Stephen Dobson and John Goddard, The Economics of Football, page 407, quote "The World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world: the estimated cumulative television audience for the 2006 World Cup in Germany was 26.2 billion, an average of 409 million viewers per match."
Glenn M. Wong, The Comprehensive Guide to Careers in Sports, page 144, quote "The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world. In 2006, more than 30 billion viewers in 214 countries watched the World Cup on television, and more than 3.3 million spectators attended the 64 matches of the tournament."
Tom Dunmore, Historical Dictionary of Soccer, page 235, quote "The World Cup is now the most-watched sporting event in the world on television, above even the Olympic Games."
Whittaker, James (23 October 2013). "Caribbean pro league can work". Cayman Islands: CompassCayman.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
"FIFA World Cup Origin"(PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original(PDF) on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
"FIFA Women's World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
"FIFA Confederations Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
"FIFA World Cup Trophy". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
"FIFA Assets – Trophy". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
Previously, due to there being fewer finals places and a bigger ratio of European finalists, there had been several occasions where three European teams were in a single group, for example, 1986 (West Germany, Scotland, and Denmark), 1990 (Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Austria), and 1994 (Italy, Republic of Ireland, and Norway). ("History of the World Cup Final Draw"(PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2014.)
"Rotation ends in 2018". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 29 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
"FIFA Assets – Mascots". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
"1930 FIFA World Cup Uruguay". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
"1950 FIFA World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
No byline (3 December 2015). "The FIFA Investigation, Explained". New York Times. New York, NY, USA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
No byline (3 December 2015). "The FIFA Investigation, Explained". New York Times. New York, NY, USA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
Jackson, Jamie (2 December 2010). "Qatar win 2022 World Cup bid". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
"FIFA World Cup Origin"(PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original(PDF) on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
Whittaker, James (23 October 2013). "Caribbean pro league can work". Cayman Islands: CompassCayman.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
"FIFA Women's World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
"FIFA Confederations Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
"FIFA World Cup Trophy". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
"FIFA Assets – Trophy". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
Previously, due to there being fewer finals places and a bigger ratio of European finalists, there had been several occasions where three European teams were in a single group, for example, 1986 (West Germany, Scotland, and Denmark), 1990 (Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Austria), and 1994 (Italy, Republic of Ireland, and Norway). ("History of the World Cup Final Draw"(PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2014.)
Jackson, Jamie (2 December 2010). "Qatar win 2022 World Cup bid". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
"Rotation ends in 2018". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 29 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
"FIFA Assets – Mascots". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
"1930 FIFA World Cup Uruguay". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
"1950 FIFA World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2009.