National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup
International football delegations
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This article lists the performances of each of the national teams which have made at least one appearance in the FIFA World Cup.
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As of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, 80 national teams have competed at the final tournaments.[1] Brazil is the only team to have appeared in all 22 tournaments up to the 2022 edition, with Germany having participated in 20, Italy and Argentina in 18 and Mexico in 17.[2] To date, eight nations have won the tournament. The inaugural winners in 1930 were Uruguay; the current champions are Argentina. The most successful nation in the competition are currently Brazil, who have won the cup on five occasions.[3] Six teams have appeared in FIFA World Cup finals without winning,[4] while twelve more have appeared in semi-finals.[5]
Ranking of teams by number of appearances
- As of 31 March 2026
Debut of national teams
Each successive World Cup has had at least one team appearing for the first time. Using FIFA's view on successor teams, the total number of teams that have participated in the World Cup up to and including the 2022 edition is 80.
Overall team records
The system used in the World Cup up to 1990 was 2 points for a win. In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws. Teams are ranked by total points, then by goal difference, then by goals scored.[6][7]
- As of 2022 FIFA World Cup
| Rank | Team | Part. | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Brazil |
22 | 114 | 76 | 19 | 19 | 237 | 108 | +129 | 247 |
| 2 |  Germany[a] |
20 | 112 | 68 | 21 | 23 | 232 | 130 | +102 | 225 |
| 3 |  Argentina |
18 | 88 | 47 | 17 | 24 | 152 | 101 | +51 | 158 |
| 4 |  Italy |
18 | 83 | 45 | 21 | 17 | 128 | 77 | +51 | 156 |
| 5 |  France |
16 | 73 | 39 | 14 | 20 | 136 | 85 | +51 | 131 |
| 6 |  England |
16 | 74 | 32 | 22 | 20 | 104 | 68 | +36 | 118 |
| 7 |  Spain |
16 | 67 | 31 | 17 | 19 | 108 | 75 | +33 | 110 |
| 8 |  Netherlands |
11 | 55 | 30 | 14 | 11 | 96 | 52 | +44 | 104 |
| 9 |  Uruguay |
14 | 59 | 25 | 13 | 21 | 89 | 76 | +13 | 88 |
| 10 |  Belgium |
14 | 51 | 21 | 10 | 20 | 69 | 74 | −5 | 73 |
| 11 |  Sweden |
12 | 51 | 19 | 13 | 19 | 80 | 73 | +7 | 70 |
| 12 |  Russia[j] |
11 | 45 | 19 | 10 | 16 | 77 | 54 | +23 | 67 |
| 13 |  Mexico |
17 | 60 | 17 | 15 | 28 | 62 | 101 | −39 | 66 |
| 14 |  Serbia[k] |
13 | 49 | 18 | 9 | 22 | 71 | 71 | 0 | 63 |
| 15 |  Portugal |
8 | 35 | 17 | 6 | 12 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 57 |
| 16 |  Poland |
9 | 38 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 49 | 50 | −1 | 57 |
| 17 |  Switzerland |
12 | 41 | 14 | 8 | 19 | 55 | 73 | −18 | 50 |
| 18 |  Hungary |
9 | 32 | 15 | 3 | 14 | 87 | 57 | +30 | 48 |
| 19 |  Croatia |
6 | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 43 | 33 | +10 | 47 |
| 20 |  Slovakia[l] |
9 | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 49 | 52 | -3 | 42 |
| 21 |  Czech Republic[l] |
9 | 33 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 41 |
| 22 |  Austria |
7 | 29 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 43 | 47 | −4 | 40 |
| 23 |  Chile |
9 | 33 | 11 | 7 | 15 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 40 |
| 24 |  United States |
11 | 37 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 40 | 66 | −26 | 35 |
| 25 |  Denmark |
6 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 31 | 29 | +2 | 33 |
| 26 |  Paraguay |
8 | 27 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 30 | 38 | −8 | 31 |
| 27 |  South Korea |
11 | 38 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 39 | 78 | −39 | 31 |
| 28 |  Colombia |
6 | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 30 |
| 29 |  Romania |
7 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 30 | 32 | −2 | 29 |
| 30 |  Japan |
7 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 33 | −8 | 27 |
| 31 |  Costa Rica |
6 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 39 | −17 | 23 |
| 32 |  Cameroon |
8 | 26 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 22 | 47 | −25 | 23 |
| 33 |  Morocco |
6 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 27 | −7 | 22 |
| 34 |  Nigeria |
6 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 21 |
| 35 |  Scotland |
8 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 25 | 41 | −16 | 19 |
| 36 |  Senegal |
3 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 18 |
| 37 |  Ghana |
4 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 23 | −5 | 18 |
| 38 |  Peru |
5 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 21 | 33 | −12 | 18 |
| 39 |  Ecuador |
4 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| 40 |  Bulgaria |
7 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 53 | −31 | 17 |
| 41 |  Turkey |
2 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 17 | +3 | 16 |
| 42 |  Australia |
6 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 37 | −20 | 16 |
| 43 |  Republic of Ireland |
3 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 14 |
| 44 |  Northern Ireland |
3 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 23 | −10 | 14 |
| 45 |  Tunisia |
6 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 26 | −12 | 14 |
| 46 |  Saudi Arabia |
6 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 14 | 44 | −30 | 14 |
| 47 |  Iran |
6 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 31 | −18 | 13 |
| 48 |  Algeria |
4 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 12 |
| 49 |  Ivory Coast |
3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 10 |
| 50 |  South Africa |
