The World Cup 2026 will be the biggest yet, with 48 teams qualified for this summer’s 23rd edition.
An eclectic mix of familiar names and newcomers will be heading to North America for the tournament which gets underway on June 11.
Here, we take a look at the countries who have qualified for more World Cups than most…
Brazil (22)
Brazil are the only nation to have featured at every World Cup since football’s greatest show began back in 1930, hosting the tournament in 1950 and 2014.
As such, it stands to reason that they’ve lifted the trophy more than any other team, winning their first two World Cups back-to-back in 1954 and 1958, and triumphing again in 1970, 1994 and 2002.
Germany* (20)
Four-time world champions Germany qualified for their first World Cup in 1934 and won the trophy for the first time in 1954 – also emerging victorious in 1974 as hosts, 1990 and 2014.
Having not entered in 1930 and being banned from the 1950 tournament following the country’s role in the Second World War, they have reached every World Cup for which they’ve entered qualification, as well as hosting for a second time in 2006.
*Played as West Germany from 1954 to 1990
Argentina (18)
Runners-up at the very first World Cup to hosts and neighbours Uruguay, Argentina only failed to qualify for the 1970 tournament – though they withdrew in 1938, 1950 and 1954.
Crowned world champions for the third time in 2022, they previously lifted the trophy in 1978 on home soil and 1986.
Italy (18)
Shock absentees for the third straight World Cup, Italy still have the second-most qualifications of any European nation.
The four-time winners claimed their first World Cup in 1934 as hosts and were the first side to go back-to-back, retaining it four years later, before triumphing again in 1982 and 2006.
Mexico (17)
Holders of the record for most World Cup qualifications without ever winning the tournament, Mexico made their debut in 1930 and have featured at every edition since 1994.
The World Cup 2026 will see the country become the first to host three World Cups, having already done so in 1970 and 1986 – the only two occasions on which they’ve got as far as the quarter-finals.
England (16)
Despite being the joint-oldest national team in the world (alongside Scotland), England weren’t FIFA members for the first three World Cups and only debuted in 1950.
Winners on home soil in 1966, the Three Lions have been present at all but three World Cups since their first, failing to qualify in 1974, 1978 and 1994.
France (16)
Two-time winners France played in each of the first three World Cups and have appeared at every finals since hosting for the second time in 1998 – having first done so 60 years earlier.
World champions again in 2018, Les Bleus have also finished as runners-up twice: in 2006 and 2022.
Spain (16)
Playing at their first World Cup in 1934, Spain have qualified for each edition since 1978 – including the 1982 tournament which they hosted.
La Roja got their hands on the trophy for the first time in 2010 – their only final appearance – and are tipped by many to go all the way again this time around.
Belgium (14)
The European nation with the most World Cup qualifications never to win the tournament, Belgium took part in each of the first three editions.
They’re currently on a streak of four straight qualifications, their best run having been six in a row between 1982 and 2002.
Uruguay (14)
Where the World Cup story began 96 years ago, Uruguay hold the honour of being the first-ever world champions.
The smallest member of the CONMEBOL confederation with a population of around 3.5 million, Uruguay got their hands on the trophy again in 1950 – when they famously upset hosts Brazil in the decisive match – and have qualified for a fifth straight World Cup for the first time.
