List of FIFA World Cup opening matches
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:35:06 AM Wikipedia source
The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition established in 1930. It is contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament has taken place every four years, except in 1942 and 1946, when the competition was cancelled due to World War II. The World Cup opening match is the first of the competition. Opening match regulations have changed many times. Between 1974 and 2002, the defending champions were involved in the opening match. Since 2006, as the defending champions no longer qualify automatically, the opening matches involve the host nations.
Tables
· List of opening matches › Early years (1930–1970)
1930
1930
Year
1930
Team 1
France
Final score
4–1
Team 2
Mexico
Venue
Estadio Pocitos
Location
Montevideo, Uruguay
Attendance
4,444
References
Report
Notes
Two matches both played at the same time
United States
United States
Year
United States
Team 1
3–0
Final score
Belgium
Team 2
Estadio Parque Central
Venue
Montevideo, Uruguay
Location
18,346
Attendance
Report
1934
1934
Year
1934
Team 1
Italy
Final score
7–1
Team 2
United States
Venue
Stadio Nazionale PNF
Location
Rome, Italy
Attendance
25,000
References
Report
Notes
Eight matches were played at the same time
Spain
Spain
Year
Spain
Team 1
3–1
Final score
Brazil
Team 2
Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Venue
Genoa, Italy
Location
21,000
Attendance
Report
Austria
Austria
Year
Austria
Team 1
3–2
Final score
France
Team 2
Stadio Benito Mussolini
Venue
Turin, Italy
Location
16,000
Attendance
Report
Hungary
Hungary
Year
Hungary
Team 1
4–2
Final score
Egypt
Team 2
Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli
Venue
Naples, Italy
Location
9,000
Attendance
Report
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Year
Czechoslovakia
Team 1
2–1
Final score
Romania
Team 2
Stadio Littorio
Venue
Trieste, Italy
Location
9,000
Attendance
Report
Switzerland
Switzerland
Year
Switzerland
Team 1
3–2
Final score
Netherlands
Team 2
Stadio San Siro
Venue
Milan, Italy
Location
33,000
Attendance
Report
Germany
Germany
Year
Germany
Team 1
5–2
Final score
Belgium
Team 2
Stadio Giovanni Berta
Venue
Florence, Italy
Location
8,000
Attendance
Report
Sweden
Sweden
Year
Sweden
Team 1
3–2
Final score
Argentina
Team 2
Stadio Littoriale
Venue
Bologna, Italy
Location
14,000
Attendance
Report
1938
1938
Year
1938
Team 1
Switzerland
Final score
1–1
Team 2
Germany
Venue
Parc des Princes
Location
Paris, France
Attendance
27,152
References
Report
Notes
First opening match to end in a draw
1950
1950
Year
1950
Team 1
Brazil
Final score
4–0
Team 2
Mexico
Venue
Maracanã Stadium
Location
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Attendance
81,649
References
Report
Notes
Brazil was the host country
1954
1954
Year
1954
Team 1
Brazil
Final score
5–0
Team 2
Mexico
Venue
Charmilles Stadium
Location
Geneva, Switzerland
Attendance
13,470
References
Report
Notes
Four matches were played at the same time
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Year
Yugoslavia
Team 1
1–0
Final score
France
Team 2
Stade Olympique de la Pontaise
Venue
Lausanne, Switzerland
Location
16,000
Attendance
Report
Uruguay
Uruguay
Year
Uruguay
Team 1
2–0
Final score
Czechoslovakia
Team 2
Wankdorf Stadium
Venue
Bern, Switzerland
Location
20,500
Attendance
Report
Austria
Austria
Year
Austria
Team 1
1–0
Final score
Scotland
Team 2
Hardturm Stadium
Venue
Zürich, Switzerland
Location
25,000
Attendance
Report
1958
1958
Year
1958
Team 1
Sweden
Final score
3–0
Team 2
Mexico
Venue
Råsunda Stadium
Location
Solna, Sweden
Attendance
34,107
References
Report
Notes
Sweden was the host country
1962
1962
Year
1962
Team 1
Uruguay
Final score
2–1
Team 2
Colombia
Venue
Estadio Carlos Dittborn
Location
