Nations With Most World Cup Titles and World Cup Match Victories
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The 23rd FIFA World Cup tournament kicked off on June 11, 2026, with co-hosts Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0 at Estadio Azteca (South Korea defeated Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara later that day). The following day, fellow co-hosts Canada drew 1-1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto and the United States, the third co-hosts, crushed Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles.
Neither of those eight nations, however, have won a World Cup title. Of the three victors, only South Korea has made it as far as the semifinals when it co-hosted the tournament with Japan in 2002. (Czechia made it to the final in 1934 and 1962 as Czechoslovakia.)
Most World Cup Titles
Since 1930, eight nations have won at least one World Cup: five from Europe and three from South America.
In the previous 22 tournaments, Brazil have won the most titles, with five. Italy and Germany both trail Brazil with four titles each, while Argentina — the defending champions after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — have won three World Cup titles.
Figure 1 shows the nations and their number of World Cup titles and the last year in which they won their respective titles.
Notes: The figure was last updated on June 15, 2026.
Germany's four World Cup titles include those of West Germany, which won the tournament in 1954, 1974 and 1990.
Source: FIFA
Championship Aspirations and Proven Finalists
Today, many of the nations that have won the World Cup title remain tournament favourites. In addition to these nations, Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands and Portugal have recently had championship aspirations, while such nations as Japan, Morocco and Switzerland have posed as dark horses for at least one of the last three World Cup tournaments.
Since 1930, five World Cup finalists that have yet to win a World Cup title, which include Croatia (2018) and the Netherlands (1974, 1978 and 2010). The three other nations that have featured in a World Cup final but have not won the title are Czechoslovakia (now Czechia and Slovakia), Hungary and Sweden. Both Czechoslovakia (1934 and 1962) and Hungary (1938 and 1954) lost twice in the final, while Sweden lost 5-2 against a Pelé-led Brazil in 1958 (Brazil’s first of five triumphs).
Most World Cup Match Victories
Although Brazil was unable to defeat Morocco in its opening match (a 1-1 draw), which was only the second time that it was unable to win its opening match, La Seleçãohas the most World Cup match victories, with 76 (see Figure 2). Germany (including the former East Germany and West Germany) boasts 68 victories, despite not advancing to the knockout stage since winning the tournament in 2014. On June 14, Germany earned its 69th victory after defeating World Cup debutant Curaçao by a 7-1 score.
Argentina moved to third place in this category during their title-winning run in Qatar achieving their 47th victory in that tournament’s final, an iconic victory on penalties (3-3 after extra-time) against France.
Rounding out the top five in this category are 2006 World Cup finalists Italy and France, with 45 and 39 victories, respectively. One can only imagine how many victories Italy would currently have if they had qualified for any of the last three World Cup tournaments, including this edition!
Figure 2 presents the 21 nations that have the highest number of World Cup match victories.
Notes: The figure was last updated on June 15, 2026.
Czechia's World Cup victories include those of Czechoslovakia; Serbia's victories include those of Yugoslavia; Russia's victories include those of the Soviet Union; and Germany's victories include those of East Germany and West Germany.
Source: FIFA
Barring any major upsets, the top five nations should remain within those rankings by the end of this tournament. The only remotely plausible scenario for change is if France suffer a similar fate as 2002 or 2010 — essentially crashing out of the tournament at the group stage — and England advance all the way to the final (or win the 2026 title). The Three Lions would thereby rank fifth with 40 victories should they win every match on their way to their second World Cup.
