Twenty-three men’s World Cups have been played since the first tournament in Uruguay in 1930, and only eight countries have ever lifted the trophy. Spain became the latest champion in July 2026 when they beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
This page lists every World Cup winner, the host country, the runner-up and the final score, followed by a breakdown of which nations have won the tournament most often.
Complete List of World Cup Winners (1930–2026)
| Year | Host | Winner | Runner-up | Final score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina | 4–2 |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy | Czechoslovakia | 2–1 (aet) |
| 1938 | France | Italy | Hungary | 4–2 |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | Brazil | 2–1 (deciding match of final round) |
| 1954 | Switzerland | West Germany | Hungary | 3–2 |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | Sweden | 5–2 |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | Czechoslovakia | 3–1 |
| 1966 | England | England | West Germany | 4–2 (aet) |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | Italy | 4–1 |
| 1974 | West Germany | West Germany | Netherlands | 2–1 |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | Netherlands | 3–1 (aet) |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | West Germany | 3–1 |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | West Germany | 3–2 |
| 1990 | Italy | West Germany | Argentina | 1–0 |
| 1994 | United States | Brazil | Italy | 0–0 (3–2 on penalties) |
| 1998 | France | France | Brazil | 3–0 |
| 2002 | South Korea and Japan | Brazil | Germany | 2–0 |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | France | 1–1 (5–3 on penalties) |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Netherlands | 1–0 (aet) |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Argentina | 1–0 (aet) |
| 2018 | Russia | France | Croatia | 4–2 |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina | France | 3–3 (4–2 on penalties) |
| 2026 | Canada, Mexico and United States | Spain | Argentina | 1–0 (aet) |
No tournaments were held in 1942 or 1946 because of the Second World War. The 1950 World Cup did not have a single final; the title was decided by a four-team final round, and Uruguay’s 2–1 win over Brazil in the last match settled it.
Which Countries Have Won the Most World Cups?
| Country | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 | 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 |
| Germany (incl. West Germany) | 4 | 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014 |
| Italy | 4 | 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1978, 1986, 2022 |
| France | 2 | 1998, 2018 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 1930, 1950 |
| Spain | 2 | 2010, 2026 |
| England | 1 | 1966 |
Brazil remain the most successful nation with five titles and are the only team to have played at every edition of the tournament. Germany and Italy follow with four each, while Spain joined France and Uruguay on two titles with their 2026 win.
Interesting Facts About World Cup Winners
- Host nations have won the World Cup six times: Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978) and France (1998).
- Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) are the only teams to have won back-to-back World Cups.
- Three finals have been decided by a penalty shoot-out: 1994, 2006 and 2022.
- Argentina have played in seven World Cup finals, winning three and losing four, including the 2026 final against Spain.
- Spain’s two titles, in 2010 and 2026, both came with 1–0 wins after extra time.
- The 2026 tournament was the first with 48 teams and the first hosted by three countries.
The 2026 Final in Brief
Spain and Argentina met in the 104th and final match of the 2026 tournament on 19 July 2026. The game was goalless after 90 minutes, and Spain won 1–0 in extra time to claim their second world title, 16 years after their first in South Africa. Argentina, the defending champions from Qatar 2022, finished as runners-up.
World Cup Winners by Country
Eight nations have won the World Cup, and five more have reached a final without winning one. The table below counts the 1950 decider between Uruguay and Brazil as the final, as FIFA does.
