Football facts: Most Successful Nations in every Major International Football Tournament

Football has some of the most unique and prestigious tournaments in the world of sport. Major International Tournaments are played rarely, making it important for the nations to capitalize on opportunities to win silverware. The more it is rare, the more it is difficult for the nations to win trophies. In our latest article on football facts, we bring you the most successful football-playing nations in every major international tournament. 

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Football facts: Most Successful Nations in every Major International Football Tournament

FIFA World Cup - Brazil - 5 titles

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest and the most prestigious International title in the world of football. Football players see it as the prime football competition to win in their career. So, winning the World Cup competition is not easy. The tournament has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930.

The trophy has been won by eight national teams. Brazil, with five wins, are the only team to have played in every tournament. The country with the most FIFA World Cup titles is Brazil which holds five world titles won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. Italy and Germany are the second most successful nations in the World Cup, having won four titles each.

Copa America - Argentina - 16 titles

The competition determines the champions of South America. Since the 1990s, teams from North America and Asia have also been invited to compete. Argentina is most successful nation in the competition's history, with 16 titles each. 

Argentina won their first Copa America title in 1921 and have won 16 Copa America titles to date, the most by any nation. They are the only nation in South America to win the Copa America title three consecutive times. Argentina were finding it very difficult to win the title after 1993 but Lionel Messi led his side to victory in 2021 after beating Brazil by 1-0.

La Albiceleste were finding it very difficult to win the title after 1993 but Lionel Messi led his side to victory in 2021 after beating Brazil by 1-0. They played in the final of the 2024 Copa America and lifted the title once again under the leadership of Messi

Uruguay are the second most successful side with 15 titles.

Euro - Spain - 4 titles

The only nation to win the tournament in consecutive years (2008, 2012), Spain have won the most titles at the Euros. Their first title came in 1964, the second edition of the tournament. The 2008 and 2012 Spanish teams had some of the greatest players in their history. That group of players also won the 2010 World Cup with Spain.

Then La Roja had to wait for 12 years to lift their fourth Europan Championship title. Spain defeated England by 2-1 in the Final in Berlin to become the most successful team in Euro history with their fourth title. 

CONCACAF Gold Cup - Mexico - 9 titles

The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition, determining the continental champions of North America (Northern America, Central America, and the Caribbean). The Gold Cup is held every two years. Mexico are the most successful nation in the Gold Cup, winning the title a record 9 times. (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023) They are the defending champions, beating Panama by 1-0 in the Final.

Africa Cup of Nations - Egypt - 7 titles

The Africa Cup of Nations, commonly known as the AFCON is the main International Men's Association Football competition in Africa. Egypt have been the dominant nation in Africa Cup of Nations history with seven titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010) including the first edition of the competition back in 1957. Egypt won three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008, and 2010. 

AFC Asian Cup - Japan - 4 titles

The AFC Asian Cup is an association football competition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the sport's Asian governing body, and takes place generally every four years. It is the world's second-oldest continental football championship, at 68 years old. Japan is the most successful team in the tournament, winning it four times. Japan is one of the most successful teams in Asia, having qualified for the last seven FIFA World Cups. The Blue Samurais won three titles since 2000.

OFC Nations Cup - New Zealand - 6 titles

The OFC Men's Nations Cup is the prime association football competition of the Oceania Football Confederation. New Zealand is the most successful team in the history of the tournament, winning six titles. They won the inaugural edition (1973) of the competition too, beating Tahiti by 2-0 in the Final. They won their sixth title by beating Vanuatu 3-0 in the Final. The 2020 edition of the continental championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time since 2016 that the Nations Cup had been held and New Zealand delivered once again.