5 Unusual World Cup Facts & Records

Staged every four years, the World Cup is a celebration of international football that attracts billions of viewers around the globe.

More than half the world’s population watched the 2018 edition in Russia and similar figures are anticipated for the latest tournament in Qatar.

Given its long history the World Cup has produced plenty of talking points since it was first staged. Read on as we look at five unusual World Cup facts and records.

The team with the most World Cup defeats

If you love football betting, you would be well advised to wager against Mexico whenever they appear at a World Cup tournament.

They have lost 28 of their 60 World Cup matches – more than any other country – and have not progressed beyond the round of 16 since 1986.

Mexico will hope that staging the tournament alongside the United States and Canada in 2026 will help them improve their record.

The team with the most World Cup draws

Well renowned for underachieving at major tournaments, it is perhaps unsurprising that England have drawn more World Cup matches than any other team.

Their dismal goalless draw against the US in the group stage at Qatar 2022 was the 22nd time the 1966 winners had drawn in 73 matches at the World Cup.

The result moved them one ahead of Italy, who have drawn 21 of their 83 games. The Italians can console themselves with the fact they have won the tournament four times.

The player with the most qualifying appearances

The road to the World Cup can be arduous, particularly for teams in South America who play a significant number of qualifying games.

Legendary Ecuador defender Ivan Hurtado holds the record for the most qualifying appearances, having represented his country 68 times at that stage of the competition.

Hurtado helped Ecuador reach the final tournament on two occasions (2002 & 2006) and remains one of the best players ever to represent the South American nation.

The oldest player in World Cup history

Essam El Hadary made his World Cup debut against Saudi Arabia in 2018 aged 45 years and 161 days – a whooping 22 years after making his Egypt debut.

He not only made history as the oldest player ever to compete at the tournament, but also became the first African goalkeeper to save a penalty.

El Hadary’s efforts were in vain as Egypt crashed out of the World Cup without picking up a point in their three group games.

Biggest age difference between teammates in a World Cup game

It would be fair to say that former Cameroon star Roger Milla is one of the most iconic names associated with the World Cup.

He made his international debut for his country in 1973, some three years before fellow Cameroonian Rigobert Song was born.

The two players subsequently played in the same team against Brazil in 1994, thus creating the biggest age difference between two teammates during a World Cup match.