FIFA World Cup

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
Main article: <a href="/facts/History_of_the_FIFA_World_Cup/Y7wtocTy">History of the FIFA World Cup</a>
<h3>Previous international competitions</h3>
The world's first international football match was a challenge match played in <a href="/facts/Glasgow/hHUX44Ra">Glasgow</a> in 1872 between <a href="/facts/Scotland_national_football_team/QpGc7b6h">Scotland</a> and <a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a> The first international tournament for nations, the inaugural <a href="/facts/British_Home_Championship/PmLmlcvQ">British Home Championship</a>, took place in 1884 and included games between England, Scotland, <a href="/facts/Wales_national_football_team/v9LYCEoy">Wales</a>, and <a href="/facts/Ireland_national_football_team_(1882%25E2%2580%25931950)/lPz8MvVt">Ireland</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> As football grew in popularity in other parts of the world at the start of the 20th century, it was held as a <a href="/facts/Demonstration_sport/FLAGxB0k">demonstration sport</a> with no medals awarded at the <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1900_Summer_Olympics/HyWwTxUq">1900</a> and <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1904_Summer_Olympics/dQxkVcTM">1904 Summer Olympics</a>; however, the <a href="/facts/International_Olympic_Committee/yX4MhHXk">International Olympic Committee</a> has retroactively upgraded their status to official events, as well as the <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1906_Summer_Olympics/0wJ0oHpd">1906 Intercalated Games</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>
After <a href="/facts/FIFA/wC2aqLnn">FIFA</a> was founded in 1904, it tried to arrange an international football tournament between nations outside the Olympic framework in Switzerland in 1906. These were very early days for international football, and the official history of FIFA describes the competition as having been unsuccessful.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>

At the <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics/Dr5NjmVN">1908 Summer Olympics</a> in <a href="/facts/London/KozCCsy9">London</a>, football became an official Olympic sport. Planned by <a href="/facts/The_Football_Association/9xGCEg03">the Football Association</a> (the FA), England's football governing body, the event was for <a href="/facts/Amateurism/2UbDD2k0">amateur</a> players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show rather than a competition. Great Britain (represented by the <a href="/facts/England_national_amateur_football_team/PJ52BF4j">England national amateur football team</a>) won the <a href="/facts/Gold_medal/KNdclHgp">gold medals</a>. They repeated the feat at the <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1912_Summer_Olympics/G7Lm1zvs">1912 Summer Olympics</a> in <a href="/facts/Stockholm/sD74W4Pm">Stockholm</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>
With the Olympic event continuing to be a contest between amateur teams only, <a href="/facts/Thomas_Lipton/50o8P2be">Sir Thomas Lipton</a> organised the <a href="/facts/Sir_Thomas_Lipton_Trophy/rFlTjG34">Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy</a> tournament in <a href="/facts/Turin/PudIVEnr">Turin</a> in 1909. The Lipton tournament was a championship between individual clubs (not national teams) from different nations, each of which represented an entire nation. The competition is sometimes described as The First World Cup,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> and featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany and Switzerland, but the FA of England refused to be associated with the competition and declined the offer to send a professional team. Lipton invited <a href="/facts/West_Auckland_Town_F.C./9IXvRj9K">West Auckland</a>, an amateur side from <a href="/facts/County_Durham/JFsQ70Hk">County Durham</a>, to represent England instead. West Auckland won the tournament and returned in 1911 to successfully defend their title.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a> Prior to the Lipton competition, from 1876 to 1904, games that were considered to be the "<a href="/facts/Football_World_Championship/Nf9Yj1Aa">football world championship</a>" were meetings between leading English and Scottish clubs, such as the <a href="/facts/1895_World_Championship_(football)/050BNbEd">1895 game</a> between <a href="/facts/Sunderland_A.F.C./eQecXEMV">Sunderland A.F.C.</a> and the <a href="/facts/Heart_of_Midlothian_F.C./QszMDmwY">Heart of Midlothian F.C.</a>, which Sunderland won.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a>
In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics/LnX2NLdz">Olympic tournament</a> as a "world football championship for amateurs", and took responsibility for managing the event.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a> This paved the way for the world's first intercontinental football competition for nations, at the <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1920_Summer_Olympics/HoMHAQGu">1920 Summer Olympics</a>, contested by <a href="/facts/Egypt_national_football_team/HNIQAl7j">Egypt</a> and 13 European teams, and won by <a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR">Belgium</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> <a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a> won the next two Olympic football tournaments in <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1924_Summer_Olympics/o4fmGGS5">1924</a> and <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1928_Summer_Olympics/Ju1x7dw9">1928</a>. Those were also the first two open world championships, as 1924 was the start of FIFA's professional era, and is the reason why <a href="/facts/Four_stars_above_Uruguay%2527s_football_crest/V8cCxMlL">Uruguay is allowed to wear 4 stars</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a>

<h3>World Cups before World War II</h3>

Due to the success of the Olympic football tournaments, FIFA, with <a href="/facts/List_of_Presidents_of_FIFA/0XVNUz7L">President</a> <a href="/facts/Jules_Rimet/QRcvEhrR">Jules Rimet</a> as the driving force, again started looking at staging its own international tournament outside of the Olympics. On 28 May 1928, the FIFA Congress in <a href="/facts/Amsterdam/Xdd393bz">Amsterdam</a> decided to stage a world championship.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a> With Uruguay now two-time official football world champions and to celebrate their <a href="/facts/Centenary/m8UNg9E9">centenary</a> of <a href="/facts/Treaty_of_Montevideo_(1828)/eyX9gtml">independence</a> in 1930, FIFA named <a href="/facts/Uruguay/X6V0apCb">Uruguay</a> as the host country of the <a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">inaugural World Cup tournament</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a>
The national associations of selected nations were invited to send a team, but the choice of Uruguay as a venue for the competition meant a long and costly trip across the Atlantic Ocean for European sides, especially in the midst of the <a href="/facts/Great_Depression/5K13wcg0">Great Depression</a>. As such, no European country pledged to send a team until two months before the start of the competition. Rimet eventually persuaded teams from <a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR">Belgium</a>, <a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a>, <a href="/facts/Romania_national_football_team/aAfWYTll">Romania</a>, and <a href="/facts/Yugoslavia_national_football_team/BB1S6aU4">Yugoslavia</a> to make the trip.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a> In total, 13 nations took part: seven from South America, four from Europe, and two from North America.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a>

The first two World Cup matches took place simultaneously on 13 July 1930, and were won by France and the <a href="/facts/United_States_men%2527s_national_soccer_team/qzeWseWK">United States</a>, who defeated <a href="/facts/Mexico_national_football_team/59ksx3fe">Mexico</a> 4–1 and Belgium 3–0 respectively. The first goal in World Cup history was scored by <a href="/facts/Lucien_Laurent/nIR1R33e">Lucien Laurent</a> of France.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a> In the <a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup_final/oQekk9np">final</a>, <a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a> defeated <a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a> 4–2 in front of 93,000 spectators in <a href="/facts/Montevideo/c3skInud">Montevideo</a>, and became the first nation to win the World Cup.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a> After the creation of the World Cup, FIFA and the <a href="/facts/International_Olympic_Committee/yX4MhHXk">IOC</a> disagreed over the status of amateur players; football was dropped from the <a href="/facts/1932_Summer_Olympics/or5JxTqh">1932 Summer Olympics</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a> After the IOC and FIFA worked out their differences, Olympic football returned at the <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1936_Summer_Olympics/ULVla8dP">1936 Summer Olympics</a>, but was now overshadowed by the more prestigious World Cup.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a>
The issues facing the early World Cup tournaments were the difficulties of intercontinental travel and war. Few South American teams were willing to travel to Europe for the <a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934 World Cup</a> and all North and South American nations except <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a> and <a href="/facts/Cuba_national_football_team/twtTKgLy">Cuba</a> boycotted the <a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938</a> tournament. Brazil was the only South American team to compete in both. The 1942 and 1946 competitions, which <a href="/facts/Nazi_Germany/8kRbqRpo">Germany</a> and <a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL">Brazil</a> sought to host,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28">28</a> were cancelled due to <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29">29</a>

<h3>World Cups after World War II</h3>

The <a href="/facts/1950_FIFA_World_Cup/927qvnKS">1950 World Cup</a>, held in <a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL">Brazil</a>, was the first to include British football associations. <a href="/facts/Scotland_national_football_team/QpGc7b6h">Scotland</a>, <a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a>, <a href="/facts/Wales_national_football_team/v9LYCEoy">Wales</a>, and <a href="/facts/Northern_Ireland_national_football_team/o2WnsgGV">Northern Ireland</a> had withdrawn from FIFA in 1920, partly out of unwillingness to play against the countries they had been at war with, and partly as a protest against foreign influence on football.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30">30</a> The teams rejoined in 1946 following FIFA's invitation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31">31</a> The tournament also saw the return of 1930 champions <a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a>, who had boycotted the previous two World Cups. Uruguay won the tournament again after defeating the host nation Brazil, in the match called "<a href="/facts/Uruguay_v_Brazil_(1950_FIFA_World_Cup)/olmIbJ0B">Maracanazo</a>" (Portuguese: Maracanaço).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32">32</a>
In the tournaments between 1934 and <a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">1978</a>, 16 teams competed in each tournament, except in 1938, when <a href="/facts/Austria_national_football_team/VNzq7eCS">Austria</a> was <a href="/facts/Anschluss/h7gJQKcq">absorbed</a> into <a href="/facts/Nazi_Germany/8kRbqRpo">Germany</a> after qualifying, leaving the tournament with 15 teams, and in 1950, when <a href="/facts/India_men%2527s_national_football_team/I6rX2tJK">India</a>, Scotland, and <a href="/facts/Turkey_national_football_team/cIgQ9f9G">Turkey</a> withdrew, leaving the tournament with 13 teams.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33">33</a> Most of the participating nations were from Europe and South America, with a small minority from North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. These teams were usually defeated easily by the European and South American teams. Until 1982, the only teams from outside Europe and South America to advance out of the first round were: <a href="/facts/United_States_men%2527s_national_soccer_team/qzeWseWK">United States</a>, semi-finalists in 1930; <a href="/facts/Cuba_national_football_team/twtTKgLy">Cuba</a>, quarter-finalists in 1938; <a href="/facts/North_Korea_national_football_team/hYnvsAMg">North Korea</a>, quarter-finalists in <a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup/C7XzzY4A">1966</a>; and <a href="/facts/Mexico_national_football_team/59ksx3fe">Mexico</a>, quarter-finalists in <a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a>.

