World Cup Soccer

"World Cup Italia '90" redirects here. For the Sega Master System game, see World Cup Italia '90 (Master System).

World Cup Soccer

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum

Publisher:

Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

Elite Systems (UK)

Dro Soft (UK)

Developer:

Sega R&D 2

Animated Pixels

Motivetime

Distributor:

Ecofilmes (PT)

Atoll (BX)

Kanal 10 (SE rental) (older)

Hent Gruppen (SE rental) (newer)

Datart International (CZ)

DDC Agency (CZ)

Tec Toy (BR)

Licensor:

Olivetti, Virgin Mastertronic (EU)

Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

Sound driver: Pre-SMPS 68000

Genre: Sports^[1]^[2] (football)

Number of players: 1-2

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1989-07-29^[2]	¥5500	G-4009
US	1989-09^[3]	$39.99^[4]	1202
US (Classic)	1992
US ▼ (Sega Channel)	199x	SUB
EU	1990-12^[5]		1202
BX	199x
PT	199x
UK	1990-12^[5]	£29.99^[5]^[6]	1202
SE (Rental)	199x
CZ	199x
AU	199x
CA ▼ (Sega Channel)	1995	SUB
BR	199x
	UK	19xx	£?	?
	UK	1990	£24.99
DK	199x
UK	1990
UK (Cassette)	1990
UK (Disk)	1990	£14.99
UK (Cassette)	1990	£9.99
ES (Cassette)	199x
UK (Cassette)	1990
ES (3½-inch disk)	199x
ES (5¼-inch disk)	199x
UK	1990

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

World Cup Soccer (ワールドカップサッカー), is a football game developed and published by Sega Enterprises, Ltd. in 1989. It was subsequently brought to various home computers by Elite Systems in the following year.

Gameplay

World Cup Soccer is a top-down football game which adheres to most of the sport's rules. There are no free kicks.

Teams

There are 24 national teams in most versions of World Cup Soccer. The home computer variants exchange Japan for the Republic of Ireland.

Algeria
Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
China
Denmark
England
France
Holland
Hungary
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Morocco
Peru
Poland
Scotland
Rep Korea
Spain
Uruguay
USA
USSR
W. Germany
Yugoslavia

No later releases addressed the issue of West Germany, the USSR and Yugoslavia, which had all ceased to exist by the beginning of 1993.

During the time of the Japanese Mega Drive version release, the qualification phase for the actual tournament had not ended. That's the reason of the inconsistencies between the team list present on the game and the teams that actually qualified. This was not fixed in following releases.

History

Development

During development the game was known as Super Soccer (スーパーサッカー)^[7].

Legacy

The game was followed by World Championship Soccer II in 1994.

As of January 2025, FIFA does own World Cup Soccer as a trademark, despite the Japanese and American versions (plus the Sega Soccer version) lacking a license from the company.^[8]

History

Sega Channel broadcast history

North America

1995-03-01 – 1995-04-01
1995-10-01 – 1995-11-01
1996-07-01 – 1996-08-01
1997-01-31 – 1997-02-14

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	World Cup Italia '90	World Cup Italia '90
English (US)	World Championship Soccer	World Championship Soccer
Japanese	ワールドカップサッカー	World Cup Soccer
Portuguese (Brazil)	Super Futebol	Super Football

World Cup Soccer has been marketed under many names. In Japan the Mega Drive version has always been known as 'World Cup Soccer and in United States, World Championship Soccer (although some earlier cartridges erroneously use the simplified development name, Soccer on the title screen). In Europe, however, the game was originally sold as a joint venture between Sega, Italian firm Olivetti (a subsidiary company of Telecom Italia), and Virgin Mastertronic, becoming World Cup Italia '90, holding the Italian 1990 FIFA World Cup license for a short period. Later variants in Europe are simply titled Sega Soccer.

Production credits

Main article: World Cup Soccer/Production credits.

