FIFA World Cup Winners List: Every Champion From 1930 to 2026
Spain are the world champions. They beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July 2026 to win their second World Cup, 16 years after their first in South Africa. The 2026 tournament was the first with 48 teams and the first shared by three host nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
From Uruguay in 1930 to New Jersey in 2026, here is every champion, the countries with the most stars on their shirts and the records that still stand. International fixtures and results appear on our fixtures page, and the World Cup hub follows qualifying and the next tournament.
Quick facts
- Current champions: Spain (2026)
- Most titles: Brazil, 5
- Different winners: 8 nations
- Tournaments played: 23 (none in 1942 or 1946 because of the Second World War)
- Next World Cup: 2030, hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, with opening games in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay
Every FIFA World Cup winner (1930–2026)
| Year | Host | Winner | Final score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | United States, Canada & Mexico | Spain | 1–0 (aet) | Argentina |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina | 3–3 (4–2 pens) | France |
| 2018 | Russia | France | 4–2 | Croatia |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | 1–0 (aet) | Argentina |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | 1–0 (aet) | Netherlands |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | 1–1 (5–3 pens) | France |
| 2002 | South Korea & Japan | Brazil | 2–0 | Germany |
| 1998 | France | France | 3–0 | Brazil |
| 1994 | United States | Brazil | 0–0 (3–2 pens) | Italy |
| 1990 | Italy | West Germany | 1–0 | Argentina |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | 3–2 | West Germany |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | 3–1 | West Germany |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | 3–1 (aet) | Netherlands |
| 1974 | West Germany | West Germany | 2–1 | Netherlands |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | 4–1 | Italy |
| 1966 | England | England | 4–2 (aet) | West Germany |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | 3–1 | Czechoslovakia |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | 5–2 | Sweden |
| 1954 | Switzerland | West Germany | 3–2 | Hungary |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | 2–1 (final-round decider) | Brazil |
| 1938 | France | Italy | 4–2 | Hungary |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy | 2–1 (aet) | Czechoslovakia |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | 4–2 | Argentina |
The 1950 tournament had no single final. It ended with a four-team round robin, and the deciding match saw Uruguay beat hosts Brazil 2–1 at the Maracanã.
World Cup titles by country
| Country | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 | 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 |
| Germany / West Germany | 4 | 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014 |
| Italy | 4 | 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1978, 1986, 2022 |
| France | 2 | 1998, 2018 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 1930, 1950 |
| Spain | 2 | 2010, 2026 |
| England | 1 | 1966 |
World Cup records
- Back-to-back winners: only Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) have retained the trophy.
- Home winners: six hosts have won: Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978) and France (1998).
- Most final appearances: Germany/West Germany, with eight.
- Highest-scoring final: Brazil 5–2 Sweden in 1958, seven goals.
- Finals decided on penalties: three: 1994, 2006 and 2022.
Five finals everyone remembers
1950: the Maracanazo
Brazil needed only a draw in the deciding match in Rio. Uruguay came from behind to win 2–1 in front of around 200,000 people, a result still known in Brazil simply as “the Maracanazo”.
1966: England’s only title
Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick at Wembley as England beat West Germany 4–2 after extra time. His second goal, which bounced down off the crossbar, is still argued about.
1970: Brazil’s perfect team
Pelé, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto beat Italy 4–1 in Mexico City to win Brazil’s third title and keep the original Jules Rimet trophy for good.
2022: Argentina 3–3 France
Lionel Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick in what many call the greatest final ever. Argentina won the shoot-out 4–2 in Lusail.
2026: Spain beat Argentina in New Jersey
The first 48-team final was a tight, tactical match settled by a single goal in extra time, giving Spain a second world title to add to their 2010 win in Johannesburg.
How the World Cup works now
From 2026 the finals have 48 teams in 12 groups of four. The top two in each group and the eight best third-placed teams reach a new round of 32, and the tournament runs to 104 matches, up from 64. Qualification is run by FIFA’s six continental confederations.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 World Cup?
Spain. They beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium on 19 July 2026.
Which country has won the most World Cups?
Brazil, with five titles. Germany and Italy have four each.
Where is the next World Cup?
The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, with three centenary matches played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
How many teams play at the World Cup?
48 since 2026. It was 32 from 1998 to 2022.
For club football’s biggest prize, see the Champions League winners list.
Individual honours: see every Ballon d’Or winner since 1956.
Source: FIFA. Last checked September 2026.
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