StadiaAtlas GamedayAtlas CupPassport

FIFA World Cup History 1930–2026

Every World Cup final since 1930, by winner, score, venue, attendance, and decision type. Plus wins by nation, by confederation, by era — 10 sourced tables, all dates verified.

22 finals played · Last verified 2026-05-31 · WC2026 kicks off June 11

All finals By nation By confederation By era Attendance: highest Attendance: lowest Shootout finals Extra-time finals Back-to-back Host countries

All 22 World Cup finals (1930–2022)Question: "Who won every World Cup final?"

Every final, including the de facto 1950 decisive match (Uruguay 2–1 Brazil at the Maracanã), regulation and extra-time results, and penalty shootouts since 1986.

YearWinnerScoreRunner-upVenueAttendance
1930Uruguay4–2ArgentinaEstadio Centenario, Montevideo68,346
1934Italy2–1 (a.e.t.)CzechoslovakiaStadio Nazionale PNF, Rome55,000
1938Italy4–2HungaryStade Olympique de Colombes, Paris45,000
1950Uruguay2–1BrazilMaracanã, Rio de Janeiro173,850
1954West Germany3–2HungaryWankdorf, Bern62,500
1958Brazil5–2SwedenRåsundastadion, Solna49,737
1962Brazil3–1CzechoslovakiaEstadio Nacional, Santiago68,679
1966England4–2 (a.e.t.)West GermanyWembley, London96,924
1970Brazil4–1ItalyEstadio Azteca, Mexico City107,412
1974West Germany2–1NetherlandsOlympiastadion, Munich78,200
1978Argentina3–1 (a.e.t.)NetherlandsEstadio Monumental, Buenos Aires71,483
1982Italy3–1West GermanySantiago Bernabéu, Madrid90,000
1986Argentina3–2West GermanyEstadio Azteca, Mexico City114,600
1990West Germany1–0ArgentinaStadio Olimpico, Rome73,603
1994Brazil0–0 (a.e.t., 3–2 pen.)ItalyRose Bowl, Pasadena94,194
1998France3–0BrazilStade de France, Saint-Denis80,000
2002Brazil2–0GermanyInternational Stadium, Yokohama69,029
2006Italy1–1 (a.e.t., 5–3 pen.)FranceOlympiastadion, Berlin69,000
2010Spain1–0 (a.e.t.)NetherlandsSoccer City, Johannesburg84,490
2014Germany1–0 (a.e.t.)ArgentinaMaracanã, Rio de Janeiro74,738
2018France4–2CroatiaLuzhniki, Moscow78,011
2022Argentina3–3 (a.e.t., 4–2 pen.)FranceLusail Stadium, Lusail88,966
2026TBD—TBDMetLife Stadium, East Rutherford—

Source: Wikipedia List of FIFA World Cup finals (cross-referenced with FIFA archived match reports and RSSSF). Last verified 2026-05-31.

World Cup wins by nationQuestion: "Which country has won the most World Cups?"

13 nations have reached a final. Eight have won at least one. Brazil is the only team to play in every World Cup; Germany has reached the most finals (8).

NationWinsRunner-upTotal finalsYears won
Brazil5271958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Germany4481954, 1974, 1990, 2014
Italy4261934, 1938, 1982, 2006
Argentina3361978, 1986, 2022
France2241998, 2018
Uruguay2021930, 1950
England1011966
Spain1012010
Netherlands033—
Hungary022—
Czechoslovakia022—
Sweden011—
Croatia011—

Germany's total includes West Germany 1954–1990. Source: Wikipedia (cross-referenced with FIFA all-time ranking). Last verified 2026-05-31.

World Cup finals by confederationQuestion: "How does Europe vs. South America compare in World Cup finals?"

Only UEFA (Europe) and CONMEBOL (South America) have ever contested a final. CONMEBOL has a higher win-per-appearance rate (67%) than UEFA (41%).

ConfederationFinal appearancesWinsRunner-upWin %
UEFA (Europe)29121741%
CONMEBOL (South America)1510567%
AFC (Asia)000—
CAF (Africa)000—
CONCACAF (N. America)000—
OFC (Oceania)000—

Source: Wikipedia List of FIFA World Cup finals. Last verified 2026-05-31.

Wins by era (20-year windows)Question: "Has European or South American dominance shifted by era?"

South America dominated 1930–1970 (6 of 9 titles), Europe dominated 1974–2022 (10 of 13 titles). Argentina (2022) ended a 20-year European streak.

EraTournamentsWinnersUEFACONMEBOL
1930–19504Uruguay, Italy ×2, Uruguay22
1954–19705W.Germany, Brazil ×2, England, Brazil23
1974–19905W.Germany, Argentina ×2, Italy, W.Germany32
1994–20105Brazil, France, Brazil, Italy, Spain32
2014–20223Germany, France, Argentina21

Source: Wikipedia List of FIFA World Cup finals. Last verified 2026-05-31.

Highest-attendance World Cup finalsQuestion: "What's the highest-attended World Cup final ever?"

The 1950 final at the Maracanã (Brazil vs. Uruguay) drew ~173,850 — still a record. Five other finals have crossed 90,000.

