Who Won the Last World Cup Complete List of FIFA World Cup Winners

The FIFA World Cup has produced some of the most memorable moments in international football, from Uruguay’s victory at the inaugural tournament in 1930 to Spain’s triumph in 2026.

Spain are the current men’s world champions. Luis de la Fuente’s team defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 final, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal. The victory gave Spain their second World Cup title, following their first success in 2010.

Below is the complete World Cup winners list, including every champion, runner-up and final score.

Who won the last World Cup?

Spain won the last FIFA World Cup.

They defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 final at New York New Jersey Stadium. The match remained goalless during normal time before substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute.

Argentina finished the match with ten players following Enzo Fernández’s red card. Spain controlled much of the final and eventually secured their second men’s World Cup trophy.

Luis de la Fuente had selected a 26-player squad for the tournament that included Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Marc Cucurella. Spain entered the competition among the favourites after winning UEFA EURO 2024 and continued their strong international form throughout the World Cup.

When was the last World Cup?

The last World Cup was held in 2026 across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

It was the 23rd edition of the men’s FIFA World Cup and the first to feature 48 national teams. The expanded tournament included 104 matches and introduced a round of 32 before the traditional round of 16.

The final took place on 19 July 2026, when Spain beat Argentina to become world champions.

The next edition is expected to offer another opportunity for the leading teams and players to add to the competition’s history. Readers can also explore the future of the World Cup and its confirmed host nations.

World Cup winners by year

The table below contains every men’s FIFA World Cup winner from 1930 to 2026.

No World Cups were played in 1942 or 1946 because of the Second World War and its aftermath.

FIFA’s historical records cover the first champions from 1930 through to the modern era, including the dominant Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina and France teams.

All World Cup winners

Only nine national teams have won the men’s FIFA World Cup.

The Netherlands are included here for context because they have reached three finals but have never won the tournament. The actual list of FIFA World Cup winners contains eight nations before 2026, with Spain’s second victory increasing their total rather than adding a new champion.

Brazil remain the most successful country in World Cup history with five titles. Germany and Italy have each won four, while Argentina have three. FIFA’s pre-2026 historical ranking placed Spain, France and Uruguay on one or two titles, with England also among the champions.

Which country has won the most World Cups?

Brazil have won the most men’s World Cups, with five titles.

Their victories came in:

• 1958;
• 1962;
• 1970;
• 1994;
• 2002.

Brazil are also the only country to have won the competition on four different continents. Their 1958 and 1962 victories began one of international football’s greatest periods, while the 1970 side featuring Pelé is regularly regarded as one of the finest national teams ever assembled.

Their most recent title came in 2002, when Ronaldo scored both goals in a 2-0 final victory over Germany.

How many World Cups have Spain won?

Spain have won the men’s FIFA World Cup twice.

Their first title came in 2010, when Andrés Iniesta scored the only goal of the final against the Netherlands during extra time.

Spain had to wait another 16 years for their second trophy. Under Luis de la Fuente, they defeated Argentina in the 2026 final, again winning 1-0 after extra time.

The 2026 victory followed Spain’s UEFA EURO 2024 success and confirmed the strength of a new generation that included Lamine Yamal alongside established players such as Rodri. FIFA highlighted Yamal, Rodri and Cucurella when De la Fuente announced his squad before the tournament.

Who won the World Cup before Spain?

Argentina won the World Cup immediately before Spain.

Lionel Scaloni’s team won the 2022 tournament in Qatar by defeating France in one of the most dramatic finals in football history.

The match finished 3-3 after extra time, with Lionel Messi scoring twice and Kylian Mbappé completing a hat-trick. Argentina then won the penalty shoot-out 4-2.

Argentina entered the 2026 final hoping to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain the men’s World Cup. Spain’s extra-time victory prevented them from completing back-to-back title wins.

Which countries have won consecutive World Cups?

Only Italy and Brazil have successfully defended the men’s World Cup.

Italy won consecutive titles in:

• 1934;
• 1938.

Brazil later achieved the same feat in:

• 1958;
• 1962.

Other champions have come close. Argentina reached the 1990 final after winning in 1986 and returned to the final in 2026 as the defending champions, but lost on both occasions.

France also reached the 2022 final after winning in 2018 but were beaten by Argentina on penalties.

How often is the FIFA World Cup held?

The FIFA World Cup normally takes place every four years.

This schedule gives national teams time to complete regional qualification campaigns and prepare for the final tournament. The long gap between competitions is one reason winning the World Cup is so difficult: even the best players may only have three or four realistic opportunities during their careers.

Qualification is also never guaranteed. Ireland’s attempts to return to the finals have generated considerable interest, particularly during the country’s recent World Cup play-off campaign.

Supporters can also read more about Ireland’s World Cup group and potential opponents.

Has the Republic of Ireland ever won the World Cup?

The Republic of Ireland have never won the FIFA World Cup.

Ireland have appeared at three final tournaments:

Their best result came at Italia 1990, when Jack Charlton’s team reached the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to the host nation.

Ireland have produced several memorable World Cup moments despite never reaching a final. These include Ray Houghton’s winner against Italy in 1994 and Robbie Keane’s late equaliser against Germany in 2002.

For Irish supporters, qualification for another tournament remains the first step towards adding a new chapter to the country’s World Cup history.

Which team has lost the most World Cup finals?

Germany have lost four World Cup finals:

• 1966 against England;
• 1982 against Italy;
• 1986 against Argentina;
• 2002 against Brazil.

However, Germany have also won the tournament four times, making them one of the competition’s most successful nations overall.

The Netherlands have suffered perhaps the most notable final defeats without ever winning the trophy. They finished as runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

Argentina have now also lost four finals, including defeats in 1930, 1990, 2014 and 2026.

FIFA World Cup winners: key records

Several records stand out across the complete World Cup winners list:

These records show how difficult it is to dominate international football over several generations. Some nations have remained competitive for decades, while others have produced one exceptional tournament that delivered their only title.

What should bettors consider when backing a World Cup winner?

World Cup winner markets allow bettors to select the country they believe will lift the trophy, but historical success should only be treated as one part of the analysis.

Past FIFA World Cup winners such as Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France and Spain often enter tournaments among the favourites. However, previous titles do not guarantee success at the next competition. Current squad strength, injuries, recent international form, tactical balance and the likely knockout route may all have a greater influence on a team’s prospects.

Bettors should also consider:

• whether a team has sufficient depth to cope with a long tournament;
• the quality of its potential group and knockout opponents;
• defensive performance as well as attacking talent;
• the experience of the manager and leading players;
• whether the available odds offer genuine value rather than simply reflecting a famous team’s reputation.

Spain’s 2026 victory illustrates this point. Their status as European champions made them credible contenders, but their World Cup success was also based on consistent form, a strong defensive structure and the ability to decide close knockout matches.

Anyone choosing to bet should gamble responsibly, set clear spending limits and never wager more than they can afford to lose.