Football: Brief History of the World Cup

The history of the World Cup between 1930 and 2006 is summarized in the key facts and figures below.

World Cup Winners, Finalists, and Hosts

The World Cup tournament has been held 18 times, starting in 1930. No tournaments were held during the Second World War.

1930
Winners: Uruguay. Finalists: Argentina. Hosts: Uruguay.

1934
Winners: Italy. Finalists: Czechoslovakia. Hosts: Italy.

1938
Winners: Italy. Finalists: Hungary. Hosts: France.

1950
Winners: Uruguay. Finalists: Brazil*: Hosts: Brazil
*Note: There was no Final game in 1950. The group game between Uruguay and Brazil determined the winner, and was effectively the "Final".

1954
Winners: West Germany. Finalists: Hungary. Hosts: Switzerland.

1958
Winners: Brazil. Finalists: Sweden. Hosts: Sweden.

1962
Winners: Brazil. Finalists: Czechoslovakia. Hosts: Chile

1966
Winners: England. Finalists: West Germany. Hosts: England.

1970
Winners: Brazil. Finalists: Italy. Hosts: Mexico.

1974
Winners: West Germany. Finalists: Holland. Hosts: West Germany.

1978
Winners: Argentina. Finalists: Holland. Hosts: Argentina.

1982
Winners: Italy. Finalists: West Germany. Hosts: Spain.

1986
Winners: Argentina. Finalists: West Germany. Hosts: Mexico.

1990
Winners: Germany. Finalists: Argentina. Hosts: Italy.

1994
Winners: Brazil. Finalists: Italy. Hosts: USA.

1998
Winners: France. Finalists: Brazil. Hosts: France.

2002
Winners: Brazil. Finalists: Germany. Hosts: Japan & South Korea

2006
Winners: Italy. Finalists: France. Hosts: Germany.


Winners

Seven different countries have won the World Cup:

Brazil: 5 World Cup Championships. 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002.
Italy: 4 World Cup Championships. 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006.
Germany / West Germany: 3 World Cup Championships: 1954, 1974, 1990.
Argentina: 2 World Cup Championships: 1978, 1986
Uruguay: 2 World Cup Championships: 1930, 1950
France: 1 World Cup Championship: 1998
England: 1 World Cup Championship: 1966


Finalists

Eleven countries have made it to at least one World Cup final game. Dates in italics represent victories:

Brazil: 7 Finals. 1950*, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 1998, 2002
Germany / West Germany: 7 Finals: 1954, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2002
Italy: 6 Finals. 1934, 1938, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006.
Argentina: 4 Finals: 1930, 1978, 1986, 1990
Uruguay: 2 Finals: 1930, 1950*
France: 2 Finals: 1998, 2006
Holland: 2 Finals: 1974, 1978
Czechoslovakia: 2 Finals: 1934, 1962
Hungary: 2 Finals: 1938, 1954
England: 1 Final: 1966
Sweden: 1 Final: 1958

*Note: There was no Final game in 1950. The group game between Uruguay and Brazil determined the winner, and was effectively the "Final".


Tournament Appearances

Only Brazil have appeared in all 18 editions of the World Cup tournament. The following countries have appeared in 10 or more tournaments:

Brazil: 18
Germany / West Germany: 16
Italy: 16
Argentina: 14
Mexico: 13
England: 12
France: 12
Spain: 12
Belgium: 11
Sweden: 11
Serbia / Yugoslavia: 10
Uruguay: 10


Player Records

Most Tournaments Played:
5: Antonio Carbajal (Mexico, 1950 - 1966); and Lothar Matthaus (West Germany / Germany, 1982 - 1998)

Most World Cup Championships:
3: Pele (Brazil, 1958, 1962, 1970)

Most Matches Played:
25: Lothar Matthaus (West Germany / Germany)

Most Goals Scored, All-Time:
15: Ronaldo (Brazil)
14: Gerd Muller (West Germany)
13: Just Fontaine (France)
12: Pele (Brazil)
11: Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany / West Germany)
11: Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)
10: Gabriel Batistuta (Argentine)
10: Teofilo Cubillas (Peru)
10: Miroslav Klose (Germany)
10: Grzegorz Lato (Poland)
10: Gary Lineker (England)
10: Helmut Rahn (West Germany)


Most Goals Scored in One Tournament:
13: Just Fontaine (France, 1958)
11: Sandor Kocsis (Hungary, 1954)
10: Gerd Muller (West Germany, 1970)
9: Eusebio (Portugal, 1966)
9: Ademir (Brazil, 1950)
8: Ronaldo (Brazil, 2002)
8: Guillermo Stabile (Argentine, 1930)

Most Goals Scored in One Match:
5: Oleg Salenko (For Russia vs. Cameroon, 1994)


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