Virat Kohli & FIFA World Cup 2026 Trophy (Source: AFP Photos)
The FIFA World Cup, fondly called the greatest show on earth, is all set to return to the field in a few hours after a four-year wait. It happens once every four years, and whenever it returns, the fans across the globe feel the wait is worth it due to its magnitude.
The likes of Brazil and Argentina, among other sides, dominate the world of football; similarly, there are a few in cricket who take charge above everyone else. Here, in this article, let’s take a look at the possibilities between cricket heavyweights and football superpowers, based on their similarities in terms of playing style and the historical achievements.
India – Argentina
Argentina are three-time World Cup winners, and their most recent came in the last edition, 2022. Apart from that, they have sheer domination in Copa America, Latin America’s elite competition, winning it for a record-breaking 16 times.
India, on the other hand, are reigning T20 World Cup champions, winning it three times. In addition, they have won ODI World Cups twice, and have been exceptionally well when it comes to continental domestic tournaments, the Asia Cup. They are the record-time winners (9), making it simple for comparison with Argentina.
Australia – Brazil
Brazil are the serial World Cup winner in football, just like Australia in cricket. The Latin American giants have won it in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, but no longer have that fearsome factor.
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Very similarly, Australia were a brute force once, winning three ODI World Cups back-to-back between 1999 and 2007. However, India have taken over the game, ending the unreal dominance of Australia.
Nevertheless, Australia won the 50-over World Cup last time in India, while Brazil’s Hexa Mission is still in progress.
England – Portugal
The characteristics of England and Portugal are very similar, both having superior match winners in their squads, but they fail to deliver when it matters the most.
In cricket, England have been playing since the game’s inception, but have won the ODI World Cup for the first time in 2019. Even though they won the T20 World Cup twice, in 2010 and 2022, they never showed the dominance they are supposed to have on paper.
Portugal, on the other hand, have not won a single FIFA World Cup yet. Their best-ever finish came in 1966, in which they were third in the mega tournament.
Pakistan – Belgium
Pakistan in cricket are the Belgium of football. Belgium had the golden generation that was at the top of the world in 2018. Pakistan, too, had the same, with the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan among others, all aiming to win the T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Unfortunately, the Men in Green failed to win it eventually on both occasions.
South Africa – Netherlands
South Africa are infamously called the ‘chokers’ of cricket, courtesy of failing to live up to the lofty expectations whenever it matters the most. The Netherlands, too, had the same thing in football, losing World Cup finals on three occasions.
West Indies – Uruguay
The West Indies and Uruguay once dominated their respective sports, but that is no longer the case. While the West Indies were a cricketing powerhouse during the initial days of the Cricket World Cup, having won it in 1975 and 1979, Uruguay won the first-ever FIFA World Cup as well in 1930.
20 years later, Uruguay won it once again, in 1950.
New Zealand – England (Football Team)
New Zealand, meanwhile, are football’s England. They have always been consistent in World Cups but have failed to deliver when the stakes are extremely high.
England won their only FIFA World Cup back in 1966. New Zealand, on the other hand, had the World Test Championship (WTC) mace as their greatest achievement.
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