3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 16 | −5 | 10 |
| 51 |  Norway |
3 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 9 |
| 52 |  East Germany[a] |
1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| 53 |  Greece |
3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 20 | −15 | 8 |
| 54 |  Ukraine |
1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 7 |
| 55 |  Wales |
2 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 7 |
| 56 |  Slovenia |
2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 4 |
| 57 |  Cuba |
1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 4 |
| 58 |  North Korea |
2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 21 | −15 | 4 |
| 59 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 60 |  Jamaica |
1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 3 |
| 61 |  New Zealand |
2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 3 |
| 62 |  Honduras |
3 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 3 |
| 63 |  Angola |
1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
| 64 |  Israel |
1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 2 |
| 65 |  Egypt |
3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 2 |
| 66 |  Iceland |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 |
| 67 |  Kuwait |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 1 |
| 68 |  Trinidad and Tobago |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 1 |
| 69 |  Bolivia |
3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 20 | −19 | 1 |
| 70 |  Iraq |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |
| 71 |  Togo |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0 |
| 72 |  Qatar |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 0 |
| 73 |  Indonesia[h] |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 0 |
| 74 |  Panama |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0 |
| 74 |  United Arab Emirates |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0 |
| 76 |  China |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | −9 | 0 |
| 77 |  Canada |
2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 12 | −10 | 0 |
| 78 |  Haiti |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | −12 | 0 |
| 79 |  DR Congo[g] |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | −14 | 0 |
| 80 |  El Salvador |
2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 22 | −21 | 0 |
| N/a |  Cape Verde |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Curaçao |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
 Jordan |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
 Uzbekistan |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Breakdown of successor team records
| Team | Part | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czechoslovakia (1934–1990) |
8 | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 44 | 45 | −1 | 38 |
| Czech Republic (2006–present) |
1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 |
| Slovakia (2010–present) |
1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
| Team | Part | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Germany (1934–1938) |
2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 10 |
| West Germany (1950–1990) |
10 | 62 | 36 | 14 | 12 | 131 | 77 | +54 | 122 |
| Germany (1994–present) |
8 | 44 | 29 | 6 | 9 | 87 | 40 | +46 | 93 |
| Team | Part | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Soviet Union (1958–1990) |
7 | 31 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 53 | 34 | +19 | 51 |
| Russia (1994–present) |
4 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 20 | +4 | 16 |
| Team | Part | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Yugoslavia (1930–1990) |
8 | 33 | 14 | 7 | 12 | 55 | 42 | +13 | 49 |
 FR Yugoslavia (1998) |
1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 7 |
| Serbia and Montenegro (2006) |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 0 |
| Serbia (2010–present) |
3 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 15 | −6 | 7 |
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Germany | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
| 3 | Italy | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | France | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | Uruguay | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | England | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 | Netherlands | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Czech Republic | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Hungary | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Slovakia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 13 | Croatia | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Sweden | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 15 | Poland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 16 | Austria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Belgium | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Chile | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Portugal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Turkey | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| United States | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (21 entries) | 22 | 24 | 22 | 68 | |
Comprehensive team results by tournament
The team ranking in each tournament is according to FIFA.[8][9][10] The rankings, apart from the top four positions (top two in 1930), are not a result of direct competition between the teams; instead, teams eliminated in the same round are ranked by their full results in the tournament.
For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament are shown (in parentheses).
