Overview of the FIFA World Cup history and structure

The FIFA World Cup, established in 1930 in Uruguay, is a major international football tournament held every four years. Brazil holds the record with five titles, followed by Germany and Italy with four each, Argentina with three, France and Uruguay with two, and England and Spain with one. The 2026 edition, to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will mark a significant expansion of the tournament. The field will increase to 48 national teams playing 104 matches, compared to the 32 teams and 64 matches used between 1998 and 2022. Historically, the tournament has seen Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) successfully defend their titles. The 1950 tournament remains notable for not having a traditional final, instead deciding the winner via a final group stage. The most recent champion is Argentina, which won the tournament in Qatar in 2022.