Quidditch World Cup

The Quidditch World Cup (also called the World Cup or World Championship) has been held every four years since 1473. The competition sees Quidditch teams representing countries around the world compete for the World Cup.

14th century
Only European teams competed in the tournament.

1473
This was the first ever Quidditch World Cup. Only European teams participated. The final was contested between Flanders and Transylvania. During the match, all 700 known fouls were committed (and several new ones subsequently created), including the Transfiguration of a Chaser into a polecat, the attempted decapitation of a Keeper with a broadsword, and the release of a hundred vampire bats from underneath the robes of the Transylvanian Captain.

Known Participants

 * Flanders
 * Transylvania

15th century
Only European teams competed in the tournament.

16th century
Only European teams competed in the tournament.

17th century
Non-European teams compete in the tournament for the first time.

20th century
Argentina and Brazil reached the quarter finals.

c.1964
Britain hosted the World Cup.

1986
The American National Quidditch team participated in the Quidditch World Cup. Maximus Brankovitch III was their captain and Seeker.

1990
The U.S.A. paticipated in this year's World Cup. Brankovitch III was their captain again. The final went on for five days.

1994
The 422nd World Cup was organised by the International Quidditch Association. Its official sponsors were Butterbeer, Pumpkin juice, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Nimbus 2001.

Ireland flattened Peru in the semi-finals to set up a meeting with Bulgaria. The Bulgarians had won the last twelve Eastern European Championship and had a "rock solid defence". Ireland were another defensively strong team, but they also managed to score as many points as nearly every team in the World Cup.

The British nations didn't fare well; England were beaten 390 to 10 by Transylvania, Scotland lost to Luxembourg, and Wales lost to Uganda.



The stadium built for the 422nd World Cup took a Ministry of Magic task force a year to construct, and could hold one hundred thousand spectators.

The 422nd Quidditch World Cup final was held on 22 August, 1994 in England, between Ireland and Bulgaria. Ludovic Bagman provided the match commentary. Ireland wore green robes with each player's name embroidered in silver on their back. They all flew Firebolt broomsticks and Leprechauns served as the team's mascots. Veela were Bulgaria's mascots and they played in robes of scarlet. Irish Chaser, Troy scored the first goal of the match. After another two Irish goals, Ivanova registered Bulgaria's opening score. Then Ireland's Seeker Aidan Lynch was fooled by Viktor Krum's Wronski Feint, but managed to continue play after the aid of some mediwizards. Fifteen minutes later Ireland had stretched their lead to 130-10, when their Chaser Mullet was fouled by the Bulgarian Keeper, Zograf, and was awarded a penalty. This led to anarchy, with another penalty being awarded to Ireland and referee Hassan Mostafa being distracted by the Veela. Quigley sent a Bludger towards Krum which broke his nose. Lynch then spotted the Snitch, but was beaten in the race for it by Krum. Despite this, Ireland still ran out the victors. The final score was 170-160. The Irish team performed a lap of honour before being presented with the Quidditch World Cup in the stadium's Top Box (Lynch had to be supported by Moran and Connolly).

Riot


Shortly after the final match at the World Cup, a riot broke out as Death Eaters began attacking the tents of wizards and witches as well as a Muggle family. They levitated, tormented, and humiliated Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. Various Ministry officials such as Arthur Weasley tried to help the Muggles.

In the chaos that erupted, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley ended up wandering in the woods, where they ran into Draco Malfoy. He taunted them over the fact that the Death Eaters would target a Muggle-born like Hermione if they found her. Also during this time, Barty Crouch Jr. managed to break out of his father's Imperius Curse, steal Harry's wand, and cast Morsmordre. When the Death Eaters spotted the Dark Mark in the sky, they fled, something Lord Voldemort scorned them for upon his return in the following year.

Results

 * Transylvania defeated England, 390-10
 * Luxembourg defeated Scotland
 * Uganda defeated Wales
 * Semi-final: Ireland defeated Peru
 * Final: Ireland defeated Bulgaria, 170-160

Known participants

 * Argentina
 * Australian.png Australia
 * Bulgariacrest.JPG Bulgaria
 * Brazil
 * English.png England
 * French.png France
 * Germany.png Germany
 * India
 * Irelandcrest.JPG Ireland
 * Japanese.png Japan
 * Luxembourg
 * Nordlogo.png The Nordic Team
 * Peru
 * Portugal
 * Scotland
 * Spanish.png Spain
 * Transylvania
 * Uganda
 * Unitedstates logo.png United States
 * Wales

1998
"YOU-KNOW-WHO CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM: QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP CANCELLED AMID DEATH THREATS."

- The Quibbler headline.

During the Death Eater regime over Britain in 1997-1998, the Quidditch World Cup was reportedly cancelled. This resulted in a number of death threats directed to the British Ministry of Magic. It's unknown if after the Battle of Hogwarts, the de-corrupted Ministry (now led by Kingsley Shacklebolt) still managed to organise the World Cup in time.

Winners

 * 1473 - Transylvania or Flanders
 * 1994 - Irelandcrest.JPG Ireland
 * 1998 - Cancelled due to Death Eater regime over Britain

Behind the scenes

 * The mathematics relating to the Quidditch World Cup are contradictory. If the Cup is held every four years and Harry is attending the 422nd match, it should have started in 310 rather than 1473. It is perhaps possible that early in the origins of the Cup, the competition was played more often than every four years. If this is the case, it seems that the Quidditch World Cup could possibly have been held annually until 1862 (the 389th World Cup), after which it was held every four years, correctly placing the 422nd Quidditch World Cup in 1994. But calculated correctly, beginning in 1473 and occurring every four years, the World Cup Harry attended should be the 131st, and it should have been held in the summer of 1993, before he began his third year at Hogwarts.
 * Furthermore, in chapter 3 of, Mrs. Weasley mentions in her letter to Harry that "Britain hasn't hosted the Cup for thirty years". Although the Cup is supposedly held every four years, thirty is not a multiple of four. It is possible that Mrs. Weasley is meaning thirty times in every fourth year or has rounded for simplicity.
 * The Quidditch World Cup seems to corresponds to the Muggle Football World Cup, which takes place every four years, is hosted by a different nation at each occurrence, and has the best players from many countries participating in it. Furthermore, British nations frequently disappoint at this tournament, despite characteristic high hopes.
 * A wizard (Archie) attendant at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup declined 'male-appropriate' attire- thus high-lighting gender-role rules in Muggle culture.
 * In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry appears to support Bulgaria; however, in the book, Harry, along with all the others, supports Ireland. Also, Ron appears to be wearing both colours (possibly as a split decision between the Irish "team" and the Bulgarian "Seeker")
 * In the film adaptation, Fudge does the commentary instead of Bagman and Winky because their roles are omitted from the film version.
 * The actual World Cup match is not physically seen in the film adaptation of The Goblet of Fire.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
 * Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
 * Quidditch Through the Ages
 * Harry Potter Film Wizardry