World Cup Finals History
.
Football Index: World Cup Finals.
Brazil have appeared in every World Cup Finals to date, winning the trophy a record five times along the way.
Quick Links
1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022.
Uruguay 1930
- 13 countries:
Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, France, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Romania,
Uruguay, United States, Yugoslavia.
1930 World Cup Final
30th July: Uruguay vs Argentina (4-2)
Montevideo.
Italy 1934
- 16 countries:
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Germany, Holland,
Hungary, Italy, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States.
1934 World Cup Final
10th June: Italy vs Czechoslovakia (2-1 aet)
Rome.
France 1938
- 15 countries:
Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dutch East Indies, France, Germany, Holland,
Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland.
1938 World Cup Final
19th June: Italy vs Hungary (4-2)
Paris.
Brazil 1950
- 13 countries:
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, England, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
United States, Uruguay, Yugoslavia.
Uruguay win the 1950 World Cup in Brazil; to lift the trophy for the second time.
Switzerland 1954
- 16 countries:
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico,
Scotland, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, West Germany, Yugoslavia.
1954 World Cup Final
4th July: West Germany vs Hungary (3-2)
Bern.
Sweden 1958
- 16 countries:
Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Hungary, Mexico, Northern
Ireland, Paraguay, Scotland, Sweden, USSR, Wales, West Germany, Yugoslavia.
1958 World Cup Final
29th June: Brazil vs Sweden (5-2)
Stockholm.
Chile 1962
- 16 countries:
Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, England, Hungary, Italy,
Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany, Yugoslavia.
1962 World Cup Final
17th June: Brazil vs Czechoslovakia (3-1)
Santiago.
England 1966
- 16 countries:
Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, North Korea,
Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany.
1966 World cup Final
30th July: England vs West Germany (4-2 aet)
London.
Mexico 1970
- 16 countries:
Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, England, Israel, Italy, Mexico,
Morocco, Peru, Romania, Sweden, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany.
1970 World Cup Final
21st June: Brazil vs Italy (4-1)
Mexico
City.
West Germany 1974
- 16 countries:
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, East Germany, Haiti, Holland, Italy,
Poland, Scotland, Sweden, Uruguay, West Germany, Yugoslavia, Zaire.
1974 World Cup Final
7th July: West Germany vs Holland (2-1)
Munich.
Argentina 1978
- 16 countries:
Argentina, Austria, Brazil, France, Holland, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Poland,
Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, West Germany.
1978 World Cup Final
25th June: Argentina vs Holland (3-1 aet)
Buenos
Aires.
Spain 1982
- 24 countries:
Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Czechoslovakia, El
Salvador, England, France, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand, Northern
Ireland, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, USSR, West Germany, Yugoslavia.
1982 World Cup Final
11th July: Italy vs West Germany (3-1)
Madrid.
Mexico 1986
- 24 countries:
Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Hungary,
Iraq, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Scotland,
South Korea, Spain, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany.
1986 World Cup Final
29th June: Argentina vs West Germany (3-2)
Mexico
City.
Italy 1990
- 24 countries:
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia,
Egypt, England, Holland, Italy, Rep. of Ireland, Romania, Scotland, South Korea, Spain,
Sweden, UAE, United States, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany, Yugoslavia.
1990 World Cup Final
8th July: West Germany vs Argentina (1-0)
Rome.
USA 1994 - 24
countries:
Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Germany, Greece,
Holland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Rep. of Ireland, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States.
1994 World Cup Final
17th July: Brazil vs Italy (0-0 aet)
(3-2 on penalties)
Los Angeles.
France 1998
- 32 countries:
Argentina,
Austria,
Belgium,
Brazil,
Bulgaria,
Cameroon,
Chile,
Colombia,
Croatia,
Denmark,
England,
France,
Germany,
Holland,
Iran,
Italy,
Jamaica,
Japan,
Mexico,
Morocco,
Nigeria,
Norway,
Paraguay,
Romania,
Saudi Arabia,
Scotland,
South Africa,
South Korea,
Spain,
Tunisia,
United States,
Yugoslavia.
1998 World Cup Final
12th July: France vs Brazil (3-0)
Paris.
