CASE NO. 001

Format · since 1930

// verdict BUSTED
CASE NO. 001Format · since 1930

The host nation always wins the opening match.

Across 21 editions from 1930 to 2022, the host won the opening match 17 times, drew 2, and lost 2 (most recently 2022). The frequency is high (about 81%), but the claim of 'always' is straightforwardly false.

// sources1FIFA tournament history (opening matches)
Busted

17 / 21

Host wins, openers

// verdictBUSTED

Football lives in stories.
Some of them survive the data.

Most don't. We're building the longest fan-maintained record of folklore-versus-fact in the sport. New cases drop when the record changes. Old cases reopen when the data does.

← Myths
The host nation always wins the opening match. — soccermyths