World Cup 2014 - Factoids

The FIFA 2014 World Cup has now kicked off in Brazil!  The competition began in 1930 and has been held every four years since (with the exception of 1942 and 1946 when it was cancelled because of World War II).  Below are some fascinating World Cup 2014 facts:

These facts have been sourced from http://www.worldcupbrazil.net/world-cup-2014/facts:

 

• This will be the first World Cup ever with goal-line technology.
• Brazil is the 5th country to host a World Cup for the 2nd time.  Brazil last hosted the World Cup in 1950.
• 2014 World Cup is the most expensive World Cup ever.  The costs so far are 14-16 billion US Dollars.
• A paraplegic teenager in a mind-controlled exoskeleton suit will take the first 2014 World Cup kick.
• Referees are allowed to stop matches 2/3 times due to weather conditions.  The heat can become very intense is some of the northern and north eastern cities where matches will be played.
• Lionel Messi Is ‘the most expensive player’ in the 2014 World Cup
• 2014 World Cup champion will win 35 million US Dollars.
• Bosnia And Herzegovina is the only country in this World Cup to have qualified for the first time.
• Germany will be the first country which will play their 100^th World Cup match. 
• A Simpsons episode has been dedicated to the 2014 World Cup.  The episode is called “You don’t have to live like a referee and was first aired on 30 March 2014.  In the episode Homer and his family go to Brazil where Homer is recruited as a referee for the World Cup.
• Fuleco is the mascot of the 2014 World Cup.  The Brazilian three-banded armadillo is nicknamed tatu-bola.