FIFA World Cup · History

The FIFA World Cup is the international football championship for senior men's national teams, organised by FIFA. It began with a decision taken by the FIFA Congress in Amsterdam on 28 May 1928 to stage a world championship open to national teams. Uruguay hosted the first edition in July 1930. The tournament has been held every four years since then, except in 1942 and 1946, when it was cancelled because of the Second World War. Between 1930 and 2026, twenty-three editions were played and eight countries won the title.

Uruguay 1930 and the pre-war editions

Thirteen teams took part in the first World Cup, which began on 13 July 1930. The final was played at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, where Uruguay beat Argentina 4–2 in front of 93,000 spectators. Italy hosted the 1934 tournament, the first with 16 teams, and won it by beating Czechoslovakia 2–1 after extra time in Rome. Four years later, in France, Italy kept the title with a 4–2 win over Hungary at the Stade Olympique de Colombes. Fifteen teams played in that 1938 edition, and the next two tournaments never took place.

The post-war years: 1950 to 1970

Brazil staged the 1950 World Cup, again with 13 teams. There was no final as such that year. The title was decided in a final round-robin group, and its deciding match at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro ended Uruguay 2, Brazil 1, giving Uruguay a second championship. In 1954, in Switzerland, West Germany beat Hungary 3–2 in Bern. Brazil won its first title in Sweden in 1958, beating the hosts 5–2 at the Råsunda Stadium in Solna, and won again in Chile in 1962 with a 3–1 victory over Czechoslovakia in Santiago. England hosted in 1966 and beat West Germany 4–2 after extra time at Wembley. In 1970, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Brazil defeated Italy 4–1. With its third win, Brazil kept the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently. The trophy was stolen in 1983 and has never been recovered.

A new trophy and the move to 24 teams

The current FIFA World Cup Trophy was first awarded in 1974. That year West Germany, playing at home, beat the Netherlands 2–1 in Munich. Argentina won its first title on home soil in 1978, beating the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The tournament grew to 24 teams in 1982. That edition was played in Spain, and Italy beat West Germany 3–1 in the final at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid. Mexico hosted again in 1986, and the Estadio Azteca staged another final, which Argentina won 3–2 against West Germany. In 1990, in Rome, West Germany beat Argentina 1–0. The 1994 tournament in the United States produced the first final settled on penalties. After a goalless draw at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Brazil beat Italy 3–2 in the shoot-out to win a fourth title.

The 32-team era: 1998 to 2022

The tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1998, when France won at home with a 3–0 victory over Brazil at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. South Korea and Japan co-hosted the 2002 edition, the first World Cup in Asia and the first with more than one host. Brazil beat Germany 2–0 in Yokohama to reach five titles. Italy won its fourth in Berlin in 2006, beating France 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. South Africa hosted in 2010, the first World Cup in Africa, and Spain won its first title by beating the Netherlands 1–0 after extra time in Johannesburg. Germany beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time at the Maracanã in 2014. France won again in 2018, beating Croatia 4–2 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Qatar staged the 2022 tournament, the first held in the Middle East. The final at the Lusail Stadium finished 3–3 after extra time, and Argentina beat France 4–2 on penalties for its third title.

Canada, Mexico and the United States, 2026

Canada, Mexico and the United States shared the 2026 edition, which was the first with 48 teams. The final was played on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in front of 80,663 spectators. Spain beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time. Ferran Torres, who came on as a substitute, scored in the 106th minute, and Spain won its second title after 2010.

Roll of honour

After the 2026 final, Brazil has the most titles with five (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002). Germany has four (1954, 1974 and 1990 as West Germany, then 2014), and so does Italy (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006). Argentina has three (1978, 1986 and 2022). France (1998 and 2018), Spain (2010 and 2026) and Uruguay (1930 and 1950) have two each, and England has one, won in 1966.

One page for each edition

Every World Cup has its own page with the story of the tournament: 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2026 FIFA World Cup.