<h3>Expansion to 24 and 32 teams</h3>

The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in <a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34">34</a> and then to 32 in <a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35">35</a> allowing more teams from Africa, Asia and North America to take part. Since then, teams from these regions have enjoyed more success, with several having reached the quarter-finals: <a href="/facts/Mexico_national_football_team/59ksx3fe">Mexico</a>, quarter-finalists in <a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986</a>; <a href="/facts/Cameroon_national_football_team/VS7NoArP">Cameroon</a>, quarter-finalists in <a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup/cvNEr17L">1990</a>; <a href="/facts/South_Korea_national_football_team/C4UXedx8">South Korea</a>, finishing in fourth place in <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a>; <a href="/facts/Senegal_national_football_team/uDzAJIk8">Senegal</a>, along with <a href="/facts/United_States_men%2527s_national_soccer_team/qzeWseWK">USA</a>, both quarter-finalists in 2002; <a href="/facts/Ghana_national_football_team/6lpAdzmd">Ghana</a>, quarter-finalists in 2010; <a href="/facts/Costa_Rica_national_football_team/jMbXxuFw">Costa Rica</a>, quarter-finalists in 2014; and <a href="/facts/Morocco_national_football_team/8S5528Gd">Morocco</a>, finishing in fourth place in 2022. European and South American teams continue to dominate, e.g., the quarter-finalists in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2018 were all from Europe or South America and so were the finalists of all tournaments so far.
Two hundred teams entered the <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002 FIFA World Cup</a> qualification rounds. 198 nations attempted to qualify for the <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006 FIFA World Cup</a>. A record 204 countries entered qualification for the <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010 FIFA World Cup</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36">36</a>

<h3>Expansion to 48 teams</h3>
In October 2013, Sepp Blatter spoke of guaranteeing the <a href="/facts/Caribbean_Football_Union/7K0kcr92">Caribbean Football Union</a>'s region a position in the World Cup.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37">37</a> In the edition of 25 October 2013 of the FIFA Weekly Blatter wrote that: "From a purely sporting perspective, I would like to see globalisation finally taken seriously, and the African and Asian national associations accorded the status they deserve at the FIFA World Cup. It cannot be that the European and South American confederations lay claim to the majority of the berths at the World Cup."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38">38</a> Those two remarks suggested to commentators that Blatter could be putting himself forward for re-election to the FIFA Presidency.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39">39</a>
Following the magazine's publication, Blatter's would-be opponent for the FIFA Presidency, <a href="/facts/UEFA/UafFnEBe">UEFA</a> President <a href="/facts/Michel_Platini/uvwyqv0L">Michel Platini</a>, responded that he intended to extend the World Cup to 40 national associations, increasing the number of participants by eight. Platini said that he would allocate an additional berth to UEFA, two each to the <a href="/facts/Asian_Football_Confederation/TjaaRohV">Asian Football Confederation</a> and the <a href="/facts/Confederation_of_African_Football/wet3pxLh">Confederation of African Football</a>, two shared between <a href="/facts/CONCACAF/K1GMd3ez">CONCACAF</a> and <a href="/facts/CONMEBOL/E3Wmq5W2">CONMEBOL</a>, and a guaranteed place for the <a href="/facts/Oceania_Football_Confederation/c3qkzGEY">Oceania Football Confederation</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40">40</a> Platini was clear about why he wanted to expand the World Cup. He said: "[The World Cup is] not based on the quality of the teams because you don't have the best 32 at the World Cup ... but it's a good compromise. ... It's a political matter so why not have more Africans? The competition is to bring all the people of all the world. If you don't give the possibility to participate, they don't improve."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41">41</a>
In October 2016, FIFA president <a href="/facts/Gianni_Infantino/eTV6NKBl">Gianni Infantino</a> stated his support for a 48-team World Cup in 2026.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:42" href="#fn:42">42</a> On 10 January 2017, FIFA confirmed the 2026 World Cup will have 48 finalist teams.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:43" href="#fn:43">43</a>

<h3>2015 FIFA corruption case</h3>
Main article: <a href="/facts/2015_FIFA_corruption_case/1EMnRagU">2015 FIFA corruption case</a>
By May 2015, the games were under a particularly dark cloud because of the 2015 FIFA corruption case, allegations and criminal charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering to corrupt the issuing of media and marketing rights (rigged bids) for FIFA games,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:44" href="#fn:44">44</a> with FIFA officials accused of taking bribes totaling more than $150 million over 24 years. In late May, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a 47-count indictment with charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy against 14 people. Arrests of over a dozen FIFA officials were made since that time, particularly on 29 May and 3 December.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:45" href="#fn:45">45</a> By the end of May 2015, a total of nine FIFA officials and five executives of sports and broadcasting markets had already been charged on corruption. At the time, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced he would relinquish his position in February 2016.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:46" href="#fn:46">46</a>
On 4 June 2015, <a href="/facts/Chuck_Blazer/ScAgztc2">Chuck Blazer</a> while co-operating with the <a href="/facts/FBI/UY93jwX6">FBI</a> and the Swiss authorities admitted that he and the other members of FIFA's then-executive committee were bribed in order to promote the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:47" href="#fn:47">47</a> On 10 June 2015, Swiss authorities seized computer data from the offices of <a href="/facts/Sepp_Blatter/0RIWfqCC">Sepp Blatter</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:48" href="#fn:48">48</a> The same day, FIFA postponed the bidding process for the <a href="/facts/2026_FIFA_World_Cup/3n9w4U81">2026 FIFA World Cup</a> in light of the <a href="/facts/Garcia_Report/GlADIhPw">allegations surrounding bribery</a> in the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Then-secretary general <a href="/facts/J%25C3%25A9r%25C3%25B4me_Valcke/GDUsT7TM">Jérôme Valcke</a> stated, "Due to the situation, I think it's nonsense to start any bidding process for the time being."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:49" href="#fn:49">49</a> On 28 October 2015, Blatter and FIFA VP Michel Platini, a potential candidate for presidency, were suspended for 90 days; both maintained their innocence in statements made to the news media.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:50" href="#fn:50">50</a>
On 3 December 2015 two FIFA vice-presidents were arrested on suspicion of bribery in the same Zurich hotel where seven FIFA officials had been arrested in May.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:51" href="#fn:51">51</a> An additional 16 indictments by the US Department of Justice were announced on the same day.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:52" href="#fn:52">52</a>

<h3>Biennial World Cup proposition</h3>
A biennial World Cup plan was first proposed by the <a href="/facts/Saudi_Arabian_Football_Federation/nkarr3Ev">Saudi Arabian Football Federation</a> at the 71st <a href="/facts/FIFA_Congress/bojUxBkd">FIFA Congress</a> on 21 May 2021 and prominently backed by former Arsenal manager <a href="/facts/Ars%25C3%25A8ne_Wenger/CN8A2tSu">Arsène Wenger</a> and national federations in Africa and Asia.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:53" href="#fn:53">53</a>
Continental confederations such as UEFA and CONMEBOL are not on board with the plan<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:54" href="#fn:54">54</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:55" href="#fn:55">55</a> but, in total, the idea is supported by 166 of the 210 member associations of FIFA.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:56" href="#fn:56">56</a>

<h3>Other FIFA tournaments</h3>

An equivalent tournament for <a href="/facts/Women%2527s_association_football/h6CtTpNm">women's football</a>, the <a href="/facts/FIFA_Women%2527s_World_Cup/38auvt8v">FIFA Women's World Cup</a>, was first held in <a href="/facts/FIFA_Women%2527s_World_Cup_1991/rnLaWpDe">1991</a> in <a href="/facts/China/lTjIXY5p">China</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:57" href="#fn:57">57</a> The women's tournament is smaller in scale and profile than the men's, but is growing; the number of entrants for the 2007 tournament was 120, more than double that of 1991.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:58" href="#fn:58">58</a>
Men's football has been included in every <a href="/facts/Summer_Olympic_Games/AXNb8LcJ">Summer Olympic Games</a> except 1896 and 1932. Unlike many other sports, the men's <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics/LnX2NLdz">football tournament at the Olympics</a> is not a top-level tournament, and since 1992, an under-23 tournament with each team allowed three over-age players.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:59" href="#fn:59">59</a> Women's football made its <a href="/facts/Football_at_the_1996_Summer_Olympics_%25E2%2580%2593_Women%2527s_tournament/0nfcJILG">Olympic debut in 1996</a>.
The <a href="/facts/FIFA_Confederations_Cup/2f4ANG8M">FIFA Confederations Cup</a> was a tournament held one year before the World Cup at the World Cup host nation(s) as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Cup. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships, along with the FIFA World Cup champion and the host country.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:60" href="#fn:60">60</a> The first edition took place in <a href="/facts/1992_FIFA_Confederations_Cup/8PJEak5M">1992</a> and the last edition was played in <a href="/facts/2017_FIFA_Confederations_Cup/Pmn1nC4b">2017</a>. In March 2019, FIFA confirmed that the tournament would no longer be active owing to an expansion of the <a href="/facts/FIFA_Club_World_Cup/YF82Ivbb">FIFA Club World Cup</a> in 2021.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:61" href="#fn:61">61</a>
FIFA also organises international tournaments for youth football (<a href="/facts/FIFA_U-20_World_Cup/ySkWut5H">FIFA U-20 World Cup</a>, <a href="/facts/FIFA_U-17_World_Cup/hPyKJNI7">FIFA U-17 World Cup</a>, <a href="/facts/FIFA_U-20_Women%2527s_World_Cup/HEtGIAmp">FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup</a>, <a href="/facts/FIFA_U-17_Women%2527s_World_Cup/7RMqt9XW">FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup</a>), club football (FIFA Club World Cup), and football variants such as <a href="/facts/Futsal/hF0Ph2ld">futsal</a> (<a href="/facts/FIFA_Futsal_World_Cup/3YUKMYnc">FIFA Futsal World Cup</a>) and <a href="/facts/Beach_soccer/dFGKvvmk">beach soccer</a> (<a href="/facts/FIFA_Beach_Soccer_World_Cup/ae4m6vhd">FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup</a>). The latter three do not have a women's version, although a <a href="/facts/FIFA_Women%2527s_Club_World_Cup/d0bWa7jY">FIFA Women's Club World Cup</a> has been proposed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:62" href="#fn:62">62</a>
The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup is held biannually, including the year before each Women's World Cup. Both tournaments were awarded in a single bidding process on three occasions, with the U-20 tournament serving as a dress rehearsal for the larger competition each time (<a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_U-20_Women%2527s_World_Cup/EwlFlljh">2010</a>, <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_U-20_Women%2527s_World_Cup/1NnD67PL">2014</a> and <a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_U-20_Women%2527s_World_Cup/n7dDSmvY">2018</a>).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:63" href="#fn:63">63</a>

<h2 id="trophy">Trophy</h2>
Main article: <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_Trophy/kM4zdWVc">FIFA World Cup Trophy</a>

From 1930 to 1970, the <a href="/facts/Jules_Rimet_Trophy/kM4zdWVc">Jules Rimet Trophy</a> was awarded to the World Cup winning team. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, but in 1946 it was renamed after the FIFA president <a href="/facts/Jules_Rimet/QRcvEhrR">Jules Rimet</a> who set up the first tournament. In <a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a>, <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a>'s third victory in the tournament entitled them to keep the trophy permanently. However, the trophy was stolen in 1983 and has never been recovered, apparently melted down by the thieves.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:64" href="#fn:64">64</a>
After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was designed. The experts of FIFA, coming from seven countries, evaluated the 53 presented models, finally opting for the work of the Italian designer <a href="/facts/Silvio_Gazzaniga/n5yP3JTu">Silvio Gazzaniga</a>. The new trophy is 36 cm (14.2 in) high, made of solid 18 <a href="/facts/Carat_(purity)/Wc5HBM0I">carat</a> (75%) gold and weighs 6.175 kg (13.6 lb).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:65" href="#fn:65">65</a>
The base contains two layers of semi-precious <a href="/facts/Malachite/NG5p4aCv">malachite</a> while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since <a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup/fCAJfz5S">1974</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:66" href="#fn:66">66</a> The description of the trophy by Gazzaniga was: "The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:67" href="#fn:67">67</a>
This new trophy is not awarded to the winning nation permanently. World Cup winners retain the trophy only until the post-match celebration is finished. They are awarded a gold-plated replica rather than the solid gold original immediately afterwards.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:68" href="#fn:68">68</a>
All members (players, coaches, and managers) of the top three teams receive medals with an insignia of the World Cup Trophy; winners' (gold), runners-up' (silver), and third-place (bronze). In the <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002 edition</a>, fourth-place medals were awarded to hosts <a href="/facts/South_Korea_national_football_team/C4UXedx8">South Korea</a>. Before the 1978 tournament, medals were only awarded to the eleven players on the pitch at the end of the final and the third-place match. In November 2007, FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be retroactively awarded winners' medals.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:69" href="#fn:69">69</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:70" href="#fn:70">70</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:71" href="#fn:71">71</a>
Since 2006, winners of the competition are also awarded the right to wear the <a href="/facts/FIFA_Champions_Badge/Ak9UQMQg">FIFA Champions Badge</a>, up until the time at which the winner of the next competition is decided.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:72" href="#fn:72">72</a>

