The FIFA World Cup came to North America this summer and HipMaps offered a unique perspective on just how vast in size the three host countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States – really are. In our World Cup Map Series we placed a map of each of the other 45 participating nations on top of a true-scale map of North America. The results might surprise you! 🗺️
1. Algeria
This country, known for its ancient cities, Roman ruins and the Sahara Desert, borders the Mediterranean and is the largest on the African continent. It is roughly 3.5 the size of Texas and even larger than Alaska, the biggest state in the US.
2. Argentina
This South American country, renowned for its wine and stunning landscapes, is the home of soccer great Lionel “Leo” Messi and the defending World Cup champion – it is approximately one-third of the entire continental United States.
3. Australia
Australia, famous for its unique wildlife, thousands of miles of beautiful beaches, the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Opera House, is nearly the same size as all the lower 48 states combined and is actually a continent unto itself.
4. Austria
This breathtakingly beautiful Alpine nation, renowned for skiing, classical music and Mozart’s birthplace, is slightly smaller than the state of Maine.
5. Belgium
Don’t let Belgium’s outsized influence in soccer fool you — this country, also known for castles, chocolate and waffles as well as the European Union headquarters – is slightly smaller than the state of Maryland.
6. Bosnia & Herzegovina
This Balkan beauty, famed for its mountains, charming villages, and Europe’s largest rainforest, is slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia.
7. Brazil
This South American country, home of the mighty Amazon rainforest and birthplace of famed football legends Pele’ and Ronaldo #9, is slightly larger than all 48 contiguous states of the continental U.S.
8. Cape Verde
This tiny Atlantic nation, an archipelago of ten volcanic islands off the coast of Africa, is making its World Cup debut. Cape Verde is known for its endless summer weather, vibrant Creole culture and kitesurfing, and is a hair bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
9. Colombia
North of Brazil and with coastlines on both the Caribbean and Pacific, Colombia is known for its fine coffee and incredible diversity of plant and animal life. It is roughly three times the size of the state of Montana.
10. Croatia
This Eastern European Adriatic gem has over 1,000 beautiful pebbly-beached islands, is the birthplace of Nicola Tesla, and guess what – Dalmatian dogs come from – surprise, surprise – the Croatian region of Dalmatia! Croatia is slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia.
11. Curaçao
This tiny Caribbean island— roughly 2.5 times the size of Washington D.C. — is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is making its World Cup debut as the smallest participant in the tournament’s history.
12. Czechia
Landlocked in the heart of Europe and home to more than 2000 castles, Czechia is known as the Castle Capital of the World, is the birthplace of Franz Kafka and Pilsner beer, and is slightly smaller than the state of South Carolina.
13. DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the second largest country in Africa, is home to the deepest river and second largest rainforest on the planet; it is roughly the size of all US states east of the Mississippi River combined.
14. Ecuador
This equatorial South American nation stretches from the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific to the Andes Mountains, is known for its brightly colored textiles, and is slightly smaller than the state of Nevada.
15. Egypt
This ancient North African country bordering the Mediterranean and Red Seas is famed for its ancient pyramids and the Great Sphinx, and is roughly the size of Texas and New Mexico combined.
16. England
One of soccer’s most storied nations, this island country is the birthplace of the Beatles and soccer’s David Beckham; England is also known for rock music and Stonehenge, and is slightly smaller than the state of Alabama.
17. France
With coastlines on the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, France is famed for its iconic landmarks, Impressionist painters, and fine cheese and wine. It’s also the birthplace of soccer greats Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane, and is nearly the size of two Colorados or one Texas.
18. Germany
This country, birthplace of soccer great Franz Beckenbauer, is known for its composers from Bach and Beethoven to Wagner and Zimmer, and is home to Europe’s largest engineering and technology economy. Germany is slightly smaller than the state of Montana.
19. Ghana
This West African soccer powerhouse, also known for its cocoa, hiplife music scene and the beautiful silk and cotton textile Kente, is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon.
20. Haiti
Sharing the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, Haiti is known for its vibrant music, dance and arts cultures, and is slightly smaller than the state of Hawaii.
21. Iran
This country located in Western Asia was the heart of the ancient Persian Empire. It is known for its beautiful handicrafts and millennials-old cities, and is slightly smaller than the state of Alaska.
22. Iraq
This ancient “Middle Eastern” country located in West Asia is known as the Cradle of Civilization – the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the fabled cities of Babylon and Baghdad are found in Iraq, which is slightly larger than the state of Montana.
