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FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL DRAWS THROUGH THE AGES
The Final Draw for the World Cup 2018 is 11 days away at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow. It is the 21st Final draw to be made since 1930. In present era, the Final Draw for a FIFA World Cup has become a major event watched by thousands of spectators at the draw venue and millions more live at home on television or the internet. Accordingly, the financial and time investment required for the preparation of this event is significant, and given the huge technical requirements, it can now only be held in congress centres, which have the necessary technology and know-how at their disposal.
But this was not always the case: the Final Draw only grew to such a scale just over 20 years ago with Italia 90, when it could no longer be held in TV studios, hotels or even government ministries, as had traditionally been the case. Here is a brief review of the World Cup final draws over the century.
1930 – Montevideo (Uruguay), July 10, 1930
Venue FIFA offices in Montevideo
Teams in Draw 13
The organisation of the first World Cup looked rather different from today’s – no qualifying competition, teams playing by invitation, three weeks of sea voyage for the four European sides … and a Final Draw which was not made until the teams and FIFA arrived in Uruguay — a mere three days before the opening matches.
The original plan had been to hold the event on a traditional knock-out basis, but when only 13 teams turned up, first-round groups were formed with the top team in each group going through to the semi-finals.
1934 – Rome (Italy) May 3, 1934
Venue Albergo Ambasciatori
Teams in Draw 16
The inaugural World Cup had been so successful that the entries for the second were rather more encouraging, with 32 teams wanting to play in Italy. Therefore, even the hosts, Italy, had to qualify – which they did without too much difficulty against Greece.
The Draw at the Ambasciatori Hotel in Rome was again made just before the tournament began. This time, the first round was to be a knockout stage, which meant half of the teams would go home after only one game.
The USA, who had submitted their entry after the official deadline, were forced to contest a play-off against Central American qualifiers Mexico before going into the first round … and a 7-1 defeat by Italy.
1938 – Paris (France), March 5, 1938
Venue Salon d’Horloge of the Ministère des Affaires étrangères
Teams in Draw 15
Only 15 of the 16 teams that had qualified from an original entry of 36 arrived in France for what was to be the last World Cup for 12 years. Austria had disappeared as a political entity after qualifying and the country’s place in the finals was offered to England, who having already declined to enter the qualifiers also rejected this invitation.
The Draw in the famous Salon d’Horloge of the Ministère des Affaires étrangères was made by the grandson of the French President of FIFA, Jules Rimet, in Paris, with Sweden receiving a bye and Germany (who had co-opted several of the Austrian stars), France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Cuba and sole South American representatives Brazil being seeded.
1950 – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), May 22, 1950
Venue Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Teams in Draw 13
With Europe recovering from the war, the first World Cup of a new era in Brazil saw another innovation in the format for the finals, designed to ensure the Europeans would not make the long trip for only one game. The Draw for what was since a 1946 FIFA Congress decision called the “Jules Rimet Cup” took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thirteen finalists from a rather confusing qualifying process (in which teams withdrew after qualifying and eliminated teams were re-admitted) were drawn into three pools: two of four teams, one of three and one mini-group of two.
The pool winners progressed to a final pool, without a traditional final. Nevertheless, the results in the final pool meant that the last scheduled match, in which Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-1, did indeed determine the champions.
1954 – Zurich (Switzerland), November 30, 1953
Venue St- Gotthard Hotel
Teams in Draw 16
By the time of the World Cup in Switzerland (where FIFA was celebrating its half-century at its headquarters in Zurich), the finals format was beginning to settle down: 16 finalists, four first-round pools, quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final shaped the Final Draw at the St- Gotthard Hotel in Zurich made by Emil Landolt, the mayor of the town.
However, the imaginative 1954 organisers seeded two teams per pool, who only played the two non-seeded teams. Seeding was also subject to a new procedure. The seeded teams were determined before they had even qualified for the finals, which meant that favourites Spain had to be replaced as seeds by their conquerors, Turkey – while West Germany, the eventual champions were unseeded in the same first-round quartet!
