Description

The 1990 FIFA World Cup, the 14th edition of the tournament, took place from 8 June to 8 July in Italy, the second country to host it twice. A total of 116 national football associations entered, with qualification starting in April 1988. Twenty-two teams qualified, alongside host Italy and defending champions Argentina. West Germany claimed victory for the third time, defeating Argentina 1–0 in Rome's Stadio Olimpico. Italy finished third, and England fourth, both losing in penalty shootouts in the semi-finals. This tournament marked the last appearance of West Germany and teams from the Eastern Bloc before the Cold War's end in 1991. Notable moments include Cameroon's strong performance, becoming the first African team to reach the quarter-finals. Despite being considered one of the poorest World Cups in terms of gameplay, it had a lasting impact on football, introducing changes like the back-pass rule and three points for a win. With an estimated 26.69 billion non-unique viewers, it remains one of the most watched events in television history.

The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA), later renamed the Republic of Afghanistan in 1987, was the official name of Afghanistan during the one-party rule of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) from 1978 to 1992. Throughout its existence, and particularly during the Soviet–Afghan War, the DRA depended significantly on support from the Soviet Union.