Korea-Japan 2002
- 32 countries:
Argentina,
Belgium,
Brazil,
Cameroon,
China,
Costa Rica,
Croatia,
Denmark,
Ecuador,
England,
France,
Germany,
Italy,
Japan,
Mexico,
Nigeria,
Paraguay,
Poland,
Portugal,
Rep. of Ireland,
Russia,
Senegal,
Saudi Arabia,
Slovenia,
South Africa,
South Korea,
Spain,
Sweden,
Tunisia,
Turkey,
United States,
Uruguay.
2002 World Cup Final
30th June: Brazil vs Germany (2-0)
Yokohama.
Germany 2006
- 32 countries:
Angola,
Argentina,
Australia,
Brazil,
Côte d'Ivoire,
Costa Rica,
Croatia,
Czech
Republic, Ecuador,
England,
France,
Germany,
Ghana,
Holland,
Iran,
Italy,
Japan,
Mexico,
Paraguay,
Poland,
Portugal,
Saudi Arabia,
Serbia and Montenegro,
South Korea,
Spain,
Sweden,
Switzerland,
Togo,
Trinidad
& Tobago,
Tunisia,
Ukraine,
USA.
2006 World Cup Final
9th July: Italy vs France (1:1 aet) (5:3 pens)
Berlin.
The first World Cup Finals to be held on the African continent.
South Africa
2010 - 32 countries:
Algeria,
Argentina,
Australia,
Brazil,
Cameroon,
Chile,
Côte d'Ivoire,
Denmark,
England,
France,
Germany,
Ghana,
Greece,
Holland,
Honduras,
Italy,
Japan,
Mexico,
New Zealand,
Nigeria,
North Korea,
Paraguay,
Portugal,
Serbia,
Slovakia,
Slovenia,
South Africa,
South Korea,
Spain,
Switzerland,
Uruguay,
USA.
2010 World Cup Final
11th July: Spain vs Holland (1:0)
Jo'burg Soccer City.
Five times World Cup Champions, Brazil, get a second chance to hold the prestigious World Cup Finals; 64 years after they last hosted the tournament.
Brazil 2014
- 32 countries:
Algeria,
Argentina,
Australia,
Belgium,
Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Brazil,
Cameroon,
Chile,
Colombia,
Costa
Rica,
Côte
d'Ivoire,
Croatia,
Ecuador,
England,
France,
Germany,
Ghana,
Greece,
Honduras,
Iran,
Italy,
Japan,
Mexico,
Netherlands,
Nigeria,
Portugal,
Russia,
South
Korea,
Spain,
Switzerland,
Uruguay,
USA.
2014 World Cup Final
Sunday, 13th July
Germany vs
Argentina
Rio de Janeiro (1:0aet)
Where VAR made its World Cup debut and set out to change the course of a game with some crucial rule infringement watching and vital on the spot decision making.
Russia 2018 - 32 Countries:
Argentina,
Australia,
Belgium,
Brazil,
Colombia,
Costa Rica,
Croatia,
Denmark,
Egypt,
England,
France,
German,
Iceland,
Iran,
Japan,
Mexico,
Morocco,
Nigeria,
Panama,
Peru,
Poland,
Portugal,
Russia,
Saudi Arabia,
Senegal,
Serbia,
South Korea,
Spain,
Sweden,
Switzerland,
Tunisia,
Uruguay.
2018 World Cup Final
Sunday, 15th July
France vs
Croatia
Moscow Luzhniki (4:2)
When FIFA executives met in Zurich to decide on who would host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals, Qatar was probably the biggest surprise to many outsiders.
Qatar 2022 - 32 Countries:
Argentina,
Australia,
Belgium,
Brazil,
Cameroon,
Canada,
Costa Rica,
Croatia,
Denmark,
Ecuador,
England,
France,
Germany,
Ghana,
Iran,
Japan,
Mexico,
Morocco,
Netherlands,
Poland,
Portugal,
Qatar,
Saudi Arabia,
Senegal,
Serbia,
South Korea,
Spain,
Switzerland,
Tunisia,
Uruguay,
USA,
Wales.
World Cup Appearances
Algeria (4)
1982,
1986,
2010,
2014.
Angola (1)
2006.
Argentina (18)
1930,
1934,
1958,
1962,
1966,
1974,
1978,
1982,
1986,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Australia (6)
1974,
2006
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Austria (7)
1934,
1954,
1958,
1978,
1982,
1990,
1998.