<h2 id="format">Format</h2>
<h3>Qualification</h3>
Main article: <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_qualification/TVHvFW1z">FIFA World Cup qualification</a>
Since the second World Cup in <a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934</a>, qualifying tournaments have been held to thin the field for the final tournament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:73" href="#fn:73">73</a> They are held within the six FIFA continental zones (<a href="/facts/Confederation_of_African_Football/wet3pxLh">Africa</a>, <a href="/facts/Asian_Football_Confederation/TjaaRohV">Asia</a>, <a href="/facts/CONCACAF/K1GMd3ez">North and Central America and Caribbean</a>, <a href="/facts/CONMEBOL/E3Wmq5W2">South America</a>, <a href="/facts/Oceania_Football_Confederation/c3qkzGEY">Oceania</a>, and <a href="/facts/UEFA/UafFnEBe">Europe</a>), overseen by their respective confederations. For each tournament, FIFA decides the number of places awarded to each of the continental zones beforehand, generally based on the relative strength of the confederations' teams.
The qualification process can start as early as almost three years before the final tournament and last over a two-year period. The formats of the qualification tournaments differ between confederations. Usually, one or two places are awarded to winners of intercontinental <a href="/facts/Play-off/0M9xp3nE">play-offs</a>. For example, the winner of the Oceanian zone and the fifth-placed team from the Asian zone entered a play-off for a spot in the <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010 World Cup</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:74" href="#fn:74">74</a> From the <a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938 World Cup</a> onwards, host nations receive automatic qualification to the final tournament. This right was also granted to the defending champions between 1938 and 2002, but was withdrawn from the <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006 FIFA World Cup</a> onward, requiring the champions to qualify. <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a>, winners in <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a>, were the first defending champions to play qualifying matches.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:75" href="#fn:75">75</a>

<h3>Final tournament</h3>
For the various formats used in previous tournaments, see <a href="/facts/History_of_the_FIFA_World_Cup/Y7wtocTy">History of the FIFA World Cup § Evolution of the format</a>.
The final tournament format since 1998 has had 32 national teams competing over the course of a month in the host nations. There are two stages: the group stage, followed by the knockout stage.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:76" href="#fn:76">76</a>
In the group stage, teams compete within eight groups of four teams each. Eight teams are seeded, including the hosts, with the other seeded teams selected using a formula based on the <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Rankings/S58lKvNe">FIFA World Rankings</a> or performances in recent World Cups, and drawn to separate groups.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:77" href="#fn:77">77</a> The other teams are assigned to different "pots", usually based on geographical criteria, and teams in each pot are drawn at random to the eight groups. Since <a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998</a>, constraints have been applied to the draw to ensure that no group contains more than two European teams or more than one team from any other confederation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:78" href="#fn:78">78</a>
Each group plays a <a href="/facts/Round-robin_tournament/H38kuuaG">round-robin tournament</a> in which each team is scheduled for three matches against other teams in the same group. This means that a total of six matches are played within a group. The last round of matches of each group is scheduled at the same time to preserve fairness among all four teams.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:79" href="#fn:79">79</a> The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Points are used to rank the teams within a group. Since <a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a>, <a href="/facts/Three_points_for_a_win/woHv2wAM">three points have been awarded for a win</a>, one for a draw and none for a loss (before, winners received two points).
Considering six matches in a group each with three possible outcomes (win, draw, loss), there are 729 (= 36) possible final table outcomes for the 40 possible combinations of the four teams' points.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:80" href="#fn:80">80</a> However, 14 of the 40 points combinations (or 207 of the 729 possible outcomes) lead to ties between the second and third places. In such case, the ranking among these teams is determined by:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:81" href="#fn:81">81</a>

<ol><li>Greatest combined goal difference in all group matches</li>
<li>Greatest combined number of goals scored in all group matches</li>
<li>If more than one team remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined as follows:
<ol><li>Greatest number of points in head-to-head matches among those teams</li>
<li>Greatest goal difference in head-to-head matches among those teams</li>
<li>Greatest number of goals scored in head-to-head matches among those teams</li>
<li>Fair play points, defined by the number of yellow and red cards received in the group stage:
<ol><li>Yellow card: minus 1 point</li>
<li>Indirect red card (as a result of a second yellow card): minus 3 points</li>
<li>Direct red card: minus 4 points</li>
<li>Yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points</li></ol></li></ol></li>
<li>If any of the teams above remain level after applying the above criteria, their ranking will be determined by the drawing of lots</li></ol>
The knockout stage is a <a href="/facts/Single-elimination_tournament/3j9IuIxp">single-elimination tournament</a> in which teams play each other in one-off matches, with <a href="/facts/Extra_time/dgP1IbLD">extra time</a> and <a href="/facts/Penalty_shootout_(association_football)/9kEox0Ny">penalty shootouts</a> used to decide the winner if necessary. It begins with the round of 16 (or the second round) in which the winner of each group plays against the runner-up of another group. This is followed by the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the <a href="/facts/Third_place_playoff/LthvtqDa">third-place match</a> (contested by the losing semi-finalists), and the final.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:82" href="#fn:82">82</a>
On 10 January 2017, FIFA approved a new format, the 48-team World Cup (to accommodate more teams), which was to consist of 16 groups of three teams each, with two teams qualifying from each group, to form a round of 32 knockout stage, to be implemented by 2026.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:83" href="#fn:83">83</a> On 14 March 2023, FIFA approved a revised format of the 2026 tournament, which features 12 groups of four teams each, with the top 8 third-placed teams joining the group winners and runners-up in a new round of 32.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:84" href="#fn:84">84</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:85" href="#fn:85">85</a>
In March 2025, it was reported that FIFA was considering an one-off expansion to 64 teams for the <a href="/facts/2030_FIFA_World_Cup/yXoW7BIp">2030 FIFA World Cup</a>, the centennial anniversary of the FIFA World Cup.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:86" href="#fn:86">86</a>

<h2 id="hosts">Hosts</h2>
Main article: <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_hosts/ubXTnlc1">FIFA World Cup hosts</a>
<h3>Selection process</h3>

Early World Cups were given to countries at meetings of FIFA's congress. The locations were controversial because South America and Europe were by far the two centres of strength in football and travel between them required three weeks by boat. The decision to hold the <a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">first World Cup</a> in Uruguay, for example, led to only four European nations competing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:87" href="#fn:87">87</a> The next two World Cups were both held in Europe. The decision to hold the second of these in France was disputed, as the South American countries understood that the location would alternate between the two continents. Both Argentina and Uruguay thus boycotted the <a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938 FIFA World Cup</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:88" href="#fn:88">88</a>
Since the <a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958 FIFA World Cup</a>, to avoid future boycotts or controversy, FIFA began a pattern of alternating the hosts between the Americas and Europe, which continued until the <a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998 FIFA World Cup</a>. The <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002 FIFA World Cup</a>, hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan, was the first one held in Asia, and the first tournament with multiple hosts.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:89" href="#fn:89">89</a> South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup in <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a>. The <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014 FIFA World Cup</a> was hosted by Brazil, the first held in South America since <a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">Argentina 1978</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:90" href="#fn:90">90</a> and was the first occasion where consecutive World Cups were held outside Europe.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:91" href="#fn:91">91</a>

The host country is now chosen in a vote by FIFA's Council. This is done under an <a href="/facts/Exhaustive_ballot/TcIYQgXu">exhaustive ballot</a> system. The national football association of a country desiring to host the event receives a "Hosting Agreement" from FIFA, which explains the steps and requirements that are expected from a strong bid. The bidding association also receives a form, the submission of which represents the official confirmation of the candidacy. After this, a FIFA designated group of inspectors visit the country to identify that the country meets the requirements needed to host the event and a report on the country is produced. The decision on who will host the World Cup is usually made six or seven years in advance of the tournament. There have been occasions where the hosts of multiple future tournaments were announced at the same time, as was the case for the <a href="/facts/2018_and_2022_FIFA_World_Cup_bids/4mbLpPML">2018 and 2022 World Cups</a>, which were awarded to <a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a> and <a href="/facts/Qatar/K4EkNXJE">Qatar</a>, with Qatar becoming the first Middle Eastern country to host the tournament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:92" href="#fn:92">92</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:93" href="#fn:93">93</a>
For the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, the final tournament was rotated between confederations, allowing only countries from the chosen confederation (Africa in 2010, South America in 2014) to bid to host the tournament. The rotation policy was introduced after the <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_hosts/ubXTnlc1">controversy</a> surrounding Germany's victory over South Africa in the vote to host the <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006 tournament</a>. However, the policy of continental rotation did not continue beyond 2014, so any country, except those belonging to confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments, can apply as hosts for World Cups starting from <a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:94" href="#fn:94">94</a> This is partly to avoid a similar scenario to the bidding process for the 2014 tournament, where Brazil was the only official bidder.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:95" href="#fn:95">95</a>
The <a href="/facts/2026_FIFA_World_Cup/3n9w4U81">2026 FIFA World Cup</a> was chosen to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time a World Cup has been shared by three host nations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:96" href="#fn:96">96</a> The 2026 tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever held, with 48 teams playing 104 matches. Sixty matches will take place in the US, including all matches from the quarter-finals onward, while Canada and Mexico will host 10 games each.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:97" href="#fn:97">97</a>

<h3>Summary by confederation</h3>
<table><tbody><tr><th scope="row">Confederation</th><th scope="col">Times hosted</th><th scope="col">Hosts</th><th scope="col">Upcoming hosts</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/UEFA/UafFnEBe">UEFA</a> (Europe)</td><td>11</td><td><a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934</a>, Italy; <a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938</a>, France, <a href="/facts/1954_FIFA_World_Cup/CUzGsByJ">1954</a>, Switzerland; <a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958</a>, Sweden; <a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup/C7XzzY4A">1966</a>, England; <a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup/fCAJfz5S">1974</a>, West Germany; <a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982</a>, Spain; <a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup/cvNEr17L">1990</a>, Italy; <a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998</a>, France; <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a>, Germany; <a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018</a>, Russia</td><td><a href="/facts/2030_FIFA_World_Cup/yXoW7BIp">2030</a>, Spain & Portugal</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/CONMEBOL/E3Wmq5W2">CONMEBOL</a> (South America)</td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">1930</a>, Uruguay; <a href="/facts/1950_FIFA_World_Cup/927qvnKS">1950</a>, Brazil; <a href="/facts/1962_FIFA_World_Cup/DJMC04QW">1962</a>, Chile; <a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">1978</a>, Argentina; <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014</a>, Brazil</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/CONCACAF/K1GMd3ez">CONCACAF</a> (North and Central America and Caribbean)</td><td>3</td><td><a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a>, Mexico; <a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986</a>, Mexico; <a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a>, United States</td><td><a href="/facts/2026_FIFA_World_Cup/3n9w4U81">2026</a>, Canada, Mexico & United States</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Asian_Football_Confederation/TjaaRohV">AFC</a> (Asia)</td><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a>, South Korea & Japan; <a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup/vN9s5YYA">2022</a>, Qatar</td><td><a href="/facts/2034_FIFA_World_Cup/HTUsPH6D">2034</a>, Saudi Arabia</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Confederation_of_African_Football/wet3pxLh">CAF</a> (Africa)</td><td>1</td><td><a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a>, South Africa</td><td><a href="/facts/2030_FIFA_World_Cup/yXoW7BIp">2030</a>, Morocco</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Oceania_Football_Confederation/c3qkzGEY">OFC</a> (Oceania)</td><td>0</td><td>none</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
<h3>Performances</h3>
See also: <a href="/facts/National_team_appearances_in_the_FIFA_World_Cup/NdgYo2KF">Results of host nations in the FIFA World Cup</a>
Six of the eight champions have won one of their titles while playing in their own homeland, the exceptions being <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a>, who finished as runners-up after losing the <a href="/facts/Uruguay_v_Brazil_(1950_FIFA_World_Cup)/olmIbJ0B">deciding match</a> on home soil in 1950 and lost their <a href="/facts/Brazil_v_Germany_(2014_FIFA_World_Cup)/FawpTAeN">semi-final</a> against Germany in 2014, and <a href="/facts/Spain_men%2527s_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a>, which reached the second round on home soil in 1982. <a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a> (1966) won its only title while playing as a host nation. <a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a> (1930), <a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a> (1934), <a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a> (1978), and <a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a> (1998) won their first titles as host nations but have gone on to win again, while <a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a> (1974) won their second title on home soil.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:98" href="#fn:98">98</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:99" href="#fn:99">99</a>
Other nations have also been successful when hosting the tournament. <a href="/facts/Switzerland_national_football_team/57Ts2BzC">Switzerland</a> (quarter-finals 1954), <a href="/facts/Sweden_men%2527s_national_football_team/dBtNsoJh">Sweden</a> (runners-up in 1958), <a href="/facts/Chile_national_football_team/v6e530hk">Chile</a> (third place in 1962), <a href="/facts/South_Korea_national_football_team/C4UXedx8">South Korea</a> (fourth place in 2002), <a href="/facts/Russia_national_football_team/AVQnWQ36">Russia</a> (quarter-finals 2018), and <a href="/facts/Mexico_national_football_team/59ksx3fe">Mexico</a> (quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986) all have their best results when serving as hosts.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:100" href="#fn:100">100</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:101" href="#fn:101">101</a> So far, <a href="/facts/South_Africa_national_football_team/xGCXE7lo">South Africa</a> (2010) and <a href="/facts/Qatar_national_football_team/ELcw1TwB">Qatar</a> (2022) failed to advance beyond the first round.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:102" href="#fn:102">102</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:103" href="#fn:103">103</a>