Mega Drive version

Director: Mutsuhiro Fujii^[9]
Programmer: Mr. Lee^[10]
Artist: フェニックスりえ^[11]
Sound: しりげぬきいたすけ^[12]^[13]

Source:

Uncredited

Commodore 64 version

Programming and Music: Mike Lympany
Grafix: P Robinson and S Beal
Technical Assistant: D Wainwright
Managed: S Hosseini

Animated Pixels Production

Magazine articles

Main article: World Cup Soccer/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

SE print advert (1990)

MX advert (1992)

Print advert in Computer Games (GR) #3: "Ioúnios 1990" (1990-xx-xx)

GR print advert (1997)

PDF

Mega Drive print advert in GamePro (US) #11: "June 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #12: "July 1990" (1990-xx-xx)^[14]

PDF

Master System print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #111: "February 1991" (1991-01-16)

PDF

Home computers print advert in ACE (UK) #38: "November 1990" (1990-10-xx)
also published in:

Computer & Video Games (UK) #108: "November 1990" (1990-10-16)^[15]
ACE (UK) #39: "December 1990" (1990-11-xx)^[16]
Computer & Video Games (UK) #109: "December 1990" (1990-11-16)^[17]

PDF

Home computers print advert in Power Play (DE) #1990-11: "11/90" (1990-10-12)

PDF

Home computers print advert in Zzap! (IT) #56: "Maggio 1991" (1991-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

NTSC-J

91

^[18]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[19]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

83

^[20]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

64

^[21]

The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)

80

^[22]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

83

^[23]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

83

^[24]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

51

^[25]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

83

^[26]

Joystick (FR)

85

^[27]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

55

^[28]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

55

^[29]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

69

^[30]

Mega (UK)

PAL

20

^[31]

Mega (UK)

PAL

40

^[32]

Mega (UK)

PAL

35

^[33]

MegaTech (UK)

64

^[34]

Micro News (FR)

100

^[35]

Mean Machines (UK)

64

^[36]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

64

^[37]

Power Play (DE)

76

^[38]

Raze (UK)

PAL

82

^[39]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

45

^[6]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

25

^[40]

Sega Pro (UK)

87

^[41]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

80

^[42]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

62

^[43]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[44]

Tilt (FR)

75

^[45]

Top Secret (PL)

Mega Games I

75

^[46]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

74

^[47]

Video Game (BR)

50

^[48]

	67
Based on 32 reviews

World Cup Soccer

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Sega Classic)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU (Italia '90)
Cover
Cart PCB Manual

Mega Drive, EU (Sega Soccer; Part of Mega6 Console Pack In)

Manual

Mega Drive, BX^†
Cover

Mega Drive, PT
Cover
Manual

Mega Drive, PT (Alt; Colour Manual)
Cover
Cart World Cup Italia 90 Portuguese manual (Print) EU Manual

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Kanal 10)
Box

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black)
Box

Mega Drive, CZ/SK (Datart)

Manual

Mega Drive, CZ/SK (DDC Agency)
Cover
Manual

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (alt)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Classics)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR (Cardboard)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, BR (Plastic)
Cover

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

83

^[49]

CU Amiga (UK)

41

^[50]

	62
Based on 2 reviews

World Cup Soccer

Amiga, UK
Cover

Amiga, DE (Euro Power Pack)

Amiga, DK (Euro Power Pack)
Cover

Amstrad CPC version

Amstrad CPC, UK

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Joystick (FR)

PAL

72

^[51]

	72
Based on 1 review

World Cup Soccer

Atari ST, UK

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Zzap!64 (UK)

42

^[52]

Zzap! (IT)

57

^[53]

	50
Based on 2 reviews

World Cup Soccer

Commodore 64, UK (cassette)

Commodore 64, UK (disk)

IBM PC version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Games-X (UK)

60

^[54]

	60
Based on 1 review

World Cup Soccer

IBM PC, US
Box
Disk 2

IBM PC, ES (3½-inch disk)

IBM PC, ES (5¼-inch disk)

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Your Sinclair (UK)

80

^[55]

	80
Based on 1 review

World Cup Soccer

ZX Spectrum, UK
Cover

ZX Spectrum, ES
Box

Technical information

Main article: World Cup Soccer/Technical information.

