Only 8 Countries Have Won the FIFA World Cup; 5 Finalists Have Yet to Secure the Title

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is just three weeks away, and this time, 48 teams will compete. In the history of the World Cup, only eight nations have won the trophy, with Brazil claiming it five times. Argentina, Germany, Italy, Uruguay, France, England, and Spain have also lifted the prestigious title. Kathmandu, May 23.

As the World Cup approaches, interest and curiosity about who will win the trophy this time is growing. The number of teams has increased to 48, and a record 104 matches will be played. These factors make this World Cup somewhat different and more challenging than previous editions, making it difficult to predict the winner.

Over the 96-year history of the World Cup, 80 countries have participated; among them, 13 countries have reached the final, while only eight have won the trophy. The winning nations are mostly limited to European and South American countries. Brazil first won the World Cup in 1958 and has added four more titles in 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.

Similarly, European nations Germany and Italy have each won the World Cup four times. Italy secured back-to-back titles in 1934 and 1938 and then again in 1982 and 2006. Germany won their first title in 1954 and added three more in 1974, 1990, and 2014. The latest champions, Argentina, have won the World Cup three times, having also lifted the trophy in 1978 and 1986. Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and again in 1950. France claimed the title in 1998 and 2018, England in 1966, and Spain in 2010.