From the first tournament in 1930, to the last edition in 2018, the FIFA World Cup has grown from into the biggest sporting competition on the planet with billions of people expected to tune in for Qatar 2022. But who are the most successful sides in World Cup history?
It won’t surprise anybody to see five-time winners Brazil at the top of our list but Germany, who have lifted the trophy four times and reached another four finals, aren’t too far behind them.
Italy are next, despite not having qualified since 2014, and will probably be overtaken by Argentina this year.
France have been Europe’s most successful side since 1998 – two victories and one runner-up finish – to overtake the likes of England and Spain.
Historic World Cup countries that won’t be in Qatar include Sweden, Russia, Hungary (who haven’t played in the finals since 1986) and the Czech Republic, while Canada (zero points and goals) are the lowest-ranked team in this year’s tournament.
We’ve crunched the numbers from every World Cup to present the all-time table.
The system used in the World Cup up to 1990 was two points for a win. In this ranking, three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. Penalty shoot-outs are listed as three points for the winning team and zero points for the losing team.
Germany’s results include those of West Germany, Yugoslavia’s come under Serbia while Czechoslovakia’s result are included with the Czech Republic’s. Indeonesia competed as the Dutch East Indies in 1938 and Congo DR competed as Zaire in 1974.
A team in bold will participate in the 2022 World Cup finals.
1. Brazil – 242 points
2. Germany – 229 points
3. Italy – 155 points
Let’s kick things off with Fabio Grosso versus Germany in the 2006 semi-final. Sublime finish and a beautiful celebration to boot. pic.twitter.com/Zi2XFpxAOY
— These Football Times (@thesefootytimes) November 16, 2022
4. Argentina – 151 points
5. France – 117 points
6. England – 107 points
7. Spain – 104 points
8. Netherlands – 93 points
9. Uruguay – 86 points
10. Sweden – 72 points
11. Belgium – 71 points
12. Russia – 68 points
13. Serbia – 61 points
14. Mexico – 60 points
15. Poland – 53 points
16. Portugal – 50 points
17. Hungary – 48 points
18. Switzerland – 43 points
19. Croatia – 41 points (GD: +9)
20. Czech Republic – 41 points (GD: -2)
21. Austria – 40 points
22. Chile – 39 points
23. Paraguay – 33 points
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READ: 8 players from World Cup 2002 we can’t believe are still playing in 2022
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24. Denmark – 31 points
25. United States – 30 points (GD: -25)
26. Colombia – 29 points (GD: +2)
27. South Korea – 29 points (GD: -36)
28. Romania – 27 points
29. Nigeria – 21 points (GD: -7)
30. Costa Rica – 21 points (GD: -9)
31. Japan – 19 points (GD: -9)
32. Scotland – 19 points (GD: -16)
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READ: Kilt mishaps, frit Brazilians & red, red wine: Scotland’s World Cup 98 story
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33. Cameroon – 19 points (GD: -25)
34. Bulgaria – 19 points (GD: -31)
35. Peru – 18 points
36. Turkey – 16 points
37. Republic of Ireland – 15 points
38. Ghana – 14 points (GD: -3)
39. Northern Ireland – 14 points (GD: -10)
40. Ecuador – 13 points
41. Senegal – 12 points (GD: +1)
42. Algeria – 12 points (GD: -6)
43. Morocco – 11 points (GD: -8)
44. Saudi Arabia – 11 points (GD: -28)
45. Ivory Coast – 10 points (GD: -1)
46. South Africa – 10 points (GD: -5)
47. Tunisia – 10 points (GD: -12)
48. Iran – 10 points (GD: -15)
49. Australia – 10 points (GD: -18)
The greatest ever #FIFAWorldCup debut? ✨ @Socceroos 🇦🇺 were a goal down against Japan in 2006… enter a young lad named @Tim_Cahill 😎 pic.twitter.com/cclrYiGCeJ
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2022
50. Norway – 9 points (GD: -1)
51. Ukraine – 9 points (GD: -2)
52. East Germany – 8 points
53. Greece – 7 points
54. Wales – 6 points
55. Slovakia – 4 points (GD: -2)
56. Slovenia – 4 points (GD: -5)
57. Cuba – 4 points (GD: -7)
58. North Korea – 4 points (GD: -15)
59. Bosnia & Herzegovina – 3 points (GD: 0)
60. Jamaica – 3 points (GD: -6)
61. New Zealand – 3 points (GD: -10)
62. Honduras – 3 points (GD: -11)
63. Angola – 2 points (GD: -1)
64. Israel – 2 points (GD: -2)
65. Egypt – 2 points (GD: -7)
66. Iceland – 1 point (GD: -3)
Iceland’s goalkeeper produced this Coca-Cola advert before going to the World Cup and saving a penalty from Messi. 🇮🇸
What a guy. 👏 pic.twitter.com/38nJTMM7HE
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 8, 2022
67. Kuwait – 1 point (GD: -4, Goals Scored: 2)
68. Trinidad & Tobago – 1 point (GD: -4, Goals Scored: 0)
69. Bolivia – 1 point (GD: -19)
70. Iraq – 0 points
71. Togo – 0 points (GD: -5, Goals Scored: 1)
72. Canada – 0 points (GD: -5, Goals Scored: 0)
73. Indonesia – 0 points (GD: -6)
74. Panama – 0 points (GD: -9, Goals Scored: 2)
75. United Arab Emirates – 0 points (GD: -9, Goals Scored: 2)
76. China – 0 points (GD: -9, Goals Scored: 0)
77. Haiti – 0 points (GD: -12)
78. Congo DR – 0 points (GD: -14)
79. El Salvador – 0 points (GD: -21)
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