... Cup" Archived 9 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. China Post. Retrieved 8 September 2017
"Regulations Men's Olympic Football Tournament 2008" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
"FIFA Confederations Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
"FIFA Council votes for the introduction of a revamped FIFA Club World Cup". FIFA.com. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
"FIFA Task Force for Women's Football proposes a FIFA Women's Club World Cup". fifa.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
"FIFA Women's World Cup next up for Canada in 2015". CBC Sports. Retrieved 8 September 2017
"Jules Rimet Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
"FIFA World Cup™ Trophy". FIFA.com. 24 June 2018. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015.
"FIFA World Cup Trophy". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
"FIFA Assets – Trophy". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
"122 forgotten heroes get World Cup medals". ESPNSoccernet.com. ESPN. 25 November 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
"World Cup 1966 winners honoured". BBC Sport. 10 June 2009.
"Jimmy Greaves finally gets his 1966 World Cup medal". Mirror.co.uk. MGN.
"First 'FIFA World Champions Badge' presented to Italy". FIFA. 2 September 2008. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
"FIFA World Cup qualifying: Treasure-trove of the weird and wonderful". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
"2010 World Cup Qualifying". ESPNSoccernet.com. ESPN. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
"History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2010.
"Formats of the FIFA World Cup final competitions 1930–2010" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
"FIFA World Cup: seeded teams 1930–2010" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
Previously, due to there being fewer finals places and a bigger ratio of European finalists, there had been several occasions where three European teams were in a single group, for example, 1986 (West Germany, Scotland, and Denmark), 1990 (Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Austria), and 1994 (Italy, Republic of Ireland, and Norway). ("History of the World Cup Final Draw" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2014.)
This practice has been installed since the 1986 FIFA World Cup. In some cases during previous tournaments, for example, Argentina 6–0 Peru in Argentina 1978 and West Germany 1–0 Austria in Spain 1982, teams that played the latter match were perceived to gain an unfair advantage by knowing the score of the earlier match, and subsequently obtaining a result that ensured advancement to the next stage. ("1978 Argentina". CBC.; "1982 Spain". CBC.)
"Regulations - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 43. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
Turner, Stephen (10 January 2017). "FIFA approves 48-team World Cup". Sky Sports News. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
"Uruguay 1930". BBC Sport. 11 April 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
"France 1938". BBC Sport. 17 April 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
"Asia takes World Cup center stage". CNN. 3 June 2002. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
"Brazil will stage 2014 World Cup". BBC Sport. 10 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
"World Cup 2014: All you need to know about Brazil finals". BBC. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
Gibson, Owen (2 December 2010). "England beaten as Russia win 2018 World Cup bid". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
Jackson, Jamie (2 December 2010). "Qatar win 2022 World Cup bid". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
"Rotation ends in 2018". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 29 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
Collett, Mike (30 October 2007), “Brazil officially named 2014 World Cup hosts”. Reuters. Retrieved 6 July 2018
"World Cup 2026: Canada, US & Mexico joint bid wins right to host tournament". BBC Sport. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
"World Cup 1974 - West Germany win on home soil". BBC. Retrieved 2 December 2017
Bevan, Chris. "France 1-2 South Africa". BBC. Retrieved 2 December 2017
"World Cup Rewind: Largest attendance at a match in the 1950 Brazil final". Guinness World Records. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018. Officially, 173,850 paid spectators crammed into Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium on July 16(...) Some estimates have even pegged the attendance as high as 199,000 or 210,000 unofficially
"FIFA World Cup competition records" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
"Socceroos face major challenge: Hiddink". ABC Sport. 10 December 2005. Archived from the original on 30 April 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
"FIFA Financial Report 2014: Frequently Asked Questions". FIFA.com. 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015.
