Features from the archive

FIFA World Cup™

FIFA World Cup all-time leading scorers

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Gerd Muller and Just Fontaine among the many greats to feature.

FIFA World Cup™

Teams with biggest gap between successive World Cup participations

See a ranked list of nations who returned to the FIFA World Cup™ after the longest time away.

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™

The Secretary of Defense

FIFA recalls a preposterous performance from USA goalkeeper Tim Howard against Belgium at Brazil 2014, which set a new record for saves in a World Cup game.

FIFA World Cup™

World Cup Classics: Revisiting the last time Belgium met USA

Ahead of Monday's mouthwatering last-16 clash in Seattle, FIFA looks back on an epic match between the two nations in Brazil in 2014.

FIFA World Cup™

Fastest goals by substitutes in World Cup history

See a ranked list of the quickest goals from substitutes in FIFA World Cup history.

FIFA World Cup 2026™

The creation king

FIFA looks at Argentina’s Lionel Messi setting up a goal in a sixth World Cup, doubling the previous record shared by Pele, Grzegorz Lato and Diego Maradona.

FIFA World Cup™

Milutinovic the miracle worker

Every Monday, FIFA spotlights a World Cup record. This instalment is focused on a legendary coach who guided four different sides to the knockout rounds.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 24: Kamil Kopunek of Slovakia celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group F match between Slovakia and Italy at Ellis Park Stadium on June 24, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™

Sublime Slovakia end Italy's reign

FIFA recalls a pulsating showdown that featured one of the most painful days in Italian football and greatest shocks in World Cup history.

FIFA World Cup™

Coll’s enduring corner crown

At Chile 1962, Colombian midfielder Marcos Coll made history with a moment of magic never since repeated at the global showpiece.

FIFA World Cup™

World Cup goal machines showing strength in numbers

FIFA takes a look at the imperious teams who have had a record ten goalscorers at a single edition of the World Cup.

FIFA World Cup™

Netherlands giant Noppert scales new heights

Every Monday, FIFA spotlights a World Cup record. This instalment is focused on the tallest player ever to grace the finals.

11/06/78 WORLD CUP 1978.NETHERLANDS v SCOTLAND.ARGENTINA.Archie Gemmill celebrates after netting the winning goal for Scotland (Photo by SNS Group via Getty Images)

1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina™

Scots floor Dutch in bittersweet finale

FIFA looks back on an Archie Gemmill-inspired five-goal thriller in 1978 that took Scotland to within a whisker of eliminating the future finalists.

World Cup 1938, Final, Paris, France, 19th June, 1938, Italy 4 v Hungary 2, Italian captain Giuseppe Meazza (left) receives the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy from French Preisdent M, Lebrun after defeating Hungary in the Final (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

1938 FIFA World Cup France™

Electric Meazza’s elastic mishap

The striker’s wardrobe malfunction is just one reason why Italy’s 1938 FIFA World Cup semi-final against Brazil has gone down in football folklore.

FIFA World Cup™

Doan dazzles as Japan stun Spain

FIFA looks back at an extraordinary week for Japan as the East Asian power dethroned a pair of former champions to top their Qatar 2022 group.

FIFA World Cup™

Youngest World Cup-winning players

See a ranked list of the youngest players to become FIFA World Cup™ champions.

Highest-scoring teams in one World Cup

See a ranked list of the nations who scored the most goals in one edition of the FIFA World Cup™.

FIFA World Cup™

Highest-scoring Englishmen in World Cup history

See a ranked list of the England players with the most goals in the FIFA World Cup™.

Football, 16th June 1938, World Cup Finals, Marseille, France, Semi-Final, Italy 2 v Brazil 1. Italy's Silvio Piola bursts through Brazil's Machado (left) and Domingos during the match. (Photo by Haynes Archive/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

1938 FIFA World Cup France™

Italy’s two-footed goal-getter

Vittorio Pozzo didn’t know if Silvio Piola was better with his right or his left foot. FIFA spotlights the man who fired Italy to 1938 FIFA World Cup glory.

FIFA World Cup™

Players with most substitute appearances in World Cup history

See a ranked list of the players who have made the most FIFA World Cup™ appearances from the bench.

1982 World Cup Finals, Valencia, Spain, 25th June, 1982, Spain 0 v Northern Ireland 1, Northern Ireland's goalscorer Gerry Armstrong celebrates victory with manager Billy Bingham (Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)

1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™

Northern Irish heroes leave Spain shellshocked

FIFA reflects on another stunning World Cup upset, with this instalment focused on Northern Ireland's famous victory over the host nation in 1982.