RankYearVenueMatchAttendance
11950Maracanã, Rio de JaneiroUruguay 2–1 Brazil173,850
21986Estadio Azteca, Mexico CityArgentina 3–2 W. Germany114,600
31970Estadio Azteca, Mexico CityBrazil 4–1 Italy107,412
41966Wembley, LondonEngland 4–2 W. Germany96,924
51994Rose Bowl, PasadenaBrazil 0–0 Italy (3–2 pen.)94,194
61982Santiago Bernabéu, MadridItaly 3–1 W. Germany90,000

1950 figure is the official FIFA-reported number; the unofficial count is often estimated at 199,000+. Last verified 2026-05-31.

Lowest-attendance World Cup finalsQuestion: "What's the smallest crowd that ever watched a World Cup final?"

All pre-1958 finals had crowds under 70,000. The lowest was 1938 in Paris.

RankYearVenueMatchAttendance
11938Colombes, ParisItaly 4–2 Hungary45,000
21958Råsunda, SolnaBrazil 5–2 Sweden49,737
31934Stadio Nazionale, RomeItaly 2–1 Czechoslovakia (a.e.t.)55,000
41954Wankdorf, BernW. Germany 3–2 Hungary62,500
51930Centenario, MontevideoUruguay 4–2 Argentina68,346

Source: Wikipedia List of FIFA World Cup finals. Last verified 2026-05-31.

Finals decided on penalty shootoutQuestion: "Which World Cup finals went to a shootout?"

Penalty shootouts in finals were adopted from 1986. Three have happened: 1994, 2006, 2022. Italy has been on both sides (winner 2006, loser 1994). Argentina is the only winner via shootout in this list.

YearFinal scoreShootout scoreWinnerVenue
19940–0 (a.e.t.)3–2Brazil over ItalyRose Bowl, Pasadena
20061–1 (a.e.t.)5–3Italy over FranceOlympiastadion, Berlin
20223–3 (a.e.t.)4–2Argentina over FranceLusail Stadium, Lusail

Penalty-shootout rule introduced for World Cup finals in 1986. Source: FIFA Museum + Wikipedia. Last verified 2026-05-31.

Finals that went past regulation (extra time)Question: "Which World Cup finals went to extra time?"

Nine of 22 finals (41%) have required extra time, including all three shootout finals. The 2010s/2020s have had four straight extra-time finals (2010, 2014, 2018 was regulation, 2022).

YearMatchDecisionFinal score
1934Italy vs CzechoslovakiaExtra time2–1
1966England vs W. GermanyExtra time4–2
1978Argentina vs NetherlandsExtra time3–1
1994Brazil vs ItalyExtra time + penalties0–0 (3–2 pen.)
2006Italy vs FranceExtra time + penalties1–1 (5–3 pen.)
2010Spain vs NetherlandsExtra time1–0
2014Germany vs ArgentinaExtra time1–0
2022Argentina vs FranceExtra time + penalties3–3 (4–2 pen.)

Source: Wikipedia List of FIFA World Cup finals. Last verified 2026-05-31.

Back-to-back World Cup winnersQuestion: "Has any country defended the World Cup successfully?"

Only two teams have won consecutive World Cups: Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962). No team has done it since 1962 — a 64-year gap and counting through WC2026.

CountryConsecutive yearsCoachCaptain
Italy1934 & 1938Vittorio Pozzo (both)Gianpiero Combi (1934), Giuseppe Meazza (1938)
Brazil1958 & 1962Vicente Feola (1958), Aymoré Moreira (1962)Hilderaldo Bellini (1958), Mauro Ramos (1962)

Vittorio Pozzo is the only manager to win two World Cups. Source: FIFA + Wikipedia. Last verified 2026-05-31.

Host countries — historical record at homeQuestion: "Do host countries usually win the World Cup?"

Six host nations have won at home: Uruguay 1930, Italy 1934, England 1966, W. Germany 1974, Argentina 1978, France 1998. Two more reached the final and lost (Brazil 1950 & 2014, Sweden 1958). Only one host (Brazil 2014) failed to reach the semis since 1958.

YearHostHost resultFinal placement
1930UruguayChampion1st
1934ItalyChampion1st
1938FranceQuarter-finals—
1950BrazilRunner-up2nd
1954SwitzerlandQuarter-finals—
1958SwedenRunner-up2nd
1962Chile3rd place3rd
1966EnglandChampion1st
1970MexicoQuarter-finals—
1974W. GermanyChampion1st
1978ArgentinaChampion1st
1982SpainRound 2—
1986MexicoQuarter-finals—
1990Italy3rd place3rd
1994USARound of 16—
1998FranceChampion1st
2002S. Korea / JapanS. Korea 4th, Japan R16—
2006Germany3rd place3rd
2010South AfricaGroup stage (1st host eliminated in group)—
2014Brazil4th place (1–7 vs Germany SF)4th
2018RussiaQuarter-finals—
2022QatarGroup stage—
2026USA / Canada / MexicoTBDTBD

Host-as-champion rate: 6 of 22 (27%). South Africa 2010 became the first host eliminated in the group stage. Source: Wikipedia + FIFA archives. Last verified 2026-05-31.