"FIFA Set to Make $6.1 billion From 2018 World Cup". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
"FIFA Assets – Mascots". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
"The Footballs during the FIFA World Cup". Football Facts. FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
Anderson, Sara D (27 April 2010). "Shakira Records Official Song for 2010 FIFA World Cup". Aolradioblog. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
"2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Official Song 'Live It Up' to be performed by all-star line-up". FIFA. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018.
"A riot of colour, emotion and memories: the World Cup stands alone in the field of sport". The Independent. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
"Brand collaborations". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Panini World Cup sticker book". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"1930 FIFA World Cup Uruguay". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
"1950 FIFA World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
"FIFA World Cup Finals since 1930" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
FIFA considers that the national team of Russia succeeds the Soviet Union, the national team of Serbia succeeds the Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro, and the national team of Czech Republic succeeds the Czechoslovakia. ("Russia". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2017.; "Serbia". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2017.; "Czech Republic". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2014.).
"Brazil". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 3 June 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
Australia's qualification in 2006 was through the Oceanian zone as they were a member of the OFC member during qualifying. However, on 1 January 2006, they left the Oceania Football Confederation and joined the Asian Football Confederation.
"FIFA World Cup awards" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
"Golden Ball for Zinedine Zidane". Soccerway. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
"adidas Golden Shoe – FIFA World Cup Final". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
"Kahn named top keeper". BBC Sport. 30 June 2002. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
Pierrend, José Luis (18 May 2007). "FIFA Awards". rec.sport.soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
Yannis, Alex (10 November 1999). "Matthaus Is the Latest MetroStars Savior". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
"World Cup Hall of Fame: Lothar Matthaeus". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
Downie, Andrew (24 July 2013). "Brazil's twice World Cup winner Djalma Santos dies at 84". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
Chowdhury, Saj (27 June 2006). "Ronaldo's riposte". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
"Goal machine was Just superb". BBC Sport. 4 April 2002. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
Kirby, Gentry (5 July 2006). "Pele, King of Futbol". ESPN. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
"Brazil, Germany & Every World Cup Winner from 1930 to 2014". Goal. 13 May 2018.
Hughes, Rob (11 March 1998). "No Alternative to Victory for National Coach : 150 Million Brazilians Keep Heat on Zagalo". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
Brewin, John (21 December 2001). "World Cup Legends – Franz Beckenbauer". ESPNSoccernet.com. ESPN. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
Wright, Joe (15 July 2018). "World Cup 2018: Didier Deschamps redeemed as France win final for the ages". Sporting News. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
"1938 World Cup: Italy repeats as champions". CBC. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
"The Curse of the Foreign-Born Coach". The Wall Street Journal. 13 May 2018.
"World Football – All time table". World Football. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
"Brazil pass Germany as all-time top scorers at the World Cup". ESPN. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
"Five Aside: Germany - Brazil preview". ESPN. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
"World Cup » All-time league table". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
Includes results of West Germany from 1954 to 1990.
Cited works
Glanville, Brian (2005). The Story of the World Cup. Faber. ISBN 0-571-22944-1.
External links
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FIFA World Cup
Tournaments
Uruguay 1930Italy 1934France 1938Brazil 1950Switzerland 1954Sweden 1958Chile 1962England 1966Mexico 1970West Germany 1974Argentina 1978Spain 1982Mexico 1986Italy 1990United States 1994France 1998South Korea–Japan 2002Germany 2006South Africa 2010Brazil 2014Russia 2018Qatar 2022Canada–Mexico–United States 202620302034
Qualification
1930193419381950195419581962196619701974197819821986199019941998200220062010201420182022
Finals
1930193419381950195419581962196619701974197819821986199019941998200220062010201420182022
Squads
1930193419381950195419581962196619701974197819821986199019941998200220062010201420182022
Final draw
1998200220062010201420182022
Broadcasters
1998200220062010201420182022
Bids
20142018 and 202220262030
Statistics
20022006201020142018
Team appearances
AFCCAFCONCACAFCONMEBOLOFCUEFA
Overall records
All-time tableGoalscorers top goalscorersfinals goalscorershat-tricksown goalsManagersOpening matchesPenalty shoot-outsPlayer appearancesRed cardsRefereesWinning playersWinning managers
Miscellaneous
AwardsBallsControversiesEconomicsFan festFilmsHistoryMascotsMusicNotable matches qualifyingOrganisersStadiums Final stadiumsTrophyVideo gamesWorld Champions Cup
Notes: There was no qualification for the 1930 World Cup as places were given by invitation only. In 1950, there was no final; the article is about the decisive match of the final group stage.