Belgium (14)
1930,
1934,
1938,
1954,
1970,
1982,
1986,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Bosnia-Herz. (1)
2014.
Brazil (22)
1930,
1934,
1938,
1950,
1954,
1958,
1962,
1966,
1970,
1974,
1978,
1982,
1986,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Bulgaria (7)
1962,
1966,
1970,
1974,
1986,
1994,
1998.
Cameroon (8)
1982,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2010,
2014,
2022.
Chile (9)
1930,
1950,
1962,
1966,
1974,
1982,
1998,
2010,
2014.
China (1)
2002.
Colombia (6)
1962,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Costa Rica (6)
1990,
2002,
2006,
2014,
2018.
Côte d'Ivoire (3)
2006,
2010,
2014.
Croatia (6)
1998,
2002,
2006,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Cuba (1)
1938.
Czechoslovakia (8)
1934,
1938,
1954,
1958,
1962,
1970,
1982,
1990.
Czech Republic (1)
2006.
Denmark (6)
1986,
1998,
2002,
2010,
2018,
2022.
Dutch E. Indies (1)
1938.
East Germany (1)
1974.
Ecuador (4)
2002,
2006,
2014,
2022.
England (16)
1950,
1954,
1958,
1962,
1966,
1970,
1982,
1986,
1990,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
France (16)
1930,
1934,
1938,
1954,
1958,
1966,
1978,
1982,
1986,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Germany (10)
1934,
1938,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Ghana (4)
2006,
2010,
2014,
2022.
Haiti (1)
1974.
Honduras (3)
1982,
2010,
2014.
Hungary (9)
1934,
1938,
1954,
1958,
1962,
1966,
1978,
1982,
1986.
Iceland (1)
2018.
Iran (6)
1978,
1998,
2006,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Iraq (1)
1986.
Israel (1)
1970.
Italy (18)
1934,
1938,
1950,
1954,
1962,
1966,
1970,
1974,
1978,
1982,
1986,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014.
Jamaica (1)
1998.
Japan (7)
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Kuwait (1)
1982.
Mexico (17)
1930,
1950,
1954,
1958,
1962,
1966,
1970,
1978,
1986,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Morocco (6)
1970,
1986,
1994,
1998,
2018,
2022.
Netherlands (11)
1934,
1938,
1974,
1978,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2022.
Nigeria (6)
1994,
1998,
2002,
2010,
2014,
2018.
N. Ireland (3)
1958,
1982,
1986.
Panama (1)
2018.
Paraguay (8)
1930,
1950,
1958,
1986,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010.
Peru (5)
1930,
1970,
1978,
1982,
2018.
Poland (9)
1938,
1974,
1978,
1982,
1986,
2002,
2006,
2018,
2022.
Portugal (7)
1966,
1986,
2002,
2006,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Qatar (1)
2022.
Rep. of Ireland (3)
1990,
1994,
2002.
Romania (7)
1930,
1934,
1938,
1970,
1990,
1994,
1998.
Russia (4)
1994,
2002,
2014,
2018.
Saudi Arabia (6)
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2018,
2022.
Scotland (8)
1954,
1958,
1974,
1978,
1982,
1986,
1990,
1998.
Serbia-Montenegro (1)
2006.
Slovakia (1)
2010.
South Africa (3)
1998,
2002,
2010.
South Korea (11)
1954,
1986,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Spain (16)
1934,
1950,
1962,
1966,
1978,
1982,
1986,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Sweden (12)
1934,
1938,
1950,
1958,
1970,
1974,
1978,
1990,
1994,
2002,
2006,
2018.
Switzerland (11)
1934,
1938,
1950,
1954,
1962,
1966,
1994,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
Togo (1)
2006.
Trinidad & Tobago (1)
2006.
Tunisia (6)
1978,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2018,
2022.
UAE (1)
1990.
Ukraine (1)
2006.
United States (11)
1930,
1934,
1950,
1990,
1994,
1998,
2002,
2006,
2010,
2014,
2022.
Uruguay (14)
1930,
1950,
1954,
1962,
1966,
1970,
1974,
1986,
1990,
2002,
2010,
2014,
2018,
2022.
