The World Cup That Had No Final

The 1950 tournament was decided by a final group stage rather than a knockout final. It happened to end with Uruguay beating hosts Brazil at the Maracanã in front of a crowd estimated near 200,000 — still the largest ever to watch a football match.

Japan's 2011 Title Meant More Than Football

Japan won the 2011 World Cup four months after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, beating the United States on penalties in the final. They were the first Asian nation to win a senior FIFA World Cup. Captain Homare Sawa took both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot.