History of the Posters
World Cup posters served as a letter of invitation for all countries to take part in the most prestigious of tournaments around the world.
World Cup posters became a distinctive mark throughout the history of football. With the first poster announcing the opening of the first World Cup in Uruguay, these posters have been a lively representation of football with new and amazing designs every four years. These posters represented the joy, the passion and even the historical background of the locations in which these tournaments were held. With the creativity of local designers, the World Cup posters became a distinctive icon in the football scene and set a hallmark on the history of every Cup, trying to attract and motivate football fans throughout the world.
South Africa 2010
The poster for next year’s World Cup was designed by the South African creative agency Switch. South Africans seem to be saying that the World Cup is not just theirs, but the whole continent’s. A good spirit.
Uruguay 1930
Artist Guillermo Laborde, designer of the first promotional poster of 1930 FIFA World Cup Uruguay, draw an stylized image of a goalkeeper catching a ball, together with bright colours and of course the location and dates of the tournament.
Italy 1934
The official poster was an Italian player kicking a ball, together with the flags of the countries taking part in the tournament. Uruguay refused to participate as a symbol of protest for the absence of several European national teams in the 1930 World Cup.
France 1938
With ongoing dictatorial regimes throughout the world, the official poster shows a player stepping on a ball and planet earth as the football field.
For the second time, Mussolini´s Italy would win the championship.
Brazil 1950
After several years of slaughter due to World War II, the World Cup returns to South America. The official logo shows a player´s leg stepping on a ball, and with colours representing the local country which brings joy to the world after 12 years since its previous tournament.
Switzerland 1954
Combining a sun-like orange ball and a dove of peace resembling a football player, the poster happily celebrates the 1954 World Cup after nine years of absence due to the events of the World War II.
Sweden 1958
The 1958 FIFA World Cup poster features world representing as a ball surrounded by the flags of the participating countries. The Brazilian team won their first title by defeating Sweden 5-2.
Chile 1962
From the outer space a ball turns around the world announcing the 1962 FIFA World Cup. Chile was chosen as host by FIFA in June 1956, as the World Cup returned to the continent of South America after 12 years.
England 1966
In 1966, England introduced the first FIFA World Cup mascot. Apart from being the World Cup mascot, the lion called Willie was also featured in the poster. England won the final, beating West Germany 4 thus giving them their first (and only to this date) World Cup win.
Mexico 1970
Featuring a ball representing the globe, the design of the 1970 World Cup is simple yet stylish. Mexico was the chosen to host the World Cup thanks to its renewed infrastructure since they had hosted the Olympics on 1968.
Germany 1974
If this football player´s indicative of the deep-lying Teutonic efficiency we’ve always associated with our German compadres then we don’t know what is. The hosts triumphed over Cruyff’s artful Dutch in the final by utilizing this archaic yet still rather pertinent stereotype.
Argentina 1978
The poster features the Argentinean football fever surge back in 1978. The poster itself looked like a premonition for Argentinean players and their dream came true, Argentina defeated the Netherlands in the final match.
Spain 1982
The artist Joan Miró was in charge of the design of the 1982 World Cup poster. With red and white colors he intended to show the passion for football as well as the colors of the staging country.
Mexico 1986
Featuring the shadow of a football player projected into a Mexican statue. A severe earthquake in September 1985, eight months before the tournament, cast doubt over Mexico's ability to organize the event; however, the stadiums were not affected and it was decided to go ahead with the preparations.
Italy 1990
Rome’s coliseum with a game field in its center, talks about Italy as the venue that opens its doors inviting everyone to the World Cup celebration.
USA 1994
A football player kicking a ball over North American –highlighting USA- with colorful and lively colors was the poster chosen to represent the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup.
France 1998
Highlighted a sky blue background and a colorful football field surrounded by confetti, the 1998 World Cup poster was designed by Natalie Le Gallar, a French art student.
Korea-Japan 2002
The Korea-Japan poster was a contemporary design made up of curve lines that speak about a new millennium and about the country that counted with a last-generation infrastructure to house the maximum football event.
Germany 2006
The artwork depicts stars in the shape of a football in the night sky. Stars taking the shape of a football are a new, strongly symbolic idea, and the poster struck an emotional chord for people and football is all about emotion and passion.
Poster 2010
History of the Posters
