List of FIFA World Cup finals

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The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, when it was not held because of World War II.

Founded1930; 96 years ago (1930)
Current champions Argentina (3rd title)
Most championships Brazil (5 titles)
Quick facts Founded, Current champions ...
FIFA World Cup final
Founded1930; 96 years ago (1930)
Current champions Argentina (3rd title)
Most championships Brazil (5 titles)
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The World Cup final is the last match of the competition, played by the only two teams remaining in contention, and the result determines which country is declared the world champion. It is a one-off match decided in regulation time. In case of a draw, extra time is used. If scores are then still level, a penalty shoot-out determines the winner,[1] under the rules in force since 1986; prior to that, finals still tied after extra time would have been replayed,[n 1] though this never proved necessary. The golden goal rule would have applied during extra time in 1998 and 2002, but was not put in practice either. The only exception to this type of format was the 1950 World Cup, which featured a final round-robin group of four teams; the decisive match of that group is often regarded as the de facto final of that tournament, including by FIFA itself.[3]

The team that wins the final receives the FIFA World Cup Trophy, and its name is engraved on the bottom side of the trophy.[4] Of 80 nations that have appeared in the tournament, 13 have made it to the final, and 8 have won. Brazil, the only team that has participated in every World Cup, is also the most successful team in the competition, having won five titles and finished second twice.[5] Italy and Germany[n 2] have four titles each, with Germany having reached more finals than any other team, eight. Current champion Argentina has three titles, Uruguay and France have two each, while England and Spain have one each. Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Sweden, the Netherlands and Croatia have played in the final without winning. Only teams from Europe (UEFA) and South America (CONMEBOL) have ever competed in the final. Argentina defeated France on penalties in the latest final, staged at Qatar's Lusail Stadium in 2022.

List of final matches

Key to the list
a.e.t. Match went to extra time
pen. Match was won on a penalty shoot-out
More information Year, Winners ...
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Results

Map of winning countries
More information Team, Winners ...
Results by nation
Team Winners Runners-up Total finals Years won Years runners-up
 Brazil 5 2 7 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 1950, 1998
 Germany 4 4 8 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014 1966, 1982, 1986, 2002
 Italy 4 2 6 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 1970, 1994
 Argentina 3 3 6 1978, 1986, 2022 1930, 1990, 2014
 France 2 2 4 1998, 2018 2006, 2022
 Uruguay 2 0 2 1930, 1950
 England 1 0 1 1966
 Spain 1 0 1 2010
 Netherlands 0 3 3 1974, 1978, 2010
 Hungary 0 2 2 1938, 1954
 Czechoslovakia 0 2 2 1934, 1962
 Sweden 0 1 1 1958
 Croatia 0 1 1 2018
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More information Confederation, Appearances ...
Results by confederation
Confederation Appearances Winners Runners-up
UEFA 29 12 17
CONMEBOL 15 10 5
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See also

Notes

  1. The 1962 and 1966 finals had provisions for only a single replay, and then a drawing of lots. For knockout matches other than the finals, penalty shoot-outs had been adopted from 1978, while lots would have been drawn between 1962 and 1974.[2]
  2. The team's totals include the records of West Germany (1954–1990).[6]
  3. Decisive match of a final stage; technically not a final but often regarded as such.

References

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