| Team | Titles | Runner-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 | 2 | 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 | 1950, 1998 |
| Germany (incl. West Germany) | 4 | 4 | 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014 | 1966, 1982, 1986, 2002 |
| Italy | 4 | 2 | 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 | 1970, 1994 |
| Argentina | 3 | 4 | 1978, 1986, 2022 | 1930, 1990, 2014, 2026 |
| France | 2 | 2 | 1998, 2018 | 2006, 2022 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 0 | 1930, 1950 | – |
| Spain | 2 | 0 | 2010, 2026 | – |
| England | 1 | 0 | 1966 | – |
| Netherlands | 0 | 3 | – | 1974, 1978, 2010 |
| Czechoslovakia | 0 | 2 | – | 1934, 1962 |
| Hungary | 0 | 2 | – | 1938, 1954 |
| Sweden | 0 | 1 | – | 1958 |
| Croatia | 0 | 1 | – | 2018 |
Germany and Argentina have both lost four finals, the most of any nation. The Netherlands have the unwanted record of reaching three finals, in 1974, 1978 and 2010, without ever winning the trophy. Croatia, runners-up in 2018, are the most recent first-time finalist.
Europe vs South America
Only two continents have produced World Cup winners. European teams have won 13 titles: Italy and Germany four each, France and Spain two each and England one. South American teams have won 10: Brazil five, Argentina three and Uruguay two.
For most of the tournament’s history the two continents traded titles. South America led until the 2000s, but Europe then won four in a row, from Italy in 2006 to France in 2018. Argentina broke that run in 2022 before Spain returned the trophy to Europe in 2026.
No team from Africa, Asia, North America or Oceania has reached a World Cup final. The best results outside Europe and South America remain semi-final appearances.
Every World Cup Final, Decade by Decade
The 1930s: Uruguay and Italy set the standard
Hosts Uruguay beat Argentina 4–2 in the first final in Montevideo in 1930. Italy then won the next two tournaments, at home in 1934 and in France in 1938, under coach Vittorio Pozzo, who remains the only coach to win the World Cup twice.
The 1950s and 1960s: shocks and the rise of Brazil
Uruguay’s 2–1 win over Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in 1950 is still one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history. West Germany beat a heavily favoured Hungary 3–2 in 1954. Brazil then won in 1958 and 1962, with a teenage Pelé scoring twice in the 1958 final. England won their only title at home in 1966, beating West Germany 4–2 after extra time, with Geoff Hurst scoring a hat-trick in the final.
The 1970s: Brazil’s third star and two hosts win
Brazil beat Italy 4–1 in Mexico City in 1970 to become the first nation to win three titles. Pelé finished with three winner’s medals, still a record for a player. Hosts West Germany beat the Netherlands in 1974, and hosts Argentina beat the Netherlands after extra time in 1978.
The 1980s and 1990s: Italy, Argentina and the first shoot-out
Italy won a third title in Spain in 1982. Diego Maradona led Argentina to the 1986 trophy in Mexico, and West Germany gained revenge over Argentina in the 1990 final in Rome. In 1994 Brazil and Italy drew 0–0, and Brazil won the first final decided on penalties. Hosts France beat Brazil 3–0 in 1998, with Zinedine Zidane scoring twice.
The 2000s and 2010s: Brazil’s fifth and Europe’s run
Ronaldo scored both goals as Brazil beat Germany 2–0 in Yokohama in 2002 for a record fifth title. Italy beat France on penalties in 2006 after a 1–1 draw. Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time goal gave Spain their first title in 2010, and Mario Götze’s extra-time winner made Germany the first European team to win a World Cup in the Americas in 2014. France beat Croatia 4–2 in Moscow in 2018.
The 2020s: Argentina and Spain
The 2022 final in Qatar finished 3–3 after extra time, with Kylian Mbappé scoring a hat-trick, before Lionel Messi’s Argentina won on penalties. In 2026, Spain beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner.
How Finals Have Been Decided
Most World Cup finals have been settled in normal time, but recent finals have often needed more. Spain’s 2010 and 2026 titles, Germany’s 2014 win and England’s 1966 victory all came after extra time. Three finals, in 1994, 2006 and 2022, went to penalties.
| Result | Number of finals | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Won in 90 minutes | 13 | 1930, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2018 |
| Won in extra time | 6 | 1934, 1966, 1978, 2010, 2014, 2026 |
| Won on penalties | 3 | 1994, 2006, 2022 |
Home Advantage and Repeat Winners
Six host nations have won the World Cup, but none since France in 1998. The 2026 hosts, the United States, Canada and Mexico, did not reach the final. Playing at home clearly helped in the early decades, when travel was harder and fewer teams took part.
