Most appearances at the football (soccer) FIFA World Cup before hosting
- Who
- Russia
- What
- 10 total number
- Where
- Not Applicable
- When
- 09 September 2016
The most appearances at the football (soccer) FIFA World Cup before hosting the tournament for the first time is 10 and was achieved by Russia in 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 2002 and 2014.
The selection of a relative veteran such as Russia for host in 2018 is in direct contrast to the choice for 2022, Qatar, who to date have never qualified for the World Cup.
Prior to Russia the side that had appeared most in the World Cup before being selected as host was Germany (then West Germany), who appeared nine times before hosting in 1974.
Brazil appeared 19 times before hosting in 2014 but it was their second World Cup as host. When they first hosted in 1950, they had only appeared in three World Cups.