22 tournaments across 17 host nations. 2,548 total goals. 8 different champions. Here is every edition — from the inaugural 1930 Uruguay tournament to the drama of Qatar 2022.
| Year | Host | Teams | Matches | Goals | Avg | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Top scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 |  Uruguay |
13 | 18 | 70 | 3.88 | Uruguay | Argentina | 4–2 | Guillermo Stábile (8) |
| 1934 |  Italy |
16 | 17 | 70 | 4.12 | Italy | Czechoslovakia | 2–1 AET | Oldřich Nejedlý (5) |
| 1938 |  France |
15 | 18 | 84 | 4.67 | Italy | Hungary | 4–2 | Leônidas (7) |
| 1950 |  Brazil |
13 | 22 | 88 | 4.00 | Uruguay | Brazil | 2–1 | Ademir (8) |
| 1954 |  Switzerland |
16 | 26 | 140 | 5.38 | Germany | Hungary | 3–2 | Sándor Kocsis (11) |
| 1958 |  Sweden |
16 | 35 | 126 | 3.60 | Brazil | Sweden | 5–2 | Just Fontaine (13) |
| 1962 |  Chile |
16 | 32 | 89 | 2.78 | Brazil | Czechoslovakia | 3–1 | Garrincha (4) |
| 1966 |  England |
16 | 32 | 89 | 2.78 | England | West Germany | 4–2 AET | Eusébio (9) |
| 1970 |  Mexico |
16 | 32 | 95 | 2.97 | Brazil | Italy | 4–1 | Gerd Müller (10) |
| 1974 |  Germany |
16 | 38 | 97 | 2.55 | Germany | Netherlands | 2–1 | Gerd Müller (4) |
| 1978 |  Argentina |
16 | 38 | 102 | 2.68 | Argentina | Netherlands | 3–1 AET | Mario Kempes (6) |
| 1982 |  Spain |
24 | 52 | 146 | 2.81 | Italy | West Germany | 3–1 | Paolo Rossi (6) |
| 1986 | Mexico |
24 | 52 | 132 | 2.54 | Argentina | West Germany | 3–2 | Gary Lineker (6) |
| 1990 | Italy |
24 | 52 | 115 | 2.21 | Germany | Argentina | 1–0 | Salvatore Schillaci (6) |
| 1994 |  USA |
24 | 52 | 141 | 2.71 | Brazil | Italy | 0–0 (3–2 pens) | Oleg Salenko (6) |
| 1998 | France |
32 | 64 | 171 | 2.67 | France | Brazil | 3–0 | Davor Šuker (6) |
| 2002 |  South Korea/Japan |
32 | 64 | 161 | 2.52 | Brazil | Germany | 2–0 | Ronaldo (8) |
| 2006 | Germany |
32 | 64 | 147 | 2.30 | Italy | France | 1–1 (5–3 pens) | Miroslav Klose (5) |
| 2010 |  South Africa |
32 | 64 | 145 | 2.27 | Spain | Netherlands | 1–0 AET | Thomas Müller (5) |
| 2014 | Brazil |
32 | 64 | 171 | 2.67 | Germany | Argentina | 1–0 AET | James Rodríguez (6) |
| 2018 |  Russia |
32 | 64 | 169 | 2.64 | France | Croatia | 4–2 | Harry Kane (6) |
| 2022 |  Qatar |
32 | 64 | 172 | 2.69 | Argentina | France | 3–3 (4–2 pens) | Kylian Mbappé (8) |
Uruguay
UruguayFirst ever World Cup. 13 nations participated, all travel by ship. Uruguay won the final in front of 68,346 fans at Montevideo's Estadio Centenario. The USA finished third. Stábile's 8 goals set a tournament record at the inaugural edition.
Italy
ItalyFirst World Cup held in Europe. Italy, under coach Vittorio Pozzo, won the title on home soil. Defending champion Uruguay refused to participate. The tournament used a straight knockout format with no group stage — the only time in history. Nejedlý of Czechoslovakia finished top scorer.