23. Ivory Coast
This West African country, known for its wildlife preserves and the world’s largest church, the Basilica Notre Dame de la Paix, is the world’s largest producer of cocoa and is slightly larger than the state of New Mexico.
24. Japan
This island nation on the Ring of Fire in the Western Pacific Ocean is home to Mount Fuji, origami and sushi. Japan stretches nearly 2,400 miles from north to south and is slightly smaller than the state of California.
25. Jordan
Making its World Cup debut, this Middle Eastern nation is known for its rich archaeological history, the ancient carved rock city of Petra, and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet. Jordan is slightly smaller than the state of Indiana.
26. Morocco
This North African country with coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, is home to the famed cities of Marrakesh and Casablanca; Morocco was the 2022 World Cup’s Cinderella story, and is slightly larger than the state of California.
27. Netherlands
This European nation is known for its windmills, tulips, Gouda and Edam cheese, and bicycle culture – the country has more bicycles than humans. It is also the birthplace of soccer greats Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten, and is slightly larger than the state of Maryland.
28. New Zealand
The stunning landscapes of this South Pacific island nation can be seen in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films; New Zealand is also known for its glaciers, geysers and Southern Lights, and is almost exactly the size of the state of Colorado.
29. Norway
This northern European country is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, and is famed for its Viking history, fjords and Northern Lights; it is slightly smaller than the state of California.
30. Panama
The narrow isthmus connecting North and South America is home to the engineering marvel known as the Panama Canal, and is slightly smaller than the state of South Carolina.
31. Paraguay
This landlocked South American nation, home of dazzling waterfalls and the third largest hydroelectric dam in the world, is slightly smaller than the state of California.
32. Portugal
Home to Cristiano Ronaldo, one of soccer’s all-time greats, Portugal is also known for Port wine and the largest cork forest in the world; it is slightly larger than the state of South Carolina.
33. Qatar
This tiny nation on the Persian Gulf, known for its stunning architecture, high-income economy and no personal income taxes, hosted the 2022 World Cup and is slightly larger than the state of Connecticut.
34. Saudi Arabia
This desert nation of the Middle East is the birthplace of Islam and is known for its production of dates and oil; it is roughly three times the size of Texas.
35. Scotland
This northern European country, a land of lochs, highlands, Scotch whiskey and passionate soccer fans, is roughly the size of South Carolina.
36. Senegal
This West African nation is known for its warm hospitality, live music scene, and “Le Lac Rose”, a stunning lake of pink-colored water; it is slightly smaller than the state of South Dakota.
37. South Africa
Africa’s southernmost nation, known for its wildlife and safari parks, Table Mountain, and bungee jumping, is nearly twice the size of Texas.
38. South Korea
This powerhouse of Asian soccer, home to K-Pop music, taekwondo, and beautiful beaches, is slightly smaller than the state of Virginia.
39. Spain
A perennial World Cup contender, this Southern European nation is also known for its olive oil, wine, and bull fighting, and is roughly twice the size of the state of Oregon.
40. Sweden
The Scandinavian nation making their first World Cup in 28 years is known as the Pop Music Capital of the World and is the home of Spotify, IKEA and Volvo; it is slightly larger than the state of California.
41. Switzerland
This tiny Alpine nation, famous for chocolate, Swiss cheese and fine watches, is slightly less than the size of two New Jerseys.
42. Tunisia
Tucked between Algeria and Libya on the Mediterranean coast, this North African country is known for the ancient Roman city of Carthage and the Sahara Desert, where many scenes in the Star Wars movies were filmed; it, is slightly larger than the state of Georgia.
43. Türkiye
Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, Türkiye is known for its beautifully woven carpets and rugs, the ancient city of Constantinople/Istanbul, and the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest markets in the world; it is slightly larger than the state of Texas.
44. Uruguay
One of South America’s smallest nations, Uruguay is renowned for its abundant wildlife including over 80 species of reptiles and its thriving arts, dance and music scene; it is slightly smaller than the state of Washington.
45. Uzbekistan
Making its World Cup debut, this double-landlocked Central Asian nation is home to the ancient Silk Road and stunning Islamic architecture, and is slightly larger than the state of California.
And that’s a wrap! Many thanks to TheTrueSize.com for building the fantastic tool we used to generate these map images!
Hey hey – why not let us help your city stand out and give visitors an incredible experience?!? Together, we can design an interactive visitors tool that captures the vibrant spirit of your city, while ensuring visitors know about your amazing local businesses who are ready to welcome them (and their wallets!)
Hit us up today and let’s start brainstorming! Set up a Discovery Call here.
Inside scoop: follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn where we post a lot of cool maps, including series like this one!