Qualification Edition Host(s) (No of teams) Team |
1930 (13) |
QF 1934  (16) |
QF 1938  (15) |
QF 1950  (13) |
QF 1954 (16) |
QF 1958 (16) |
QF 1962 (16) |
QF 1966 (16) |
QF 1970 (16) |
QF 1974 (16) |
QF 1978  (16) |
QF 1982 (24) |
QF 1986 (24) |
QF 1990 (24) |
QF 1994 (24) |
QF 1998  (32) |
QF 2002  (32) |
QF 2006 (32) |
QF 2010 (32) |
QF 2014 (32) |
QF 2018 (32) |
QF 2022 (32) |
QF 2026 (48) |
QF 2030 (48) |
QF 2034 (48) |
Total appearances (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria |
Part of France | × | • | • | • | R1 13th | R1 22nd | • | • | • | • | • | R1 28th | R2 14th | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 5 | ||||||
| Angola |
N/a | • | • | • | • | • | R1 23rd | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | |||||||||||
| Argentina |
2nd | R1 T-9th | × | × | R1 13th | R1 10th | QF 5th | • | R2 8th | 1st | R2 11th | 1st | 2nd | R2 10th | QF 6th | R1 18th | QF 6th | QF 5th | 2nd | R2 16th | 1st | Q | Q | TBD | 19 | |
| Australia |
N/a | • | • | R1 14th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 16th | R1 21st | R1 30th | R1 30th | R2 11th | Q | TBD | TBD | 7 | ||||||
| Austria |
4th | ••[m] | × | 3rd | R1 15th | • | • | • | R2 7th | R2 8th | • | R1 T-18th | • | R1 23rd | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 8 | ||
| Belgium |
R1 11th | R1 15th | R1 13th | × | R1 12th | • | • | • | R1 T-10th | • | • | R2 10th | 4th | R2 11th | R2 11th | R1 19th | R2 14th | • | • | QF 6th | 3rd | R1 23rd | Q | TBD | TBD | 15 |
| Bolivia |
R1 12th | R1 13th | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 21st | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 3 | ||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Part of Yugoslavia[c] | N/a | • | • | • | • | R1 20th | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Brazil |
R1 6th | R1 14th | 3rd | 2nd | QF 5th | 1st | 1st | R1 11th | 1st | 4th | 3rd | R2 5th | QF 5th | R2 9th | 1st | 2nd | 1st | QF 5th | QF 6th | 4th | QF 6th | QF 7th | Q | TBD | TBD | 23 |
| Bulgaria |
•× | • | • | • | R1 15th | R1 15th | R1 13th | R1 12th | • | • | R2 15th | • | 4th | R1 29th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 7 | ||
| Cameroon |
N/a | × | • | • | • | R1 17th | • | QF 7th | R1 22nd | R1 25th | R1 20th | • | R1 31st | R1 32nd | • | R1 19th | • | TBD | TBD | 8 | ||||||
| Canada |
• | × | • | • | • | • | R1 24th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 31st | Q | TBD | TBD | 3 | ||||||
| Cape Verde |
N/a | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Chile |
R1 5th | × | R1 9th | • | • | 3rd | R1 T-13th | • | R1 11th | • | R1 22nd | • | • | × | R2 16th | • | • | R2 10th | R2 9th | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 9 | |
| China[n] |
N/a | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 31st | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | |||||||||
| Colombia |
N/a | × | • | R1 14th | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 14th | R1 19th | R1 21st | • | • | • | QF 5th | R2 9th | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 7 | |||
| Costa Rica |
× | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 13th | • | • | R1 19th | R1 31st | • | QF 8th | R1 29th | R1 27th | • | TBD | TBD | 6 | |||
| Croatia |
Part of Yugoslavia[c] | N/a | 3rd | R1 23rd | R1 22nd | • | R1 19th | 2nd | 3rd | Q | TBD | TBD | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Cuba |
N/a | • | QF 8th | • | × | • | × | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | ||||
| Curaçao[o] |
N/a | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 1 | ||||
| Czech Republic[f] |
2nd | QF 5th | R1 14th | R1 9th | 2nd | • | R1 15th | • | • | R1 19th | • | QF 6th | • | • | • | R1 20th | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 10 | ||
| Denmark |
• | • | • | • | • | • | R2 9th | • | • | QF 8th | R2 10th | • | R1 24th | • | R2 11th | R1 28th | • | TBD | TBD | 6 | ||||||
| DR Congo[g] |
N/a | × | R1 16th | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 2 | |||||||
| East Germany[a] |
Part of Germany | N/a | • | • | • | • | R2 6th | • | • | • | • | Part of Germany | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Ecuador |
× | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 24th | R2 12th | • | R1 17th | • | R1 18th | Q | TBD | TBD | 5 | |||||
| Egypt[p] |
•• | R1 13th | × | • | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | R1 20th | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 31st | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 4 | ||
| El Salvador |
N/a | × | R1 16th | • | • | R1 24th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 2 | ||||||
| England |
N/a | R1 8th | QF 6th | R1 11th | QF 8th | 1st | QF 8th | • | • | R2 6th | QF 8th | 4th | • | R2 9th | QF 6th | QF 7th | R2 13th | R1 26th | 4th | QF 6th | Q | TBD | TBD | 17 | ||
