The official FIFA logo design is a big attraction for supporters during every FIFA World Cup. Since 1930, each World Cup has had its own logo design, frequently reflecting a characteristic of the host country.
The concepts have evolved over time, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup logo is influenced by local and regional Arab culture & landscape.
Following the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, which is held every four years in a different country, is perhaps the world’s largest international sporting event.
With the recent release of the next World Cup logo, which has been heavily attacked by both designers and non-designers alike, we thought it would be a good idea to look back at the progression of World Cup logos since 1930.
So, what is FIFA logo design history, and how has the design changed over time? Let us explore.
Evolution of Fifa Logo Design
The logo design of FIFA evolves every four years. There are different countries that host FIFA World cups. Hence, every FIFA logo design has something unique to it which represents the host country.
In this blog, we are going to see the FIFA world cup logo design starting from the 1930s till the latest one, i.e., for 2022.
1930
FIFA World Cup was hosted by Uruguay in 1930. The logo design represented the contrast of different colors giving a pinch of colors originating from the host country. The logo design also incorporates the symbol of FIFA’s trophy for the year.
The design features a goaltender who has captured the ball at the goal frame’s highest point. He’s clothed in the national colors of Uruguay. The typeface is more beautiful than functional in the Deco style.
1934
This year’s FIFA was held in the absolute favorite — Italy! The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second edition of the quadrennial international football championship for senior men’s national teams, the FIFA World Cup. The logo’s script was written in Italian to give credit to the host country.
The host, like the first tournament, has a poster instead of a logo this time. The poster depicted a football player wearing an Italian flag-themed shirt. The socks’ colors (white and green) matched the colors of the country’s flag.
1938
France — the country of love — hosted 1938’s FIFA World Cup. The logo design changed again as per the rules — new host, new design. Hence, the logo represented France. In fact, the written script on the design was also French.
The entire universe, as well as a football, is at your disposal. The football player’s posture expresses success and self-assurance. The backdrop is a slightly different shade of the French flag color, with condensed and ornate writing.
1950
Brasil got a chance to host the 1950’s FIFA World Cup. The written script in the logo design usually represents the host country’s national language. A logo created for the World Cup in the postwar era. Even though it was the first to have an official World Cup emblem, it still seems to be a poster. The Brazilian flag colour is used as the theme colour in the logo.
1954
1954 happened to be the year of Switzerland. The country very well hosted the FIFA world cup. The logo changed again, and this time, the logo had Switzerland’s flag embedded in the middle of the design. This best represented the host country for the year.
Simple and minimalistic. The red cross of Switzerland is placed on a football, which is also a globe, to represent Switzerland as the world tournament’s host country.
1958
Sweden hosted the world cup this year. The logo design reflected blue and yellow color that is similar to that of Sweden’s national flag. Despite the fact that it is a ‘logo,’ it has the appearance of a poster. The initials VM stand for Varldsmasterskapet, which means “World Championship” in Swedish. A football match is defined by the ball and the football player.
1962
Chile was selected to host this year’s FIFA world cup. The logo design, once again, had Chile’s national flag embedded in the middle of the design, representing the host country.
In the centre of the logo is a stadium. The national flag of Chile is positioned on the ground, indicating that the event is being held on their soil. A globe and a football are depicted in the background, symbolising the worldwide aspect of this football tournament.
1966
The Queen’s Country, England, hosted this year’s world cup. Modifications were made to the logo again. This time, the logo design had England’s flag shown in the background while the front had the trophy of the World Cup.
On top of the classic British flag is a globe with the Jules Rimet trophy and an English coat of arms in the foreground. All of the elements are symmetrically oriented.
1970
This year — MEXICO! The logo for this year was designed in the shape of a football. The color palette used for this was blue and white. The written script can be seen on the bottom right behind the football. This is to represent the host country’s love and appreciation for the sport.
In 1970, the logo was all about simplicity. It depicts a football using positive and negative space. The linear typeface pays homage to Lance Wyman’s renowned 1968 Olympic identity.
1974
West Germany welcomed FIFA to its land in 1974. The logo design for this year had green and white contrasted with a written script hinting toward the host country and the year of the world cup.
The initials ‘WM’, short for Weltmeisterschaft, which means ‘World Cup’ in German, appear on the emblem because West Germany was the host country. West Germany’s persistence is shown by the strong typeface. This logo is all about simplicity. The basic shapes evoke a football, including the contact point and motion.
1978
The very liked and admired country of the team Argentina hosted FIFA 98. This year’s logo design, just like the rest, was carefully contrasted with the color palette of the national flag of Argentina, which is blue and white. The FIFA logo mirrored Argentina’s colors.
The design, which has a football and stripes in Argentina’s colours, depicts a guy holding a football in his cupped hands. The straightforward design accomplishes its goal of conveying the tournament’s character.