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Countries at the FIFA World Cup
Team appearancesAll-time table
AFC
Australia2ChinaIndonesia1IranIraqJapanKuwaitNorth KoreaQatarSaudi ArabiaSouth KoreaUnited Arab Emirates
CAF
AlgeriaAngolaCameroonDR Congo1EgyptGhanaIvory CoastMoroccoNigeriaSenegalSouth AfricaTogoTunisia
CONCACAF
CanadaCosta RicaCubaEl SalvadorHaitiHondurasJamaicaMexicoPanamaTrinidad and TobagoUnited States
CONMEBOL
ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileColombiaEcuadorParaguayPeruUruguay
OFC
New Zealand
UEFA
AustriaBelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaCzech Republic1DenmarkEast Germany3EnglandFranceGermany1GreeceHungaryIcelandIsrael2ItalyNetherlandsNorthern IrelandNorwayPolandPortugalRepublic of IrelandRomaniaRussia1ScotlandSerbia1Slovakia1SloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUkraineWales
1 Considered a successor team by FIFA, or have competed under another name(s). 2 Have been member of multiple confederations. 3 Team and national federation no longer exist.
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FIFA
History of FIFAFIFA AnthemFIFA CongressFIFA CouncilFIFA Ethics CommitteeFIFA headquartersFootball at the Summer OlympicsList of football federationsInternational Football Association BoardTimeline of association football
Football codes
Association footballBeach soccerFutsal
FIFA logo without slogan.svg
Confederations
AFCCAFCONCACAFCONMEBOLOFCUEFA
Men's tournaments
FIFA World CupFIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-17 World CupFIFA Club World CupFIFA Futsal World CupFIFA Beach Soccer World CupBlue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup
Women's tournaments
FIFA Women's World CupFIFA U-20 Women's World CupFIFA U-17 Women's World CupFIFA Women's Club World Cup
Other tournaments
FIFA Arab CupFIFAe World CupFIFAe Nations Cup (part of the FIFAe Nations Series)
Presidents
Robert Guérin (1904–1906)Daniel Burley Woolfall (1906–1918)Jules Rimet (1921–1954)Rodolphe Seeldrayers (1954–1955)Arthur Drewry (1955–1961)Ernst Thommen (1961–1961, acting)Stanley Rous (1961–1974)João Havelange (1974–1998)Sepp Blatter (1998–2015)Issa Hayatou (2015–2016, acting)Gianni Infantino (2016–present)
Secretaries General
Louis Muhlinghaus (1904–1906)Wilhelm Hirschman (1906–1931)Ivo Schricker (1932–1951)Kurt Gassmann (1951–1960)Helmut Käser (1961–1981)Sepp Blatter (1981–1998)Michel Zen-Ruffinen (1998–2002)Urs Linsi (2002–2007)Jérôme Valcke (2007–2015)Markus Kattner (2015–2016, acting)Fatma Samoura (2016–present)
Awards
FIFA 100FIFA Ballon d'OrFIFA Champions BadgeFIFA Club of the CenturyFIFA Development AwardFIFA Fair Play AwardFIFA Female Player of the CenturyFIFA FIFPro World XIFIFA Order of MeritFIFA Player of the CenturyFIFA Presidential AwardFIFA Puskás AwardFIFA Women's World Cup awardsFIFA World Coach of the YearFIFA World Cup All-Time TeamFIFA World Cup Dream TeamFIFA World Cup awardsFIFA World Player of the YearThe Best FIFA Football Awards
Rankings
FIFA World Rankings(Former systems: 1999–20062006–2018)FIFA Women's World Rankings
Congresses
51st (Paris 1998)53rd (Seoul 2002)61st (Zürich 2011)65th (Zürich 2015)Extraordinary (Zürich 2016)69th (Paris 2019)
Corruption
"FIFA's Dirty Secrets"Garcia Report2015 FIFA corruption caseList of banned football officials
Others
FIFA (video game series)FIFA Confederations CupList of FIFA country codesFIFA Disciplinary CodeFIFA Fan FestFIFA Futbol MundialFIFA eligibility rulesFIFA International Match CalendarFIFA International Referees ListFIFA MasterFIFA Transfer Matching SystemFIFA World Cup TrophyNon-FIFAUnited Passions