<h2 id="broadcasting-and-promotion">Broadcasting and promotion</h2>

The World Cup was first televised in 1954 and as of 2006<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FIFA_World_Cup&action=edit">[update]</a> is the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world. The cumulative viewership of all matches of the 2006 World Cup was estimated to be 26.29 billion.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:104" href="#fn:104">104</a> 715.1 million individuals watched the final match of the tournament, almost a ninth of the entire population of the planet. The 2006 World Cup draw, which decided the distribution of teams into groups, was watched by 300 million viewers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:105" href="#fn:105">105</a> The World Cup attracts major sponsors such as <a href="/facts/Coca-Cola/wbnCJYb6">Coca-Cola</a>, <a href="/facts/McDonald%2527s/Assda4qC">McDonald's</a> and <a href="/facts/Adidas/CNIQeaXj">Adidas</a>. For these companies and many more, being a sponsor strongly impacts their global brands. Host countries typically experience a multimillion-dollar revenue increase from the month-long event.
The governing body of the sport, <a href="/facts/FIFA/wC2aqLnn">FIFA</a>, generated $4.8 billion in revenue from the 2014 tournament,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:106" href="#fn:106">106</a> and $6.1 billion from the 2018 tournament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:107" href="#fn:107">107</a>

Each FIFA World Cup since 1966 has its own <a href="/facts/Mascot/JtJDx1s2">mascot</a> or logo. World Cup Willie, the mascot for the 1966 competition, was the first <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_mascots/ssQSAR6k">World Cup mascot</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:108" href="#fn:108">108</a> World Cups feature <a href="/facts/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_official_match_balls/e2sSSXj3">official match balls</a> specially designed for each tournament. After <a href="/facts/Slazenger/pAes0ay2">Slazenger</a> produced the ball for the 1966 World Cup Adidas became the official supplier to FIFA.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:109" href="#fn:109">109</a> Each World Cup also has an <a href="/facts/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_anthems_and_songs/mvSUT5uf">official song</a>, which have been performed by artists ranging from <a href="/facts/Shakira/rgLP12Am">Shakira</a> to <a href="/facts/Will_Smith/4sNGLYba">Will Smith</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:110" href="#fn:110">110</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:111" href="#fn:111">111</a> Other songs, such as "<a href="/facts/Nessun_dorma/dHdv0ogq">Nessun dorma</a>", performed by <a href="/facts/The_Three_Tenors/g3hl9c7E">The Three Tenors</a> at four World Cup concerts, have also become identified with the tournament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:112" href="#fn:112">112</a>

Forming a partnership with FIFA in 1970, <a href="/facts/Panini_Group/y0EflQAJ">Panini</a> published its first <a href="/facts/Sticker_album/R6XcLpwY">sticker album</a> for the 1970 World Cup.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:113" href="#fn:113">113</a> Since then, collecting and trading stickers and <a href="/facts/Association_football_trading_card/or7hR76y">cards</a> has become part of the World Cup experience, especially for the younger generation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:114" href="#fn:114">114</a> FIFA has licensed World Cup <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_video_games/k0wdSpRC">video games</a> since 1986, sponsored by <a href="/facts/Electronic_Arts/fy7Ppdem">Electronic Arts</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:115" href="#fn:115">115</a>
<h2 id="results">Results</h2>
See also: <a href="/facts/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_finals/rd8hNvqo">List of FIFA World Cup finals</a>
Key
<ul><li>a.e.t.: result/match won <a href="/facts/Overtime_(sports)/dgP1IbLD">after extra time</a></li>
<li>p: match won after <a href="/facts/Penalty_shoot-out_(association_football)/9kEox0Ny">penalty shoot-out</a></li></ul>
<table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Ed.</th><th rowspan="2">Year</th><th rowspan="2">Hosts</th><td rowspan="30"></td><th colspan="3">Final</th><td rowspan="30"></td><th colspan="3">Third place playoff</th><td rowspan="30"></td><th rowspan="2">No. ofteams</th></tr><tr><th>Champions</th><th>Score</th><th>Runners-up</th><th>Third place</th><th>Score</th><th>Fourth place</th></tr><tr><th>1</th><td><a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">1930</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Uruguay/X6V0apCb">Uruguay</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup_final/oQekk9np">4–2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_men%2527s_national_soccer_team/qzeWseWK">United States</a></td><td>–<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:116" href="#fn:116">116</a> </td><td><a href="/facts/Yugoslavia_national_football_team/BB1S6aU4">Yugoslavia</a></td><td>13</td></tr><tr><th>2</th><td><a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup_final/Ty5DyvHj">2–1</a> (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Czechoslovakia_national_football_team/93jBBW3D">Czechoslovakia</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a></td><td>3–2</td><td><a href="/facts/Austria_national_football_team/VNzq7eCS">Austria</a></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><th>3</th><td><a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup_final/Hcy88Vk6">4–2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Hungary_national_football_team/RhEIJrNx">Hungary</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td>4–2</td><td><a href="/facts/Sweden_men%2527s_national_football_team/dBtNsoJh">Sweden</a></td><td>15</td></tr><tr><th>–</th><td><a href="/facts/History_of_the_FIFA_World_Cup/Y7wtocTy">1942</a></td><td rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2">(Not held because of <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>)</td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2">(Not held because of <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>)</td><td rowspan="2">–</td></tr><tr><th>–</th><td>1946</td></tr><tr><th>4</th><td><a href="/facts/1950_FIFA_World_Cup/927qvnKS">1950</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Uruguay_v_Brazil_(1950_FIFA_World_Cup)/olmIbJ0B">2–1</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:117" href="#fn:117">117</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Sweden_men%2527s_national_football_team/dBtNsoJh">Sweden</a></td><td>3–1<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:118" href="#fn:118">118</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Spain_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a></td><td>13</td></tr><tr><th>5</th><td><a href="/facts/1954_FIFA_World_Cup/CUzGsByJ">1954</a></td><td>  <a href="/facts/Switzerland/LcGuxeTe">Switzerland</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1954_FIFA_World_Cup_final/eaqy6XA7">3–2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Hungary_national_football_team/RhEIJrNx">Hungary</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Austria_national_football_team/VNzq7eCS">Austria</a></td><td>3–1</td><td><a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><th>6</th><td><a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Sweden/u3qC7lyj">Sweden</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup_final/sMBArg0m">5–2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Sweden_men%2527s_national_football_team/dBtNsoJh">Sweden</a></td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td>6–3</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><th>7</th><td><a href="/facts/1962_FIFA_World_Cup/DJMC04QW">1962</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Chile/uEyTfEcx">Chile</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1962_FIFA_World_Cup_final/Vf0u390n">3–1</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Czechoslovakia_national_football_team/93jBBW3D">Czechoslovakia</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Chile_national_football_team/v6e530hk">Chile</a></td><td>1–0</td><td><a href="/facts/Yugoslavia_national_football_team/BB1S6aU4">Yugoslavia</a></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><th>8</th><td><a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup/C7XzzY4A">1966</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/England/U9mE5bGL">England</a></td><td><a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup_final/n2ywWsI8">4–2</a> (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Portugal_national_football_team/npcIh0mR">Portugal</a></td><td>2–1</td><td><a href="/facts/Soviet_Union_national_football_team/djIetvsR">Soviet Union</a></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><th>9</th><td><a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Mexico/IT5bwhdh">Mexico</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup_final/bJ03JEfK">4–1</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td><td>1–0</td><td><a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><th>10</th><td><a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup/fCAJfz5S">1974</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/West_Germany/oCydk787">West Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup_final/zKybHkWY">2–1</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Netherlands_national_football_team/eqI4UYlE">Netherlands</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Poland_national_football_team/hBrcyFUN">Poland</a></td><td>1–0</td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><th>11</th><td><a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">1978</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Argentina/aFSA5bAk">Argentina</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup_final/YyVY0J5e">3–1</a> (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Netherlands_national_football_team/eqI4UYlE">Netherlands</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td>2–1</td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><th>12</th><td><a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Spain/bIyrB8EY">Spain</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup_final/QMk9W0IC">3–1</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Poland_national_football_team/hBrcyFUN">Poland</a></td><td>3–2</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td>24</td></tr><tr><th>13</th><td><a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Mexico/IT5bwhdh">Mexico</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup_final/v7EBjonY">3–2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td>4–2 (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR">Belgium</a></td><td>24</td></tr><tr><th>14</th><td><a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup/cvNEr17L">1990</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup_final/AJDf8wkm">1–0</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td>2–1</td><td><a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a></td><td>24</td></tr><tr><th>15</th><td><a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup_final/ReEk97jY">0–0</a> (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)(3–2 <a href="/facts/Penalty_shoot-out_(association_football)/9kEox0Ny">p</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Sweden_men%2527s_national_football_team/dBtNsoJh">Sweden</a></td><td>4–0</td><td><a href="/facts/Bulgaria_national_football_team/FYVTmcEf">Bulgaria</a></td><td>24</td></tr><tr><th>16</th><td><a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup_final/yJxnMo6A">3–0</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Croatia_national_football_team/tdxQlPSD">Croatia</a></td><td>2–1</td><td><a href="/facts/Netherlands_national_football_team/eqI4UYlE">Netherlands</a></td><td>32</td></tr><tr><th>17</th><td><a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/South_Korea/pCobAaVw">South Korea</a> <a href="/facts/Japan/U5mz0SRT">Japan</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup_final/jRRaIVk0">2–0</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Turkey_national_football_team/cIgQ9f9G">Turkey</a></td><td>3–2</td><td><a href="/facts/South_Korea_national_football_team/C4UXedx8">South Korea</a></td><td>32</td></tr><tr><th>18</th><td><a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_final/9JW1CVJm">1–1</a> (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)(5–3 <a href="/facts/Penalty_shoot-out_(association_football)/9kEox0Ny">p</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a></td><td>3–1</td><td><a href="/facts/Portugal_national_football_team/npcIh0mR">Portugal</a></td><td>32</td></tr><tr><th>19</th><td><a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">South Africa</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Spain_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_final/XGExJp2l">1–0</a> (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Netherlands_national_football_team/eqI4UYlE">Netherlands</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a></td><td>3–2</td><td><a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a></td><td>32</td></tr><tr><th>20</th><td><a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL">Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_final/gNFoLf0e">1–0</a> (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Netherlands_national_football_team/eqI4UYlE">Netherlands</a></td><td>3–0</td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td>32</td></tr><tr><th>21</th><td><a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a></td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_final/YGTowkYK">4–2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Croatia_national_football_team/tdxQlPSD">Croatia</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR">Belgium</a></td><td>2–0</td><td><a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a></td><td>32</td></tr><tr><th>22</th><td><a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup/vN9s5YYA">2022</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Qatar/K4EkNXJE">Qatar</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_final/EkN3vJCk">3–3</a> (<a href="/facts/Extra_time_(association_football)/dgP1IbLD">a.e.t.</a>)(4–2 <a href="/facts/Penalty_shoot-out_(association_football)/9kEox0Ny">p</a>)</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Croatia_national_football_team/tdxQlPSD">Croatia</a></td><td>2–1</td><td><a href="/facts/Morocco_national_football_team/8S5528Gd">Morocco</a></td><td>32</td></tr><tr><th>23</th><td><a href="/facts/2026_FIFA_World_Cup/3n9w4U81">2026</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Canada/cWWFM8oc">Canada</a> <a href="/facts/Mexico/IT5bwhdh">Mexico</a> <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>48</td></tr><tr><th>24</th><td><a href="/facts/2030_FIFA_World_Cup/yXoW7BIp">2030</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Morocco/6ly8170M">Morocco</a> <a href="/facts/Portugal/lYzwDQ63">Portugal</a> <a href="/facts/Spain/bIyrB8EY">Spain</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:119" href="#fn:119">119</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>48</td></tr><tr><th>25</th><td><a href="/facts/2034_FIFA_World_Cup/HTUsPH6D">2034</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Saudi_Arabia/uyUpe1J2">Saudi Arabia</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>48</td></tr></tbody></table>
Notes

