Who Has Won the Most World Cup Trophies in History?
Following the culmination of both UEFA Euro 2024 and the Copa America, all eyes on international football now turn towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The upcoming spectacle will be groundbreaking as the tournament expands from 32 teams to 48, and matches will be held across three countries, namely the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico. All three sides have automatically qualified as a result, however, each of them had differing fortunes in the recent continental showdown.
Out of the three CONCACAF powerhouses, the Canadians enjoyed the best time of it at the recent Copa. They managed to make it to the semifinals dispute featuring in the tournament for the first time in their history, while their fellow World Cup hosts both bowed out at the group stage. In the end, the competition was won by reigning world champions Argentina, who claimed their second continental crown on the bounce.
Over in Europe, it was Spain that won the European Championships for a record-breaking fourth time. They beat a who’s who of the continent’s best teams en route to the final, including reigning champions Italy, hosts Germany, and back-to-back World Cup finalists France. La Roja met an England side that looked destined for the crown after a string of late goals secured their spot in Berlin, and it looked like the Three Lions were up to their old tricks once more when Cole Palmer netted a 73rd-minute equalizer. However, unfortunately for Gareth Southgate, Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner took the trophy to Madrd.
So, with the next FIFA World Cup less than two years away, let’s take a look at the teams with the most World Cup trophies to their name.
Image by source
Brazil
Brazil is the record five-time champion at the FIFA World Cup; however, they have made it past the quarterfinals just once since their most recent triumph back in 2002, and that ended in a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Germany on home turf back in 2014. The recent state of Brazilian football is a far cry from the success in Japan and South Korea 22 years ago when the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho were stealing the spotlight. Nowadays, Samba is no more, and the Selecao have much to do if they are to live up to the billing that the popular Bovada online sportsbook has given them, making them the surprising +700 favorites for the 2026 showdown.
Their dominance began back in 1958 when they won their first title in Sweden with a certain 17-year-old Pele bursting onto the scene, scoring a brace in the final against the hosts to secure their first-ever title. Four years later, they became the second nation in history to successfully defend the crown when they were once again crowned world champions with Garrincha stepping up to lead the team to glory in Chile.
Brazil was on top once more eight years later, lifting the title in Mexico thanks to a 4-1 drubbing against Italy in the final, securing their third World Cup in four attempts. They would have to wait 24 years for their fourth trophy, but that duly came with another victory against the Azzurri in the USA in 1994, before securing their fifth and most recent crown with a 2-0 victory against Germany in 2002.
Germany
Germany is another team that was once fearsome but has lost its way over the last decade. A decade ago, Die Mannschaftt lifted the World Cup for the first time as a unified nation and the fourth time overall after they dispatched Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Brazil thanks to Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner. Since then, however, they have been eliminated from the tournament in the group stages in their last two attempts.
Their first triumph came under the West Germany flag in 1954 in Switzerland, where they famously defeated the heavily favored Hungary team 3-2 in the “Miracle of Bern.” Two decades later they had their second star on their shirt, winning the 1974 tournament on home soil with a squad c containing the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller, defeating a stacked Netherlands team in the final. Their third and final triumph before reunification came in 1990 when the Germans defeated Diego Maaradona’s Argentina in Italy thanks to a solitary Andreas Brehme penalty.
Italy
The Italians have also lifted the trophy four times and they can lay claim to becoming the first true powerhouse in World Cup history, winning the second and third installments of the tournament back-to-back in 1934 and 1938 with victories against Czechoslovakia and Hungary respectively. They would have to wait for an almighty 44 years for their next crown, but that duly came in 1982 when goals from Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli, and Alessandro Altobelli secured a 3-1 victory against West Germany in Madrd’s iconic Santiago Bernabeu.
Their most recent triumph on the global stage came in 2006. The Azzurri headed to Germany that summer terribly out of form and amid a scandal. However, they went on to hit form at the perfect time, defeating hosts Germany in the semifinal thanks to extra time goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero, before taking full advantage of Zinedine Zidane’s moment of madness to defeat France on penalties in the Berlin showpiece.
Argentina
Argentina have lifted the trophy four times, and they will head to the Americas in 2026 as reigning champions. Back in the winter of 2022, Lionel Messi climbed his final peak and secured his legacy as the greatest footballer that’s ever lived as he delivered a Player of the Tournament display to help his beloved Albiceleste to the trophy at the fifth time of asking. He netted twice in perhaps the best final ever played as his side defeated then-reigning champions France in Qatar.
The South American nation’s first triumph came in 1978 on home soil, where they defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in the final thanks to a brace from Mario Kempes. Eight years later it was Diego Maradona leading his side to victory. His iconic ‘Hand of God’ saw off England in the quarterfinals in Mexico, before then going on to defeat West Germany in the final thanks to Jorge Burruchaga after the Germans had battled back from 2-0 down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Has Scored the Most Goals?
Germany striker Miroslav Klose currently holds the record with 16 goals across four tournaments, famously breaking Ronaldo’s record in the 7-1 semifinal drubbing of Brazil in 2014
Who Has the Most Appearances?
Lionel Messi has made 26 appearances on the grandest stage, breaking Lothar Matthäus’ record when he led his beloved Argentina to victory in the 2022 final
Who are the penalty shootout kings of the World Cup?
Germany and Croatia are the only two teams in history to have never lost a penalty shootout at the World Cup, each winning four apiece (featuring teams that have competed in more than one shootout)
Conclusion
So, that’s the history of the FIFA World Cup, but what is the immediate future? The next tournament takes place in the summer of 2026, with North America playing host. The tournament will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams, meaning smaller nations will have the chance to play out their dreams in front of billions.
This expanded format will allow more nations to participate, giving smaller footballing countries an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their talents on the world stage. For the first time, a broader array of teams will be able to compete for glory, and fans from around the globe will be able to witness new and exciting matchups that have previously been out of reach.
Argentina heads to the tournament as reigning champions, but who will emerge victorious in MetLife Stadium on July 19th, 2026?