Only two teams have retained the title: Italy in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Recent holders have often struggled to defend it. Argentina, the 2022 champions, came closest in 2026 by reaching the final again before losing to Spain.
Three men have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach: Mário Zagallo of Brazil, Franz Beckenbauer of West Germany and Didier Deschamps of France.
The Trophy the Winners Lift
World Cup winners have lifted two different trophies. The original Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded from 1930 to 1970. Brazil were allowed to keep it permanently after winning their third title in 1970, and it was later stolen in Rio de Janeiro in 1983 and never recovered.
The current FIFA World Cup Trophy was first presented in 1974, when West Germany won on home soil. Unlike the Jules Rimet Trophy, it stays with FIFA: winners receive it at the final and are then given a replica to keep.
When Each Champion Last Won
Some former winners have waited decades for another title. Uruguay have not won since 1950 and England since 1966. Argentina ended a 36-year wait in 2022, while Spain’s 2026 title came 16 years after their first. The table shows how long it has been since each winner last lifted the trophy.
| Team | Last title | Years since (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2026 | 0 |
| Argentina | 2022 | 4 |
| France | 2018 | 8 |
| Germany | 2014 | 12 |
| Italy | 2006 | 20 |
| Brazil | 2002 | 24 |
| England | 1966 | 60 |
| Uruguay | 1950 | 76 |
Brazil’s current 24-year wait equals the gap between their 1970 and 1994 titles. Italy, four-time winners, have also missed the last three tournaments, which shows how quickly fortunes can change even for the most successful nations.
Records Set by World Cup Winners
Champions have reached the trophy in very different ways. Brazil won all six of their matches in 1970 and all seven in 2002, the only time a champion has won every game in a seven-match tournament. Italy conceded just two goals on the way to the 2006 title, one of them an own goal and the other a penalty.
At the other end of the scale, Spain scored only eight goals in seven matches in 2010, the fewest by a World Cup winner, and won each of their four knockout games 1–0. Germany’s 2014 run included one of the most famous results in the tournament’s history, a 7–1 semi-final win over hosts Brazil in Belo Horizonte.
Losing the opening game is not the end. Spain lost 1–0 to Switzerland in their first match in 2010 and still won the tournament, and Argentina recovered from a 2–1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their 2022 opener to become champions in Qatar.
| Record | Team | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| Won every match (7 games) | Brazil | 2002 |
| Won every match (6 games) | Brazil | 1970 |
| Fewest goals scored by a champion | Spain (8) | 2010 |
| Biggest semi-final win by a champion | Germany 7–1 Brazil | 2014 |
| Champion that lost its opening match | Spain; Argentina | 2010; 2022 |
Where Every World Cup Final Was Played
Two stadiums have staged the deciding match twice: the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, in 1950 and 2014, and the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, in 1970 and 1986. Rome’s Olympic Stadium hosted the 1990 final, and Rome also hosted the 1934 final at a different stadium.
| Year | Final venue | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Estadio Centenario | Montevideo |
| 1934 | Stadio Nazionale PNF | Rome |
| 1938 | Stade Olympique de Colombes | Paris |
| 1950 | Maracanã | Rio de Janeiro |
| 1954 | Wankdorf Stadium | Bern |
| 1958 | Råsunda Stadium | Solna |
| 1962 | Estadio Nacional | Santiago |
| 1966 | Wembley Stadium | London |
| 1970 | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City |
| 1974 | Olympiastadion | Munich |
| 1978 | Estadio Monumental | Buenos Aires |
| 1982 | Santiago Bernabéu | Madrid |
| 1986 | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City |
| 1990 | Stadio Olimpico | Rome |
| 1994 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena |
| 1998 | Stade de France | Saint-Denis |
| 2002 | International Stadium Yokohama | Yokohama |
| 2006 | Olympiastadion | Berlin |
| 2010 | Soccer City | Johannesburg |
| 2014 | Maracanã | Rio de Janeiro |
| 2018 | Luzhniki Stadium | Moscow |
| 2022 | Lusail Stadium | Lusail |
| 2026 | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
Goals and Heroes in World Cup Finals
Only two players have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final: Geoff Hurst for England in 1966 and Kylian Mbappé for France in 2022, although Mbappé finished on the losing side. With one goal in 2018 and three in 2022, Mbappé holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup finals.