| France |
R1 7th | R1 T-9th | QF 6th | • | R1 11th | 3rd | • | R1 T-13th | • | • | R1 12th | 4th | 3rd | • | • | 1st | R1 28th | 2nd | R1 29th | QF 7th | 1st | 2nd | Q | TBD | TBD | 17 |
| Germany[a] |
3rd | R1 10th | 1st | 4th | QF 7th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | R2 6th | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | QF 5th | QF 7th | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | R1 22nd | R1 17th | Q | TBD | TBD | 21 | ||
| Ghana |
N/a | • | × | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | R2 13th | QF 7th | R1 25th | • | R1 24th | Q | TBD | TBD | 5 | |||||
| Greece |
•× | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 24th | • | • | • | R1 25th | R2 13th | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 3 | ||
| Haiti |
N/a | • | • | • | R1 15th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 2 | ||||||
| Honduras |
N/a | • | • | • | • | × | R1 18th | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 30th | R1 31st | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 3 | |||||
| Hungary |
QF 6th | 2nd | 2nd | R1 10th | QF 5th | QF 6th | • | • | R1 15th | R1 14th | R1 18th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 9 | ||
| Iceland |
N/a | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 28th | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | ||||||
| Indonesia[h] |
R1 15th | × | •× | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | |||||
| Iran |
N/a | • | R1 14th | × | × | • | • | R1 20th | • | R1 T-25th | • | R1 28th | R1 18th | R1 26th | Q | TBD | TBD | 7 | ||||||||
| Iraq |
N/a | • | × | • | R1 23rd | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 2 | ||||||||
| Israel[q] |
• | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 12th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | |
| Italy |
1st | 1st | R1 7th | R1 10th | • | R1 9th | R1 9th | 2nd | R1 10th | 4th | 1st | R2 12th | 3rd | 2nd | QF 5th | R2 15th | 1st | R1 26th | R1 22nd | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 18 | |
| Ivory Coast |
N/a | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 19th | R1 17th | R1 21st | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 4 | |||||||||
| Jamaica |
N/a | • | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | R1 22nd | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | ||||||
| Japan |
•• | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 31st | R2 9th | R1 T-28th | R2 9th | R1 29th | R2 15th | R2 9th | Q | TBD | TBD | 8 | ||||
| Jordan |
N/a | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 1 | |||||||||||
| Kuwait |
N/a | • | • | R1 21st | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | •× | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | ||||||||
| Mexico |
R1 13th | • | × | R1 12th | R1 13th | R1 16th | R1 11th | R1 12th | QF 6th | • | R1 16th | • | QF 6th | × | R2 13th | R2 13th | R2 11th | R2 15th | R2 14th | R2 10th | R2 12th | R1 22nd | Q | TBD | TBD | 18 |
| Morocco |
N/a | • | × | R1 14th | • | • | • | R2 11th | • | R1 23rd | R1 18th | • | • | • | • | R1 27th | 4th | Q | Q | TBD | 7 | |||||
| Netherlands |
R1 T-9th | R1 14th | • | • | • | • | 2nd | 2nd | • | • | R2 15th | QF 7th | 4th | • | R2 11th | 2nd | 3rd | • | QF 5th | Q | TBD | TBD | 12 | |||
| New Zealand |
N/a | • | • | • | R1 23rd | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 22nd | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 3 | |||||||
| Nigeria |
N/a | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 9th | R2 12th | R1 27th | • | R1 27th | R2 16th | R1 21st | • | • | TBD | TBD | 6 | |||||
| North Korea |
N/a | QF 8th | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | R1 32nd | • | • | •× | • | TBD | TBD | 2 | ||||||||
| Northern Ireland[r] |
N/a | • | • | QF 8th | • | • | • | • | • | R2 9th | R1 21st | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 3 | ||
| Norway |
R1 12th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 17th | R2 15th | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 4 | |||
| Panama |
N/a | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 32nd | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 2 | |||||||||
| Paraguay |
R1 9th | R1 11th | • | R1 12th | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 13th | • | • | R2 14th | R2 16th | R1 18th | QF 8th | • | • | • | Q | Q | TBD | 9 | ||
| Peru |
R1 10th | × | × | × | • | • | • | QF 7th | • | R2 8th | R1 20th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 20th | • | • | TBD | TBD | 5 | |
| Poland |
•× | R1 11th | × | • | • | • | • | 3rd | R2 5th | 3rd | R2 14th | • | • | • | R1 25th | R1 21st | • | • | R1 25th | R2 15th | • | TBD | TBD | 9 | ||
| Portugal |