In all, 80 nations have <a href="/facts/National_team_appearances_in_the_FIFA_World_Cup/NdgYo2KF">played in at least one World Cup</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:120" href="#fn:120">120</a> Of these, eight national teams have won the World Cup,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:121" href="#fn:121">121</a> and they have added <a href="/facts/Star_(football_badge)/9ueT0HHn">stars to their badges</a>, with each star representing a World Cup victory. Uruguay, however, chose to display <a href="/facts/Four_stars_above_Uruguay%2527s_football_crest/V8cCxMlL">four stars on their badge</a>, representing their two gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics, which are recognized by FIFA as World Championships, and their two World Cup titles in 1930 and 1950.
With five titles, Brazil are the most successful World Cup team and also the only nation to have <a href="/facts/National_team_appearances_in_the_FIFA_World_Cup/NdgYo2KF">played in every World Cup</a> (22) to date.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:122" href="#fn:122">122</a> Brazil were also the first team to win the World Cup for the third (1970), fourth (1994) and fifth (2002) time. Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) are the only nations to have won consecutive titles. West Germany (1982–1990) and Brazil (1994–2002) are the only nations to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals. Germany has made the most top-four finishes (13), medals (12), as well as the most finals (8).

<h3>Teams reaching the top four</h3>
See also: <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_records_and_statistics/nM8d6oMz">FIFA World Cup records and statistics</a> and <a href="/facts/National_team_appearances_in_the_FIFA_World_Cup/NdgYo2KF">National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup</a>
Teams reaching the top four<table><tbody><tr><th>Team</th><th>Titles</th><th>Runners-up</th><th>Third place</th><th>Fourth place</th><th>Top 4 total</th></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td>5 (<a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958</a>, <a href="/facts/1962_FIFA_World_Cup/DJMC04QW">1962</a>, <a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a>, <a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a>, <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a>)</td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1950_FIFA_World_Cup/927qvnKS">1950</a> *, <a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998</a>)</td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938</a>, <a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">1978</a>)</td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup/fCAJfz5S">1974</a>, <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014</a> *)</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a>1</td><td>4 (<a href="/facts/1954_FIFA_World_Cup/CUzGsByJ">1954</a>, <a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup/fCAJfz5S">1974</a> *, <a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup/cvNEr17L">1990</a>, <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014</a>)</td><td>4 (<a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup/C7XzzY4A">1966</a>, <a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982</a>, <a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986</a>, <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a>)</td><td>4 (<a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934</a>, <a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a>, <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a> *, <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958</a>)</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td>4 (<a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934</a> *, <a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938</a>, <a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982</a>, <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a>)</td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a>, <a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup/cvNEr17L">1990</a> *)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">1978</a>)</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td><td>3 (<a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">1978</a> *, <a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986</a>, <a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup/vN9s5YYA">2022</a>)</td><td>3 (<a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">1930</a>, <a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup/cvNEr17L">1990</a>, <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014</a>)</td><td></td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998</a> *, <a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018</a>)</td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a>, <a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup/vN9s5YYA">2022</a>)</td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958</a>, <a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982</a>)</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a></td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">1930</a> *, <a href="/facts/1950_FIFA_World_Cup/927qvnKS">1950</a>)</td><td></td><td></td><td>3 (<a href="/facts/1954_FIFA_World_Cup/CUzGsByJ">1954</a>, <a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a>, <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a>)</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup/C7XzzY4A">1966</a> *)</td><td></td><td></td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup/cvNEr17L">1990</a>, <a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018</a>)</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Spain_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a>)</td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1950_FIFA_World_Cup/927qvnKS">1950</a>)</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Netherlands_national_football_team/eqI4UYlE">Netherlands</a></td><td></td><td>3 (<a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup/fCAJfz5S">1974</a>, <a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">1978</a>, <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998</a>)</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Hungary_national_football_team/RhEIJrNx">Hungary</a></td><td></td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938</a>, <a href="/facts/1954_FIFA_World_Cup/CUzGsByJ">1954</a>)</td><td></td><td></td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Czech_Republic_national_football_team/WhmoSCfv">Czech Republic</a>2</td><td></td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934</a>, <a href="/facts/1962_FIFA_World_Cup/DJMC04QW">1962</a>)</td><td></td><td></td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Sweden_men%2527s_national_football_team/dBtNsoJh">Sweden</a></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958</a> *)</td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1950_FIFA_World_Cup/927qvnKS">1950</a>, <a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938</a>)</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Croatia_national_football_team/tdxQlPSD">Croatia</a></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018</a>)</td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998</a>, <a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup/vN9s5YYA">2022</a>)</td><td></td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Poland_national_football_team/hBrcyFUN">Poland</a></td><td></td><td></td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup/fCAJfz5S">1974</a>, <a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982</a>)</td><td></td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Austria_national_football_team/VNzq7eCS">Austria</a></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1954_FIFA_World_Cup/CUzGsByJ">1954</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934</a>)</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Portugal_national_football_team/npcIh0mR">Portugal</a></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup/C7XzzY4A">1966</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a>)</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR">Belgium</a></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018</a>)</td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986</a>)</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/United_States_men%2527s_national_soccer_team/qzeWseWK">United States</a></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">1930</a>)</td><td></td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Chile_national_football_team/v6e530hk">Chile</a></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1962_FIFA_World_Cup/DJMC04QW">1962</a> *)</td><td></td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Turkey_national_football_team/cIgQ9f9G">Turkey</a></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a>)</td><td></td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Serbia_national_football_team/0ULIz0rq">Serbia</a>3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2 (<a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">1930</a>, <a href="/facts/1962_FIFA_World_Cup/DJMC04QW">1962</a>)</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Russia_national_football_team/AVQnWQ36">Russia</a>4</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup/C7XzzY4A">1966</a>)</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Bulgaria_national_football_team/FYVTmcEf">Bulgaria</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a>)</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/South_Korea_national_football_team/C4UXedx8">South Korea</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a> *)</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Morocco_national_football_team/8S5528Gd">Morocco</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1 (<a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup/vN9s5YYA">2022</a>)</td><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table>
* hosts
1 includes results representing <a href="/facts/List_of_men%2527s_national_association_football_teams/Q6UDsByy">West Germany</a> (1954-1990)
2 includes results representing <a href="/facts/Czechoslovakia_national_football_team/93jBBW3D">Czechoslovakia</a> (1934-1990)
3 includes results representing <a href="/facts/Yugoslavia_national_football_team/BB1S6aU4">Yugoslavia</a> (1930-1990) and <a href="/facts/Serbia_and_Montenegro_national_football_team/FHClUNr9">FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro</a> (1998-2006)
4 includes results representing the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Union_national_football_team/djIetvsR">Soviet Union</a> (1958-1990)
<h3>Best performances by confederations</h3>
See also: <a href="/facts/National_team_appearances_in_the_FIFA_World_Cup/NdgYo2KF">FIFA World Cup results by confederation</a>

To date, the final of the World Cup has only been contested by teams from the <a href="/facts/UEFA/UafFnEBe">UEFA</a> (Europe) and <a href="/facts/CONMEBOL/E3Wmq5W2">CONMEBOL</a> (South America) confederations. European nations have won twelve titles, while South American nations have won ten. Only three teams from outside these two continents have ever reached the semi-finals of the competition: <a href="/facts/United_States_men%2527s_national_soccer_team/qzeWseWK">United States</a> (<a href="/facts/CONCACAF/K1GMd3ez">North, Central America and Caribbean</a>) in 1930; <a href="/facts/South_Korea_national_football_team/C4UXedx8">South Korea</a> (<a href="/facts/Asian_Football_Confederation/TjaaRohV">Asia</a>) in 2002; and <a href="/facts/Morocco_national_football_team/8S5528Gd">Morocco</a> (<a href="/facts/Confederation_of_African_Football/wet3pxLh">Africa</a>) in 2022. Only one <a href="/facts/Oceania_Football_Confederation/c3qkzGEY">Oceanian</a> qualifier, <a href="/facts/Australia_men%2527s_national_soccer_team/L2GGwUaW">Australia</a> in 2006, has advanced to the second round, a feat they later reaccomplished in 2022.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:123" href="#fn:123">123</a>
<a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a>, <a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a>, <a href="/facts/Spain_men%2527s_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a> and <a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a> are the only teams to win a World Cup hosted outside their continental confederation; Brazil came out victorious in <a href="/facts/UEFA/UafFnEBe">Europe</a> (<a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958</a>), <a href="/facts/CONCACAF/K1GMd3ez">North America</a> (<a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a> and <a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a>) and <a href="/facts/Asian_Football_Confederation/TjaaRohV">Asia</a> (<a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a>). Argentina won a World Cup in North America in <a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986</a> and in Asia in <a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup/vN9s5YYA">2022</a>. Spain won in <a href="/facts/Confederation_of_African_Football/wet3pxLh">Africa</a> in <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a>. In <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014</a>, Germany became the first and so far the only European team to win in the Americas. Only on five occasions have consecutive World Cups been won by teams from the same continent; the longest streak of tournaments won by a single confederation is four, with the <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a>, <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010</a>, <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014</a>, and <a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018</a> tournaments all won by UEFA teams (Italy, Spain, Germany, and France, respectively).

