Every World Cup Winning Country — Full List & How Many Times They've Won

Brazil have won the World Cup more times than any other nation, lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. The 1970 side, built around Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson and Carlos Alberto, is widely considered the greatest team ever assembled, scoring 19 goals in six games and beating Italy 4-1 in the final. The back-to-back wins in 1958 and 1962 came either side of Pelé's emergence as a teenage star on the world stage. The 1994 and 2002 titles, built on Romário, Bebeto, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, showed Brazil could win with pragmatism as well as flair. Five stars on the badge make Brazil the benchmark every other nation measures itself against.

Germany have won the World Cup four times, in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014, spread across six decades of football. The 1954 "Miracle of Bern" saw West Germany beat a heavily favoured Hungary side in the final, the first of many shocks the nation has produced on the biggest stage. The 1974 and 1990 wins came either side of German reunification, with Franz Beckenbauer winning as both captain and manager. The 2014 triumph in Brazil is remembered as much for the 7-1 semi-final win over the hosts as for Mario Götze's extra-time winner against Argentina in the final. Few nations have matched Germany's consistency, with a deep run in almost every tournament they enter.

Italy have won the World Cup four times, with two titles arriving before the Second World War in 1934 and 1938. Those early wins, under Vittorio Pozzo, remain the only back-to-back World Cups won by the same manager in history. After a long wait, Italy returned to the top in 1982, with an ageing Paolo Rossi scoring six goals to inspire a 3-1 win over West Germany in the final. The 2006 title was settled on penalties against France, a final remembered for Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi as much as for Fabio Grosso's winning spot kick. Italy's four stars sit alongside a reputation for defensive discipline that has defined their football for generations.

Argentina have won the World Cup three times, in 1978, 1986 and 2022. The 1978 win came on home soil, with Mario Kempes the star of a tournament played under a military dictatorship. Diego Maradona then carried Argentina to the 1986 title in Mexico almost single-handedly, scoring the "Goal of the Century" against England along the way. The 2022 triumph in Qatar completed the set for Lionel Messi, who finally lifted the trophy after a final against France that finished 3-3 and was settled on penalties. Argentina's third star arrived 36 years after their second, closing one of football's longest-running storylines.

France have won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018, both times with squads built around a generational playmaker. The 1998 win came on home soil, with Zinedine Zidane scoring twice in a 3-0 final win over Brazil that sparked celebrations across Paris. Twenty years later, a teenage Kylian Mbappé announced himself to the world in Russia, scoring in the final as France beat Croatia 4-2. Two titles in 20 years marks one of the most efficient runs of any modern footballing nation. See the France World Cup 2026 squad for the players chasing a third star.

Uruguay have won the World Cup twice, in 1930 and 1950, and both victories carry outsized historical weight. The first-ever World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 with just 13 teams competing, and the hosts beat Argentina 4-2 in the final to become the tournament's first champions. Twenty years later, Uruguay shocked hosts Brazil 2-1 in the deciding match of the 1950 tournament in front of almost 200,000 fans at the Maracanã, a result still known in Brazil as the Maracanazo. For a country of around 3.5 million people, two World Cup titles remain an extraordinary part of Uruguayan football identity to this day.

England have won the World Cup once, in 1966, and it remains the country's only major men's international trophy. The tournament was held on home soil, and England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time in a final remembered for Geoff Hurst's hat-trick, the only one ever scored in a World Cup final. Bobby Moore lifted the trophy at Wembley in front of a home crowd, and the moment has been replayed in England ever since. Almost 60 years on, it remains the standard every England squad since has been measured against, including the group heading to North America in 2026.

Spain have won the World Cup once, in 2010, the peak of an era that also brought back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012. Built around the tiki-taka style of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, Spain controlled possession and ground down opponents throughout the tournament in South Africa. The final against the Netherlands was settled in extra time when Iniesta volleyed home the only goal of the game. Spain's single star represents one of the most dominant short spells by any national team in football history.