Who has won the most World Cups?

Brazil. Five titles: 1958 (Sweden), 1962 (Chile), 1970 (Mexico), 1994 (USA), 2002 (South Korea/Japan). Germany and Italy are next with four each. Argentina has three (1978, 1986, 2022). France and Uruguay have two each. England (1966) and Spain (2010) have one apiece.

When did South Africa host the World Cup?

2010. Bafana Bafana hosted, becoming the first African nation to do so. Spain won the tournament, beating Netherlands 1-0 after extra time at Soccer City. Iniesta scored the only goal in the 116th minute. South Africa exited in the group stage.

How many times has Estadio Azteca hosted the World Cup?

Three. 1970 (Pelé's Brazil beat Italy 4-1), 1986 (Maradona's Argentina beat West Germany 3-2), and now 2026 (where Bafana Bafana open the tournament against Mexico on 11 June). Only stadium ever to host three Cups.

How does Edges use World Cup history?

As a prior. Pre-tournament, the desk weights outright prices against historical confederation performance: UEFA + CONMEBOL teams have won every cup since 1930. The 2026 outright board reflects that, Brazil, Spain, France, Argentina, England and Germany are all priced 11.0 or shorter.

96 years of football · every cup since 1930

The history. Every winner.

Twenty-two World Cups have been played since Uruguay won the first in 1930. Eight nations have ever lifted the trophy. The 2026 outright board on Edges is built off this prior, the desk weights it against current form. We give you the unfair edge.

title leaderboard · all-time

Eight nations. Twenty-two cups.

Brazil ★★★★★ 5 titles 1958 · 1962 · 1970 · 1994 · 2002
Germany ★★★★ 4 titles 1954 · 1974 · 1990 · 2014
Italy ★★★★ 4 titles 1934 · 1938 · 1982 · 2006
Argentina ★★★ 3 titles 1978 · 1986 · 2022
France ★★ 2 titles 1998 · 2018
Uruguay ★★ 2 titles 1930 · 1950
England ★ 1 title 1966
Spain ★ 1 title 2010

every world cup · 1930 to 2022

The full ledger.

Most recent first. Hover the Golden Boot column for the top scorer of each edition.

2022 Qatar Argentina beat France 3-3 AET (4-2 pen) ⚽ golden boot Kylian Mbappé (8) The greatest final ever played. Messi finally got his star. Mbappé scored a hat-trick in the final and still lost.
2018 Russia France beat Croatia 4-2 ⚽ golden boot Harry Kane (6) France's second star. Mbappé became the second teenager after Pelé to score in a final.
2014 Brazil Germany beat Argentina 1-0 AET ⚽ golden boot James Rodríguez (6) 7-1. Germany dismantled Brazil at home in the semi-final. Götze in extra time at the Maracanã.
2010 South Africa Spain beat Netherlands 1-0 AET ⚽ golden boot Thomas Müller (5) Iniesta in the 116th minute. The first World Cup on African soil. Bafana hosted.
2006 Germany Italy beat France 1-1 (5-3 pen) ⚽ golden boot Miroslav Klose (5) Zidane headbutt. Italy's 4th star. Germany hosted, didn't win.
2002 South Korea / Japan Brazil beat Germany 2-0 ⚽ golden boot Ronaldo (8) Ronaldo's redemption. First Cup in Asia. South Korea reached the semis.
1998 France France beat Brazil 3-0 ⚽ golden boot Davor Šuker (6) Zidane two headers. France first hosts since 1978 to win at home.
1994 United States Brazil beat Italy 0-0 (3-2 pen) ⚽ golden boot Hristo Stoichkov + Oleg Salenko (6) First final decided by penalties. Roberto Baggio missed.
1990 Italy West Germany beat Argentina 1-0 ⚽ golden boot Salvatore Schillaci (6) Andreas Brehme penalty in the 85th minute. Last Cup before Germany unified.
1986 Mexico Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 ⚽ golden boot Gary Lineker (6) Maradona. Hand of God. Goal of the Century. Estadio Azteca again.
1982 Spain Italy beat West Germany 3-1 ⚽ golden boot Paolo Rossi (6) Paolo Rossi from match-fixing ban to Golden Boot in 18 months.
1978 Argentina Argentina beat Netherlands 3-1 AET ⚽ golden boot Mario Kempes (6) Hosts won again. Netherlands' second consecutive final loss.
1974 West Germany West Germany beat Netherlands 2-1 ⚽ golden boot Grzegorz Lato (7) Total Football met Beckenbauer. Cruyff scored after 30 seconds. Germany still won.
1970 Mexico Brazil beat Italy 4-1 ⚽ golden boot Gerd Müller (10) Brazil's third title means they keep the Jules Rimet trophy. First Cup at Estadio Azteca.
1966 England England beat West Germany 4-2 AET ⚽ golden boot Eusébio (9) They think it's all over. England's only World Cup. At Wembley.
1962 Chile Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 ⚽ golden boot Garrincha + 5 others (4) Garrincha carried Brazil after Pelé got injured early in the group stage.
1958 Sweden Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 ⚽ golden boot Just Fontaine (13) A 17-year-old Pelé scored a hat-trick in the semi and a brace in the final.
1954 Switzerland West Germany beat Hungary 3-2 ⚽ golden boot Sándor Kocsis (11) The Miracle of Bern. West Germany came back from 2-0 down.
1950 Brazil Uruguay beat Brazil 2-1 ⚽ golden boot Ademir (9) The Maracanazo. 200,000 fans watched Uruguay silence the Maracanã.
1938 France Italy beat Hungary 4-2 ⚽ golden boot Leônidas (7) Italy retained. World wars then put football on pause for 12 years.
1934 Italy Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 AET ⚽ golden boot Oldřich Nejedlý (5) Hosts again. Knockout-only format with 16 teams.
1930 Uruguay Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 ⚽ golden boot Guillermo Stábile (8) The first World Cup. Hosts won at home in front of 93,000.

how the desk uses history

The prior on the 2026 board.

Every World Cup winner since 1930 has come from Europe (UEFA) or South America (CONMEBOL). Twelve to UEFA, ten to CONMEBOL. No CONCACAF, AFC, CAF or OFC nation has ever lifted the trophy. The 2026 outright board reflects that math: Brazil 5.5, Spain 7.5, France 8.0, Argentina 9.0, England 11.0, Germany 11.0. Everyone outside that cluster is priced 17.0 or longer.

The desk weights this prior against current form (qualifying, friendlies, team-news), then reads the SA-market price for value vs. consensus. The Brazil call at 5.5 sits inside that math, the desk thinks the SA-licensed price is 8% sharper than international books.

See the 2026 outright board →