Total times teams qualified by confederation<table><tbody><tr><th scope="row">Confederation</th><th scope="col"><a href="/facts/Asian_Football_Confederation/TjaaRohV">AFC</a></th><th scope="col"><a href="/facts/Confederation_of_African_Football/wet3pxLh">CAF</a></th><th scope="col"><a href="/facts/CONCACAF/K1GMd3ez">CONCACAF</a></th><th scope="col"><a href="/facts/CONMEBOL/E3Wmq5W2">CONMEBOL</a></th><th scope="col"><a href="/facts/Oceania_Football_Confederation/c3qkzGEY">OFC</a></th><th scope="col"><a href="/facts/UEFA/UafFnEBe">UEFA</a></th><th scope="col">Total</th></tr><tr><td>Teams</td><td>43</td><td>49</td><td>46</td><td>89</td><td>4</td><td>258</td><td>489</td></tr><tr><td>Top 16</td><td>9</td><td>11</td><td>15</td><td>37</td><td>1</td><td>99</td><td>172</td></tr><tr><td>Top 8</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>36</td><td>0</td><td>105</td><td>152</td></tr><tr><td>Top 4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>23</td><td>0</td><td>62</td><td>88</td></tr><tr><td>Top 2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>15</td><td>0</td><td>29</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>4th</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>15</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>3rd</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>18</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>2nd</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>17</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>1st</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>12</td><td>22</td></tr></tbody></table>
<h2 id="records-and-statistics">Records and statistics</h2>
Main article: <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_records_and_statistics/nM8d6oMz">FIFA World Cup records and statistics</a>
See also: <a href="/facts/List_of_players_who_have_appeared_in_the_most_FIFA_World_Cups/EVTAvPaf">List of players who have appeared in the most FIFA World Cups</a>, <a href="/facts/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_winning_players/XV2khj9u">List of FIFA World Cup winning players</a>, and <a href="/facts/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_winning_managers/1kTwqJNn">List of FIFA World Cup winning managers</a>

Six players share the record for <a href="/facts/List_of_players_who_have_appeared_in_multiple_FIFA_World_Cups/EVTAvPaf">playing in the most World Cups</a>; <a href="/facts/Mexico_national_football_team/59ksx3fe">Mexico</a>'s <a href="/facts/Antonio_Carbajal/yrBADwLp">Antonio Carbajal</a> (1950–1966). <a href="/facts/Rafael_M%25C3%25A1rquez/85zWFRXa">Rafael Márquez</a> (2002–2018), and <a href="/facts/Andr%25C3%25A9s_Guardado/kXuE31fm">Andrés Guardado</a> (2006–2022); <a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a>'s <a href="/facts/Lothar_Matth%25C3%25A4us/SCgkjMV0">Lothar Matthäus</a> (1982–1998); <a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a>'s <a href="/facts/Lionel_Messi/6nXmXIUH">Lionel Messi</a> (2006–2022); and <a href="/facts/Portugal_national_football_team/npcIh0mR">Portugal</a>'s <a href="/facts/Cristiano_Ronaldo/VLjh5zRU">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> (2006–2022) all played in five tournaments, with Ronaldo also being the first and only player to score in five tournaments.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:124" href="#fn:124">124</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:125" href="#fn:125">125</a> Messi has played the most World Cup matches overall, with 26 appearances.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:126" href="#fn:126">126</a> <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a>'s <a href="/facts/Djalma_Santos/xgkbH4pS">Djalma Santos</a> (1954–1962), West Germany's <a href="/facts/Franz_Beckenbauer/kQKI8GND">Franz Beckenbauer</a> (1966–1974), and Germany's <a href="/facts/Philipp_Lahm/wwU28Erx">Philipp Lahm</a> (2006–2014) are the only players to be named to three World Cup <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_awards/zeCdHlrY">All-Star Teams</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:127" href="#fn:127">127</a>
<a href="/facts/Miroslav_Klose/JoGD8SxU">Miroslav Klose</a> of Germany (2002–2014) is the all-time top scorer at the World Cup with 16 goals. He broke <a href="/facts/Ronaldo_(Brazilian_footballer)/AEmxjPQe">Ronaldo</a> of Brazil's record of 15 goals (1998–2006) during the <a href="/facts/Brazil_v_Germany_(2014_FIFA_World_Cup)/FawpTAeN">2014 semi-final match against Brazil</a>. West Germany's <a href="/facts/Gerd_M%25C3%25BCller/VXQ9bv4H">Gerd Müller</a> (1970–1974) is third, with 14 goals.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:128" href="#fn:128">128</a> The fourth-placed goalscorer, <a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a>'s <a href="/facts/Just_Fontaine/m6wYLThm">Just Fontaine</a>, holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup; all his 13 goals were scored in the 1958 tournament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:129" href="#fn:129">129</a>

In November 2007, FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be retroactively awarded winners' medals.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:130" href="#fn:130">130</a> This made Brazil's <a href="/facts/Pel%25C3%25A9/bYfr3vzA">Pelé</a> the only player to have won three World Cup winners' medals (1958, 1962, and 1970, although he did not play in the 1962 final due to injury),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:131" href="#fn:131">131</a> with <a href="/facts/List_of_players_who_have_won_multiple_FIFA_World_Cups/XV2khj9u">20 other players who have won two winners' medals</a>. Seven players have collected all three types of World Cup medals (winners', runner- ups', and third-place); five players were from West Germany's squad of 1966–1974: Franz Beckenbauer, <a href="/facts/J%25C3%25BCrgen_Grabowski/kmMqUgxz">Jürgen Grabowski</a>, <a href="/facts/Horst-Dieter_H%25C3%25B6ttges/HFImr6oV">Horst-Dieter Höttges</a>, <a href="/facts/Sepp_Maier/H3UzyyNl">Sepp Maier</a>, and <a href="/facts/Wolfgang_Overath/fb5RNNLM">Wolfgang Overath</a> (1966–1974), Italy's <a href="/facts/Franco_Baresi/MsIWTvhB">Franco Baresi</a> (1982, 1990, 1994) and the most recent has been <a href="/facts/Miroslav_Klose/JoGD8SxU">Miroslav Klose</a> of Germany (2002–2014) with four consecutive medals.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:132" href="#fn:132">132</a>
Brazil's <a href="/facts/M%25C3%25A1rio_Zagallo/CbX1tSnF">Mário Zagallo</a>, West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer and France's <a href="/facts/Didier_Deschamps/7ws7L8DV">Didier Deschamps</a> are the only people to date to win the World Cup as both player and head coach. Zagallo won in 1958 and 1962 as a player and in 1970 as head coach.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:133" href="#fn:133">133</a> Beckenbauer won in 1974 as captain and in 1990 as head coach,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:134" href="#fn:134">134</a> and Deschamps repeated the feat in 2018, after having won in 1998 as captain.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:135" href="#fn:135">135</a> <a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a>'s <a href="/facts/Vittorio_Pozzo/aRPVybCF">Vittorio Pozzo</a> is the only head coach to ever win two World Cups (1934 and 1938).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:136" href="#fn:136">136</a> All World Cup-winning head coaches were natives of the country they coached to victory.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:137" href="#fn:137">137</a>
Among the national teams, Brazil has played the most World Cup matches (114), Germany appeared in the most finals (8), semi-finals (13), and quarter-finals (16), while Brazil has appeared in the most World Cups (22), has the most wins (76) and has scored the most goals (237).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:138" href="#fn:138">138</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:139" href="#fn:139">139</a> The two teams have played each other twice in the World Cup, in the <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup_Final/jRRaIVk0">2002 final</a> and in the <a href="/facts/Brazil_v_Germany_(2014_FIFA_World_Cup)/FawpTAeN">2014 semi-final</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:140" href="#fn:140">140</a>

<h3>Top goalscorers</h3>
Main article: <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_top_goalscorers/evXaMazj">FIFA World Cup top goalscorers</a>
Individual
Players in bold are still active.

<table><tbody><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Player</th><th>Goals</th><th>Matches</th><th>Goals per game</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Miroslav_Klose/JoGD8SxU">Miroslav Klose</a></td><td>16</td><td>24</td><td>0.67</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Ronaldo_(Brazilian_footballer)/AEmxjPQe">Ronaldo</a></td><td>15</td><td>19</td><td>0.84</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Gerd_M%25C3%25BCller/VXQ9bv4H">Gerd Müller</a></td><td>14</td><td>13</td><td>1.08</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">4</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Just_Fontaine/m6wYLThm">Just Fontaine</a></td><td>13</td><td>6</td><td>2.17</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Lionel_Messi/6nXmXIUH">Lionel Messi</a></td><td>13</td><td>26</td><td>0.50</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">6</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Kylian_Mbapp%25C3%25A9/oxXXQlso">Kylian Mbappé</a></td><td>12</td><td>14</td><td>0.86</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Pel%25C3%25A9/bYfr3vzA">Pelé</a></td><td>12</td><td>14</td><td>0.86</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">8</td><td><a href="/facts/Hungary_national_football_team/RhEIJrNx"></a> <a href="/facts/S%25C3%25A1ndor_Kocsis/tfkFnAWK">Sándor Kocsis</a></td><td>11</td><td>5</td><td>2.20</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/J%25C3%25BCrgen_Klinsmann/Wdzo2gkI">Jürgen Klinsmann</a></td><td>11</td><td>17</td><td>0.65</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="6">10</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Helmut_Rahn/8Wwpu08k">Helmut Rahn</a></td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>1.00</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Gabriel_Batistuta/d8D0BJKq">Gabriel Batistuta</a></td><td>10</td><td>12</td><td>0.83</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t"></a> <a href="/facts/Gary_Lineker/tQI2SD7Q">Gary Lineker</a></td><td>10</td><td>12</td><td>0.83</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Peru_national_football_team/oxRNp31D"></a> <a href="/facts/Te%25C3%25B3filo_Cubillas/Q74LXAtH">Teófilo Cubillas</a></td><td>10</td><td>13</td><td>0.77</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Thomas_M%25C3%25BCller/qYS1hqVJ">Thomas Müller</a></td><td>10</td><td>19</td><td>0.53</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Poland_national_football_team/hBrcyFUN"></a> <a href="/facts/Grzegorz_Lato/43shp5wP">Grzegorz Lato</a></td><td>10</td><td>20</td><td>0.50</td></tr></tbody></table>
Country
<table><tbody><tr><th>Rank</th><th>National team</th><th>Goals scored</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td> <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td><td>237</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td> <a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">Germany</a></td><td>232</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td> <a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td><td>152</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td> <a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td><td>136</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td> <a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC">Italy</a></td><td>128</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td> <a href="/facts/Spain_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a></td><td>108</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td> <a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a></td><td>104</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td> <a href="/facts/Netherlands_national_football_team/eqI4UYlE">Netherlands</a></td><td>96</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td> <a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD">Uruguay</a></td><td>89</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td> <a href="/facts/Hungary_national_football_team/RhEIJrNx">Hungary</a></td><td>87</td></tr></tbody></table>
<h2 id="awards">Awards</h2>
Main article: <a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_awards/zeCdHlrY">FIFA World Cup awards</a>
At the end of each World Cup, awards are presented to the players and teams for accomplishments other than their final team positions in the tournament.

<ul><li>There are five post-tournament awards from the FIFA Technical Study Group:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:141" href="#fn:141">141</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:142" href="#fn:142">142</a></li></ul>

