Beat Argentina 1–0 (a.e.t.) in the Final · Ferran Torres 106′ · MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ · 19 July 2026
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  MexicoQ | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 |  South AfricaQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 3 |  South KoreaE | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 |  CzechiaE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  SwitzerlandQ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 |  CanadaQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 3 |  Bosnia & HerzegovinaE | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 |  QatarE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -8 | 1 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  BrazilQ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 2 |  MoroccoQ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 |  United KingdomE | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 |  HaitiE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 0 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United StatesQ | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 2 |  AustraliaQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 |  ParaguayQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 |  TürkiyeE | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 3 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  GermanyQ | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 2 |  Côte d’IvoireQ | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 |  EcuadorQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 |  CuraçaoE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -8 | 1 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  NetherlandsQ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 2 |  JapanQ | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 3 |  SwedenQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 |  TunisiaE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -10 | 0 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  BelgiumQ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| 2 |  EgyptQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 |  IranE | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 |  New ZealandE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 1 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  SpainQ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 |  Cape VerdeQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 |  UruguayE | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 |  Saudi ArabiaE | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -4 | 2 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  FranceQ | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
| 2 |  SenegalQ | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 |  NorwayQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 |  IraqE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 1 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  ArgentinaQ | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| 2 |  JordanQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 |  AlgeriaQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 |  AustriaE | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 2 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  PortugalQ | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 2 |  ColombiaQ | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 |  Congo - KinshasaQ | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 |  UzbekistanE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United KingdomQ | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 |  CroatiaQ | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 |  GhanaQ | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 |  PanamaE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -7 | 0 |
28 June – 19 July 2026 · Canada · USA · Mexico · Final Results
Brazil2
Japan1
Germany1
Paraguay1
South Africa0
Canada1
Netherlands1
Morocco1
France3
Sweden0
Côte d’Ivoire1
Norway2
Mexico2
Ecuador0
United Kingdom2
Congo - Kinshasa1
Belgium3
Senegal2
United States2
Bosnia & Herzegovina0
Spain3
Austria0
Portugal2
Croatia1
Argentina3
Cape Verde2
Australia1
Egypt1
Switzerland2
Algeria0
Colombia1
Ghana0Morocco3Canada0Paraguay0France1Brazil1Norway2Mexico2United Kingdom3Portugal0Spain1United States1Belgium4Argentina3Egypt2Switzerland0Colombia0France2Morocco0United Kingdom2Norway1Spain2Belgium1Argentina3Switzerland1France0Spain2United Kingdom1Argentina2France4United Kingdom6Spain1Argentina0Brazil2Japan1Germany1Paraguay1South Africa0Canada1Netherlands1Morocco1France3Sweden0Côte d’Ivoire1Norway2Mexico2Ecuador0United Kingdom2Congo - Kinshasa1Belgium3Senegal2United States2Bosnia & Herzegovina0Spain3Austria0Portugal2Croatia1Argentina3Cape Verde2Australia1Egypt1Switzerland2Algeria0Colombia1Ghana0Morocco3Canada0Paraguay0France1Brazil1Norway2Mexico2United Kingdom3Portugal0Spain1United States1Belgium4Argentina3Egypt2Switzerland0Colombia0France2Morocco0United Kingdom2Norway1Spain2Belgium1Argentina3Switzerland1France0Spain2United Kingdom1Argentina2Spain1Argentina0France4United Kingdom6
Kylian MbappéFrance10Goals
Lionel MessiArgentina8Goals
Erling HaalandNorway7Goals
Jude BellinghamUnited Kingdom7GoalsHarry KaneUnited Kingdom6GoalsMichael OliseFrance7Assists
Bruno GuimarãesBrazil4AssistsKylian MbappéFrance4AssistsMartin ØdegaardNorway4AssistsLionel MessiArgentina4AssistsThe players who defined the World Cup with their goals — a permanent record kept up-to-date after every edition.
🇫🇷 France
Years: 2018 – 2026
Became the all-time World Cup top scorer at the 2026 tournament, winning the Golden Boot for a second time with 10 goals and taking his career total to 22 — surpassing Miroslav Klose.
✨ Golden Boot 2022 & 2026 · World Champion 2018 · All-time top scorer with 22 goals.
🇦🇷 Argentina
Years: 2006 – 2026
Extended his career World Cup tally to 21 goals at a record sixth tournament in 2026. Holds the all-time record for most World Cup matches and editions played.
✨ World Champion 2022 · Golden Ball 2014 & 2022 · Most WC matches and editions ever.
🇩🇪 Germany
Years: 2002 – 2014
Cool, efficient and unmatched in the air. Klose overtook Ronaldo Nazário in the 2014 semi-final vs Brazil to become the all-time World Cup top scorer, a record he held until 2026.
✨ World Champion 2014 · 16 goals across 4 editions.
🇧🇷 Brazil
Years: 1994 – 2006
"Il Fenomeno" — the definitive striker of a generation. Bounced back from career-threatening injuries to win the Golden Boot at 2002 and lead Brazil to a fifth star.
✨ World Champion 1994 & 2002 · Golden Boot 2002 (8 goals).
🇩🇪 West Germany
Years: 1970 – 1974
"Der Bomber" — one of the most lethal penalty-box finishers in football history. His goal ratio at World Cups (14 in 13) remains extraordinary.
✨ World Champion 1974 · Golden Boot 1970 (10 goals).
The moments, matches and surprises that will be remembered from the first 48-team World Cup.
New format: 12 groups of four and a Round of 32 — the biggest tournament ever played.
Canada, USA and Mexico shared 16 host cities from Vancouver to Mexico City — a first.
Over 6 million tickets sold — the largest attendance in FIFA history.
