Nations · World A Winzap guide

FIFA World Cup

Football's biggest prize: 48 national teams in 2026, one trophy every four years.

First held 1930
23 editions listed
Reigning: Spain
Every four years

Overview

The FIFA World Cup is the men's international football championship, held every four years since 1930 (apart from 1942 and 1946). Spain are the reigning champions after beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 final.

Uruguay hosted and won the first World Cup in 1930 with 13 teams. Brazil have won it the most times, five, and are the only team to have played at every tournament up to 2022. Germany and Italy have four titles each, Argentina three, and France, Uruguay and Spain two each, with England one (1966).

The 2026 tournament was the first shared by three hosts, the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the first with 48 teams and 104 matches. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July 2026, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute. It was Spain's second title, after 2010.

The next World Cup, in 2030, will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, with centenary matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Saudi Arabia will host in 2034.

How it works

National teams qualify through their continental confederations. The 2026 tournament began with 12 groups of four teams, and knockout rounds led to a final and a third-place match. Every match that is level in a knockout round goes to extra time and then a penalty shoot-out.

Who has won it most?

Titles won by each team across the 23 editions listed here.

Brazil 5 titles

2002, 1994, 1970, 1962, 1958
Italy 4 titles

2006, 1982, 1938, 1934
Germany 4 titles

2014, 1990, 1974, 1954
Argentina 3 titles

2022, 1986, 1978
Uruguay 2 titles

1950, 1930
France 2 titles

2018, 1998
Spain 2 titles

2026, 2010
England 1 title

1966

Winners by year

Newest first.

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Host / final	Result
2026	Spain	Argentina	United States, Canada and Mexico	1-0 aetBest player: RodriFinal at MetLife Stadium, 19 July 2026. England beat France 6-4 for third place.
2022	Argentina	France	Qatar	3-3 aet, 4-2 on penaltiesBest player: Lionel Messi
2018	France	Croatia	Russia	4-2Best player: Luka Modric
2014	Germany	Argentina	Brazil	1-0 aetBest player: Lionel Messi
2010	Spain	Netherlands	South Africa	1-0 aetBest player: Diego Forlan
2006	Italy	France	Germany	1-1 aet, 5-3 on penaltiesBest player: Zinedine Zidane
2002	Brazil	Germany	Japan and South Korea	2-0Best player: Oliver Kahn
1998	France	Brazil	France	3-0Best player: Ronaldo
1994	Brazil	Italy	United States	0-0 aet, 3-2 on penaltiesBest player: Romario
1990	Germany	Argentina	Italy	1-0Best player: Salvatore SchillaciWon as West Germany
1986	Argentina	Germany	Mexico	3-2Best player: Diego MaradonaRunners-up as West Germany
1982	Italy	Germany	Spain	3-1Best player: Paolo RossiRunners-up as West Germany
1978	Argentina	Netherlands	Argentina	3-1 aet
1974	Germany	Netherlands	West Germany	2-1Won as West Germany
1970	Brazil	Italy	Mexico	4-1
1966	England	Germany	England	4-2 aetRunners-up as West Germany
1962	Brazil	Czechoslovakia	Chile	3-1
1958	Brazil	Sweden	Sweden	5-2
1954	Germany	Hungary	Switzerland	3-2Won as West Germany
1950	Uruguay	Brazil	Brazil	2-1 in a final group, no single final
1938	Italy	Hungary	France	4-2
1934	Italy	Czechoslovakia	Italy	2-1 aet
1930	Uruguay	Argentina	Uruguay	4-2