FIFA World Cup Final
France celebrating after their win against Croatia in the 2018 final
Founded1930; 92 years ago (1930)
Current champions France (2nd title)
Most successful team(s) Brazil (5 titles)

The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition established in 1930. It is contested by the men's national teams of the members of the FIFA, the sport's global governing body. The tournament has taken place organised every four years, except in 1942 and 1946, when the competition was cancelled due to World War II. The 2018 FIFA World Cup, hosted by Russia, was won by France, who beat Croatia 4–2 in regulation time.

The World Cup final match is the last of the competition, and the result determines which country is declared world champions. If after 90 minutes of regular play the score is a draw, an additional 30-minute period of play, called extra time, is added. If such a game is still tied after extra time, it is then decided by a penalty shoot-out. The team winning the penalty shoot-out are then declared champions.[1] The tournament has been decided by a one-off match on every occasion except 1950, when the tournament winner was decided by a final round-robin group contested by four teams (Uruguay, Brazil, Sweden, and Spain). Uruguay's 2–1 victory over Brazil was the decisive match (and one of the last two matches of the tournament) that put them ahead on points and ensured that they finished top of the group as world champions. Therefore, this match is regarded by FIFA as the de facto final of the 1950 World Cup.[2]

In the 21 tournaments held, 79 nations have appeared at least once. Of these, 13 have made it to the final match, and eight have won.[n 1] With five titles, Brazil is the most successful World Cup team and also the only nation to have participated in every World Cup finals tournament.[4] Italy and Germany have four titles. Current champion France, along with past champions Uruguay and Argentina, have two titles each, while England and Spain have one each. The team that wins the finals receive the FIFA World Cup Trophy, and their name is engraved on the bottom side of the trophy.[5]

The 1970 and 1994, along with the 1986, 1990, and 2014 games are to date the only matches competed by the same teams (Brazil–Italy and Argentina–Germany respectively). As of 2018, the 1934 final[n 2] remains the latest final to have been between two teams playing their first final. The final match of the most recent tournament in Russia took place at the country's biggest sports complex, the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.[6] As of 2018, only nations from Europe and South America have competed in a World Cup final. Six nations have won the final as host: Uruguay, Italy, England, Germany, Argentina, and France. Two nations have lost the final as host: Brazil and Sweden.

List of finals

Locations of finals held in Europe
Locations of finals held in the rest of the world
Key to the list
a.e.t. Match was won during extra time
pen. Match was won on a penalty shoot-out
List of finals of the FIFA World Cup
Year Winners Score[2] Runners-up Venue Location Attendance Refs
1930 Uruguay  4–2  Argentina Estadio Centenario Montevideo, Uruguay 80,000 [7][8]
1934 Italy  2–1 (a.e.t.)  Czechoslovakia Stadio Nazionale PNF Rome, Italy 50,000 [9][10]
1938 Italy  4–2  Hungary Stade Olympique de Colombes Colombes (Paris), France 45,000 [11][12]
1950 Uruguay  2–1
[n 3] 		 Brazil Maracanã Stadium Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 173,850 [13][14]
1954 West Germany  3–2  Hungary Wankdorf Stadium Bern, Switzerland 60,000 [15][16]
1958 Brazil  5–2  Sweden Råsunda Stadium Solna (Stockholm), Sweden 51,800 [17][18]
1962 Brazil  3–1  Czechoslovakia Estadio Nacional Santiago, Chile 69,000 [19][20]
1966 England  4–2 (a.e.t.)  West Germany Wembley Stadium London, England 96,924 [21][22]
1970 Brazil  4–1  Italy Estadio Azteca Mexico City, Mexico 107,412 [23][24]
1974 West Germany  2–1  Netherlands Olympiastadion Munich, West Germany 75,200 [25][26]
1978 Argentina  3–1 (a.e.t.)  Netherlands Estadio Monumental Buenos Aires, Argentina 71,483 [27][28]
1982 Italy  3–1  West Germany Santiago Bernabéu Madrid, Spain 90,000 [29][30]
1986 Argentina  3–2  West Germany Estadio Azteca Mexico City, Mexico 114,600 [31][32]
1990 West Germany  1–0  Argentina Stadio Olimpico Rome, Italy 73,603 [33][34]
1994 Brazil  0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 pen.) 		 Italy Rose Bowl Pasadena (Los Angeles), United States 94,194 [35][36]
1998 France  3–0  Brazil Stade de France Saint-Denis (Paris), France 80,000 [37][38]
2002 Brazil  2–0  Germany International Stadium Yokohama, Japan 69,029 [39][40]
2006 Italy  1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 pen.) 		 France Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany 69,000 [41][42]
2010 Spain  1–0 (a.e.t.)  Netherlands Soccer City Johannesburg, South Africa 84,490 [43][44]
2014 Germany  1–0 (a.e.t.)  Argentina Maracanã Stadium Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 74,738 [45][46]
2018 France  4–2  Croatia Luzhniki Stadium Moscow, Russia 78,011 [47][48]
Upcoming finals
Year Finalists Match Finalists Venue Location Attendance Refs
2022 v Lusail Iconic Stadium Lusail (Doha), Qatar
2026 v TBA TBA

