The FIFA World Cup was first hosted by Uruguay in 1930.
In contrast, there are 134 teams that have never managed to qualify for the World Cup. The Netherlands with the legendary Johann Cruyff, seen as one of the greatest ever players, came close but could not win it despite playing mesmerizing "Total Football". Portugal in 1966 were led by the great Eusebio but unfortunately he didn't have many lieutenants to help him carry the trophy home. There are some great teams that left the World Cup with heartbreak despite arriving at tournaments as favorites. Their previous World Cup win was in 1998 when they beat Brazil 3-0 to win the Cup. The 2018 World Cup finals ended with France beating Croatia 4-2 for their second World Cup win. Most recently, they took the Cup in 2014 after a heart-stopping match against Argentina for a 1-0 win. Germany has reached the World Cup finals 8 times, winning 4 in 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014. From the dazzling show laid out by Pele in 1958, the swashbuckling teams of the '70s and the emotional win of 1994, Brazil are always favorites to lift the Jules Rimet trophy. The Samba nation has won the World Cup a record 5 times after getting to the finals of 7 editions. Brazilīrazil the host country of the 2014 tournament has churned out the most number of World Cup titles won by country. England and Spain have both won once, placing them amongst the top performing teams at the World Cup. Following these are Argentina, Uruguay, and France with 2 wins each. Following Brazil are Germany and Italy, with 4 wins each. Countries With the Most World Cup Winsīrazil has won the most world cups, with a total of 5. The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious sporting event in the world and winning the finals or losing yields emotions that are so similar yet so different. For others, tears stream freely down their faces – both tears of joy or inconsolable tears of desolation. Others stand still in stunned silence not able to fathom the feeling of having won, or just how they let the ultimate prize slip from a such a touchable distance. Some tear off around the pitch, shirtless and arms thrown into the air in uninhibited elation.