Category Commons
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World association football championships
Football at the Summer OlympicsFootball at the Youth Olympics
Men
National
FIFA World CupFIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-17 World CupFIFA Confederations Cup (defunct)
Club
FIFA Club World Cup (Intercontinental Cup)
World Map FIFA.svg
Women
National
FIFA Women's World CupFIFA U-20 Women's World CupFIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Club
FIFA Women's Club World Cup (International Women's Club Championship)
Variants
FIFA Futsal World CupFIFA Beach Soccer World CupFIFAe World Cup
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International association football
FIFAFederationsTeamsCompetitionsWorld Cup U-20U-17OlympicsYouth OlympicsUniversiadeWorld RankingsThe Best FIFA Football AwardsTimeline
Africa
CAF – Africa Cup of Nations U-23U-20U-17African Nations ChampionshipRegional (CECAFA, CEMAC, COSAFA, WAFU)Intercontinental (Arab)
World Map FIFA.svg
Asia
AFC – Asian Cup U-23U-20U-17U-14Regional (Arab Gulf, ASEAN, Central, East, South, West)Interregional (AFF-EAFF)Intercontinental (Arab)
Europe
UEFA – Euro U-21U-19U-17Nations League
North & Central America
and the Caribbean
CONCACAF – Gold Cup U-20U-17U-15Nations League
Oceania
OFC – Nations Cup U-19U-16
South America
CONMEBOL – Copa América U-20U-17U-15
Non-FIFA
CONIFA – CONIFA World Football CupCONIFA European Football CupCONIFA South America Football CupCONIFA Africa Football CupIIGA – Island GamesSouth American Board of New Federations (COSANFF)World Unity Football Alliance (WUFA)
Games
African GamesAsian GamesCentral AmericaCentral America and CaribbeanEast Asian GamesFrancophonie GamesIndian Ocean IslandIslamic Solidarity GamesLusofonia GamesMediterranean GamesPan American GamesPan Arab GamesPacific GamesSouth Asian GamesSoutheast Asian GamesWest Asian Games
See also GeographyCodesPlayer/Club of the CenturyWomen's football
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National association football teams
FIFAFIFA World CupSummer Olympics FootballAFC Asian CupAfrica Cup of NationsCONCACAF Gold CupCopa AméricaOFC Nations CupUEFA European ChampionshipFIFA Arab Cup
AFC
AfghanistanAustraliaBahrainBangladeshBhutanBrunei DarussalamCambodiaChina PRChinese TaipeiGuamHong KongIndiaIndonesiaIR IranIraqJapanJordanKorea DPRKorea RepublicKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLebanonMacauMalaysiaMaldivesMongoliaMyanmarNepalNorthern Mariana IslandsOmanPakistanPalestinePhilippinesQatarSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSri LankaSyriaTajikistanThailandTimor-LesteTurkmenistanUnited Arab EmiratesUzbekistanVietnamYemen
CAF
AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCameroonCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadComorosCongoCongo DRDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauIvory CoastKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRéunionRwandaSão Tomé and PríncipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZanzibarZimbabwe
CONCACAF
AnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaBahamasBarbadosBelizeBermudaBonaireBritish Virgin IslandsCanadaCayman IslandsCosta RicaCubaCuraçaoDominicaDominican RepublicEl SalvadorFrench GuianaGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuyanaHaitiHondurasJamaicaMartiniqueMexicoMontserratNicaraguaPanamaPuerto RicoSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSint MaartenSurinameTrinidad and TobagoTurks and Caicos IslandsUnited StatesU.S. Virgin Islands