<ul><li><ul><li>the Golden Ball (named for its sponsor "<a href="/facts/Adidas/CNIQeaXj">Adidas</a> Golden Ball") for best player, first awarded in <a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982</a>;</li>
<li>the Golden Boot (named for its sponsor "Adidas Golden Boot", formerly known as the "adidas Golden Shoe" from 1982 to 2006) for top goalscorer, first awarded in 1982;</li>
<li>the Golden Glove (named for its sponsor "Adidas Golden Glove", formerly known as the "<a href="/facts/Lev_Yashin/XeFzgC4V">Lev Yashin</a> Award" from 1994 to 2006) for best goalkeeper, first awarded in <a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994</a>;</li>
<li>the FIFA Young Player Award (formerly known as the "Best Young Player Award" from 2006 to 2010) for best player under 21 years of age at the start of the calendar year, first awarded in <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a>;</li>
<li>the FIFA Fair Play Trophy for the team that advanced to the second round with the best record of fair play, first awarded in <a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970</a>.</li></ul></li>
<li>There is currently one award voted on by fans during the tournament.:
<ul><li>the Player of the Match (currently commercially termed "<a href="/facts/Budweiser/aLUrYpMI">Budweiser</a> Player of the Match", formerly known as the "Man of the Match" from 2002 to 2018) for outstanding performance during each match of the tournament, first awarded in <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002</a>.</li></ul></li>
<li>There are two awards voted on by fans after the conclusion of the tournament:
<ul><li>the Goal of the Tournament, (currently commercially termed "<a href="/facts/Hyundai_Motor_Company/5mpP2VyW">Hyundai</a> Goal of the Tournament") for the fans' best goal scored during the tournament, first awarded in <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006</a>;</li>
<li>the Most Entertaining Team during the World Cup final tournament, as determined by a poll of the general public.</li></ul></li>
<li>One other award was given between 1994 and 2006:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:143" href="#fn:143">143</a>
<ul><li>an All-Star Team comprising the best players of the tournament chosen by the FIFA Technical Study Group. From 2010 onwards, all Dream Teams or Statistical Teams are unofficial, as reported by FIFA itself.</li></ul></li></ul>
<table><tbody><tr><th>World Cup</th><th>Golden Ball</th><th>Golden Boot</th><th>Goals</th><th>Golden Glove</th><th>Clean sheets</th><th>FIFA Young Player Award</th><th>FIFA Fair Play Trophy</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Uruguay/X6V0apCb"></a> <a href="/facts/1930_FIFA_World_Cup/5TPQUNyL">1930 Uruguay</a></td><td rowspan="11">Not Awarded</td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Guillermo_St%25C3%25A1bile/K7Bevbk7">Guillermo Stábile</a></td><td>8</td><td rowspan="14">Not Awarded</td><td rowspan="14">N/A</td><td rowspan="5">Not Awarded</td><td rowspan="8">Not Awarded</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF"></a> <a href="/facts/1934_FIFA_World_Cup/jsfeHNtf">1934 Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Czechoslovakia_national_football_team/93jBBW3D"></a> <a href="/facts/Old%25C5%2599ich_Nejedl%25C3%25BD/qSHz3f1g">Oldřich Nejedlý</a></td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3"></a> <a href="/facts/1938_FIFA_World_Cup/bhzDBP1G">1938 France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Le%25C3%25B4nidas/1J9hczSk">Leônidas</a></td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL"></a> <a href="/facts/1950_FIFA_World_Cup/927qvnKS">1950 Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Ademir_Marques_de_Menezes/R3s8f9sV">Ademir</a></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Switzerland/LcGuxeTe"></a> <a href="/facts/1954_FIFA_World_Cup/CUzGsByJ">1954 Switzerland</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Hungary_national_football_team/RhEIJrNx"></a> <a href="/facts/S%25C3%25A1ndor_Kocsis/tfkFnAWK">Sándor Kocsis</a></td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Sweden/u3qC7lyj"></a> <a href="/facts/1958_FIFA_World_Cup/BCQYCTBb">1958 Sweden</a></td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Just_Fontaine/m6wYLThm">Just Fontaine</a></td><td>13</td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Pel%25C3%25A9/bYfr3vzA">Pelé</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Chile/uEyTfEcx"></a> <a href="/facts/1962_FIFA_World_Cup/DJMC04QW">1962 Chile</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Hungary_national_football_team/RhEIJrNx"></a> <a href="/facts/Fl%25C3%25B3ri%25C3%25A1n_Albert/8Xa8o0va">Flórián Albert</a><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Garrincha/Ao8nl3uY">Garrincha</a><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Vav%25C3%25A1/YvXMoW7U">Vavá</a><a href="/facts/Soviet_Union_national_football_team/djIetvsR"></a> <a href="/facts/Valentin_Kozmich_Ivanov/DyPnecwH">Valentin Ivanov</a><a href="/facts/Yugoslavia_national_football_team/BB1S6aU4"></a> <a href="/facts/Dra%25C5%25BEan_Jerkovi%25C4%2587/1LFzEJV8">Dražan Jerković</a><a href="/facts/Chile_national_football_team/v6e530hk"></a> <a href="/facts/Leonel_S%25C3%25A1nchez/PVcAQUUc">Leonel Sánchez</a></td><td>4</td><td><a href="/facts/Hungary_national_football_team/RhEIJrNx"></a> <a href="/facts/Fl%25C3%25B3ri%25C3%25A1n_Albert/8Xa8o0va">Flórián Albert</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/England/U9mE5bGL"></a> <a href="/facts/1966_FIFA_World_Cup/C7XzzY4A">1966 England</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Portugal_national_football_team/npcIh0mR"></a> <a href="/facts/Eus%25C3%25A9bio/aMXyEqBR">Eusébio</a></td><td>9</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Franz_Beckenbauer/kQKI8GND">Franz Beckenbauer</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mexico/IT5bwhdh"></a> <a href="/facts/1970_FIFA_World_Cup/2X8zqfLd">1970 Mexico</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Gerd_M%25C3%25BCller/VXQ9bv4H">Gerd Müller</a></td><td>10</td><td><a href="/facts/Peru_national_football_team/oxRNp31D"></a> <a href="/facts/Te%25C3%25B3filo_Cubillas/Q74LXAtH">Teófilo Cubillas</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Peru_national_football_team/oxRNp31D">Peru</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/West_Germany/oCydk787"></a> <a href="/facts/1974_FIFA_World_Cup/fCAJfz5S">1974 West Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Poland_national_football_team/hBrcyFUN"></a> <a href="/facts/Grzegorz_Lato/43shp5wP">Grzegorz Lato</a></td><td>7</td><td><a href="/facts/Poland_national_football_team/hBrcyFUN"></a> <a href="/facts/W%25C5%2582adys%25C5%2582aw_%25C5%25BBmuda/9XmCAHsR">Władysław Żmuda</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd">West Germany</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Argentina/aFSA5bAk"></a> <a href="/facts/1978_FIFA_World_Cup/XT51Kt0n">1978 Argentina</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Mario_Kempes/tKPVyeKe">Mario Kempes</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC"></a> <a href="/facts/Antonio_Cabrini/dpgf2fj1">Antonio Cabrini</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL">Argentina</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Spain/bIyrB8EY"></a> <a href="/facts/1982_FIFA_World_Cup/Bk0pC4px">1982 Spain</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC"></a> <a href="/facts/Paolo_Rossi/jFznbG7j">Paolo Rossi</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC"></a> <a href="/facts/Paolo_Rossi/jFznbG7j">Paolo Rossi</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Manuel_Amoros/KpkL3ySN">Manuel Amoros</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mexico/IT5bwhdh"></a> <a href="/facts/1986_FIFA_World_Cup/2AmKyPkr">1986 Mexico</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Diego_Maradona/h3CpnNMt">Diego Maradona</a></td><td><a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t"></a> <a href="/facts/Gary_Lineker/tQI2SD7Q">Gary Lineker</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR"></a> <a href="/facts/Enzo_Scifo/2LqVn5d8">Enzo Scifo</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF"></a> <a href="/facts/1990_FIFA_World_Cup/cvNEr17L">1990 Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC"></a> <a href="/facts/Salvatore_Schillaci/v67TWXNs">Salvatore Schillaci</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC"></a> <a href="/facts/Salvatore_Schillaci/v67TWXNs">Salvatore Schillaci</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/Yugoslavia_national_football_team/BB1S6aU4"></a> <a href="/facts/Robert_Prosine%25C4%258Dki/ScV3UDCB">Robert Prosinečki</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/1994_FIFA_World_Cup/17zzH74g">1994 United States</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Rom%25C3%25A1rio/ePkckfdm">Romário</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Russia_national_football_team/AVQnWQ36"></a> <a href="/facts/Oleg_Salenko/X4r6u8gn">Oleg Salenko</a><a href="/facts/Bulgaria_national_football_team/FYVTmcEf"></a> <a href="/facts/Hristo_Stoichkov/YqCKPGX5">Hristo Stoichkov</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR"></a> <a href="/facts/Michel_Preud%2527homme/V5BFyIXY">Michel Preud'homme</a></td><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/Netherlands_national_football_team/eqI4UYlE"></a> <a href="/facts/Marc_Overmars/LCNrzmKa">Marc Overmars</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3"></a> <a href="/facts/1998_FIFA_World_Cup/red67NvM">1998 France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Ronaldo_(Brazilian_footballer)/AEmxjPQe">Ronaldo</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Croatia/MSS0yyvw"></a> <a href="/facts/Davor_%25C5%25A0uker/2XCUPfd9">Davor Šuker</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Fabien_Barthez/kQpmbuTM">Fabien Barthez</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t"></a> <a href="/facts/Michael_Owen/qyo6eEka">Michael Owen</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a> <a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8">France</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/South_Korea/pCobAaVw"></a><a href="/facts/Japan/U5mz0SRT"></a> <a href="/facts/2002_FIFA_World_Cup/0JjaNygg">2002 South Korea/Japan</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Oliver_Kahn/b5EIeon2">Oliver Kahn</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD"></a> <a href="/facts/Ronaldo_(Brazilian_footballer)/AEmxjPQe">Ronaldo</a></td><td>8</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Oliver_Kahn/b5EIeon2">Oliver Kahn</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_men%2527s_national_soccer_team/qzeWseWK"></a> <a href="/facts/Landon_Donovan/3czeRW6Q">Landon Donovan</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR">Belgium</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX"></a> <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006 Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Zinedine_Zidane/ExFGLoIn">Zinedine Zidane</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Miroslav_Klose/JoGD8SxU">Miroslav Klose</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/Italy_national_football_team/VackkxFC"></a> <a href="/facts/Gianluigi_Buffon/TrBmuMkd">Gianluigi Buffon</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Lukas_Podolski/c0oDRj4A">Lukas Podolski</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Brazil_national_football_team/2wJk8lUD">Brazil</a> <a href="/facts/Spain_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq"></a> <a href="/facts/2010_FIFA_World_Cup/h5j3vuBh">2010 South Africa</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_football_team/lwIJV1eD"></a> <a href="/facts/Diego_Forl%25C3%25A1n/upuNSwhe">Diego Forlán</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Thomas_M%25C3%25BCller/qYS1hqVJ">Thomas Müller</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/Spain_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g"></a> <a href="/facts/Iker_Casillas/PEgfIgS7">Iker Casillas</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Thomas_M%25C3%25BCller/qYS1hqVJ">Thomas Müller</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Spain_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL"></a> <a href="/facts/2014_FIFA_World_Cup/eNUIfYJC">2014 Brazil</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Lionel_Messi/6nXmXIUH">Lionel Messi</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Colombia_national_football_team/72ULTtbq"></a> <a href="/facts/James_Rodr%25C3%25ADguez/En2e2GN3">James Rodríguez</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/Germany_national_football_team/uPrY0NUd"></a> <a href="/facts/Manuel_Neuer/B3E1NjhM">Manuel Neuer</a></td><td>4</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Paul_Pogba/pNyKFN6U">Paul Pogba</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Colombia_national_football_team/72ULTtbq">Colombia</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn"></a> <a href="/facts/2018_FIFA_World_Cup/156gktLT">2018 Russia</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Croatia_national_football_team/tdxQlPSD"></a> <a href="/facts/Luka_Modri%25C4%2587/YDQeoB1S">Luka Modrić</a></td><td><a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t"></a> <a href="/facts/Harry_Kane/nvAXM2S4">Harry Kane</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/Belgium_national_football_team/HIEk1qCR"></a> <a href="/facts/Thibaut_Courtois/17NlJelj">Thibaut Courtois</a></td><td>3</td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Kylian_Mbapp%25C3%25A9/oxXXQlso">Kylian Mbappé</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Spain_national_football_team/YYgXHa7g">Spain</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Qatar/K4EkNXJE"></a> <a href="/facts/2022_FIFA_World_Cup/vN9s5YYA">2022 Qatar</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Lionel_Messi/6nXmXIUH">Lionel Messi</a></td><td><a href="/facts/France_national_football_team/sFSXkum8"></a> <a href="/facts/Kylian_Mbapp%25C3%25A9/oxXXQlso">Kylian Mbappé</a></td><td>8</td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Emiliano_Mart%25C3%25ADnez/e9HQCC7U">Emiliano Martínez</a></td><td>3</td><td><a href="/facts/Argentina_national_football_team/wBNzXqUL"></a> <a href="/facts/Enzo_Fern%25C3%25A1ndez/wRPz0DjV">Enzo Fernández</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/England_national_football_team/N71IuE3t">England</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li>Association football portal</li><li>Sports portal</li><li>World portal</li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_finals/rd8hNvqo">List of FIFA World Cup finals</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_records_and_statistics/nM8d6oMz">FIFA World Cup records and statistics</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/FIFA_World_Cup_awards/zeCdHlrY">FIFA World Cup awards</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/FIFA_U-20_World_Cup/ySkWut5H">FIFA U-20 World Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/FIFA_U-17_World_Cup/hPyKJNI7">FIFA U-17 World Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/FIFA_Club_World_Cup/YF82Ivbb">FIFA Club World Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/FIFA_Beach_Soccer_World_Cup/ae4m6vhd">FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/FIFA_Futsal_World_Cup/3YUKMYnc">FIFA Futsal World Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/FIFA_Confederations_Cup/2f4ANG8M">FIFA Confederations Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_association_football_competitions/lFAnVlDr">List of association football competitions</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="notes">Notes</h2>

<h2 id="bibliography">Bibliography</h2>

<ul><li>Glanville, Brian (2005). The Story of the World Cup. Faber. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-571-22944-1.</li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FIFA World Cup.