Results

Map of winning countries
Map of winning countries
Results by nation
Team Winners Runners-up Total finals Years won Years runners-up
 Brazil 5 2 7 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 1950, 1998
 Germany 4 4 8 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014 1966, 1982, 1986, 2002
 Italy 4 2 6 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 1970, 1994
 Argentina 2 3 5 1978, 1986 1930, 1990, 2014
 France 2 1 3 1998, 2018 2006
 Uruguay 2 0 2 1930, 1950 –
 Spain 1 0 1 2010 –
 England 1 0 1 1966 –
 Netherlands 0 3 3 – 1974, 1978, 2010
 Czech Republic 0 2 2 – 1934, 1962
 Hungary 0 2 2 – 1938, 1954
 Sweden 0 1 1 – 1958
 Croatia 0 1 1 – 2018
Results by confederation
Confederation Appearances Winners Runners-up
UEFA 28 12 16
CONMEBOL 14 9 5

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ This follows FIFA's consideration that the national teams of Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic, Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia, and USSR/Russia are combined respectively for record-keeping. The German Federal Republic is often referred to as "West Germany" between 1945 and 1991 to distinguish it from the German Democratic Republic or "East Germany".[3]
  2. ^ Technically the 1958 final was also between two first timers, but Brazil's 1950 group game defeat is generally counted as a previous "final" appearance for the team.
  3. ^ Actually not a final but the decisive match of the final group stage.

References

General

Specific

  1. ^ "Laws of the Game" (PDF). FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  2. ^ a b "FIFA World Cup Finals since 1930" (PDF). FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  3. ^ "All-time FIFA World Cup Ranking 1930-2010" (PDF). FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  4. ^ "World Cup Spotlight on Brazil". CNN. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
  5. ^ "Taça da Copa do Mundo chega ao Brasil (World Cup trophy arrives in Brazil)". Globo TV. 21 April 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  6. ^ Ogden, Mark (20 October 2014). "Russia's Luzhniki Stadium ahead of schedule for 2018 World Cup Final". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  7. ^ "1930 FIFA World Cup Uruguay". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  8. ^ "World Cup history – Uruguay 1930". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  9. ^ "1934 FIFA World Cup Italy". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 23 March 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  10. ^ "World Cup history – Italy 1934". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 16 May 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  11. ^ "1938 FIFA World Cup France". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  12. ^ "World Cup history – France 1938". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  13. ^ "1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  14. ^ "World Cup history – Brazil 1950". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  15. ^ "1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  16. ^ "World Cup history – Switzerland 1954". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  17. ^ "1958 FIFA World Cup Sweden". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  18. ^ "World Cup history – Sweden 1958". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  19. ^ "1962 FIFA World Cup Chile". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  20. ^ "World Cup history – Chile 1962". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  21. ^ "1966 FIFA World Cup England". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  22. ^ "World Cup history – England 1966". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  23. ^ "1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  24. ^ "World Cup history – Mexico 1970". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 20 June 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  25. ^ "1974 FIFA World Cup Germany". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  26. ^ "World Cup history – Germany 1974". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  27. ^ "1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  28. ^ "World Cup history – Argentina 1978". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  29. ^ "1982 FIFA World Cup Spain". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  30. ^ "World Cup history – Spain 1982". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  31. ^ "1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  32. ^ "World Cup history – Mexico 1986". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  33. ^ "1990 FIFA World Cup Italy". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  34. ^ "World Cup history – Italy 1990". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  35. ^ "1994 FIFA World Cup USA". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  36. ^ "World Cup history – USA 1994". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  37. ^ "1998 FIFA World Cup France". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  38. ^ "World Cup history – France 1998". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  39. ^ "2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  40. ^ "World Cup history – Japan & South Korea 2002". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  41. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  42. ^ "Zidane off as Italy win World Cup". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  43. ^ "2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 11 July 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  44. ^ "Netherlands 0–1 Spain (aet)". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  45. ^ "Estadio Do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  46. ^ McNulty, Phil (13 July 2014). "Germany 1–0 Argentina". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  47. ^ "Formidable France secure second title". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 15 July 2018. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  48. ^ "More than half the world watched record-breaking 2018 World Cup". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.

External links

FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup final venues
Categories