• | • | • | • | • | • | 3rd | • | • | • | • | R1 17th | • | • | • | R1 21st | 4th | R2 11th | R1 18th | R2 13th | QF 8th | Q | Q | TBD | 9 | |
| Qatar |
N/a | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 32nd | Q | TBD | TBD | 2 | ||||||||
| Republic of Ireland[s] |
• | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | QF 8th | R2 16th | • | R2 12th | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 3 | |
| Romania |
R1 8th | R1 12th | R1 9th | • | • | • | • | R1 T-10th | • | • | • | • | R2 12th | QF 6th | R2 11th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 7 | |
| Russia[e] |
QF 7th | QF 6th | 4th | QF 5th | •× | • | R2 7th | R2 10th | R1 17th | R1 18th | • | R1 22nd | • | • | R1 24th | QF 8th | •× | × | TBD | TBD | 11 | |||||
| Saudi Arabia |
N/a | • | • | • | • | R2 12th | R1 28th | R1 32nd | R1 T-28th | • | • | R1 26th | R1 25th | Q | TBD | Q | 7 | |||||||||
| Scotland |
N/a | •• | R1 15th | R1 14th | • | • | • | R1 9th | R1 11th | R1 15th | R1 19th | R1 T-18th | • | R1 27th | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 9 | ||
| Senegal |
N/a | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | QF 7th | • | • | • | R1 17th | R2 10th | Q | TBD | TBD | 4 | |||||||
| Serbia[c] |
4th[t] | • | • | R1 5th | QF 7th | QF 5th | 4th | C | • | R2 7th | • | R1 16th | • | QF 5th | × | R2 10th | • | R1 32nd | R1 23rd | • | R1 23rd | R1 29th | • | TBD | TBD | 13 |
| Slovakia[f] |
2nd | QF 5th | R1 14th | R1 9th | 2nd | • | R1 15th | • | • | R1 19th | • | QF 6th | • | • | • | • | R2 16th | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 9 | ||
| Slovenia |
Part of Yugoslavia[c] | N/a | • | R1 30th | • | R1 18th | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 2 | |||||||||||||
| South Africa |
N/a | × | N/a | • | R1 24th | R1 17th | • | R1 20th | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 4 | |||||||||||
| South Korea |
N/a | R1 16th | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | R1 20th | R1 22nd | R1 20th | R1 30th | 4th | R1 17th | R2 15th | R1 27th | R1 19th | R2 16th | Q | TBD | TBD | 12 | |||
| Spain |
QF 5th | × | 4th | • | • | R1 12th | R1 10th | • | • | R1 10th | R2 12th | QF 7th | R2 10th | QF 8th | R1 17th | QF 5th | R2 9th | 1st | R1 23rd | R2 10th | R2 13th | Q | Q | TBD | 17 | |
| Sweden |
QF 8th | 4th | 3rd | • | 2nd | • | • | R1 9th | R2 5th | R1 13th | • | • | R1 21st | 3rd | • | R2 13th | R2 14th | • | • | QF 7th | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 13 | |
| Switzerland |
QF 7th | QF 7th | R1 6th | QF 8th | • | R1 16th | R1 16th | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 15th | • | • | R2 10th | R1 19th | R2 11th | R2 14th | R2 12th | Q | TBD | TBD | 13 | |
| Togo |
N/a | • | • | • | × | × | • | • | • | R1 30th | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | ||||||||
| Trinidad and Tobago |
N/a | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 27th | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | ||||||
| Tunisia |
N/a | • | × | • | • | R1 9th | • | • | • | • | R1 26th | R1 29th | R1 24th | • | • | R1 24th | R1 21st | Q | TBD | TBD | 7 | |||||
| Turkey |
× | •• | R1 9th | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 3rd | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 3 | ||
| Ukraine |
Part of Soviet Union[e] | N/a | • | • | QF 8th | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | |||||||||||||
| United Arab Emirates |
N/a | × | • | R1 24th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD | TBD | 1 | ||||||||||
| United States |
3rd[t] | R1 16th | × | R1 10th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 23rd | R2 14th | R1 32nd | QF 8th | R1 T-25th | R2 12th | R2 15th | • | R2 14th | Q | TBD | TBD | 12 |
| Uruguay |
1st | 1st | 4th | • | R1 13th | QF 7th | 4th | R1 13th | • | • | R2 16th | R2 16th | • | • | R1 26th | • | 4th | R2 12th | QF 5th | R1 20th | Q | Q | TBD | 15 | ||
| Uzbekistan |
Part of Soviet Union[e] | N/a | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | TBD | TBD | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Wales |
N/a | • | • | QF 6th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 30th | • | TBD | TBD | 2 | ||
- Legend
|
|
Hosts
| Year | Host nation | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay |
Champions |
| 1934 |  Italy |
Champions |
| 1938 | France |
Quarter-finals |
| 1950 | Brazil |
Runners-up |
| 1954 | Switzerland |
Quarter-finals |
| 1958 | Sweden |
Runners-up |
| 1962 | Chile |
Third place |
| 1966 | England |
Champions |
| 1970 | Mexico |
Quarter-finals |
| 1974 | West Germany |
Champions |
| 1978 | Argentina |
Champions |
| 1982 | Spain |
Second round |
| 1986 | Mexico |
Quarter-finals |
| 1990 | Italy |
Third place |
| 1994 | United States |
Round of 16 |
| 1998 | France |