Arica, Chile
Attendance
7,908
References
Report
Notes
Four matches were played at the same time
Chile
Chile
Year
Chile
Team 1
3–1
Final score
Switzerland
Team 2
Estadio Nacional
Venue
Santiago, Chile
Location
65,006
Attendance
Report
Brazil
Brazil
Year
Brazil
Team 1
2–0
Final score
Mexico
Team 2
Estadio Sausalito
Venue
Viña del Mar, Chile
Location
10,484
Attendance
Report
Argentina
Argentina
Year
Argentina
Team 1
1–0
Final score
Bulgaria
Team 2
Estadio El Teniente
Venue
Rancagua, Chile
Location
7,134
Attendance
Report
1966
1966
Year
1966
Team 1
England
Final score
0–0
Team 2
Uruguay
Venue
Wembley Stadium
Location
London, England
Attendance
87,148
References
Report
Notes
England was the host country
1970
1970
Year
1970
Team 1
Mexico
Final score
0–0
Team 2
Soviet Union
Venue
Estadio Azteca
Location
Mexico City, Mexico
Attendance
107,160
References
Report
Notes
Mexico was the host country
| Year | Team 1 | Final score | Team 2 | Venue | Location | Attendance | References | Notes |
| 1930 | France | 4–1 | Mexico | Estadio Pocitos | Montevideo, Uruguay | 4,444 | Report | Two matches both played at the same time |
| United States | 3–0 | Belgium | Estadio Parque Central | Montevideo, Uruguay | 18,346 | Report | ||
| 1934 | Italy | 7–1 | United States | Stadio Nazionale PNF | Rome, Italy | 25,000 | Report | Eight matches were played at the same time |
| Spain | 3–1 | Brazil | Stadio Luigi Ferraris | Genoa, Italy | 21,000 | Report | ||
| Austria | 3–2 | France | Stadio Benito Mussolini | Turin, Italy | 16,000 | Report | ||
| Hungary | 4–2 | Egypt | Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli | Naples, Italy | 9,000 | Report | ||
| Czechoslovakia | 2–1 | Romania | Stadio Littorio | Trieste, Italy | 9,000 | Report | ||
| Switzerland | 3–2 | Netherlands | Stadio San Siro | Milan, Italy | 33,000 | Report | ||
| Germany | 5–2 | Belgium | Stadio Giovanni Berta | Florence, Italy | 8,000 | Report | ||
| Sweden | 3–2 | Argentina | Stadio Littoriale | Bologna, Italy | 14,000 | Report | ||
| 1938 | Switzerland | 1–1 | Germany | Parc des Princes | Paris, France | 27,152 | Report | First opening match to end in a draw |
| 1950 | Brazil | 4–0 | Mexico | Maracanã Stadium | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 81,649 | Report | Brazil was the host country |
| 1954 | Brazil | 5–0 | Mexico | Charmilles Stadium | Geneva, Switzerland | 13,470 | Report | Four matches were played at the same time |
| Yugoslavia | 1–0 | France | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise | Lausanne, Switzerland | 16,000 | Report | ||
| Uruguay | 2–0 | Czechoslovakia | Wankdorf Stadium | Bern, Switzerland | 20,500 | Report | ||
| Austria | 1–0 | Scotland | Hardturm Stadium | Zürich, Switzerland | 25,000 | Report | ||
| 1958 | Sweden | 3–0 | Mexico | Råsunda Stadium | Solna, Sweden | 34,107 | Report | Sweden was the host country |
| 1962 | Uruguay | 2–1 | Colombia | Estadio Carlos Dittborn | Arica, Chile | 7,908 | Report | Four matches were played at the same time |
| Chile | 3–1 | Switzerland | Estadio Nacional | Santiago, Chile | 65,006 | Report | ||
| Brazil | 2–0 | Mexico | Estadio Sausalito | Viña del Mar, Chile | 10,484 | Report | ||
| Argentina | 1–0 | Bulgaria | Estadio El Teniente | Rancagua, Chile | 7,134 | Report | ||
| 1966 | England | 0–0 | Uruguay | Wembley Stadium | London, England | 87,148 | Report | England was the host country |
| 1970 | Mexico | 0–0 | Soviet Union | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico | 107,160 | Report | Mexico was the host country |
· List of opening matches › Defending champion era (1974–2002)
1974
1974
Year
1974
Defendingchampion
Brazil
Final score
0–0
Opponent
Yugoslavia
Venue
Waldstadion
Location
Frankfurt, West Germany
Attendance
62,000
References
Report
1978
1978
Year
1978
Defendingchampion
West Germany