<ul><li><a href="https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup">Official website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/worldcup.html">World Cup overview</a> at the <a href="/facts/RSSSF/RhLKXb4b">RSSSF</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"Argentina Campeón Mundial: A 100 días de levantar la tercera – CONMEBOL". www.conmebol.com (in European Spanish). 28 March 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2024. <a href="https://www.conmebol.com/noticias/argentina-campeon-mundial-a-100-dias-de-levantar-la-tercera/" target="_blank">https://www.conmebol.com/noticias/argentina-campeon-mundial-a-100-dias-de-levantar-la-tercera/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Stephen Dobson and John Goddard, The Economics of Football, page 407, quote "The World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world: the estimated cumulative television audience for the 2006 World Cup in Germany was 26.2 billion, an average of 409 million viewers per match." <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=GxyG0XXdvR4C&pg=PA407" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=GxyG0XXdvR4C&pg=PA407</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Glenn M. Wong, The Comprehensive Guide to Careers in Sports, page 144, quote "The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world. In 2006, more than 30 billion viewers in 214 countries watched the World Cup on television, and more than 3.3 million spectators attended the 64 matches of the tournament." <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=qEELS7T_Tm0C&pg=PA144" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=qEELS7T_Tm0C&pg=PA144</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn:29">Braswell, Sean (11 June 2014). "How Brazil Saved The World Cup In The Aftermatch Of World War II". NPR. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2022. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/06/11/320727176/how-brazil-saved-the-world-cup-in-the-aftermath-of-world-war-ii" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/06/11/320727176/how-brazil-saved-the-world-cup-in-the-aftermath-of-world-war-ii</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn:78">Previously, due to there being fewer finals places and a bigger ratio of European finalists, there had been several occasions where three European teams were in a single group, for example, 1986 (West Germany, Scotland, and Denmark), 1990 (Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Austria), and 1994 (Italy, Republic of Ireland, and Norway). ("History of the World Cup Final Draw" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2014.) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091123034518/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/ip-201_10e-fwcdraw-history_52560.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20091123034518/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/ip-201_10e-fwcdraw-history_52560.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:78" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:79">This practice has been installed since the 1986 FIFA World Cup. In some cases during previous tournaments, for example, Argentina 6–0 Peru in Argentina 1978 and West Germany 1–0 Austria in Spain 1982, teams that played the latter match were perceived to gain an unfair advantage by knowing the score of the earlier match, and subsequently obtaining a result that ensured advancement to the next stage. ("1978 Argentina". CBC. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.; "1982 Spain". CBC. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015.) <a href="/wiki/1986_FIFA_World_Cup" target="_blank">/wiki/1986_FIFA_World_Cup</a> <a href="#fnref:79" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn:81">"Regulations – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171013234125/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/01/87/54/21/1875421_DOWNLOAD.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20171013234125/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/01/87/54/21/1875421_DOWNLOAD.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:81" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn:87">"Uruguay 1930". BBC Sport. 11 April 2002. Archived from the original on 22 November 2003. Retrieved 13 May 2006. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1632000/1632201.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1632000/1632201.stm</a> <a href="#fnref:87" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:88">"France 1938". BBC Sport. 17 April 2002. Archived from the original on 22 November 2003. Retrieved 13 May 2006. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1632000/1632206.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1632000/1632206.stm</a> <a href="#fnref:88" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn:92">Gibson, Owen (2 December 2010). "England beaten as Russia win 2018 World Cup bid". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2017. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/02/england-russia-win-2018-world-cup" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/02/england-russia-win-2018-world-cup</a> <a href="#fnref:92" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:93">Jackson, Jamie (2 December 2010). "Qatar win 2022 World Cup bid". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2017. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/02/qatar-win-2022-world-cup-bid" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/02/qatar-win-2022-world-cup-bid</a> <a href="#fnref:93" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:94">"Rotation ends in 2018". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 29 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130324161949/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/organisation/media/newsid=625122/index.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20130324161949/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/organisation/media/newsid=625122/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:94" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:95">Collett, Mike (30 October 2007), “Brazil officially named 2014 World Cup hosts”. . Reuters. Retrieved 6 July 2018 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180704215911/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-world-brazil-idUKL3026608120071030" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20180704215911/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-world-brazil-idUKL3026608120071030</a> <a href="#fnref:95" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:96">"World Cup 2026: Canada, US & Mexico joint bid wins right to host tournament". BBC Sport. 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44464913" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44464913</a> <a href="#fnref:96" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:97">"World Cup 2026: Canada, US & Mexico joint bid wins right to host tournament". BBC Sport. 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44464913" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44464913</a> <a href="#fnref:97" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:98">"World Cup 1974 – West Germany win on home soil". Archived 4 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine. BBC. Retrieved 2 December 2017 <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8684839.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8684839.stm</a> <a href="#fnref:98" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:99">Smith, Peter. "World Cup home advantage: How the hosts have fared and why there is hope for Russia". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022. <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13956/11392096/world-cup-home-advantage-how-the-hosts-have-fared-and-why-there-is-hope-for-russia" target="_blank">https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13956/11392096/world-cup-home-advantage-how-the-hosts-have-fared-and-why-there-is-hope-for-russia</a> <a href="#fnref:99" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:100">Smith, Peter. "World Cup home advantage: How the hosts have fared and why there is hope for Russia". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022. <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13956/11392096/world-cup-home-advantage-how-the-hosts-have-fared-and-why-there-is-hope-for-russia" target="_blank">https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13956/11392096/world-cup-home-advantage-how-the-hosts-have-fared-and-why-there-is-hope-for-russia</a> <a href="#fnref:100" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:101">Bevan, Chris (1 July 2018). "World Cup 2018: Russia reach quarter-finals after 4-3 penalty shootout win over Spain". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44591345" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44591345</a> <a href="#fnref:101" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:102">Bevan, Chris. "France 1–2 South Africa". Archived 25 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine. BBC. Retrieved 2 December 2017 <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_34/default.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_34/default.stm</a> <a href="#fnref:102" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:103">Brischetto, Patrick (30 November 2022). "Qatar's World Cup flop: The Maroon finish with worst record for a host nation in FIFA history". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022. <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/qatar-world-cup-worst-record-host-nation/darxjzu4goctrbquje8vfbyo" target="_blank">https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/qatar-world-cup-worst-record-host-nation/darxjzu4goctrbquje8vfbyo</a> <a href="#fnref:103" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:104">Stephen Dobson and John Goddard, The Economics of Football, page 407, quote "The World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world: the estimated cumulative television audience for the 2006 World Cup in Germany was 26.2 billion, an average of 409 million viewers per match." <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=GxyG0XXdvR4C&pg=PA407" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=GxyG0XXdvR4C&pg=PA407</a> <a href="#fnref:104" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:105">"Socceroos face major challenge: Hiddink". ABC Sport. 10 December 2005. Archived from the original on 30 April 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2006. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060430001531/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200512/s1528128.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20060430001531/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200512/s1528128.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:105" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn:107">Panja, Tariq (13 June 2018). "FIFA Set to Make $6.1 billion From 2018 World Cup". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2019. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/sports/fifa-revenue.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/sports/fifa-revenue.html</a> <a href="#fnref:107" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:108">"FIFA Assets – Mascots". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071104232128/http://fifa.com/aboutfifa/marketingtv/marketing/fifaassets/mascots.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20071104232128/http://fifa.com/aboutfifa/marketingtv/marketing/fifaassets/mascots.html</a> <a href="#fnref:108" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:109">"The Footballs during the FIFA World Cup". Football Facts. FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131128080230/http://footballs.fifa.com/Football-Facts/FIFA-World-Cup-Footballs" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131128080230/http://footballs.fifa.com/Football-Facts/FIFA-World-Cup-Footballs</a> <a href="#fnref:109" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:110">Anderson, Sara D (27 April 2010). "Shakira Records Official Song for 2010 FIFA World Cup". Aolradioblog. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100429210729/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/04/27/shakira-records-offical-song-2010-fifa-world-cup/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100429210729/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/04/27/shakira-records-offical-song-2010-fifa-world-cup/</a> <a href="#fnref:110" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:111">"2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Official Song 'Live It Up' to be performed by all-star line-up". FIFA. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. <a href="https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/2018-fifa-world-cup-russiatm-official-song-live-it-up-to-be-performed-by-all-sta" target="_blank">https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/2018-fifa-world-cup-russiatm-official-song-live-it-up-to-be-performed-by-all-sta</a> <a href="#fnref:111" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:112">"A riot of colour, emotion and memories: the World Cup stands alone in the field of sport". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/world-cup-russia-2018-preview-lionel-messi-ronaldo-italia-90-98-england-brazil-germany-france-a8392211.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/world-cup-russia-2018-preview-lionel-messi-ronaldo-italia-90-98-england-brazil-germany-france-a8392211.html</a> <a href="#fnref:112" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:113">"Brand collaborations". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150508222147/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/marketing/licensing/brand-collaborations.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150508222147/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/marketing/licensing/brand-collaborations.html</a> <a href="#fnref:113" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:114">"Panini World Cup sticker book". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/29/cost-to-fill-panini-world-cup-sticker-book-is-734-says-maths-prof" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/29/cost-to-fill-panini-world-cup-sticker-book-is-734-says-maths-prof</a> <a href="#fnref:114" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:115">"Brand collaborations". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150508222147/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/marketing/licensing/brand-collaborations.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150508222147/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/marketing/licensing/brand-collaborations.html</a> <a href="#fnref:115" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:116">There was no third place match in 1930; the two losing semi-finalists are ranked according to their overall records in the tournament.[107] <a href="#fnref:116" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:117">The final stage in 1950 was a round-robin group of four teams. Coincidentally, one of the last two matches pitted together the top two teams (and the only two who could win the title), and the other was between the bottom two teams. Uruguay v Brazil is often considered the de facto final of the 1950 World Cup.[108][109] <a href="#fnref:117" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:118">The final stage in 1950 was a round-robin group of four teams. Coincidentally, one of the last two matches pitted together the top two teams (and the only two who could win the title), and the other was between the bottom two teams. Uruguay v Brazil is often considered the de facto final of the 1950 World Cup.[108][109] <a href="#fnref:118" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:119">Opening three games hosts: Argentina Paraguay Uruguay <a href="/wiki/Argentina" target="_blank">/wiki/Argentina</a> <a href="#fnref:119" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:120">FIFA considers that the national team of Russia succeeds the Soviet Union, the national team of Serbia succeeds the Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro, and the national teams of Czech Republic and Slovakia succeed the Czechoslovakia.[110][111][112][113] <a href="/wiki/Russia_national_football_team" target="_blank">/wiki/Russia_national_football_team</a> <a href="#fnref:120" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:121">Venkat, Rahul (19 December 2022). "FIFA World Cup winners: Why Brazilians are unique and Germany, Italy relentless – full roll of honour". Olympics.com. Retrieved 4 February 2024. <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-world-cup-winners-list-champions-record" target="_blank">https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-world-cup-winners-list-champions-record</a> <a href="#fnref:121" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:122">"Brazil". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 3 June 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070603155214/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=bra/index.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070603155214/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=bra/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:122" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:123">Australia's qualification in 2006 was through the Oceanian zone as they were a member of the OFC member during qualifying. However, on 1 January 2006, they left the Oceania Football Confederation and joined the Asian Football Confederation. In 2022, they again reached the second round, albeit representing Asia. <a href="/wiki/Oceania_Football_Confederation" target="_blank">/wiki/Oceania_Football_Confederation</a> <a href="#fnref:123" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:124">Yannis, Alex (10 November 1999). "Matthaus Is the Latest MetroStars Savior". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2007. <a href="https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00EFD8103AF933A25752C1A96F958260" target="_blank">https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00EFD8103AF933A25752C1A96F958260</a> <a href="#fnref:124" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
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</ol>

FIFA World Cup open-in-new

FIFA World Cup