FIFA World Cup future boycotts or controversy, FIFA began a pattern of alternating the hosts between the Americas and Europe, which continued until the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan, was the first one held in Asia, and the first tournament with multiple hosts. South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup in 2010. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Brazil, the first held in South America since Argentina 1978, and was the first occasion where consecutive World Cups were held outside Europe. The host country is
2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (UEFA playoffs) 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (UEFA playoffs) The 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification playoffs for (UEFA) was a special, one-off beach soccer tournament to determine the fourth European nation that would be competing in the 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. The tournament started two days before the start of the world cup, ending the day before the opening match, from May 6 - May 7, 2005, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The winners of the playoffs were Spain. Three nations had already confirmed their places in the world cup by finishing first, second and third