1
Eight champions in 23 editions
Brazil have won five World Cups; Germany and Italy four each; Argentina three; France, Uruguay and Spain two; and England one. That makes eight different champions.
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Football trivia
World Cup facts and curiosities
Data as of 2 November 2026
From Uruguay 1930 to the 2026 World Cup, the national-team tournament has produced unforgettable stories. Here are some of the best.
Eight champions in 23 editionsThe first World Cup, with 13 teamsFontaine's recordMbappé, all-time top scorerThe 1950 MaracanazoThe trophy found by a dogThe 7-1 in Belo HorizonteFrom 13 to 48 teamsThe first penalty shoot-out
2
The first World Cup, with 13 teams
Only 13 teams played in Uruguay 1930, few of them European, because the sea journey took weeks. Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the final.
3
Fontaine's record
France's Just Fontaine scored 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup. It is still the record for a single tournament.
4
Mbappé, all-time top scorer
After the 2026 World Cup, Kylian Mbappé leads the competition's history with 22 goals, ahead of Messi (21) and Klose (16).
5
The 1950 Maracanazo
Brazil needed only a draw against Uruguay in their final match of 1950, played at the Maracanã before more than 170,000 spectators. Uruguay won 2-1 and silenced the stadium.
6
The trophy found by a dog
Before the 1966 World Cup, the Jules Rimet trophy was stolen in London. A dog called Pickles sniffed it out, wrapped in paper under a hedge. It was stolen again in Brazil in 1983 and never recovered.
7
The 7-1 in Belo Horizonte
In 2014 Germany thrashed hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-finals: one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history.
8
From 13 to 48 teams
The tournament had 16 teams or fewer until 1978, 24 from 1982 to 1994, 32 from 1998 to 2022 and 48 in 2026, the first World Cup hosted by three countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada.
9
The first penalty shoot-out
The first World Cup penalty shoot-out was in the 1982 semi-final between West Germany and France, which the Germans won.
Sources: Wikipedia · FIFA World Cup. Data as of 2 November 2026.
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ChampionsChampions League and World Cup winners, with finals and scores.
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TrophiesThe story behind the cups and awards of Spain, England, Italy, Germany, France, Portugal, Brazil, the USA and Argentina.
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