Debutant nations reached the knockouts, proving the value of a larger tournament.
Some of the most goal-heavy group games of any World Cup, with shootouts from the Round of 32.
The most-streamed sporting event in history, with billions of unique viewers.
The official individual awards handed out at the end of the tournament.
Best player of the tournament, voted by international media after the semi-finals.
Top goalscorer. Ties broken by assists then minutes played.
Best goalkeeper, awarded by the FIFA Technical Study Group.
Best player under 21 years old on January 1st of the tournament year.
Team with the best fair-play record having reached at least the Round of 16.
The all-time records that shape the history of the FIFA World Cup.
The greatest players ever to grace the World Cup stage.
France
2018 – 2026
World Champion 2018 · 2× Golden Boot (2022, 2026)
All-time World Cup top scorer with 22 goals.
Brazil
1958, 1962, 1966, 1970
3× World Champion
Only player to win 3 World Cups.
Argentina
1982, 1986, 1990, 1994
World Champion 1986 · Golden Ball 1986
Almost single-handedly won Mexico 1986.
Argentina
2006 – 2026
World Champion 2022 · 2× Golden Ball
Most WC matches and editions ever (32 matches, 6 editions).
Portugal
2006 – 2026
6 editions played
Only player to score at 6 different World Cups.
Brazil
1994 – 2006
2× World Champion · Golden Boot 2002
15 goals across 3 editions.
Germany
2002 – 2014
World Champion 2014
All-time top scorer with 16 goals, until surpassed in 2026.
France
1998, 2002, 2006
World Champion 1998 · Golden Ball 2006
Two goals in the 1998 final.
West Germany
1966, 1970, 1974
World Champion 1974
Won the WC as captain (1974) and coach (1990).
Netherlands
1974
Golden Ball 1974
Invented "Total Football" in front of the world.
Brazil
2002, 2006
World Champion 2002
Iconic free-kick vs England in 2002 QF.
Italy
1990, 1994, 1998, 2002
2,220 WC minutes played
One of the greatest defenders in WC history.
Spain
2006, 2010, 2014
World Champion 2010
Scored the winning goal in the 2010 final.
Every final that made history, from Uruguay 1930 to the modern era.
Every country that has hosted the FIFA World Cup since 1930.
| Year | Host | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy | Czechoslovakia |
| 1938 | France | Italy | Hungary |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | Brazil |
| 1954 | Switzerland | West Germany | Hungary |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | Sweden |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | Czechoslovakia |
| 1966 | England | England | West Germany |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | Italy |
| 1974 | West Germany | West Germany | Netherlands |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | Netherlands |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | West Germany |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | West Germany |
| 1990 | Italy | West Germany | Argentina |
| 1994 | USA | Brazil | Italy |
| 1998 | France | France | Brazil |
| 2002 | Korea/Japan | Brazil | Germany |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | France |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Netherlands |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Argentina |
| 2018 | Russia | France | Croatia |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina | France |
| 2026 | CAN · USA · MEX | Spain | Argentina |
Key moments across nearly a century of FIFA World Cup history.
Uruguay hosts and wins the inaugural tournament.
Uruguay stun Brazil in front of ~174,000 at the Maracanã.
A 17-year-old Pelé leads Brazil to their first title in Sweden.
England lift their only World Cup at Wembley.
Brazil 1970 triumph in Mexico with dazzling football.
The "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" in the same match.
France win their first World Cup, Zidane shines in the final.
Ronaldo Nazário wins the Golden Boot four years after 1998.
Italy beat France on penalties after Zidane’s headbutt.
Iniesta’s extra-time goal gives Spain their first title.
Germany humble host nation Brazil in a historic semi-final.
A young French side win in Russia, beating Croatia 4–2.
Argentina win in Qatar in one of the greatest finals ever.
Canada, USA and Mexico host the first expanded World Cup.
Spain beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time in a tense 2026 final in New Jersey.
Everything travellers and fans ask about the FIFA World Cup 2026 and its history.
Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the Final on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium — Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute. It is Spain’s second title after 2010.
Kylian Mbappé (France) won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the first player to win the award twice (also 2022) and the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 career goals, ahead of Lionel Messi (21).
The 2026 World Cup was jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico across 16 host cities, from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
For the first time in history the tournament featured 48 national teams, divided into 12 groups of four, playing 104 matches in total.
The final was held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York metropolitan area).
Twelve groups of four teams. The top two of each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advanced to a Round of 32, followed by Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off and final.
Kylian Mbappé leads with 22 goals after the 2026 tournament, just ahead of Lionel Messi (21), with Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo Nazário (15) and Gerd Müller (14) rounding out the top five.
Brazil remains the most successful nation with 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002), ahead of Germany and Italy (4 each), and Argentina and Spain (2 each after 2026).
Hakan Şükür (Turkey) scored after 10.8 seconds against South Korea in the 2002 third-place play-off — still the fastest ever.
Pelé, aged 17 years and 239 days, scored for Brazil against Wales in 1958 — still the youngest.
Roger Milla (Cameroon) at 42 years and 39 days against Russia in 1994.
The 2026 edition expanded to 104 matches, up from 64 in the 32-team format used from 1998 to 2022.
The 1950 Maracanã final between Uruguay and Brazil drew an estimated 173,850 spectators — an all-time record.
The Golden Ball is awarded to the best player of the tournament, voted by media representatives after the semi-finals.
The Golden Boot goes to the tournament’s top goalscorer; ties are broken by assists then minutes played.
The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three centenary matches played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
Hungary scored 27 goals in the 1954 World Cup — still the tournament record.
Lionel Messi holds the record with 32 matches played across a record six editions (2006–2026).
Austria 7–5 Switzerland in the 1954 quarter-finals — 12 goals, the all-time record.
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