More on Home and Regional Field Advantages

Seventeen cups were held up to now, including this one. Six were won by the hosting country, a high percentage when you consider the number of FIFA's affiliates. Nine were held in Europe and European countries won all but one. Six were held in Latin America, evenly split by Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Two were held in "neutral" ground, the USA and Japan/South Korea and both of these were won by Brazil.

World Cup Winners by Region where Held, 1930-2006
	In Europe	In Latin America	Elsewhere
Won by an European country	8	0	0
Won by a Latin American country	1	6	2

Any doubts? The interesting issue is how. How? Public pressure over players and refs? Easier access to nationals of nearby countries when held in the same continent, particularly in Europe and South Korea/Japan thus far? There are conspiracy theories about England's win in 1966 as well as Argentina's in 1978. FIFA is doing a good job at chosing refs from countries uninvolved with the results. It is very difficult to win over the host team in finals at home: only two out of eight lost: Brazil to Uruguay in 1950 and Sweden to Brazil in 1958.

The results apply to all international competitions. Latin American and European national teams met 185 in FIFA tournaments until 2005. Latin American teams won 77, tied 41 and lost 67, scoring 291 goals and allowing 243. But wins and losses were not randomly distributed geographically.