References

↑ File:WCS MD JP Box.jpg
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
↑ Computer Entertainer, "October 1989" (US; 1989-10-20), page 15
↑ GamePro, "February 1990" (US; 19xx-xx-xx), page 54
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ACE, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 165
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 Sega Power, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-07), page 49
↑ Family Computer Magazine, "1988 No. 20; Mega Drive Fan supplement" (JP; 1988-11-04), page 16
↑ https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/TR/JP-1989-048752/40/en (Ghostarchive)
↑ https://sega.jp/fb/album/05_fz/interview1.html (Wayback Machine: 2022-04-07 07:41)
↑ Sega Players Enjoy Club, "Vol. 3" (JP; 1989-05-10), page 3
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "July 1991" (JP; 1991-06-08), page 75
↑ Sega Players Enjoy Club, "Vol. 4" (JP; 1989-10-20), page 7
↑ https://media.vgm.io/albums/86/4768/4768-1191149488.jpg
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 9
↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 11
↑ ACE, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 15
↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 11
↑ ACE, "February 1990" (UK; 1990-01-04), page 81
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 72
↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "1" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 39
↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 39
↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "1" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 51
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 136
↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1989" (UK; 1989-09-16), page 120
↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "1" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 115
↑ Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 21
↑ Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 122
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 79
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "January 1990" (JP; 1989-12-08), page 73
↑ Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 60
↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
↑ Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 21
↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 81
↑ Micro News, "Decembre 1989" (FR; 1989-xx-xx), page 94
↑ Mean Machines, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-28), page 115
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
↑ Power Play, "12/89" (DE; 1989-11-13), page 74
↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 44
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 31
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
↑ Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 26
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
↑ Tilt, "Septembre 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 87
↑ Top Secret, "Kwiecień 1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 57
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 226
↑ Video Game, "Março 1991" (BR; 1991-xx-xx), page 44
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1991" (DE; 1991-01-25), page 27
↑ CU Amiga, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-xx), page 72
↑ Joystick, "Mars 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 176
↑ Zzap!64, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-13), page 69
↑ Zzap!, "Luglio 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 18
↑ Games-X, "7th-13th June 1991" (UK; 1991-06-07), page 22
↑ Your Sinclair, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-07), page 65

World Cup Soccer
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs

[:File:WCS_MD_JP_Box.jpg_p-1] File:WCS MD JP Box.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200720095133.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)

[:File:ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.8_07.pdf_p15-3] Computer Entertainer, "October 1989" (US; 1989-10-20), page 15

[:File:GamePro_US_007.pdf_p54-4] GamePro, "February 1990" (US; 19xx-xx-xx), page 54

[:File:ACE_UK_40.pdf_p165-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ACE, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 165

[:File:SegaPower_UK_16.pdf_p49-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Sega Power, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-07), page 49

[:File:FamilyComputerMagazine_JP_Supplement_1998-20_MegaDriveFan.pdf_p16-7] Family Computer Magazine, "1988 No. 20; Mega Drive Fan supplement" (JP; 1988-11-04), page 16

[https:.2F.2Fghostarchive.org.2Farchive.2FAIIcl-8] ttps://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/TR/JP-1989-048752/40/en (Ghostarchive)

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20220407074100.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Ffb.2Falbum.2F05_fz.2Finterview1.html-9] ttps://sega.jp/fb/album/05_fz/interview1.html (Wayback Machine: 2022-04-07 07:41)

[:File:SPEC_Vol_3.pdf_p3-10] Sega Players Enjoy Club, "Vol. 3" (JP; 1989-05-10), page 3

