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What is the significance of FIFA World Cup Winners List(1930-2018) for UPSC?
In this article we are presenting a full list of all FIFA World Cup winners since 1930 when the first global Soccer tournament took place.
Remembering FIFA World Cup Winners List(1930-2018), Runner Ups, Host Countries, Years, interesting facts, etc. will give your preparation an extra boost as FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious soccer competition in the world and it is played every four years(this time it is 2022) so, chances are high that the UPSC will definitely frame a question in 2023 Prelims from this section.
From UPSC mains perspective also, Fifa World Cup 2022 and related events are crucial to some extent.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: All Details for UPSC
Why is FIFA World Cup winners list is in news?
- Previous FIFA World Cup winners list is in news because the latest edition of this four yearly Football tournament i.e. FIFA World Cup 2022 is being held in Qatar from November 20, 2022 to December 18, 2022
- At 29 days from start to finish (20 November to 18 December), this will be the shortest World Cup since Argentina 1978.
A list of all previous FIFA Football World Cup winners(1930-2018) with brief interesting facts
Since its inception in 1930, the FIFA Football World Cup tournament has maintained the four-year cycle, except the two editions in 1942 and 1946, which had to be scrapped due to the World War II.
Here is a list of all previous FIFA Football World Cup winners with brief interesting facts:
1930 Uruguay – Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final.
1934 Italy – Italy won their first of four World Cups in 1934.
1938 Italy – Italy won the last World Cup before World War II put the tournament on hold for 12 years.
1950 Uruguay – La Celeste famously defeated Brazil in the final at the Maracana to win their second World Cup.
1954 West Germany – West Germany won the World Cup hosted by Switzerland.
1958 Brazil – A 17-year-old Pele scored six goals as Brazil lifted their first World Cup.
1962 Brazil – Brazil become the second team after Italy to successfully defend a World Cup crown.
1966 England – Football “came home” for the first and only time so far in 1966 when England won the World Cup at Wembley.
1970 Brazil – Pele got his hands on the trophy for the third time in 1970. No player in history has won as many World Cups as him.
1974 West Germany – Led by Gerd Müller, West Germany won their second World Cup.
1978 Argentina – Argentina won their first World Cup in 1978, defeating the Netherlands in the final.
1982 Italy – A Paulo Rossi-inspired Italy won the 1982 tournament.
1986 Argentina – The legend of Diego Maradona was written at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where the mercurial genius almost single-handedly led Argentina to glory.
1990 West Germany – Maradona’s Argentina reached the final in 1990 as well but were thwarted by West Germany.
1994 Brazil – The first World Cup in North America was won by Brazil, which claimed their fourth title.
1998 France – France won the tournament at home with players like Zinedine Zidane, Theirry Henry and Patrick Viera ushering in a new era of success for Les Blues.
2002 Brazil – Brazil won a record fifth World Cup, overcoming Germany in the final.
2006 Italy – Despite Serie A being rocked by match-fixing allegations, Italy showed great resolve to win the 2006 edition.
2010 Spain – Spain’s possession style of football saw them win their first ever World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
2014 Germany – After making the semi-finals in each of the previous two editions, Germany finally got their hands on the trophy in 2014.
2018 France – Didier Deschamps, who captained France to their 1998 triumph, won the World Cup for a second time in 2018.
A List of FIFA World Cup winners(1930-2018) – In Table Form
Here’s the complete list of winners and runners-up so far in the FIFA World Cup, from 1930 to 2018.
Year | Winners | Runners-up | Host country |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | Uruguay |
1934 | Italy | Czechia | Italy |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | France |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Brazil |
1954 | Germany | Hungary | Switzerland |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | Sweden |
1962 | Brazil | Czechia | Chile |
1966 | England | Germany | England |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | Mexico |
1974 | Germany | Netherlands | West Germany |
1978 | Argentina | Netherlands | Argentina |
1982 | Italy | Germany | Spain |
1986 | Argentina | Germany | Mexico |
1990 | Germany | Argentina | Italy |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | United States |
1998 | France | Brazil | France |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | South Korea, Japan |
2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
2010 | Spain | Netherlands | South Africa |
2014 | Germany | Argentina | Brazil |
2018 | France | Croatia | Russia |
Detailed History of FIFA World Cup (1930-2018): Winners, Runner up, Third Place, Host, etc.
Here is the Detailed History of FIFA World Cup History(1930-2018):
Year | Winner | Runner up | 3rd Place | Host | Teams | Match | Goals |
2018 |
France |
Croatia | Belgium | Russia | 32 | 64 | 169 |
2014 |
Germany |
Argentina | Netherlands | Brazil | 32 | 64 | 171 |
2010 |
Spain |
Netherlands | Germany | South Africa | 32 | 64 | 145 |
2006 |
Italy |
France | Germany | Germany | 32 | 64 | 147 |
2002 |
Brazil |
Germany | Turkey | South Korea, Japan | 32 | 64 | 161 |
1998 |
France |
Brazil | Croatia | France | 32 | 64 | 171 |
1994 |
Brazil |
Italy | Sweden | United States | 24 | 52 | 141 |
1990 |
Germany |
Argentina | Italy | Italy | 24 | 52 | 115 |
1986 |
Argentina |
Germany | France | Mexico | 24 | 52 | 132 |
1982 |
Italy |
Germany | Poland | Spain | 24 | 52 | 146 |
1978 |
Argentina |
Netherlands | Brazil | Argentina | 16 | 38 | 102 |
1974 |
Germany |
Netherlands | Poland | West Germany | 16 | 38 | 97 |
1970 |
Brazil |
Italy | Germany | Mexico | 16 | 32 | 95 |
1966 |
England |
Germany | Portugal | England | 16 | 32 | 89 |
1962 |
Brazil |
Czechia | Chile | Chile | 16 | 32 | 89 |
1958 |
Brazil |
Sweden | France | Sweden | 16 | 35 | 126 |
1954 |
Germany |
Hungary | Austria | Switzerland | 16 | 26 | 140 |
1950 |
Uruguay |
Brazil | Sweden | Brazil | 13 | 22 | 88 |
1938 |
Italy |
Hungary | Brazil | France | 15 | 18 | 84 |
1934 |
Italy |
Czechia | Germany | Italy | 16 | 17 | 70 |
1930 |
Uruguay |
Argentina | United States | Uruguay | 13 | 16 | 70 |
FIFA World Cup Winners List(1930-2018): FAQs
Q. Which is the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history?
Brazil is the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history, having won the title five times.
Q. How many teams have won the Football World Cup since 1930?
Ans. Eight countries have won the Football World Cup in its 92-year history.
Q. Which country won the last FIFA world cup in 2018?
Ans. France won the 2018 edition of the FIFA World Cup in Russia and is now headed into Qatar as the defending champions, eyeing their third title.
Q. When will the Final match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 be played?
Ans. The final match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played on 18 December 2022 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, Qatar.