1950 World CupWorld War II was still fresh in the memory for the 1950 finals. Europe, devastated by the fighting, was licking its wounds while Asia was enveloped in new conflicts in Indochina.
1938 World CupBy now Europe was teetering on the brink of major conflict, and, two years after Hitler had used the Berlin Olympics to glorify Nazism, France was chosen to stage the 1938 World Cup.
1934 World CupThe political situation in Europe had become more and more tense, with fascism, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler in Germany, taking a hold. Italy too was under the spell, with Benito Mussolini hoping to use the 1934 World Cup to further the glory of his own regime.
1930 World CupHeld in July, shortly after the Wall Street Crash, the first finals in 1930 took place entirely in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo.
2006 World CupThe 2006 World Cup saw the tournament return to Germany after a 32-year absence and it was widely acclaimed as a triumph for the host nation, sparking a huge upsurge in national pride.
2002 World CupThe first World Cup ever to be staged outside Europe or the Americas, the 2002 finals were also the first to be shared by two nations, with South Korea and Japan earning co-hosting rights.
1998 World CupBloated by a further eight teams, taking the number of finalists from 24 to 32, the 1998 tournament in France underscored the World Cup's position as the king of sports events.
1994 World CupDespite the USA's lack of football pedigree, massive crowds greeted the 1994 finals and it was Brazil who deservedly claimed their record fourth World Cup title.
1990 World CupThe 1990 World Cup witnessed the lowest goals-per-game average, a deluge of sendings-off and arguably the worst final ever seen.
1986 World CupMexico hosted the 13th World Cup finals less than a year after being hit by a massive earthquake that left 30,000 dead.
1982 World CupSpain 1982 saw the number of entrants increased to 24 and two round robin stages used to determine the semi-finalists.
1978 World CupDespite a threatened boycott by several nations in protest at the Videla military regime, all the qualifiers assembled in Argentina for the 1978 finals.
1954 World CupSwitzerland, neutral during the Second World War, hosted the 1954 World Cup.
1958 World Cup1958 was the year Brazil, so unfortunate in 1950, finally captured the world title they had been threatening to win for so long.
1962 World CupDespite a series of earthquakes that had ravaged the country, Chile was chosen to stage the 1962 World Cup.
1974 World CupThis is the year where the ruthlessness of the German machine saw off the guile and magic of the Dutch.
1970 World CupTwo years after staging the Olympics, Mexico's high altitude and stifling heat was selected to host the 1970 World Cup finals.
1966 World CupWith the United States ever more involved in the conflict with Vietnam, football returned to the country that invented the game 103 years earlier - England.
World Cup 2010 on xinmsn Sports
