All the previous winners have qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including the host Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Argentina, England, Uruguay and Spain.

Mexican-Serbian coach, Bora Milutinovic is the only person to coach five nations at World Cup finals – Mexico (1986), Costa Rica (1990), USA (1994), Nigeria (1998) and China (2002).

Luis Monti is the only player to play in two World Cup final matches for two different countries: Argentina in 1930 and Italy in 1934.

Brazil have not lost a game at home in the last 12 years. The last match they lost was way back in 2002 to Paraguay.

English referee Graham Poll is famous for handing out three yellow cards to Josep Simunic during Croatia`s 2006 World Cup match against Australia.

First hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup was scored by Bert Patenaude of United States against Paraguay in 1930.

German Oliver Kahn the only goalkeeper to receive the Golden Ball (for the Best Player) Award, in 2010.

The oldest winner of a FIFA World Cup is Dino Zoff. He captained and won the 1982 edition at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.

When Brazil last hosted the World Cup in 1950, Germany and Japan were prohibited from participatnig in the qualifiers.

Record for the highest scoring match in a World Cup belongs to Austria and Switzerland. The final score was 7-5 in favour of the Austrians.

At 17 years and 239 days old, the legendary Pele is the youngest ever goal scorer at a World Cup. He achieved this in the 1958 edition.

Brazil are the only nation to have participated in every edition of the FIFA World Cup. They have played in 19 tournaments and won 5.

Italy`s Vittorio Pozzo is the head coach to have won the FIFA World Cup on two occasions. He managed this feat in 1934 and 1938.

Velibor ‘Bora’ Milutinovic not only holds the record for coaching at five world cups, he also coached different teams (Mexico, Costa Rica, USA, Nigeria and China PR) on each of those occasions.

Germany’s Uwe Seeler is the first player to have scored twice or more in 4 different editions of the World Cup.

2014 FIFA World Cup is the first edition where goal line technology will be implemented.

Sir Viv Richards has played for Antigua in the qualifying matches for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He also represented the West Indies in cricket world cup.

In the 19 time the World Cup has been played, the host country has triumphed six times.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 stadiums in Brazil.