1958 – Solna (Sweden), February 8, 1958
Venue Cirkus studio of Swedish TV
Teams in Draw 16
The 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden not only saw the arrival of Pelé but also that of the finals format that was to hold fast for several subsequent tournaments: four pools of four, each team playing each other, with the top two qualifying for the quarter-finals.
For the Draw at the Cirkus studio of Swedish TV there were no seeds as such, apart from each pool containing one western European team, one of the four British teams that had qualified, and one from Latin America, which made for some strong first-round groups.
1962 – Santiago de Chile (Chile), January 18, 1962
Venue Carrera Hotel
Teams in Draw 16
For the Final Draw at the Carrera Hotel the new rule was maintained whereby the defending champions as well as the hosts qualified automatically to take part in the 16-team finals.
FIFA’s only innovation for the tournament in Chile was to refer to first-round “groups” rather than “pools”.
One team was seeded per group: Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Argentina.
1966 – London (England), January 6, 1966
Venue Royal Garden Hotel
Teams in Draw 16
With excitement running high in the homeland of football, the Draw for the 1966 World Cup at the Royal Garden Hotel in London was the first ever to be televised live, ensuring an even more intensive build-up to the big event.
There was no change in the format, with England, West Germany, Brazil and Italy the top seeds among the 16 finalists from an original entry of 74 countries. The Draweventually led to the spectacular encounter between the only two newcomers in the competition, surprise package Korea DPR and Eusebio’s Portugal in the quarter-final.
1970 – Mexico City (Mexico), January 10, 1970
Venue Maria Isabel Sheraton Hotel
Teams in Draw 16
Uppermost in the minds of the European (and other) finalists was the desire to avoid matches scheduled for midday in the heat and the altitude of Mexico City and other venues, which was made necessary by the sudden enormous expansion of worldwide television coverage.
There were no seeds; instead the committee in charge formed geographical”sections” from which the four groups were drawn at the Maria Isabel Sheraton Hotel. The hosts managed to finish second in their group on goal average behind the Soviet Union. Defending champions England were drawn in a first-round group with Brazil, who would brilliantly go on to win the title.
1974 – Frankfurt (West Germany), January 5, 1974
Venue Main hall of Radio Hessen
Teams in Draw 16
The German organisers had picked a truly innocent hand to draw the teams during the ceremony in the main hall of Radio Hessen in Frankfurt.
And yet the chosen member of the Schöneberger Sängerknaben boys’ choir from Berlin created uproar as he produced perhaps the biggest shock of all such occasions, by drawing the name of the hosts, West Germany (one of the seeded teams together with Brazil, Italy and Uruguay), in the same group as the neighbouring East German.
Despite the political overtones, the game went ahead and the East Germany won the game in Hamburg 1-0, although it was West Germany who went on to win the cup.
1978 – Buenos Aires (Argentina), January 14, 1978
Venue Teatro San Martin
Teams in Draw 16
With 99 national teams entering the preliminary competition, the qualifying period lasted longer than ever before – 21 months – and included qualifying matches between the USA and Canada on an artificial pitch (in Vancouver) and in an indoor stadium (in Seattle) for the first time.
The Final Draw at the Teatro San Martin in Buenos Aires was based upon the most complicated seeding arrangement yet, with a compromise being reached to place five seeded teams in the four groups: Argentina (group 1/team 1), Italy (1/4), Germany FR (2/6), Brazil (3/12) and the Netherlands (4/13). Two of the seeds reached the final, but the mathematical formula was not a happy one and was promptly discarded.
1982 – Madrid (Spain), January 16, 1982
Venue Palacio de Congresos
Teams in Draw 24
The Draw ceremony at Madrid’s Palacio de Congresos under the patronage of the Spanish royal family is unfortunately best remembered (or forgotten) for a mishap with one of the revolving drums containing the mini-footballs with the teams’ names and the confusion that ensued in an effort to keep the South American qualifiers apart in the first round.
FIFA learnt its lesson and subsequently returned to the foo lproof system of using men rather than machines to make the Draw.
The 1982 World Cup was the first with 24 finalists, with one seeded team in each of the six four-team, first-round groups. Lengthy discussions led to Argentina, Brazil, Germany FR, England, Spain and ultimate champions Italy being seeded.