Champions |
| 2002 | South Korea |
Fourth place |
| Japan |
Round of 16 | |
| 2006 | Germany |
Third place |
| 2010 | South Africa |
Group stage |
| 2014 | Brazil |
Fourth place |
| 2018 | Russia |
Quarter-finals |
| 2022 | Qatar |
Group stage |
| 2026 | Canada |
Qualified |
| Mexico | ||
| United States | ||
| 2030 | Morocco |
Qualified |
| Portugal | ||
| Spain | ||
| 2034 | Saudi Arabia |
Qualified |
Results of defending finalists
The defending World Cup champions were formerly granted an automatic spot in the Cup finals field. This berth is no longer guaranteed since the 2006 tournament..[13] However, no defending World Cup champion has yet failed to qualify. Automatic berths have never been given for defending World Cup runners-up. Defending runners-up have qualified 17 times in 21 attempts for the following World Cup.
| Year | Defending champions | Finish | Defending runners-up | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Uruguay |
Did not enter | Argentina |
Round of 16 |
| 1938 | Italy |
Champions | Czechoslovakia |
Quarter-finals |
| 1950 | Italy |
Group stage |  Hungary |
Did not enter |
| 1954 | Uruguay |
Fourth place | Brazil |
Quarter-finals |
| 1958 | West Germany |
Fourth place | Hungary |
Group stage |
| 1962 |  Brazil |
Champions | Sweden |
Did not qualify |
| 1966 | Brazil |
Group stage | Czechoslovakia |
Did not qualify |
| 1970 | England |
Quarter-finals | West Germany |
Third place |
| 1974 |  Brazil |
Fourth place | Italy |
Group stage |
| 1978 | West Germany |
Second round | Netherlands |
Runners-up |
| 1982 | Argentina |
Second round | Netherlands |
Did not qualify |
| 1986 | Italy |
Round of 16 | West Germany |
Runners-up |
| 1990 | Argentina |
Runners-up | West Germany |
Champions |
| 1994 | Germany |
Quarter-finals | Argentina |
Round of 16 |
| 1998 | Brazil |
Runners-up | Italy |
Quarter-finals |
| 2002 | France |
Group stage | Brazil |
Champions |
| 2006 | Brazil |
Quarter-finals | Germany |
Third place |
| 2010 | Italy |
Group stage | France |
Group stage |
| 2014 | Spain |
Group stage | Netherlands |
Third place |
| 2018 | Germany |
Group stage | Argentina |
Round of 16 |
| 2022 | France |
Runners-up | Croatia |
Third place |
| 2026 | Argentina |
Qualified | France |
Qualified |
Results by confederation
— Hosts are from this confederation
Overview
| Confederation | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Top 8 | Top 16 | Top 32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA | 12 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 105 | 99 | 0 |
| CONMEBOL | 10 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 37 | 0 |
| CONCACAF | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0 |
| CAF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| AFC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| OFC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
AFC
| 1930 (13) |
1934 (16) |
1938 (15) |
1950 (13) |
1954 (16) |
1958 (16) |
1962 (16) |
1966 (16) |
1970 (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978 (16) |
1982 (24) |
1986 (24) |
1990 (24) |
1994 (24) |
1998 (32) |
2002 (32) |
2006 (32) |
2010 (32) |
2014 (32) |
2018 (32) |
2022 (32) |
2026 (48) |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 52 |
| Top 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBD | 0 |
| Top 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0[u] | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | TBD | 9 |
| Top 8 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD | 2 | |
| Top 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD | 1 |
| Top 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD | 0 |
| 1st | TBD | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | TBD | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | TBD | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | | TBD | 1 |
CAF
| 1930 (13) |
1934 (16) |
1938 (15) |
1950 (13) |
1954 (16) |
1958 (16) |
1962 (16) |
1966 (16) |
1970 (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978 (16) |
1982 (24) |
1986 (24) |
1990 (24) |
1994 (24) |
1998 (32) |
2002 (32) |
2006 (32) |
2010 (32) |
2014 (32) |
2018 (32) |
2022 (32) |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 49 |
| Top 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0[u] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| Top 8 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| Top 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Top 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1st | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | | 1 |
CONCACAF
| 1930 (13) |
1934 (16) |
1938 (15) |
1950 (13) |
1954 (16) |
1958 (16) |
1962 (16) |
1966 (16) |
1970 (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978 (16) |
1982 (24) |
1986 (24) |
