Qatar were the first team eliminated from the 2022 World Cup and produced the earliest exit by a host nation across all 22 editions. HITC Football has looked at the worst hosts to date.
The Maroon lasted just six days and two games in the competition after losing to Ecuador and Senegal. FIFA bringing forward Qatar’s opening fixture to Sunday November 20 rather than Monday 21 extended their time in the World Cup by 20% after exiting it on Friday 26.
Ecuador beating Qatar in the opening game also made the Maroon the first host to lose in the opening fixture. Although the host nation only kicked off the World Cup in 1950, 1958, 1966 and 1970 before it became traditionary in 2006 for nine out of the 22 editions so far.
Six World Cup host nations have won the FIFA title across the 22 editions so far
A 1-1 draw between the Netherlands and Ecuador ensured Qatar could not reach the last 16 from Group A. In doing so, the Maroon became only the second host nation to date to crash out of a World Cup in the group stage. South Africa in 2010 were the only one prior.
The hosts have won six World Cups in Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978) and France (1998). Brazil (1950) and Sweden (1958) also finished second as hosts while Chile (1962), Italy (1990) and Germany (2006) finished third.
So, with that in mind, HITC Football takes a look at the worst records a host nation has so far produced at a FIFA World Cup after Qatar became the first team eliminated in 2022…
1. Qatar become the worst World Cup host nation with an early 2022 exit
Qatar already made the 2022 World Cup a record-breaking event as a host nation after the Gulf state spent $220 billion (£181bn), per DW, getting the country prepared. Brazil set the previous record in 2014 as the South American nation spent $15bn (£12.5bn) to get ready.
But despite spending 1,466% more than the previous record set by Brazil, Qatar produced a disastrous World Cup as hosts. The Maroon had never previously qualified for the World Cup before FIFA awarded the Arabian Peninsula nation hosting rights after a vote in 2010.
Qatar had failed to qualify for all 11 editions between 1978 and 2018. The Qatar Football Association (QFA) also withdrew its qualification entry for the 1974 edition. Now, the tiny Gulf state has become the first host nation to lose the opening game and the earliest exit.
The grand occasion left Felix Sanchez’s squad overawed against Ecuador as La Tricolor ran rings around the Maroon. Qatar produced a marginal response in their 3-1 defeat against Senegal as they showed a bit of fight. But Mohammed Muntari’s header was not enough.
Now, Qatar go down in the World Cup record books as the worst host nation across the 22 editions. They lasted two games across six days before Ecuador and the Netherlands’ draw ended their Group A. Sanchez’s side also failed to record a shot on target against Ecuador.
2. South Africa were the first World Cup host eliminated in the group stage
South Africa became the first host nation to be eliminated after the group stage of a World Cup in 2010. For the first time, FIFA took the 19th edition of its quadrennial tournament to Africa, the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent, after a 2004 vote.
Bafana Bafana sent the entire continent into delirium when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the opening goal against Mexico. But Rafael Marquez responded at the Soccer City Stadium to draw 1-1 in Johannesburg. Uruguay then dealt South Africa a 3-0 Group A loss in Pretoria.
A Round of 16 place was still on offer when South Africa faced 1998 and 2018 champions France in Rustenburg. Bafana Bafana gave their nation reason to believe, as well, when Bongani Khumalo (20’) and Katlego Mphela (37’) scored to enter the break leading 2-0.
Even Florent Malouda responding for France in the 70th minute failed to prevent South Africa winning 2-1. But Uruguay beating Mexico 1-0 saw them top Group A above El Tri, who pipped Bafana Bafana on goal difference. Mexico had beaten France 2-0 in their tie.
3. Spain crashed out as the hosts in 1982 during the second group stage
Spain crashed out of the 1982 World Cup in the second group stage to produce the worst record by a host nation at the time. That year’s tournament remains the only edition to be held in the European country so far. La Roja later claimed their only crown to date in 2010.
The 1982 edition saw 24 teams compete over six groups in the first round with the top two reaching the second stage. Spain scrapped out of Group 5 in second to Northern Ireland on goals scored to Yugoslavia. La Roja hit three goals to their two after both took three points.
Spain were the only side to score twice in a Group 5 fixture after beating Yugoslavia 2-1. It was their only first round win and secured a spot in Group B for the second round. But La Roja would lose 2-1 to West Germany and drew 0-0 with England to finish last in the pack.
4. The USA could only make the Round of 16 in 1994
FIFA took its World Cup to the United States of America in 1994 for the 15th edition of the tournament. It was also the first held in the USA – who will co-host the event in 2026 with Mexico and Canada. But the Stars and Stripes would only contest Group A and the last 16.
The USA started their 1994 campaign with a 1-1 draw with Switzerland after Eric Wynalda replied to Georges Bregy’s goal. A 2-1 win over Colombia would then secure their passage to the knockout rounds after Earnie Stewart built on an early own goal by Andres Escobar.
Even a 1-0 defeat to Romania while Colombia beat Switzerland 2-0 would not deny the US a last 16 encounter. But the Stars and Stripes advanced in third after registering the third-best record by a third-place finisher. The best four third-placed finishers made the last 16.
That was where the 1994 host nation’s time at the World Cup came to an end as the USA lost to Brazil, though. The Selecao edged a 1-0 tie in Stanford as Bebeto hit the only goal. Brazil went on to win the World Cup that year after beating Italy on penalties in the final.
5. Japan repeated the USA’s 1994 World Cup result as a co-host in 2002
The 2002 World Cup saw two nations host the event for the first time in Japan and South Korea. FIFA surprised the world when it made the announcement 24 hours earlier than it planned in 1996. It also followed a bitter battle between those two countries to host it.
Per the LA Times, Japan believed they would host the World Cup alone after spending over $60m (£49m) on their bid campaign. South Korea also wanted the event alone but they and Japan agreed to a last-minute compromise after both accepted that it was the only choice.
South Korea would go on to thrill their home supporters as the Taegeuk Warriors reached the semi-finals. But their path to fourth place was a highly controversial one. Spain’s Ivan Helguera described their quarter-final loss on penalties as a ‘robbery’, via The Telegraph.
Questions had also risen over the fairness of South Korea’s Round of 16 win over Italy in sudden death extra time, per Vice. All the while Japan’s 2002 World Cup was coming to an end. Turkey beat the Samurai Blue 1-0 in their last 16 affair in Japan’s second appearance.
Japan made their World Cup debut at France 1998 but failed to get out of their group. Yet the Samurai Blue made the 2002 knockouts as a co-host after a 2-2 draw with Belgium plus 1-0 and 2-0 wins against Russia and Tunisia to top Group H. South Korea topped Group D.
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