Several players have scored in two different finals, including Vavá for Brazil in 1958 and 1962, and Zinedine Zidane for France in 1998 and 2006. Lionel Messi scored twice in the 2022 final and was named the tournament’s best player as Argentina won their third title.
Extra-time winners have become a pattern for recent champions. Iniesta in 2010, Götze in 2014 and Ferran Torres in 2026 all scored the only goal of a final after 90 minutes had been played.
Women’s World Cup Winners
The FIFA Women’s World Cup began in 1991. The United States are the most successful team with four titles, and Spain are the most recent champions, having won in 2023. Germany and Spain are the only nations to have won both the men’s and women’s World Cups.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1991 | United States |
| 1995 | Norway |
| 1999 | United States |
| 2003 | Germany |
| 2007 | Germany |
| 2011 | Japan |
| 2015 | United States |
| 2019 | United States |
| 2023 | Spain |
The next Women’s World Cup is in Brazil in 2027. Our 2027 Women’s World Cup guide has the dates, host cities and stadiums.
How Champions Return to the World Cup
Winning the World Cup does not guarantee a place at the next one. The holders must qualify through their confederation like every other team, apart from the hosts. Spain, as 2026 champions, will play at the 2030 World Cup anyway as one of the three host nations. Our guide to how World Cup qualification works explains the full process.
Who Could Be the Next First-Time Winner?
With 48 teams now at the finals, more nations get the chance to make a deep run. The Netherlands and Croatia have come closest among teams without a title. Morocco reached the semi-finals in 2022, the best result by an African team, and Portugal, Belgium and Uruguay remain regular contenders. The next chance comes at the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the most recent World Cup?
Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final on 19 July 2026.
Which country has won the World Cup the most times?
Brazil, with five titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002).
How many different countries have won the World Cup?
Eight: Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Uruguay, Spain and England.
When and where is the next men’s World Cup?
The next men’s World Cup will be played in 2030, mainly in Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with three centenary matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
Which country has lost the most World Cup finals?
Germany and Argentina have each lost four finals. Germany lost in 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2002, and Argentina lost in 1930, 1990, 2014 and 2026.
Has an African or Asian team ever reached a World Cup final?
No. Only European and South American teams have reached the final. Morocco’s run to the semi-finals in 2022 is the best result by an African team, and South Korea reached the semi-finals as co-hosts in 2002.
Which team has won the World Cup without being favourites?
Several winners surprised the world, but the most famous examples are Uruguay in 1950, who beat hosts Brazil in Rio, and West Germany in 1954, who beat a Hungary side that had thrashed them 8–3 earlier in the same tournament.
Who scored the winning goal in the 2026 World Cup final?
Ferran Torres scored the only goal in extra time as Spain beat Argentina 1–0 at MetLife Stadium on 19 July 2026.
Which player has won the most World Cups?
Pelé is the only player to have won three World Cups, with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Has any team won the World Cup on another continent?
Yes. Brazil won in Sweden in 1958 and in Asia in 2002, Spain won in South Africa in 2010 and in North America in 2026, and Germany became the first European winner in South America in 2014.
Keep reading: see the leading goalscorers in World Cup all-time top scorers, or look ahead to the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Sources: List of FIFA World Cup finals; ESPN, 2026 World Cup final report.