Final score
0–0
Opponent
Poland
Venue
Estadio Monumental
Location
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Attendance
67,579
References
Report
1982
1982
Year
1982
Defendingchampion
Argentina
Final score
0–1
Opponent
Belgium
Venue
Camp Nou
Location
Barcelona, Spain
Attendance
95,000
References
Report
1986
1986
Year
1986
Defendingchampion
Italy
Final score
1–1
Opponent
Bulgaria
Venue
Estadio Azteca
Location
Mexico City, Mexico
Attendance
96,000
References
Report
1990
1990
Year
1990
Defendingchampion
Argentina
Final score
0–1
Opponent
Cameroon
Venue
San Siro
Location
Milan, Italy
Attendance
73,780
References
Report
1994
1994
Year
1994
Defendingchampion
Germany
Final score
1–0
Opponent
Bolivia
Venue
Soldier Field
Location
Chicago, United States
Attendance
63,117
References
Report
1998
1998
Year
1998
Defendingchampion
Brazil
Final score
2–1
Opponent
Scotland
Venue
Stade de France
Location
Saint-Denis, France
Attendance
80,000
References
Report
2002
2002
Year
2002
Defendingchampion
France
Final score
0–1
Opponent
Senegal
Venue
Seoul World Cup Stadium
Location
Seoul, South Korea
Attendance
62,561
References
Report
| Year | Defendingchampion | Final score | Opponent | Venue | Location | Attendance | References | Notes |
| 1974 | Brazil | 0–0 | Yugoslavia | Waldstadion | Frankfurt, West Germany | 62,000 | Report | |
| 1978 | West Germany | 0–0 | Poland | Estadio Monumental | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 67,579 | Report | |
| 1982 | Argentina | 0–1 | Belgium | Camp Nou | Barcelona, Spain | 95,000 | Report | |
| 1986 | Italy | 1–1 | Bulgaria | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico | 96,000 | Report | |
| 1990 | Argentina | 0–1 | Cameroon | San Siro | Milan, Italy | 73,780 | Report | |
| 1994 | Germany | 1–0 | Bolivia | Soldier Field | Chicago, United States | 63,117 | Report | |
| 1998 | Brazil | 2–1 | Scotland | Stade de France | Saint-Denis, France | 80,000 | Report | |
| 2002 | France | 0–1 | Senegal | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Seoul, South Korea | 62,561 | Report |
· List of opening matches › Host country era (2006–)
2006
2006
Year
2006
Hostcountry
Germany
Final score
4–2
Opponent
Costa Rica
Venue
FIFA WM Stadion München
Location
Munich, Germany
Attendance
66,000
References
Report
2010
2010
Year
2010
Hostcountry
South Africa
Final score
1–1
Opponent
Mexico
Venue
Soccer City
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
Attendance
84,490
References
Report
2014
2014
Year
2014
Hostcountry
Brazil
Final score
3–1
Opponent
Croatia
Venue
Arena de São Paulo
Location
São Paulo, Brazil
Attendance
62,103
References
Report
2018
2018
Year
2018
Hostcountry
Russia
Final score
5–0
Opponent
Saudi Arabia
Venue
Luzhniki Stadium
Location
Moscow, Russia
Attendance
78,011
References
Report
2022
2022
Year
2022
Hostcountry
Qatar
Final score
0–2
Opponent
Ecuador
Venue
Al Bayt Stadium
Location
Al Khor, Qatar
Attendance
67,372
References
Report
2026
2026
Year
2026
Hostcountry
Mexico
Venue
Estadio Azteca
Location
Mexico City, Mexico
| Year | Hostcountry | Final score | Opponent | Venue | Location | Attendance | References | Notes |
| 2006 | Germany | 4–2 | Costa Rica | FIFA WM Stadion München | Munich, Germany | 66,000 | Report | |
| 2010 | South Africa | 1–1 | Mexico | Soccer City | Johannesburg, South Africa | 84,490 | Report | |
| 2014 | Brazil | 3–1 | Croatia | Arena de São Paulo | São Paulo, Brazil | 62,103 | Report | |
| 2018 | Russia | 5–0 | Saudi Arabia | Luzhniki Stadium | Moscow, Russia | 78,011 | Report | |
| 2022 | Qatar | 0–2 | Ecuador | Al Bayt Stadium | Al Khor, Qatar | 67,372 | Report | |
| 2026 | Mexico | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico |
References
- 흥미로운 기록이 가득한 월드컵 개막전의 모든 것https://sports.news.naver.com/wfootball/news/read.nhn?oid=343&aid=0000081983