1990 (24) |
1994 (24) |
1998 (32) |
2002 (32) |
2006 (32) |
2010 (32) |
2014 (32) |
2018 (32) |
2022 (32) |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 46 |
| Top 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0[u] | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| Top 8 | — | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Top 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Top 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1st | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | 0 |
CONMEBOL
| 1930 (13) |
1934 (16) |
1938 (15) |
1950 (13) |
1954 (16) |
1958 (16) |
1962 (16) |
1966 (16) |
1970 (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978 (16) |
1982 (24) |
1986 (24) |
1990 (24) |
1994 (24) |
1998 (32) |
2002 (32) |
2006 (32) |
2010 (32) |
2014 (32) |
2018 (32) |
2022 (32) |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 7 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 89 |
| Top 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2[u] | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 37 |
| Top 8 | — | 0 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 36 | |
| Top 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 23 |
| Top 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| 1st | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | ||||||||||||
| 2nd | | | | | | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | | | | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | | | | | | 5 |
OFC
| 1930 (13) |
1934 (16) |
1938 (15) |
1950 (13) |
1954 (16) |
1958 (16) |
1962 (16) |
1966 (16) |
1970 (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978 (16) |
1982 (24) |
1986 (24) |
1990 (24) |
1994 (24) |
1998 (32) |
2002 (32) |
2006 (32) |
2010 (32) |
2014 (32) |
2018 (32) |
2022 (32) |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Top 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0[u] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Top 8 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Top 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Top 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1st | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | 0 |
UEFA
| 1930 (13) |
1934 (16) |
1938 (15) |
1950 (13) |
1954 (16) |
1958 (16) |
1962 (16) |
1966 (16) |
1970 (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978 (16) |
1982 (24) |
1986 (24) |
1990 (24) |
1994 (24) |
1998 (32) |
2002 (32) |
2006 (32) |
2010 (32) |
2014 (32) |
2018 (32) |
2022 (32) |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 4 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 258 |
| Top 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10[u] | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 99 |
| Top 8 | — | 8 | 6 | — | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 105 | |
| Top 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 62 |
| Top 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 29 |
| 1st | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | ||||||||||
| 2nd | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | |||||
| 3rd | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | 18 | ||||
| 4th | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 |
Overall
Droughts
This section is a list of droughts associated with the participation of national football teams in the FIFA World Cups. 1942 and 1946, when the tournament was not held due to World War II, are not included in the calculation of a drought.
Active World Cup appearance droughts
Does not include teams that have not yet made their first appearance or teams that no longer exist.
- As of 31 March 2026
| Team | Last appearance | WC missed |
|---|---|---|
| Cuba |
1938 | 20 |
| Indonesia |
1938 | 20 |
| Israel |
1970 | 14 |
| El Salvador |
1982 | 11 |
| Kuwait |
1982 | 11 |
| Hungary |
1986 | 10 |
| Northern Ireland |
1986 | 10 |
| United Arab Emirates |
1990 | 9 |
| Bolivia |
1994 | 8 |
| Bulgaria |
1998 | 7 |
| Romania |
1998 | 7 |
| Jamaica |
1998 | 7 |
| China |
2002 | 6 |
| Republic of Ireland |
2002 | 6 |
| Angola |
2006 | 5 |
| Togo |
2006 | 5 |
| Trinidad and Tobago |
2006 | 5 |
| Ukraine |
2006 | 5 |
| North Korea |
2010 | 4 |
| Slovakia |
2010 | 4 |
| Slovenia |
2010 | 4 |
| Chile |
2014 | 3 |
| Greece |
2014 | 3 |
| Honduras |
2014 | 3 |
| Italy |
2014 | 3 |
| Iceland |
2018 | 2 |
| Nigeria |
2018 | 2 |
| Peru |
2018 | 2 |
| Russia |
2018 | 2 |
| Cameroon |
2022 | 1 |
| Costa Rica |
2022 | 1 |
| Denmark |
2022 | 1 |
| Poland |
2022 | 1 |
| Serbia |
2022 | 1 |
| Wales |
2022 | 1 |
Longest World Cup appearance droughts overall
This is a list of the longest droughts between World Cup appearances. Only includes droughts begun after a team's first appearance until the team ceased to exist.