USSR (7)
1958,
1962,
1966,
1970,
1982,
1986,
1990.
West Germany (10)
1954,
1958,
1962,
1966,
1970,
1974,
1978,
1982,
1986,
1990.
Yugoslavia (9)
1930,
1950,
1954,
1958,
1962,
1974,
1982,
1990,
1998.
Zaire (1)
1974.
World Cup Finals
Uruguay 1930:
Uruguay trailed Argentina at half-time (1:2) but replied with three goals in the second half; to win the first ever World Cup Final (4-2)
on July 30th, 1930.
Italy 1934:
Italy were one of the countries who missed out on the vote to host the first World Cup but managed to win the prestigious golden trophy
for the home fans.
France 1938:
The third World Cup was held in Europe for a second time, although Germany had annexed Austria, and Spain was in civil turmoil.
Brazil 1950:
Although no cup-final as such, Uruguay and Brazil went into their final game with the winner guaranteed to be champions; a draw would be enough for Brazil.
Switzerland 1954:
The fifth World Cup tournament produced a record number of goals, including a 7:5 encounter between Austria and Switzerland in Lausanne.
Sweden 1958:
Brazil presented a 17 year-old Pele to the world; who went on to claim a hat-trick in Brazil's 5:2 semi-final win over France and bag another two in the final.
Chile 1962:
Czechoslovakia overcame Hungary in the quarter-finals and Yugoslavia in the semis, while Brazil took care of England and the host nation, Chile.
England 1966:
Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick, in the final against West Germany, as England triumphed in a thrilling game watched by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Mexico 1970:
1970 belonged to Pelé, who earned his third World Cup winners' medal when Brazil got their hands on the Jules Rimet Cup.... for keeps.
W. Germany 1974:
Johan Cruyff was the player of the tournament as total football became the buzzword of the day, even though Holland lost to West Germany in the 1974 final.
Argentina 1978:
Holland contested the 1978 World Cup Final, in Argentina, for the second time in a row. As in West Germany,
they again finished runners-up; to the hosts.
Spain 1982:
The Spain 82 World Cup finals increased to 24 teams and the format was changed to have two group stages, with four second-round groups of three.
Mexico 1986:
In 1986, Mexico became the first nation to stage the World Cup Finals for a second time; having only staged the competition sixteen years previously.
Italy 1990:
In 1990, Italy became the World Cup of stalemates. Both semi-finals were drawn out through penalty kicks. In the final itself, the only goal came from the spot.
USA 1994:
Once Team US had played a few games most of the nation began to understand they were hosting the greatest show on earth and how the game was played.
France 1998:
France became the sixth nation to win the World Cup on home soil. Thirty-two teams competed in the 16th World Cup; better known as France 98.
Korea-Japan 2002:
The 17th World Cup, held in Korea and Japan, was the first World Cup finals to be shared by two hosts and the first to be held in Asia.
Germany 2006:
The 2006 World Cup Finals ran from 9th June to 9th July; the opening
match in Munich and the final in Berlin. Munich and Dortmund hosted the
semi-finals.
South Africa 2010:
Eighty years after the First World Cup Finals in Uruguay, the world's most prestigious football competition was finally hosted on the African continent.
Brazil 2014:
Five times World Cup Champions, Brazil, get a second chance to hold the prestigious World Cup Finals; 64 years after they last hosted the tournament.
Russia 2018:
VAR made its World Cup debut and set out to change the course of a game with some crucial rule infringement watching and vital on the spot decisions.
Qatar 2022:
When FIFA executives met in Zurich to decide on who would host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals, Qatar was probably the biggest surprise to many.
United 2026:
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico
and the United States. The United Bid won the hosting rights ahead of
Morocco.
More From Travel Notes
Travel Notes Online Guide to Travel
Africa - Asia - Caribbean - Europe - Middle East - North America - Oceania - South America.
The Travel Notes Online Guide to Travel helps visitors plan their trip with country and city travel guides, local tourist information, reviewed web sites, and regular travel articles.
Travel and Tourism Guides on Travel Notes
If Travel Notes has helped you, please take a moment to like us on Facebook and share with your friends on social media.
Travel Resources
.
Travel & Tourism With Industry Professionals.
