FIFA World Cup History. A look back at previous world cup finals and how the FIFA World Cup was originally born.

The concept of the FIFA World Cup was first created in the 1920's by Jules Rimet, who led a group of administrators of French football. Once the tournament was given the green light by FIFA, the trophy was created by French sculptor Abel Lefleur and named after Rimet. Contested in the first 3 tournaments and won by Uruguay (1930) and Italy (1934, 1938) before the competition was forced to make a 12 year absence because of the 2nd World War.

On it's resumption in 1950, the same trophy was used until it was stolen for a second time in 1983 (it was orginally stolen and recovered under a tree by a dog in England prior to the 1966 World Cup), and a new trophy was created by the Brazilian FA for the 1986 tournament in Mexico (Brazil was home of the original trophy as the nation had won the competition 3 times).

Despite the small number of nations to have won the World Cup, the competition has seen some sensational matches and giant killings that have remained etched in the memory of the sport forever. Each tournament throws up new surprises, creates new hero's and breaks many hearts. With coutnless footballing legends including Maradona, Pele, Geoff Hurst, Dino Zoff, Romario and Paolo Maldini all making their name at FIFA World Cup Finals, it is little surprise that the competition is seen as the best in the sporting world. You only have to look at some of the great games that have occured to validate this statement. Right from the first finals there has been classic encounters and wonderful shocks. England's defeat to the USA in 1950, South Korea's amazing run in 2002 where they reached the semi-finals after never winning a game in the competition prior to the tournament, Bulgaria's great run in the 1994 tournament and record winners Brazil first winning the competition in 1958 where, led by Pele, they hammered Sweden 5-2, a World Cup Final record result.

Forever and a day stories and memories of the FIFA World Cup will be past down through generations of football fans the world over. With such a rich history, it is inevitable that the 2006 Finals will produce something magical to join the archive of the unique history of the FIFA World Cup Finals.

Below is the list of winners of each FIFA World Cup Finals since the tournament began in 1930.