All 21 editions from worst to best

There have been 21 World Cup tournaments since 1930 and, ahead of the 2022 edition, we decided to re-examine and rank every single one. There were arguments and spreadsheets; we had data and reason colliding with gut feeling and uncut emotion. In the end, we emerged stronger, wiser, more respectful of one another’s opinions and, most importantly, with a rock-solid ranking from “worst” to “best.”

So what were those moments, players and scorelines that we’ll always remember more readily than the birthdays and anniversaries of those we love? First up, here is how we did it.

Methodology

Because there are so many different ways to react to and grade a tournament, we needed to set some guidelines. The rankings below were created via a 50-point scale.

Up to 10 points awarded for:
– Great players
– Controversies

Up to 5 points awarded for:
– Great final
– Upsets
– Location/fans
– Goal quantity/general excitement level.

Finally, up to 10 points were available as bonus points based on particularly fun memories and a general X Factor.

Was this ranking process strange, subjective and emotions-based? Did we actually reward tournaments for being controversial? Did this process make only so much sense? Yes. Just like the World Cup itself.

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21. 1930

Host: Uruguay
Final: Uruguay 4-2 Argentina
Top goal scorer: Guillermo Stabile, Argentina

Score: 14/50

Every major event has to begin somewhere and the first edition of the World Cup scores poorly for a number of reasons. This was very much a case of “let’s get this tournament off the ground” and with the sport still so new as a global product, there was little star power to speak of.

The hosts won and there was some added…