8 Countries That Have Won the World Cup

8. Spain

Spain is considered one of the best football teams in the world. In fact, from 2007 to 2009, the Spanish national football team won 35 consecutive matches. Since its inception in 1920, they have participated in 16 out of 22 World Cups. They have qualified every time since 1978. Furthermore, they have also participated in 11 out of 16 UEFA European Championships.

The Spanish national football team, along with France, has earned the distinction of winning the World Cup, the Euro Cup, and the UEFA Nations League. Spain has also won both the World Cup and the Women’s World Cup, which makes it one of two countries to have such a distinction (along with Germany).

7. England

Although they have only won one World Cup, they are considered to be one of the best football teams in the world. Its inception in 1872 makes it the oldest national team that played against another country in an international match (which was against Scotland). They have participated in the World Cup a total of 16 times, and only twice have they placed in the top four. The English national football team competes in the World Cup, the UEFA European Championship, and the UEFA Nations League. Although they have one World Cup win under their belt, they have never won a Euro Cup. The farthest they have gone has been runner-up in 2020.

6. Uruguay

The Uruguayan national football team participated in the first World Cup ever held in 1930. The country also hosted the World Cup, where the final match was played at Estadio Centenario in the country’s capital, Montevideo. Uruguay has won twice: in 1930 against Argentina and in 1950 against Brazil. The team is usually referred to by the locals as La Celeste, because of the team’s sky blue color uniforms.

Since the team’s beginning in 1901, Uruguay has gone on to play in 14 World Cups and has secured wins in the Copa América 15 times. Fascinatingly enough, although Uruguay hosted the first FIFA World Cup, they protested the 1934 and 1938 World Cups because some European teams had chosen to not participate in the first World Cup held in Uruguay.

5. France

Since its inception in 1904, the French national football team has won the World Cup twice: once in 1998 against Brazil and again in 2018 against Croatia. When it comes to other matches, they have won two UEFA European Championships, two Confederations Cups, and one UEFA Nations League. They have also been runners-up twice in the World Cup: in 2006 against Italy and in 2022 against Argentina.

They have the distinction of being the only European national team that has won every FIFA and UEFA competition. The team’s two symbols are the tricolor (blue, white, red) and the Gallic rooster, which also happens to be France’s national animal. In France, the team is known as Les Bleus.

4. Argentina

Argentina is one of three South American football teams to have won World Cups. Argentina currently holds three wins. The first time took place in 1978 against the Netherlands on home turf. The second time happened in 1986 against West Germany, followed by 2022 against France. The Argentine national football team has also been runner-up three times: in 1930, in 1990, and 2014.

Besides their World Cup wins, they have also won the Copa América 15 times. Several great football stars have hailed from Argentina including Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. They are colloquially called La Albiceleste by the Argentinians, in homage to the uniforms and the Argentinian flag.

3. Italy

Italy has gone on to win the World Cup four times. They had back-to-back wins in 1934 and 1938 against Czechoslovakia and Hungary, respectively. The third win came in 1982 against West Germany and finally, the fourth win was in 2006 against France. Since 1910, they have consistently been one of the best football teams in the world. Besides the team’s wins, they also placed second in 1970 and 1994, third place in 1990, and fourth place in 1978.

The Italian national football team has also won two UEFA European Championships. Although winners of both the World Cup and Euro Cup, Italy has never won the UEFA Nations League. The team is referred to as gli Azzurri by the Italians because their team color is Savoy blue.

2. Germany

Ever since 1908 when the German national football team was formed, they have been a force to be reckoned with. Germany has won the World Cup title four times. The first time was in 1954 against Hungary, followed by 1974 against The Netherlands, in 1990 against Argentina, and finally in 2014 against Argentina. Furthermore, they have also won three UEFA European Championships: in 1972, in 1980, and lastly, in 1996.

Interestingly enough, there were two national German teams from 1949 to 1990 because of its division after World War II. Along with the country, the two German teams also unified. Germany holds the distinction of being the only European national team to win a World Cup in the Americas (which was held in Brazil).

1. Brazil

We finally arrive at the most successful country in World Cup history. With an impressive five wins, the Brazilian national football team won in 1958 against Sweden, in 1962 against Czechoslovakia, in 1970 and 1994 against Italy, and lastly, in 2002 against Germany. Besides their World Cup wins, they have also won 9 Copa Américas.

Brazil also holds many World Cup records. It is the only team to have qualified in all World Cups since its inception in 1930. The team is the only one to win a World Cup in four different continents: in 1958 in Sweden, in 1962 in Chile, in 1970 and 1994 in Mexico and the US, respectively, and lastly in 2002 in Japan. The Brazilian national football team is locally known as the Seleção Canarinha because of the yellow jerseys they play with.