1982
Spain opened the gates of its football grounds to FIFA in 1982. The logo design of 82 had not only the colors of Spain, but the written script said, “Espana 82,” which was written in Spanish — the national language of the host country.
The logo is made up of two basic elements: a football and the Spanish national flag. The Spanish flag is positioned diagonally in the centre, as if to start the football.
1986
Eighty-six happened to be the year of Mexico again. The color palette of the logo design remained almost the same with the edition of a shade of green. The red and white colors in the logo still represented the host country’s national flag.
The tagline ‘The World United By Ball’ is visualized by placing a football between two areas of the globe. The usage of inline typography is a nod to Mexico’s hosting of the 1970 World Cup.
1990
Italy was once again chosen as the host country for FIFA in 1990. The logo design’s color’s remained the same as Italy’s national flag. However, the logo was 3D, making it look more appealing to the eye.
A design with a visual illusion. The national flag colors of red and green, as well as black, are used to form the shape of a football and to indicate mobility and energy. It also incorporates stencil text to give the logo a unique look.
1994
This was the year of the USA. The logo design of this year’s FIFA was made in the shape and color scheme of the USA’s flag. Hence, the flag reflected a shade of red and blue along with a written script that indicated the USA as the host country.
The red and white stripes make it easy for people to identify the year’s host nation. A football kicked high represents the movement and energy of the sport in the blue portion of the flag.
1998
France hosted the FIFA World Cup again in 1998. The logo was again made carefully, incorporating the colors of the flag of France i.e., blue and white shades. These blue and white shades complimented the year’s trophy, which was also designed in the logo.
The three national colors, blue, white, and red, are used in the logo. The football rising over the horizon as if it were the sun demonstrates how important football is across the world.
2002
We all appreciate Korea and its love of bright colors. Hence this year’s logo design had different bright colors, making it unique from the rest and perfectly representing the host country.
The World Cup Trophy is the prominent stylized aspect of the design, which also contains symbols from Korea and Japan. The colors symbolize the sport’s multinational aspect.
The infinity sign represents the two zeros in the year 2002, symbolizing the oneness and connection between the co-organizers and all others engaged in the event. The typeface has a calligraphic feel to it.
2006
Germany strikes again!! This year’s logo design had a fun happy-go-lucky mix of colors designed as emoji faces. What’s to notice is how brilliantly Germany’s flag colors — black, red, and yellow — are incorporated into the logo.
The trophy is also designed in the middle of the logo, and the colors in it represent the host country. The logo uses happy faces to represent the enjoyment and excitement that may be felt during a football match.
It also visualizes the year’s tagline, “a time to meet friends.” A ’06’ is used to create two of the faces. The colors of the German flag are subtly incorporated into the emblem.
2010
Who would forget this year’s FIFA? The craze in the air was exceptional. Why? Because ITS TIME FOR AFRICA. South Africa welcomed FIFA to its homeland in 2010. The logo design encompassed the colors of the flag of South Africa.
A silhouette of a person doing a bicycle kick on a football is included in the logo. The African continent is shaped in the backdrop, which is portrayed in the colors of the South African flag. South Africa’s charm is reflected in its lively and colorful design.
2014
Brasil was selected as a host again for the 2014 world cup. The logo for this year had the color scheme of Brazil’s flag. The logo, however, was shaped as that year’s FIFA trophy.
The colours of the Brazilian flag, yellow and green, are used in the logo to reflect Brazil’s beaches and tropics. Brazil’s five World Cup triumphs are represented by the five fingers. The hands create the picture of the World Cup trophy, which is held aloft in victory by the hands.
2018
FIFA entered Russia in 2018 with a logo design again shaped as the trophy and crafted in the colors of Russia. The top piece, inspired by Russia’s history of space exploits, resembles a football when combined with the sputnik’s design.
The colors red, gold, black, and blue are used in the logo to mirror the centuries-old methods used in famous Russian art, which date back to the first icon paintings.
2022
And here comes the latest and the final one for this blog — QATAR!
Qatar is to host FIFA from November to December 2022. Qatar’s national flag has a violet and white color theme, which is adapted in the logo design of this year’s FIFA World Cup 2022. The logo design also has FIFA’s trophy symbol on the script’s left side.
Qatar is all set to open its gateways for fans worldwide to watch the matches in its homes land from 21st November to 18th December of 2022.
Final Word
In all the logo designs discussed above, it is extremely evident how the FIFA logo design has changed over the past few decades. The FIFA Logo Design History goes back to the 1930s and continues to date.
FIFA logos will keep evolving every 4 years as the host of the World Cup changes every 4 years.
Hence, we will get to see more of FIFA’s iconic and unique logo designs in the coming years. And if you need a logo design service for your sports club, you may as well take inspiration from Fifa logo design and hire a professional to assist you.
