FIFA World Cup Winners & Runners-Up List From 1930 to 2022

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest stage in football. Every four years, you see nations fight for one goal: lifting the trophy. Since 1930, the tournament has created history, heartbreak, and moments you still talk about today.

The World Cup began in 1930 and has been held 22 times so far. Only eight countries have ever won it, which shows how hard it is to reach the very top. Two editions, 1942 and 1946, were not played due to World War II. From 2026, the tournament will expand to 48 teams, making it even more competitive.

Brazil remains the most successful nation, while Argentina are the current champions after winning the dramatic 2022 final against France.

All FIFA World Cup Winners & Runners-Up

Year	Host Country	Winner	Runner-Up
2022	Qatar	Argentina	France
2018	Russia	France	Croatia
2014	Brazil	Germany	Argentina
2010	South Africa	Spain	Netherlands
2006	Germany	Italy	France
2002	Korea & Japan	Brazil	Germany
1998	France	France	Brazil
1994	United States	Brazil	Italy
1990	Italy	Germany	Argentina
1986	Mexico	Argentina	Germany
1982	Spain	Italy	Germany
1978	Argentina	Argentina	Netherlands
1974	Germany	Germany	Netherlands
1970	Mexico	Brazil	Italy
1966	England	England	Germany
1962	Chile	Brazil	Czechoslovakia
1958	Sweden	Brazil	Sweden
1954	Switzerland	Germany	Hungary
1950	Brazil	Uruguay	Brazil
1938	France	Italy	Hungary
1934	Italy	Italy	Czechoslovakia
1930	Uruguay	Uruguay	Argentina

Countries With the Most World Cup Titles

If you scan through the winners list, one country stands out clearly to the rest.

Brazil is on top with a total of five world championships. The years of their victories are 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. No other country has been so consistent during the whole era of football and across different generations.

The next in line are Germany and Italy with four titles each. The four titles of Germany were in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014, while Italy carried the cup in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006.

Next comes Argentina with three titles. The years of their victories are 1978, 1986, and 2022, which can be seen as different eras of football, from home dominance to individual brilliance.

France and Uruguay have won the World Cup twice each; while England and Spain have been crowned one-time champions.

Recent World Cup Finals Explained Simply

The World Cup of modern times has done nothing but produced very exciting finals.

In 2022, Argentina beat France after a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw, a match that is regarded by many as the greatest final ever played. Argentina was finally able to claim its third title after a long wait of 36 years.

The 2018 final win of France over Croatia counted as their second title and put a spotlight on the strength of a well-rounded team. The German 2014 triumph in Brazil is linked to two aspects; first, the final victory over Argentina, and secondly, the historic semi-finals where they crushed the Brazilian team, the host.

Spain’s victory in the 2010 World Cup was particularly memorable as it was their first. The victory was built on control, patience, and a strong defense that rarely let the opponent through.

Teams That Reached Finals but Never Won

There were some teams that nearly did it but never quite made it to the end.

Netherlands is the most popular case in point. They got to the finals in 1974, 1978, and 2010 but were defeated each time. Hungary and Czechoslovakia also made it to two finals without winning.

These are the teams that are frequently talked about in terms of their style, gift, and impact rather than silverware.

Key Patterns You Should Know

The only teams that have been successful in the World Cup twice in a row are Brazil and Italy. Finals are mostly very close and many of them are decided by just one goal or penalties. This indicates that the gap between winning and losing in such a competition is very small.

Winners list is almost entirely made up of Europe and South America. There has not been a case so far of a country from any other continent winning the men’s World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The participation of 48 teams will give you more nations, more matches, and new stories. The question of whether this change will lead to the rise of new winners or the entrenchment of the traditional giants remains open.

                                               

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