The most successful teams in the history of the World Cup

With the first-ever edition of the World Cup taking place in the Middle East, as hosts Qatar went head-to-head with Ecuador in the opening match at Al Janoub Stadium on November 18. As the tournament heads into the knockout phase, now seems like the perfect time to take stock of the most successful nations in football's greatest tournament.

Brazil – 5

Five-time winners Brazil are hoping to extend their record to six in Qatar, as they are the favourites in the World Cup betting odds. The Selecao won their first title at the 1958 tournament in Sweden, which was the sixth edition of the World Cup, beating the hosts 5-2 in Solna. They defended the Jules Rimet crown four years later in Chile with a 3-1 victory over Czechoslovakia. The hattrick came at Mexico '70, beating Italy 4-1, and they beat Gil Azzurri again in the United States in 1994. Title number five came in 2002, with a 2-0 victory over Germany in Japan. Brazil have also been runners-up twice (1950 & 1998).

Germany – 4

Four-time world champions Germany weren't seen as much of a threat going into this year's renewal, coming in at sixth in the outright winners' market as they are still somewhat in a state of transition — so Brazil's record is safe for now. Die Mannschaft's first victory came in 1954 with a 3-2 win over Hungary in Switzerland and it was 20 years before they landed their second, beating the Netherlands on home soil. 1990 was their next success, a 1-0 win over Argentina sealing the goods in Rome, and they beat La Albiceleste again in Brazil in 2014 to land their fourth. The Germans have also lost four finals — more than any other team.

Italy – 4

Italy — another nation on four titles — certainly won't be able to match Brazil's record this winter, as Roberto Mancini's men failed to even qualify for the tournament after their Euro 2020 success last summer. The Italians were the first country to win back-to-back World Cups, with victory over the Czechs on home soil in 1934 before beating Hungary in Paris four years on. 1982 was the next time Italy would get their hands on the title, beating Germany in Spain, and keeping up with traditions they won it again on European soil in Germany in 2006 — the infamous final in which Zinedine Zidane was sent off for that headbutt. Gil Azzurri have lost two finals.

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Argentina – 2

With five final appearances in total, Argentina are the only nation to have lost more World Cup showpieces (three) than they have won (two). Beaten by hosts and South American rivals Uruguay in the inaugural World Cup in 1930, it was 1978 before they featured in the final again — this time winning the trophy on home soil with an extra-time victory over the Netherlands. Eight years later and they were champions again, beating Germany in Mexico. They've lost both of the final appearances since (1990 & 2014).

France – 2

The defending world champions, it's somewhat of a surprise that France didn't win their first World Cup until 1998. Les Bleus were heavily expected to win it when they hosted the tournament in 1938 but crashed out in the quarter-finals. They made amends for that 24 years ago, however, beating one of the best Brazil teams ever 3-0 in Paris. With a squad of superstars now, they beat Croatia 4-2 in Russia in 2018 and they could be on the hunt for a third title this year.

Uruguay – 2

The final country with two titles, Uruguay were one of the dominant countries in the early stage of the World Cup. They won the aforementioned maiden edition of the tournament in 1930 but also stopped Brazil from winning their first title in 1950 — beating the Selecao 2-1 in Rio de Janeiro in what was the first World Cup following World War II.

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England (1966) and Spain (2010) are the only other nations to have won a World Cup.