Every country that has ever won the World Cup, men’s and women’s

It feels like something you should just know. Then you start naming World Cup winners and realize you’re mixing up the men’s and women’s teams. Fair. Those are two different lists.

So here’s every country, every title, men’s and women’s — laid out in a way that actually makes sense.

Records checked September 23, 2026: This guide covers the senior men’s FIFA World Cup through 2026 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup through 2023. Youth tournaments, Olympic soccer and club competitions are not included.

For the American record specifically, here’s whether the U.S. has ever won the World Cup, with the men’s and women’s results separated clearly.

Which countries have won the men’s FIFA World Cup?

Eight countries have ever won the men’s World Cup: Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Uruguay, Spain and England. Eight. Even after the 48-team tournament in 2026, the champions’ club did not get a new member — Spain added another trophy.

Here’s the full list, from most titles to fewest. Germany’s total includes the three titles won as West Germany.

Brazil — 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

Brazil leads the men’s list with five titles. Its most recent win came in 2002, so Brazil fans have been waiting more than 20 years for number six. Being the record holder does not make the wait less annoying.

Germany — 4 titles (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)

Germany has four titles across two eras: West Germany won three before reunification, and the unified German team won in Brazil in 2014. Same country total, not two separate entries on this list.

Italy — 4 titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)

Italy’s four titles are spread across 72 years. The 1982 squad with Paolo Rossi is iconic. The 2006 title came in the final against France — yes, the Zidane headbutt game.

Argentina — 3 titles (1978, 1986, 2022)

Argentina’s 2022 title came after that extraordinary final against France. Mbappé scored a hat-trick and it still wasn’t enough: Argentina won the penalty shootout. Messi finally had his World Cup. The 1986 tournament, meanwhile, gave us Maradona’s Hand of God and his solo goal against England in the same match.

France — 2 titles (1998, 2018)

France won on home soil in 1998 and again in Russia in 2018. Its 2022 final appearance did not add a third title — Argentina won that one. Reaching the final and winning it are two very different kinds of memories.

Uruguay — 2 titles (1930, 1950)

Uruguay hosted and won the very first World Cup in 1930. Its second title came in 1950 after beating Brazil in the deciding match of the final group stage. That tournament did not have a standalone knockout final.

Spain — 2 titles (2010, 2026)

Spain’s first title came in South Africa in 2010, with Iniesta scoring the winner in extra time against the Netherlands. Spain added its second in 2026, beating Argentina 1–0 in the final. It is the latest men’s champion covered here.

England — 1 title (1966)

England won on home soil in 1966. That remains its only men’s World Cup title. Every England campaign seems to involve a reference to 1966 — the sporting equivalent of that one good anecdote you keep recycling at parties.

Which countries have won the women’s FIFA World Cup?

Five countries have won the women’s tournament: the United States, Germany, Norway, Japan and Spain. The competition began in 1991, and the latest completed edition covered here is 2023.

United States — 4 titles (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019)

The U.S. women’s national team has the most Women’s World Cup titles. Four. The four championship years are 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019. These are women’s titles; they are not wins by the men’s team.

The 1999 win — Brandi Chastain, the penalty kick, the sports bra — became a cultural moment that went way beyond soccer.

Germany — 2 titles (2003, 2007)

Germany won back-to-back Women’s World Cups in 2003 and 2007. Along with Spain, it is one of the two countries with titles in both the senior men’s and women’s tournaments.

Norway — 1 title (1995)

Norway won in 1995, beating Germany in the final. It was the second edition of the Women’s World Cup and Norway’s first title.

Japan — 1 title (2011)

Japan beat the United States in a penalty shootout to win in 2011. The tournament came just months after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, giving that victory significance far beyond the field.

Spain — 1 title (2023)

Spain beat England 1–0 in the 2023 final for its first Women’s World Cup title. That made Spain the fifth women’s champion, joining the United States, Germany, Norway and Japan.

Which countries have won both the men’s and women’s World Cups?

Germany and Spain. Germany has four men’s titles and two women’s titles. Spain has two men’s titles, from 2010 and 2026, and one women’s title, from 2023.

That overlap matters when you’re counting countries. There are eight countries on the men’s list and five on the women’s list, but Germany and Spain appear twice. The combined total is 11 different countries, not 13.

Where does the United States fit?

The U.S. women have won four World Cups. The U.S. men have never won one. So a plain yes or no to “Has the U.S. won the World Cup?” leaves out half the answer.

Brazil leads one list. The United States leads the other. Those women’s trophies count just as much when we’re talking about which countries have actually won.

Historical men’s championship years through 2022 were cross-checked against Sports Illustrated’s winners table; the 2026 result comes from FIFA’s final report linked above. Women’s championship years were checked against UEFA’s World Cup finals archive and U.S. Soccer’s championship history.