CONMEBOL
ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileColombiaEcuadorParaguayPeruUruguayVenezuela
OFC
American SamoaCook IslandsFijiKiribati*New CaledoniaNew ZealandNiue*Palau*Papua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTahitiTongaTuvaluVanuatu
UEFA
AlbaniaAndorraArmeniaAustriaAzerbaijanBelarusBelgiumBosnia-HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEnglandEstoniaFaroe IslandsFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceHungaryIcelandIsraelItalyKazakhstanKosovoLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMoldovaMontenegroNetherlandsNorth MacedoniaNorthern IrelandNorwayPolandPortugalRepublic of IrelandRomaniaRussiaSan MarinoScotlandSerbiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUkraineWales
Defunct
CzechoslovakiaSaarWest GermanyEast GermanyIrelandTanganyikaNorth VietnamSouth VietnamFLN football teamNorth YemenSouth YemenUnited Arab RepublicSoviet UnionCISYugoslaviaFR Yugoslavia/Serbia and MontenegroNetherlands Antilles
Teams indicated in italics are associate/full members of their respective regional bodies but not members of FIFA.
See also: List of women's football teams
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World cups
List of world cups
Team
Association football menmen's clubwomenwomen's clubConIFAAthletics ContinentalAustralian rules footballBadminton menwomenmixedBaseball menwomenBasketball menwomenBeach soccerBoxingBull ridingCricket Testmen ODImen Twenty20women ODIwomen Twenty20indoorDarts PDCWDFFencingField hockey menwomenFutsal FIFA menAMF menAMF womenGolf menwomenIce hockeyLacrosse womenPesäpalloPitch and puttPool (nine-ball)QuidditchRoll ballMotorsport auto racingmotocrossspeedwaytrialRoller derby menwomenRowingRugby league menwomenninesRugby union menwomensevensSepaktakrawSnookerSoftballTaekwondoTennis menwomenmixedTouch footballVolleyball menwomenWater polo menwomenWrestling teamsclubs
Individual
ArcheryBrazilian jiu-jitsuBowling Ten-pin bowlingNine-pin bowling classicCanoe slalomWildwater canoeingChessCyclo-crossDivingEquestrian dressageFencingGymnastics artisticrhythmicMountain bike racingOrienteeringParalympic summerwinterRoad bicycle racing menwomenSailingShow jumpingSport shootingSwimmingTable tennisTrack cyclingTriathlonWeightlifting
Winter sports
BiathlonCurlingSkiing AlpineCross-countryFreestyle ski crossNordic combinedSki jumping ski flyingSnowboardingSki mountaineeringSki orienteeringSledding BobsleighLugeSkeletonSpeed skating Short track
See also: World championships
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World championships
List of world sports championships
Olympic sports
Team
Association football menmen's clubwomenwomen's clubBaseball menwomenBasketball menwomen3x3 basketballclubBeach volleyballCurling mixed doublesmixedField hockey menwomenHandball menwomenIce hockey menwomenRugby 7sLacrosse menwomenSoftball menwomenVolleyball menmen's clubwomenwomen's clubWater polo menwomen
Individual
ArcheryAquatic sportsAthletics outdoorrace walkingBadminton menwomenmixedindividualBiathlonBobsleigh and skeletonBoxing (amateur)Canoeing slalomsprintCycling BMXmountain bikingroadtrackurbanEquestrianism dressageeventingshow jumpingFencingGolf menwomenGymnastics artisticrhythmictrampolineIce skating figureshort trackspeedJudoKarateLuge artificial tracknatural trackModern pentathlonRowingSailing Olympic Class Combined WorldsShootingSkateboardingSkiing alpinenordicfreestylesnowboardingSport climbingSurfingTable tennisTaekwondoTennis menwomenTriathlon mixed relayWeightliftingWrestling
