Photo Ron Soliman
Less than a week before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins in Mexico City, respect for history suggests detailing the 13 national teams that have either won the cup or appeared in its championship final.
The World Cup has been contested 22 times since the inaugural one in 1930. The tournament was cancelled for 1942 and 1946 because of WW2 and its disruption. Germany had been approved to host in 1942. And FIFA lacked the resources in June of 1945, financial or otherwise, to sustain an event in 1946. It would have meant planning and organizing a World Cup in less than a year. These days the process takes eight.
WINNERS
Brazil (5):
2002 in South Korea & Japan; 1994 in the USA; 1970 in Mexico; 1962 in Chile; and 1958 in Sweden.
Only once has Brazil won a world cup played in Europe.
Germany (4):
2014 In Brazil; 1990 in Italy; 1974 in West Germany*, 1954 in Switzerland.
Only once has Germany won when away from Europe.
Italy (4):
2006 in Germany; 1982 in Spain; 1938 in France; 1934 in Italy*.
Italy has never won a world cup not played in Europe.
Argentina (3):
2022 in Qatar; 1986 in Mexico; 1978 in Argentina*.
Argentina has never won a world cup played in Europe.
France (2):
2018 in Russia; 1998 in France*.
France has never won the cup outside Europe.
Uruguay (2):
1950 in Brazil; 1930 in Uruguay*.
Uruguay has never won the cup outside South America.
England (1):
1966 in England*.
England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each have their own national teams.
Spain (1)
2010 in South Africa.
Australia becomes the only populated continent that has not yet hosted a world cup.
FINALS PARTICIPANTS
Germany (8):
2014 in Brazil they beat Argentina 1-0.
2002 in South Korea & Japan they lost to Brazil 0-2.
1990 in Italy they defeated Argentina 1-0.
1986 in Mexico they lost to Argentina 2-3.
1982 in Spain they lost to Italy 1-3.
1974 in West Germany they defeated the Netherlands 2-1.
1966 in England they lost to England after extra time 2-4.
1954 in Switzerland they defeated Hungary 3-2.
Brazil (7):
2002 in South Korea & Japan they defeated Germany 2-0.
1998 in France they lost to France 0-3.
1994 in the USA they defeated Italy on penalties 3-2 after a 0-0 draw.
1970 in Mexico they defeated Italy 4-1 and retired the Jules Rimet trophy.
1962 in Chile they defeated Czechoslovakia 3-1.
1958 in Sweden they defeated Sweden 5-2.
1950 in Brazil they lost to Uruguay 1-2.
Argentina (6):
2022 in Qatar they defeated France on penalties 4-2 after a 3-3 draw.
2014 in Brazil they lost to Germany 0-1.
1990 in Italy they lost to West Germany 0-1.
1986 in Mexico they defeated West Germany 3-2.
1978 in Argentina they defeated the Netherlands after extra time 3-1.
1930 in Uruguay they lost to Uruguay 2-4.
Italy (6):
2006 in France they defeated France on penalties 5-3 after a 1-1 draw.
1994 in the USA they lost to Brazil on penalties 2-3 after a 0-0 draw.
1982 in Spain they defeated West Germany 3-1.
1970 in Mexico they lost to Brazil 1-4.
1938 in France they defeated Hungary 4-2.
1934 in Italy they defeated Czechoslovakia after extra time 2-1.
France (4)
2022 in Qatar they lost to Argentina on penalties 2-4 after a 3-3 draw.
2018 in Russia they defeated Croatia 4-2.
2006 in Germany they lost to Italy on penalties 3-5 after a 1-1 draw.
1998 in France they defeated Brazil 3-0.
Netherlands (3)
2010 in South Africa they lost to Spain in extra time 0-1.
1978 in Argentina they lost to Argentina in extra time 1-3.
1974 in West Germany they lost to West Germany 1-2.
Czechoslovakia (2)
1962 in Chile they lost to Brazil 1-3.
1934 in Italy they lost to Italy after extra time 1-2.
Hungary (2)
1954 in Switzerland they lost to West Germany 2-3.
1938 in France they lost to Italy 2-4.
Uruguay (2)
1950 in Brazil they defeated Brazil 2-1.
1930 in Uruguay they defeated Argentina 4-2.
Croatia (1)
2018 in Russia they lost to France 2-4.
Spain (1)
2010 in South Africa they defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time.
England (1)
1966 in England they defeated W Germany in extra time 4-2.
Sweden (1)
1958 in Sweden they lost to Brazil 2-5.
NOTEWORTHY DETAILS:
Until 1994 in the United States, only Latin America or Europe had served as hosts.
Brazil became the first team to win a World Cup outside their home continent, in 1958 in Europe, a feat subsequently repeated by Brazil in 1994 in anglophone North America and in 2002 in East Asia. It has since also been done by Argentina in 2022 in Southwest Asia, Spain in 2010 in Africa and Germany in 2014 in South America.
Six times out of the 22 the host country has won the trophy, roughly one time in four. (Those winners are asterisked in the winners list above.)
In 1993 the retired Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from Brazil’s federation headquarters and has not been seen since. Because the artifact was solid gold, the presumption is that the thieves melted it down. According to Wikipedia, nowadays winning federations are given a gold-plated bronze replica of the current trophy to keep for permanent display.
Except for Brazil winning in Sweden in 1958, European teams have won every World Cup held in Europe or Africa. Except for Germany winning in Brazil in 2014, no European team (or any team besides Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina) has won outside of Europe or Africa.
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Brazil and Spain are the only two countries that have won the cup but have never won at home.
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Pele is the only player to have won 3 world cups.