Previous World Cups
Uruguay 1930
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the first FIFA World Cup, the world championship for international football teams. It was played in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July. FIFA chose Uruguay as hosts at the Barcelona conference on 18 May 1929, as the country would be celebrating the centenary of its independence and the Uruguay national football team had successfully retained their football title at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Champions: Uruguay
Italy 1934
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second World Cup staged, and was hosted in Italy from May 27 to June 10. Italy was chosen as hosts by FIFA in October 1932. It was the first World Cup for which teams would have to qualify in order to take part. 32 nations entered the competition, and after qualification, 16 teams participated in the finals tournament. Italy became the second World Cup champions, beating Czechoslovakia in the final, 2-1.
Champions: Italy
France 1938
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from June 4 to June 19. France was chosen as hosts by FIFA in August 1936. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4-2 in the final.
Champions: Italy
Brazil 1950
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from June 24 to July 16, was the fourth staging of the World Cup, and the first staged in 12 years due to World War II. Brazil was chosen as the host country by FIFA in July 1946. It was also the first tournament that the trophy itself would be referred to as the Jules Rimet Cup, to mark the 25th anniversary of Rimet's presidency of FIFA. It was won by Uruguay, who had won the inaugural competition in 1930, clinching the cup by beating the hosts Brazil 2-1 in the deciding match of the four-team final group (this was the only tournament not decided by a one-match final). Uruguay's victory over Brazil is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in sports history, commonly known as the Maracanazo.
Champions: Uruguay
Switzerland 1954
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the World Cup, was held in Switzerland from June 16 to July 4. As the year saw the 50th anniversary of FIFA, it was appropriate for football's premier competition to be played in the home of its governing body, and Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament was won by West Germany, who defeated Hungary 3-2 in the final, giving them their first title.
Champions: West Germany
Sweden 1958
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from June 8 to June 29. Sweden was chosen as hosts by FIFA in June 1950. It was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5-2 in the final for their first title. The World Cup marked the debut on the world stage of 17-year-old Pel้, who would grow to be considered by many as the greatest footballer of all time.
Champions: Brazil
Chile 1962
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from May 30 to June 17. Chile was chosen as host by FIFA in June 1956, as the World Cup returned to the continent of South America after 12 years. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final.
Champions: Brazil
England 1966
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from July 11 to July 30. England was chosen as hosts by FIFA in August 1960 to celebrate the centenary of the codification of football in England. England won the final, beating West Germany 4-2, giving them their first (and only to this date) World Cup triumph, and becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy won it in 1934.
Champions: England
Mexico 1970
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from May 31 to June 21. Mexico was chosen as hosts by FIFA in October 1964. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by Brazil, who beat Italy 4-1. With their third World Cup triumph, Brazil were allowed to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently.
Champions: Brazil
West Germany 1974
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from June 13 to July 7. West Germany had been chosen in July 1966 as hosts by FIFA. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded. The previous trophy, the Jules Rimet Trophy, was won for the third time by Brazil in 1970 and awarded permanently to the Brazilians. The host nation won the title beating the Netherlands in the final, 2-1. The victory was the second for West Germany, who had won in 1954.
Champions: West Germany
Argentina 1978
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the World Cup, was held in Argentina between June 1 and June 25. Argentina was chosen as hosts by FIFA in July 1966. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina who became the fifth team (after Uruguay, Italy, England, and West Germany), to be both hosts and world champions.
Champions: Argentina
Spain 1982
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th staging of the World Cup, was held in Spain from June 13 to July 11. Spain was chosen as hosts by FIFA in July 1966. This World Cup was won by Italy, who beat West Germany 3-1 in the final. With its third World Cup title (after 1934 and 1938), Italy drew level with Brazil as the most successful nations at the World Cup. This World Cup was marked by a series of great matches and is widely regarded as the second-best ever after the legendary 1970 tournament. This was also the first World Cup to feature 24 teams, an expansion from at most 16 in the previous tournaments.
Champions: Italy
Mexico 1986
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from May 31 to June 29. It was won by Argentina (second title after 1978), who beat West Germany 3-2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.
Champions: Argentina
Italy 1990
The 1990 FIFA World Cup, the 14th staging of the World Cup, was held in Italy from June 8 to July 8. Italy was chosen as hosts by FIFA on May 19, 1984, making it the second country to host the event twice. USSR was the rival of Italy's candidacy to host the event. It was won by West Germany, who beat Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup for the third time.
Champions: West Germany
USA 1994
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as hosts by FIFA in July 1988. Brazil became the first nation to win four World Cup titles when they beat Italy 3-2 in a penalty shootout after the game ended 0-0 after extra-time, the first final to be decided by penalties.
Champions: Brazil
France 1998
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th staging of the World Cup, was held in France from June 10 to July 12 after 60 years to celebrate the third edition scheduled in 1938. France was chosen as hosts by FIFA on July 1, 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final. France won their first title, the 7th nation to win a World Cup, and the first host nation to win the tournament since Argentina did it in 1978.
Champions: France
South Korea/Japan 2002
The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. The two countries were chosen as hosts by FIFA in May 1996. For the first time in its history, the World Cup was organized by two countries. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 20 in the final.
Champions: Brazil
Germany 2006
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. The tournament was won by Italy, who claimed their fourth World Cup title. They defeated France 53 in a penalty shootout in the final, after extra time had finished in a 11 draw. Germany defeated Portugal 31 to finish third.
Champions: Italy