Discontinued
Basque pelotaPoloRoller hockey menwomen
Paralympic sports
Team
Blind footballPara ice hockeyWheelchair basketballWheelchair handballWheelchair rugbyWheelchair curling Mixed teamMixed doublesGoalballSitting volleyball
Individual
ArcheryAthleticsBadmintonBobsleigh and skeletonClimbingCycling Track cyclingRoad cyclingPowerliftingShootingSnowboardSkiing AlpineNordicSwimmingTable tennis
Combat sports
KendoKickboxingMuaythaiSamboSumoWrestlingWushu
Cue sports
Carom billiards Three-cushion menwomenteamartisticEnglish billiards amateurswomenPool eight-ballnine-ballten-ballstraight poolSnooker menwomenteamamateurssix-red
Mind sports
BackgammonBridgeChess openwomenteamDraughts menwomencheckersdraughts-64draughts-64 womenGoPuzzlesScrabbleSudokuXiangqi
Motorsport
Auto racing
Formula EFormula OneKartingRallyingRallycrossRally raid BajasSports Car EnduranceTouring Car
Motorcycle sports
EnduranceEnduro SuperEnduroHard EnduroIce racing individualteamGrand Prix MotoGPMoto2Moto3Motocross individual womennationsSupercrossSidecarcrossSnowcrossProduction SuperbikeSupersportSupersport 300Rally raid BajasSidecarSpeedway individualteamTrial nations
Other
Aeroplane sport AerobaticAerobatic GPPowerboating AquabikeF1F4soffshoreRadio-controlled racing 1:10 electric off-road1:8 nitro off-roadTank biathlon
Discontinued
Air racing
Other sports
Team
American football menwomenAustralian footballBall hockey menwomenBandy menmen's clubwomenwomen's clubCricket TestODI (men)ODI (women)T20 (men)T20 (women)Beach handballBeach soccerCanoe poloDancesport Formation LatinDodgeballFistball menwomenFlag footballFloorball menwomenFutsal menmen's clubwomenIndoor hockey menwomenIndoor soccerInline hockey FIRSKabaddiKorfballLacrosse indoorLife savingNetballPadel tennisQuidditchRingetteRogainingRoll BallRoller derby menwomenRugby league menmen's clubwomenRugby union menwomenSailing YachtsDinghiesSepaktakrawSynchronized skatingTchoukball
Individual
Air sports ballooningglidingparachutingparaglidingAquatics surfingwater skiingArmwrestlingAthletics cross countryhalf marathonindoor100 kmmountain runninglong distance mountain runningsnowshoe runningskyrunningtrail runningBowling TenpinNinepin (singles, team)Bowls indooroutdoorBrazilian Jiu-JitsuCanoeing marathonwildwaterCrokinoleCycling cyclo-crossindoormountain bike marathontrialsDarts BDOPDCteamFinswimmingFishing freshwaterfly fishingGymnastics acrobaticaerobicIce ClimbingOrienteering footskimountain biketrailPétanquePowerlifting menwomenMounted gamesRacquetballShooting practical handgunpractical riflepractical shotgunSkiing flyingski mountaineeringSquash individualdoublesteamRoller Sports artistic skatinginline alpineinline downhillinline freestyleinline speed skatingroller freestyleSwimming short courseTeqballTriathlon AquathlonDuathlonIronmanYo-yo
Esports
Call of DutyCounter-StrikeDota 2eSailingFIFAFortniteLeague of LegendsMobile Legends: Bang BangNES TetrisOverwatchPro Evolution SoccerRocket LeagueSmiteStarCraft IIValorant
See also: World cups
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FIFA World Cup draw pits an array of icons against each another in group stage
Messi and Lewandowski, and Ronaldo and Suarez, among those set to face each other
Club team-mates also set to do battle
Footballing superstars will grace the world’s biggest stage from 21 November to 18 December at the FIFA World Cup 2022™ in Qatar.
