A new chapter in history in the thousandth match of the World Cup

Do you remember when and where the first match of the FIFA World Cup took place? The first match in the history of the FIFA World Cup was held on July 13, 1930. On the opening day of the first tournament, two matches were played simultaneously. In one, France defeated Mexico 4-1, and in the other, the United States defeated Belgium 3-0.

1930 to 2026. After traveling various paths, traversing various alleys, and passing through countless times, the World Cup is now on the threshold of a thousand matches. Another special milestone in the history of the FIFA World Cup is about to be created. The match between Japan and Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on Saturday (June 20) will be the 1,000th match in the history of the World Cup.

These two teams from Asia and Africa will not only play important group stage matches, but will also become a symbol of the global expansion of football and the inclusive character of the World Cup in the modern era.

Tunisia captain Elias Skiri said, “Participating in the 1,000th match of the World Cup is a truly symbolic moment. It reminds us of the history of this competition, the best matches and the best players.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said, “It is a great honour for us to be able to participate in the 1,000th match in a tournament with such a long and rich history. It is also a matter of pride to represent Asia.

Where previously the number of participating countries in the World Cup was limited, it has now grown to more than 200 federations. 13 countries participated in the first World Cup. This participation has been increased to 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup, which is part of the wider development of football.

Skiri added, “Football has come a long way in the last few years. With new competitions and opportunities, players from different countries are getting the chance to show themselves on the world stage.