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-07.pdf_p75-11] Mega Drive Fan, "July 1991" (JP; 1991-06-08), page 75

[:File:SPEC_Vol_4.pdf_p7-12] Sega Players Enjoy Club, "Vol. 4" (JP; 1989-10-20), page 7

[https:.2F.2Fmedia.vgm.io.2Falbums.2F86.2F4768.2F4768-1191149488.jpg-13] ttps://media.vgm.io/albums/86/4768/4768-1191149488.jpg

[:File:EGM_US_012.pdf_p9-14] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 9

[:File:CVG_UK_108.pdf_p11-15] Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 11

[:File:ACE_UK_39.pdf_p15-16] ACE, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 15

[:File:CVG_UK_109.pdf_p11-17] Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 11

[:File:ACE_UK_29.pdf_p81-18] ACE, "February 1990" (UK; 1990-01-04), page 81

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1990-02.pdf_p72-19] Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 72

[:File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf_p39-20] Complete Guide to Consoles, "1" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 39

[:File:CGtC_UK_04.pdf_p39-21] Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 39

[:File:TheCompleteGuideToSega_UK.pdf_p51-22] The Complete Guide to Sega, "1" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 51

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p136-23] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 136

[:File:CVG_UK_095.pdf_p120-24] Computer & Video Games, "October 1989" (UK; 1989-09-16), page 120

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p115-25] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "1" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 115

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_005.pdf_p21-26] Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 21

[:File:Joystick_FR_010.pdf_p122-27] Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 122

[:File:MDAG_UK_04.pdf_p79-28] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 79

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p95-29] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1990-01.pdf_p73-30] Mega Drive Fan, "January 1990" (JP; 1989-12-08), page 73

[:File:Mega_UK_01.pdf_p60-31] Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 60

[:File:Mega_UK_09.pdf_p21-32] Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21

[:File:Mega_UK_11.pdf_p21-33] Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 21

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p81-34] MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 81

[:File:MicroNews_FR_27.pdf_p94-35] Micro News, "Decembre 1989" (FR; 1989-xx-xx), page 94

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_20.pdf_p115-36] Mean Machines, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-28), page 115

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p143-37] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1989-12.pdf_p74-38] Power Play, "12/89" (DE; 1989-11-13), page 74

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p44-39] Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 44

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p55-40] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p31-41] Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 31

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p68-42] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68

[:File:SegaForce_UK_08.pdf_p26-43] Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 26

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p86-44] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86

[:File:Tilt_FR_081.pdf_p87-45] Tilt, "Septembre 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 87

[topsecret3757-46] Top Secret, "Kwiecień 1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 57

[tricks163226-47] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 226

[:File:VideoGame_BR_01.pdf_p44-48] Video Game, "Março 1991" (BR; 1991-xx-xx), page 44

[:File:ASM_DE_1991-02.pdf_p27-49] Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1991" (DE; 1991-01-25), page 27

[:File:CUAmiga_UK_012.pdf_p72-50] CU Amiga, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-xx), page 72

[:File:Joystick_FR_014.pdf_p176-51] Joystick, "Mars 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 176

[:File:Zzap64_UK_075.pdf_p69-52] Zzap!64, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-13), page 69

[:File:Zzap_IT_58.pdf_p18-53] Zzap!, "Luglio 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 18

[:File:GamesX_UK_07.pdf_p22-54] Games-X, "7th-13th June 1991" (UK; 1991-06-07), page 22

[:File:YourSinclair_UK_63.pdf_p65-55] Your Sinclair, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-07), page 65

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World Cup Soccer

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Teams

History

Development

Legacy

History

Sega Channel broadcast history

North America

Versions

Localised names

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Commodore 64 version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega-Tech version

Mega Drive version

Amiga version

Amstrad CPC version

Atari ST version

Commodore 64 version

IBM PC version

ZX Spectrum version

Technical information

References