After Friday’s Final Draw, we now know that many battles between the best players on the planet will take place during the first phase of the tournament.
To whet your appetite, we take a look at a few mouth-watering individual meetings to look out for during the group phase in Qatar.
Group A: Sadio Mane v Virgil van Dijk
Team-mates at Liverpool since 2018, Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk will be fierce enemies at Qatar 2022 as they bid to help their nations reach the knockout stages.
During their time together on Merseyside, they have won the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Premier League and the League Cup. But who will come out on top in their World Cup showdown?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates with teammate Virgil van Dijk after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on October 03, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Group B: Christian Pulisic v Harry Kane
Influential attackers for London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, USA’s Christian Pulisic and England talisman Harry Kane are set to do battle in Qatar.
Both players have shone at FIFA tournaments before, with Pulisic helping Chelsea lift the FIFA World Club Cup and Kane playing a starring role in England’s run to the semi-finals at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
Group C: Lionel Messi v Robert Lewandowski
Goalkeepers and defences will have their work cut out in Group C, especially with two of the world’s deadliest goalscorers – Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski – on the prowl.
In 2021, Lewandowski was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player, while Messi won the Ballon d’Or. With their nations set to face each other in the final round of group games, will the battle between these two superstars decide who progresses to the knockout stages at the expense of the other?
Group D: Christian Eriksen v Paul Pogba
Christian Eriksen’s potential return to World Cup action would be one of the biggest stories at Qatar 2022. If he features for Denmark in November and December, he will be up against one of the best midfielders on the planet: France’s Paul Pogba.
A FIFA World Cup winner with Les Bleus in 2018 and a Manchester United star since 2016, the Frenchman has frequently come across Eriksen, who played for Tottenham Hotspur between 2013 and 2020.
Group E: Cesar Azpilicueta v Thomas Muller
Germany’s Thomas Muller, one of the greatest goalscorers in FIFA World Cup history, will be in for a difficult game against Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta in Qatar.
The Germany – Spain fixture will therefore see two former FIFA Club World Cup winners lock horns, since Muller’s Bayern Munich were crowned World Champions in 2020, while Azpilicueta’s Chelsea lifted the same title a year later.
Real Madrid s Luka Modric and Manchester City s Kevin de Bruyne during UEFA Champios League match. February 26, 2020. 2020022643
Group F: Kevin De Bruyne v Luke Modric
Belgium vs. Croatia is one of the most eagerly anticipated group games at Qatar 2022, mainly due to the mouth-watering contest between midfield maestros Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modric.
Modric and De Bruyne were among the star performers at Russia 2018, when Croatia and Belgium finished second and third respectively.
Group G: Neymar v Xherdan Shaqiri
If you love the art of dribbling, then you will not want to miss any of the action in Group G, especially Brazil-Switzerland. This standout fixture will pit Neymar, one of the most skilful players of his generation, against one-on-one supremo Xherdan Shaqiri.
Brazil and Switzerland also met in the group stages at Russia 2018, playing out a 1-1 draw.
Neymar and Xherdan Shaqiri do battle in 2013.
Group H: Cristiano Ronaldo v Luis Suarez
One of the greatest goalscorers of all time, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo will strut his stuff in Group H, which also features Uruguayan's all-time leading marksman, Luis Suarez.
The meeting of their teams will evoke memories of past Clásicos, with Ronaldo having played for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018, and Suarez having sported the colours of Barcelona from 2014 to 2020.