France
ItalyItaly won back-to-back titles under Vittorio Pozzo — still the only coach to win two World Cups. Brazil's Leônidas 'the Black Diamond' finished top scorer with 7 goals and invented the bicycle kick. Argentina and Uruguay again boycotted. The tournament was suspended due to World War II — the next edition came 12 years later in 1950.
Brazil
UruguayThe only World Cup with a final round-robin instead of a final match. 199,854 fans watched Uruguay vs Brazil at Rio's Maracanã in what became known as the Maracanazo — Uruguay's surprise 2–1 win that still haunts Brazilian football. Ademir top-scored with 8. Germany and Japan banned, Argentina withdrew.
Switzerland
GermanyThe highest-scoring World Cup ever (5.38 goals/game). Hungary's Golden Team, 32 games unbeaten, were huge favourites and beat West Germany 8–3 in the group stage. Germany won the rematch 3–2 in the final — the Miracle of Bern. Austria beat Switzerland 7–5 in the highest-scoring World Cup match ever. Kocsis scored 11 goals including 2 hat-tricks.
Sweden
BrazilA 17-year-old Pelé scored twice in the final, becoming the youngest player to score in a World Cup final. France's Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in 6 games — the all-time single-tournament record that still stands today. Brazil won their first title. Garrincha was magnificent throughout.
Chile
BrazilPelé injured early, Garrincha carried Brazil to the title. The Battle of Santiago between Chile and Italy was one of the most violent matches in World Cup history. Brazil retained the title despite Pelé playing only 2 games. Garrincha and Vavá both scored 4 — top scorers were shared by multiple players.
England
EnglandEngland won on home soil, with Geoff Hurst scoring the only hat-trick in a World Cup final. The tournament is remembered for the disputed third goal — whether the ball fully crossed the line remains debated. North Korea upset Italy 1–0. Portugal's Eusébio scored 9 goals. The Jules Rimet trophy was stolen before the tournament and found by a dog named Pickles.
Mexico
BrazilThe greatest World Cup ever, according to most historians. Brazil's team — Pelé, Garrincha, Tostão, Rivelino, Jairzinho — scored 19 goals in 6 games. Jairzinho scored in every game. The 4–1 demolition of Italy in the final was total football. Brazil won the Jules Rimet trophy permanently with their third title. Gordon Banks' save from Pelé is the save of the century.
Germany
GermanyJohan Cruyff's Netherlands, playing Total Football, were favourites but lost the final to hosts West Germany. Cruyff never won the World Cup despite winning three Balon d'Or awards. Gerd Müller, with 14 career World Cup goals, retired from international football after this win. The Jules Rimet trophy was replaced by the current FIFA World Cup Trophy.
Argentina
ArgentinaArgentina won their first World Cup under coach César Luis Menotti. Mario Kempes, playing in Spain with Valencia, scored 6 goals including two in the final. The tournament was held under the military dictatorship of Jorge Videla. The Netherlands again reached the final without Cruyff, who controversially did not attend.
Spain
ItalyItaly's Paolo Rossi was sensational — scoring hat-tricks against Brazil and Poland after returning from a betting scandal suspension. Italy's 3–2 win over Brazil in the second group stage (Brazil needed only a draw) is one of the greatest matches ever. The tournament expanded to 24 teams. Dino Zoff, 40 years old, became the oldest World Cup winner.
Mexico
ArgentinaMaradona's World Cup. The 'Hand of God' goal and the 'Goal of the Century' — both in the same match against England — defined the tournament. Lineker scored 6 for England including a hat-trick vs Poland. Argentina came from behind to win 3–2 in the final. Mexico co-hosted after Colombia withdrew, just two years after hosting in 1970.
Italy
GermanyThe lowest-scoring World Cup since 1966. Italy's Toto Schillaci came in as a substitute and won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball by tournament end. The penalty shootout eliminated England (semi-final) and several other teams. Cameroon reached the quarter-finals — the first African team to get that far. Germany's 1–0 final win was settled by a controversial penalty.
USA
BrazilThe worst World Cup final — goalless after 120 minutes, settled on penalties. Brazil won and became 4-time champions. Roberto Baggio's miss sealed Italy's fate. The USA hosted and drew record crowds — 3.587 million total attendance. Colombia's Andres Escobar scored an own goal and was murdered upon return home. Russia's Oleg Salenko scored 5 goals in one game vs Cameroon.