- As of 31 March 2026
See also
- AFC Asian Cup records and statistics
- Africa Cup of Nations records and statistics
- CONCACAF Gold Cup records and statistics
- Copa América records and statistics
- FIFA Arab Cup records and statistics
- FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup records and statistics
- FIFA U-17 World Cup records and statistics
- FIFA U-20 World Cup records and statistics
- FIFA Confederations Cup records and statistics
- FIFA Futsal World Cup
- FIFA Women's World Cup records and statistics
- Men's Olympic football tournament records and statistics
- OFC Nations Cup records and statistics
- UEFA European Championship records and statistics
- Women's Olympic football tournament records and statistics
Notes
- Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany since 1949, has been represented by the same governing body, the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB), since 1904. Following World War II and the division of Germany, the DFB was re-admitted to FIFA after the 1950 World Cup as West Germany. Saar competed in the 1954 World Cup qualifying before joining West Germany in 1956. East Germany fielded teams of their own from 1958 to 1990 before joining with West Germany and the DFB during the German reunification. FIFA officially attributes all international results of the DFB team since 1908 to Germany, including the results of West Germany from 1954–1990.
- Host of the tournament.
- The Yugoslavia national football team qualified eight times during eras of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1930) and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1950–1990). They qualified from 1930–1990 under the name Yugoslavia prior to its breakup in 1992 by the secession of many of its constituent republics. They qualified once in 1998 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, then changed its name to Serbia and Montenegro in 2003, only qualifying under that name in 2006. All of these teams are considered the predecessors of the current Serbia team by FIFA, which first qualified under that name in 2010. The other national teams which resulted from the breakup of the SFR Yugoslavia in 1992 — Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia — are considered distinct entities from the Yugoslavia team of 1930–1990. Montenegro now also competes separately after independence in 2006 and Kosovo was recognized by FIFA in 2016.[citation needed]
- Co-host of the tournament.
- The Soviet Union qualified seven times prior to its dissolution in 1991. The 15 nations that were former Soviet republics now compete separately. FIFA considers Russia as the successor team of the Soviet Union.
- Czechoslovakia qualified eight times prior to being divided into Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 1993. FIFA considers both the Czech Republic and Slovakia as the joint successor teams of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time as a separate nation in 2006, with Slovakia doing the same in 2010.
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo competed as Zaire in 1974.
- Indonesia competed as the Dutch East Indies in 1938.
- Last 8 held as second group stage.
- The Soviet Union qualified seven times prior to its dissolution in 1991. The 15 former nations Soviet republics now compete separately. FIFA considers Russia as the successor team of the Soviet Union.
- The Yugoslavia national football team qualified eight times during eras of Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1930) and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1950–1990). They qualified from 1930–1990 under the name Yugoslavia before its breakup in 1992 by the secession of many of its constituent republics. They qualified once in 1998 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, then changed its name to Serbia and Montenegro in 2003, only qualifying under that name in 2006. All of these teams are considered the predecessors of the current Serbia team by FIFA, which first qualified under that name in 2010. The other national teams that resulted from the breakup of the SFR Yugoslavia in 1992 — Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia — are considered distinct entities from the Yugoslavia team of 1930–1990. Montenegro now also competes separately after independence in 2006 and Kosovo was recognized by FIFA in 2016.
- Czechoslovakia qualified eight times prior to being divided into Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 1993. FIFA considers both the Czech Republic and Slovakia the successor team of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time as a separate nation in 2006, with Slovakia doing the same in 2010.
- On 14 June 1952, FIFA acknowledged that the CFA on Mainland China, not the Republic of China Football Association (ROCFA) located on Taiwan, was the recognized authority over Chinese football with their membership dating to 1931.
- Competed as Curaçao until 1958 and as Netherlands Antilles from 1958 to 2010.
- Egypt entered qualifying in 1962 and 1966 as the United Arab Republic, but withdrew before playing matches.
- Israel competed as Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) in 1934 and in 1938, with a team consisting exclusively of Jewish and British footballers from the Palestine Mandate.
- Northern Ireland competed as Ireland in 1950.
- Republic of Ireland competed as the Irish Free State in 1934 and 1938 and then as Ireland in 1950.
- There was no match for third place in 1930. The United States and Yugoslavia lost in the semi-finals. Both captains received bronze medals. Currently, FIFA recognizes USA as the third-placed team and Yugoslavia as the fourth-placed team, using the overall records of the teams in the 1930 World Cup.[11]
- In 1982, the second round had 12 teams of which 4 progressed to the semi-finals.