1986 – Mexico City (Mexico), December 15, 1985
Venue Televisa television studios
Teams in Draw 24
The Draw in Mexico City was held at the Televisa television studios against the backdrop of a striking Mayan decor. There were 45 draw procedures in an intensive 23 minutes, with three young boys adeptly plucking out the all-important plastic balls.
A change from three-team groups to a knockout stage in the second round made no difference to the draw for the six first round groups, with Mexico, Italy, Brazil, Germany FR, France and Poland the seeded teams.
1990 – Rome (Italy), December 9, 1989
Venue Palazzo dello Sport dell’Eur
Teams in Draw 24
Italy mobilised a galaxy of stars to support FIFA General Secretary Joseph S. Blatter during the Final Draw for Italia ’90 at the Palaeur in Rome: opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti, movie legend Sophia Loren and football stars including Pelé, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the late Bobby Moore.
It was the most ambitious draw show to date, with opera interspersed with rock
(Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato singing the official World Cup song Un’ estate italiana) and modern dance.
The technical format remained the same as in Mexico: six groups of four, the seeded teams being Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Germany FR, Belgium and England.
1994 – Las Vegas (USA), 19 December 1993
Venue Convention Center
Teams in Draw 24
For the first time, Nigeria featured in the World Cup draws. The eyes of the football world were firmly fixed on Las Vegas and an array of stars from show business and the world of
sport as an audience of around 4,500 packed the Convention Center for the Final Draw for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Of all the teams, Bolivia – the rank outsiders – were handed the honour of tackling defending champions Germany in the opening match.
The competition format remained the same as in 1990, comprising six groups of four teams, with Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Italy and the USA being seeded.
1998 – Marseilles (France), December 4, 1997
Venue Stade Vélodrome
Teams in Draw 32
For the first time in FIFA’s history, the Final Draw for the World Cup was staged in a football stadium. In an atmosphere of fascinated suspense, 38,000 spectators at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseilles and about a billion TV viewers around the globe watched the familiar ceremony with the plastic balls, names and numbers.
Celebrated football personalities including Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto Parreira, George Weah and Raymond Kopa took turns to draw the names of the 32 finalist teams and place them in the eight groups under the watchful eye of then FIFA General Secretary Joseph S. Blatter.
The 1998 World Cup was the first with 32 finalists, with one seeded team in each of the eight first-round groups. Germany, Italy, Argentina, Spain, Romania and the Netherlands were seeded along with defending champions Brazil and hosts France.
2002 – Busan (Korea), December 1, 2001
Venue Busan Exhibition & Convention Centre (BEXCO)
Teams in Draw 32
The Final Draw for the 2002 FIFA World Cup provided the world with a spectacular show and the prospect of some very exciting matches. The Korean coastal city of Busan, with its magnificent Busan Exhibition & Convention Centre (BEXCO), was the focus of attention for a draw televised in over 130 countries worldwide. American vocalist Anastacia gave a debut public performance of Boom, the official song of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
But it was the draw itself that would produce the biggest “boom” of the evening. One group in particular brought gasps from around the auditorium. Group F brought together Argentina, England, Nigeria and Sweden.
The competition format remained the same as in 1998, comprising eight groups of four teams, with title holders France, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina and Italy as well as hosts Korea Republic and Japan being seeded.
2006 – Leipzig (Germany), December 9, 2005
Venue: Neue Messe
Teams in Draw 32
The Final Draw for the 2006 FIFA World Cup provided the world with an entertaining show, led by personalities such as Heidi Klum, Franz Beckenbauer and South American songster Juanes, who performed his hit number La camisa negra.
The official FIFA World Cup match ball Teamgeist was launched with assistance from Germany midfielder and captain Michael Ballack.
The Neue Messe in the former East German city of Leipzig was the setting for a show which was watched by an unprecedented audience of 300 million in almost 150 countries worldwide, with draw assistants including the likes of Pelé, Lothar Matthäus, Roger Milla and Johan Cruyff.
The 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four, with Brazil, England, Spain, Mexico, France, Argentina, Italy and hosts Germany all seeded. As usual, there were a few eyebrows raised at the particularly interesting groups, including the usual “Group of Death”, Group C, which comprised Argentina, Côte d’Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro and the Netherlands.
