World Cup History

  1. On this day: Unlucky Ronaldo
    Football

    On this day: Unlucky Ronaldo

    We conclude our countdown of daily events in World Cup history with Ronaldo's ill-health the night before the 1998 final. More

  2. On this day: Dutch miss out.

    We continue our countdown of daily events in World Cup history with the Netherlands… More

  3. On this day: Zidane's head-butt.

    We continue our countdown of daily events in World Cup history with Zinedine… More

  4. On this day: Total football flaw.

    We continue our countdown of daily events in World Cup history with the final… More

  5. On this day: Poles sink Brazil.

    We continue our countdown of daily events in World Cup history with Poland earning… More

World Cup History

Year Host Final Stadium
2006 Germany

Italy 1-1
(5-3) France

 Olympiastadion, Berlin
2002 Korea Republic & Japan

Brazil 2-0 Germany

 International Stadium, Yokohama
1998 France

France 3-0 Brazil

 Stade de France, Paris
1994 United States

Brazil 0-0
(3-2) Italy

 Rose Bowl, Pasadena
1990 Italy

West GermanyWest Germany 1-0 ArgentinaArgentina

 Stadio Olimpico, Rome
1986 Mexico City

ArgentinaArgentina 3-2 West GermanyWest Germany

 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
1982 Spain

ItalyItaly 3-1 West GermanyWest Germany

 Estadio Vicente Calderón,Madrid
1978 Argentina

ArgentinaArgentina 3-1
a.e.t. NetherlandsNetherlands

 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
1974 West Germany

West GermanyWest Germany 2-1 NetherlandsNetherlands

 Olympiastadion, Munich
1970 Mexico City

BrazilBrazil 4-1 ItalyItaly

 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
1966 England

EnglandEngland 4-2
a.e.t. West GermanyWest Germany

 Wembley Stadium, London
1962 Chile

Brazil 3-1 CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

 Estadio Nacional, Santiago
1958 Sweden

BrazilBrazil 5-2 SwedenSweden

 Råsunda Stadium, Solna
1954 Switzerland

West GermanyWest Germany 3-2 HungaryHungary

 Wankdorf Stadium, Bern
1950 Brazil

UruguayUruguay 2-1 BrazilBrazil

 Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
1938 France

ItalyItaly 4-2 HungaryHungary

 Stade Olympique de Colombes, Paris
1934 Italy

ItalyItaly 2-1
a.e.t. CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

 Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome
1930 Uruguay

UruguayUruguay 4-2 ArgentinaArgentina

 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo

World Cup Team Records

Most World Cup appearances

19 Brazil

Brazil are the only country to appear in every World Cup.

Most championships

5 Brazil

Worst Performance by a Defending Champion

France

2002: 1 draw, 2 losses and 0 goals scored

Most Goals Scored in One Tournament

27 Hungary

1954

World Cup Coach Records

Most Matches Coached

25 Helmut Schön West Germany 1966 - 1978

Most Matches Won

16 Helmut Schön West Germany 1966 - 1978

Most championships

2 Vittorio Pozzo Italy 1934 & 1938

World Cup Disciplinary Records

Most Cards

  • 6 Zinedine Zidane France 1998 - 2006

  • 6 Cafu Brazil 1994 - 2006

Highest Attendance

Highest Match Attendance

199,854 Uruguay vs Brazil 16 July 1950 Maracanã Stadium,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

World Cup player records

Most World Cup appearances

  • 5 Antonio Carbajal Mexico City 1950 - 1966

  • 5 Lothar Matthäus Germany 1982 - 1998

Most championships

3 Pelé Brazil 1954, 1962, 1970

Most matches played

25 Lothar Matthäus Germany

Youngest player in a final

17 years and 249 days Pelé Brazil vs Sweden 1958

Oldest player

42 years and 39 days Roger Milla Cameroon vs Russia 1994

Most goals scored overall

15 Ronaldo Brazil 1998 - 2006

Most goals scored in a tournament

13 Just Fontaine France 1958

Most goals scored in a match

5 Oleg Salenko Russia vs Cameroon 1994

Most goals scored in one final

3 Geoff Hurst England vs West Germany 1966

Youngest goalscorer

17 years and 239 days Pelé Brazil vs Wales 1958

Oldest goalscorer

42 years and 39 days Roger Milla Cameroon vs Russia 1994

Fastest goal from kick-off

11 seconds Hakan Sükür Turkey vs Korea Republic 2002