In almost a century of the World Cup, just eight countries have tasted what it’s like to win football’s most coveted prize.
Ahead of the World Cup 2026 in North America, we tell the story of each of those World Cup-winning nations.
Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
The only country to play in every World Cup, Brazil have held the record for the most World Cup wins since 1994 – when they lifted the trophy for the fourth time, before extending their record to five in 2002.
Brazil were crowned world champions for the first time in 1958, when a star-studded team featuring the likes of Pele, Vava, Garrincha, Didi, Djalma Santos and Gilmar beat hosts Sweden 5-2 in the final.
Having waited 28 years for their first taste of World Cup success, Brazil went and won it again in 1962 – and they remain the most recent nation to retain the trophy.
Part of both those triumphant sides was Mario Zagallo, who then coached Brazil to glory in 1970 – becoming the first person to win the World Cup as a player and a manager.
Brazil asserted their status as World Cup kings by reaching three straight finals between 1994 and 2002, beating Italy in 1994 to become the first team to win the tournament on penalties then Germany in 2002.
Germany (1954*, 1974*, 1990*, 2014)
*As West Germany
Qualifying for every World Cup they’ve entered, Germany first got their hands on the trophy in Switzerland in 1954, recovering from 2-0 down to defeat Hungary 3-2 in a classic final.
Playing as West Germany until 1990, they were victorious again on home soil in 1974 – coming from behind in the final once more, this time to beat the Netherlands 2-1.
That team was captained by the great Franz Beckenbauer, who joined Zagallo in winning the World Cup as both player and manager in 1990.
And Germany were crowned world champions for the first time since reunification in 2014, when Mario Gotze’s extra-time goal downed Argentina – though they’d already recorded the result of the tournament in the semi-finals by trouncing hosts Brazil 7-1.
Italy (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
Italy were the first European side to win the World Cup and the first nation from anywhere to go back-to-back.
The Azzurri triumphed as hosts in 1934, beating Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the first World Cup final to go to extra time, then held onto the trophy in France four years later. To this day, Vittorio Pozzo remains the only manager to win the World Cup more than once.
It would be the best part of half a century before the Italians tasted glory again, with goalkeeper and skipper Dino Zoff becoming the oldest-ever World Cup winner in 1982 at the age of 40 years and 133 days.
Absent from the last three tournaments, Italy did lift the World Cup as recently as 2006 – when they saw off France on penalties in the final which saw that headbutt from Zinedine Zidane.
Argentina (1978, 1986, 2022)
The reigning world champions, Argentina added a third World Cup in 2022, as inspirational captain Lionel Messi finally lifted the trophy for the first time – following arguably the greatest-ever World Cup final, a 3-3 draw with France which was eventually decided on penalties.
Argentina claimed their first World Cup when they hosted the tournament in 1978, Mario Kempes bagging a brace in the final against the Netherlands.
And they didn’t have to wait too long for their second title, going all the way at Mexico ’86 thanks in no small part to a little player by the name of Diego Maradona.
France (1998, 2018)
Fifty-eight years after taking part in the inaugural World Cup, France claimed football’s ultimate prize – and they did it in style, sweeping aside holders Brazil 3-0 in Paris, Zinedine Zidane scoring twice.
After suffering penalty heartbreak against Italy in 2006, the French lifted the trophy once more at Russia 2018 – the tournament where Kylian Mbappe announced himself to the world stage, finding the net in the 4-2 final victory over Croatia, with their winning captain from 1998, Didier Deschamps, managing them to glory on this occasion.
Uruguay (1930, 1950)
Uruguay will always have their special place in World Cup history as the first hosts and the first winners, beating South American neighbours Argentina 4-2 in the inaugural final of 1930.
But it was Uruguay’s second World Cup success which sent shockwaves through the game: in the decisive match of the 1950 tournament in Brazil (which, uniquely, didn’t have a one-off final), they stunned Brazil in their own backyard in what came do be known as the Maracanazo (Maracana Smash).
Spain (2010)
Spain reached and won their first World Cup final in 2010, Andres Iniesta coming up with the winning goal deep into extra time against the Netherlands. That triumph in South Africa was Spain’s second of three straight major tournament victories, the others coming at Euro 2008 and Euro 2012.
England (1966)
For England, the 2026 World Cup marks 60 years of hurt. Not since hosting the tournament for the only time have the Three Lions tasted glory in any major championship. Geoff Hurst was the hero on that occasion, famously scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 final victory over West Germany – including his decisive goal which, to this day, still sparks debate as to whether it crossed the line or not…