2010 – Cape Town (RSA), December 4, 2009
Venue Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)
Teams in draw 32
The 2010 FIFA World Cup final draw show was broadcast to more than 250 million viewers across the globe. FIFA’s Secretary General Jerôme Valcke conducted thedraw together with South African actress Charlize Theron.
They were joined on stage by a star-studded line-up of sports celebrities, including football star David Beckham (England), one of only a few players to score in at least three consecutive FIFA World Cups, Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia), two-time Olympic gold medallist and nine-time athletics world champion, Makhaya Ntini, the first black player in the South African cricket team, John Smit, the captain of rugby world champions South Africa and Bafana Bafana player Matthew Booth.
As for the previous FIFA World Cup the 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four, with Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and hosts South Africa all seeded. The toughest draw was definitely the one of five-time champions Brazil having to play Portugal and Africa’s strongest team Cote d’Ivoire and North Korea.
2014 – Mata de Sao Joao, Bahia (Brazil), December 6, 2013
Venue: Costa do Sauípe Resort,
Teams in draw 32
In preparation for the final draw, the 32 participating teams were organized into four pots based on seedings and geographic regions.
It was announced in October 2013 that the eight seeded teams to feature in Pot 1 would consist of the host nation Brazil and the seven highest-ranked teams as of that month’s FIFA World Rankings.
Following a meeting of the competition’s organising committee on 3 December, the composition of the other three pots was announced.
The Supreme Council of Sufi Orders has officially recognised the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order, marking a significant step in the regulation of Sufi practices and reinforcing what the Council describes as its commitment to a moderate religious approach.
Sheikh Sayyid Ayman Hamdi al-Akbariyya, head of the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order, met with Dr Abdel-Hadi al-Qasabi, Grand Sheikh of Sufi Orders and President of the Supreme Council, where he presented the official recognition decree.
With the issuance of the decree, the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order becomes one of the officially recognised Sufi orders in the Arab Republic of Egypt, joining 80 other orders operating under the Council’s umbrella.
According to officials, the recognition follows a period of organisational and administrative work by the Order’s leadership, including compliance with legal requirements and regulatory standards approved by the Council. The move is expected to strengthen the Order’s institutional presence and enhance its religious and spiritual role within Egyptian society.
Rooted in the Legacy of Ibn Arabi
The Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order derives its methodology from the teachings of the renowned Sufi master Ibn Arabi, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Islamic mysticism. The Order has followers in Egypt and across several countries in the Islamic world, with a notable presence in parts of Europe and Asia.
Its teachings emphasise love, spiritual purification, tolerance and deepening the spiritual dimension of Muslim life.
During the meeting, both sides stressed the importance of adhering to the moderate Azharite approach and strengthening the role of Sufi orders in promoting sound religious awareness, ethical values, coexistence and social peace.
The Influence of “The Greatest Sheikh”
Born in 560 AH in Murcia, Andalusia, Ibn Arabi — whose full name was Muhyiddin Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Arabi al-Hatimi al-Ta’i al-Andalusi — grew up in a scholarly and spiritual environment. He later travelled extensively across North Africa and the Levant before settling in Damascus, where he died in 638 AH/1240 CE. His shrine in Damascus remains a well-known landmark.
Often referred to as “The Greatest Sheikh,” Ibn Arabi’s school of thought came to be known as the Akbariyya. Among his most celebrated works are Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Revelations), Fusus al-Hikam (The Bezels of Wisdom), and Tarjuman al-Ashwaq (The Interpreter of Desires).
His writings are characterised by philosophical depth and a mystical exploration of divine love, spiritual purification and the concept of the “perfect human being.” His influence has shaped Sufi thought across the Islamic world and extended into intellectual circles in Europe and Asia.
The formal recognition of the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order reflects Egypt’s continued effort to regulate religious institutions while preserving the rich spiritual traditions rooted in centuries of Islamic scholarship and mysticism.
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- Summary
- * Tottenham slip closer to the relegation zone
- * West Ham denied at the death by Man Utd
- * Chelsea held at home by Leeds
Yet another Premier League home defeat left Tottenham Hotspur looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone and manager Thomas Frank nearer the exit door on Tuesday as Newcastle United eased their own slump with a 2-1 victory in north London.