France
FranceThe tournament expanded to 32 teams. France won for the first time, with Zinedine Zidane scoring twice with headers, despite missing two group stage games. A strange episode the night before the final allegedly left Ronaldo unwell — Brazil's greatest player started, then was removed from the team sheet, then reinstated, and played poorly. France won 3–0.
South Korea/Japan
BrazilThe first World Cup held in Asia, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. Ronaldo scored 8 goals after his career was nearly derailed by convulsions in 1998. South Korea reached the semi-finals — the first Asian team to do so. Senegal, in their first ever World Cup, beat defending champion France. Germany reached the final without scoring a single goal in open play in the knockouts.
Germany
ItalyZidane's final tournament ended with a headbutt on Marco Materazzi in extra time — one of the most infamous moments in football history. Italy won penalties. The tournament's host Germany finished third with Klose scoring 5. Ghana reached the round of 16 — a breakout tournament for Africa. The golden away win format was introduced.
South Africa
SpainThe first World Cup held in Africa. Andrés Iniesta's goal in extra time won it for Spain, who had never won before. The vuvuzela horn dominated the soundscape. Iker Casillas kept the cleanest goals-against record. David Villa was Spain's top scorer. Paul the Octopus predicted every Spanish outcome correctly and became a global celebrity.
Brazil
GermanyThe Mineirazo: Germany beat host Brazil 7–1 in the semi-final in Belo Horizonte — the worst defeat in Brazilian football history. Miroslav Klose scored his 16th World Cup goal, breaking Ronaldo's all-time record. James Rodríguez won the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Germany's Mario Götze scored the winning goal with a brilliant chest-and-volley in extra time against Argentina.
Russia
FranceFrance won their second title, 20 years after 1998, with a convincing 4–2 win over Croatia — the biggest-ever underdog finalist. Harry Kane won the Golden Boot with 6 goals, including 3 penalties. Croatia, population 4 million, reached their first final. Lyin' eyes: VAR introduced to the World Cup for the first time.
Qatar
ArgentinaThe greatest World Cup final ever: Argentina 3–3 France after 120 minutes, Argentina winning 4–2 on penalties. Mbappé scored a hat-trick in the final, becoming the second player after Geoff Hurst to do so. Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball — finally lifting the trophy that had eluded him his entire career. Morocco reached the semi-finals — the first African and Arab nation to achieve this.
The FIFA World Cup has run for 22 editions since 1930. Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural tournament; Qatar 2022 produced the greatest final in history — Argentina 3–3 France, Argentina winning 4–2 on penalties. Read about every champion nation and study all World Cup records. See our complete FIFA World Cup history from 1930.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first edition with 48 national teams competing across 16 cities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. With 104 matches scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026, this tournament sets a new record for the largest World Cup in history. Three host nations competing simultaneously creates a cross-border sporting event unlike anything football has seen before. BC Place in Vancouver, BMO Field in Toronto and the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City are among the most iconic venues on the roster.
Canada's inclusion as a host nation adds particular significance for North American football. The Canadian men's national team qualified for a World Cup for the first time since 1986, and the home advantage in 2026 is expected to draw record crowds at BC Place and BMO Field. Alphonso Davies remains the most recognized face of Canadian football internationally, having established himself at Bayern Munich before his move to Real Madrid in 2025.
Group stage matches are distributed across all three host countries, with knockout rounds moving progressively toward the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is set to host the final on July 19, 2026. Capacity: 82,500. The United States will host the majority of matches, 60 out of 104, including all matches from the quarterfinals onward. FIFA confirmed the full match schedule in February 2025 following the completion of the draw in Miami.
Betting on the World Cup 2026 is legal across multiple Canadian provinces, including Ontario, where regulated sportsbooks operate under iGaming Ontario. Odds for tournament winner, golden boot and group-stage outcomes are available from the opening of registration. Brazil, France, England and Argentina entered 2026 as the four shortest-priced favourites according to aggregated market data from major licensed operators.
