The FIFA World Cup, also known simply as the World Cup, is an international football competition held every four years. Since the first tournament in 1930, the championship has been awarded every four years, except for 1942 and 1946, when it was not held due to the Second World War.
And, after nearly 100 years, the game’s impact has grown. According to audience data for official broadcast coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 3.572 billion viewers tuned in – more than half of the global population aged four and up.
Isn’t that an unbelievable number? Let’s check out which teams took home the glory as a FIFA champion!
1. FIFA World Cup Winner List
| Year | Host Country | Champion | Runner-up | Second runner-up |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina | United States |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy | Czechoslovakia | Germany |
| 1938 | France | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
| 1942 | — | |||
| 1946 | — | |||
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
| 1954 | Switzerland | West Germany | Hungary | Austria |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | Sweden | France |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | Czechoslovakia | Chile |
| 1966 | England | England | West Germany | Portugal |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | Italy | West Germany |
| 1974 | West Germany | West Germany | Netherlands | Poland |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | Netherlands | Brazil |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | West Germany | Poland |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | West Germany | France |
| 1990 | Italy | West Germany | Argentina | Italy |
| 1994 | United State | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
| 1998 | France | France | Brazil | Croatia |
| 2002 | South Korea
Japan |
Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | France | Germany |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Netherlands | Germany |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Argentina | Netherlands |
| 2018 | Russia | France | Croatia | Belgium |
| 2022 | Qatar | TBD | TBD | TBD |
2. Which teams have become the FIFA Champion so far?
History has recorded that these are the top six countries throughout the World Cup journey.
1. Brazil (Won 5 times)
Undeniably, Brazil is one of the top FIFA champions during the World Cup. To date, they have won 5 times which is in the year 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
They were runners-up twice in 1950 and 1998, and they also took home bronze medals twice in 1938 and 1978.
2. Germany (Won 4 times)
Other than Brazil, Germany is always being mentioned in the World Cup too.
They successfully won four times (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014), as well as four times as runners-up (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002), and four times in third place (1934, 1970, 2006, 2010).
If you consider the number of wins in the top three, they have taken home medals 12 times, which is more than Brazil (9 times)!
3. Italy (Won 4 times)
Some would say: “Italy is strong, too!”
Yes, they are! With a history of 4 times being the FIFA champion (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), twice as runners-up (1970, 1994), plus one bronze medal (1990), they have proven themselves to be among the greats!
4. Argentina (Won 2 times)
In 1978 and 1986, Argentina has made history as the champion of the World Cup. Also, Argentina were runners-up in 1930 (the first FIFA), 1990 and 2014.
5. France (Won 2 times)
France was the champion of FIFA in the year 1998 and 2018.
They also won runners-up in the year 2006; at the same time, they recorded third place twice in 1958 and 1986.
6. Uruguay (Won 2 times)
In its long history, Uruguay has won twice as the FIFA champion! Their gold medal was recorded in the first FIFA in 1930, and 20 years later, which is in 1950.
Among these countries, which is your favourite?
Be a life winner!
Join IQI as a real estate professional; with the latest technology and supported by training and a global network across over 20 countries, you can be your own life’s winner too.
Sign up now!