Last season’s Europa League winners and qualifiers for this season’s Champions League last-16 were booed off after Jacob Ramsey sealed a rare away win for Eddie Howe’s side.
Tottenham would have found themselves only three points above the drop zone had it not been for Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko scoring a stoppage-time equaliser to deny 18th-placed West Ham United a 1-0 win.
The 1-1 draw kept United in fourth place although it ended caretaker manager Michael Carrick’s 100% record since taking over in January.
Another unblemished record went at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior dropped his first league points since replacing Enzo Maresca, his side drawing 2-2 at home to Leeds United having led 2-0.
Bournemouth came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Everton with second-half goals by Brazilian teenager Rayan and Amine Adli. Everton, who had led through Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half penalty, ended with 10 men after Jake O’Brien was red-carded.
Tottenham have not been relegated from the top flight since 1977 but such is the present malaise at the club it is now becoming a genuine fear as they are in 16th place, five points above West Ham whose form is on the up.
They have not won a Premier League game since December 28 and have managed only two victories from their 13 home league games this season. To make matters worse, their next fixture is at home to north London rivals and leaders Arsenal.
‘UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION’
Whether Frank is still in charge then is beginning to look increasingly unlikely. Not for the first time this season, the Dane left the pitch to chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ from Tottenham’s fans.
“I understand the frustration and the easiest thing is to point at me,” Frank said of the fans. “That’s part of the job unfortunately. I will work day and night to turn this around but it is not just one person. There is no doubt we need to improve and I need to be part of that.”
Newcastle completely dominated the first half and the only surprise was it took them until stoppage time to get ahead as defender Malick Thiaw stabbed home a rebound.
Injury-hit Tottenham were marginally better after the break and Archie Gray levelled. But Newcastle deservedly took the points when Anthony Gordon teed up Ramsey for a cute finish, his first goal since joining from Aston Villa.
Newcastle moved up to 10th in the table on 36 points. Tottenham have 29 points from 26 games, with Nottingham Forest, who play bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, on 26 from 25. West Ham have 24.
SESKO SALVAGES POINT FOR MAN UNITED
West Ham were seconds away from a fourth win in five league games as they led with Tomas Soucek’s strike early in the second half after good work by Jarrod Bowen.
United had an effort from Casemiro ruled out but salvaged a point when substitute Sesko struck at the death.
Carrick’s side have 45 points, one more than Chelsea who will be kicking themselves after drawing with Leeds.
“It is a tough place to come and we didn’t have that sharpness to find the answers,” Carrick said. “Great spirit again and we will take the point and move on.”
Chelsea appeared to be cruising with goals either side of the interval from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer who scored his third penalty in two games.
But they threw away two points as Moises Caicedo fouled Jayden Bogle and Lukas Nmecha converted a penalty before Noah Okafor poked in an equaliser after Chelsea failed to clear a ball into the area.
“If we want to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to make sure we’re switched on for 90 minutes. It’s as simple as that,” Rosenior said afterwards.
The draw lifted Leeds above Tottenham into 15th.
-Reuters
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Rivers United’s campaign in the CAF Champions League suffered a major setback on Sunday after the Nigerian champions fell 1–0 at home to Zambia’s Power Dynamos.
The defeat, recorded in Uyo, leaves Rivers United anchored at the bottom of Group A with just one point from four matches, severely denting their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
With only two matches left in the group, the Port Harcourt-based side now faces an uphill task, as both remaining fixtures are against the group’s leading teams; Morocco’s RS Berkane and defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt.
Sunday’s result boosted Power Dynamos’ chances, as the Zambian side moved up to third place in the group with four points, three adrift of second-placed RS Berkane. Berkane’s position was weakened earlier in the day after they were thrashed 3–0 by Pyramids in Egypt.
Pyramids FC continued their impressive run in the group, tightening their grip on the standings with 10 points from four matches to remain firmly on course for qualification.
For Rivers United, the loss marked another frustrating night in their continental campaign, with hopes of a late revival now resting on unlikely results against Africa’s in-form clubs in the remaining group fixtures.
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