India, May 26 -- Football has grown into the world's most popular sport, followed by millions across every continent. In the modern era, most conversations revolve around club football, transfer battles, league rivalries, and continental competitions. But as soon as the FIFA World Cup approaches, attention shifts instantly. No matter how big club football becomes, the World Cup continues to stand above everything else as the game's ultimate prize.

The roots of international football go back well before the World Cup was created. Football first appeared at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris as an exhibition sport, offering an early glimpse of the game's international potential. It was later officially included as a medal event at the 1908 Ol...