The FIFA World Cup: History and Winners
The FIFA World Cup is considered by many to be the world championship of the sport of soccer (or, as most of the world calls it, football). The event is organized by the sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 
The World Cup is a monthlong tournament that occurs every four years and results in one nation's team left standing after a series of qualifying rounds, a final round robin series, and a single-elimination tournament. The last two of those elements happen in the host country (or countries). Much like the Olympics, an international committee determines which nation(s) will be host(s) for the event. The World Cup began in 1930, the result of a couple of decades of growing interest after the sport first appeared in the Olympics officially, in 1908 in London. (It was a demonstration sport in 1900 and 1904.) Champions were Great Britain in 1908 and 1912 and then Belgium in 1920. (Organizers canceled the 1916 Olympics because of World War I.) Uruguay won the title in 1924 and 1928 and then prevailed in the first World Cup, in 1930. Overall, Brazil has won the most World Cup titles, with five. Brazil, the only nation to have played in every World Cup since its inception, won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. Tied for second-most are Germany and Italy. The latter won in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006. Totals for the former include both West Germany (1954, 1974, 1990) and a united Germany (2014). Argentina has won the World Cup three times, triumphing in 1978, 1986, and 2022). Both France and Uruguay have won it all twice, with France the last nation standing in 1998 and 2018 and Uruguay winning in 1930 and 1950. The only other nation to win the World Cup is England, in 1966. Four-time champ Germany (and West Germany) has appeared in the most World Cup finals, losing out in 1966, 1982, 1986, and 2002. The second-highest total in finals is Brazil, adding to their five championships the runner-up finish in both 1950 and 1998. Both Argentina and Italy have appeared in the finals six times. Argentina won three of those (1978, 1986, and 2022) and lost the other othree (1930, 1990, and 2014). Italy won in 1934, 1934, 1982, and 2006 and lost in 1970 and 1994. Brazil and (West) Germany are the only nations to have appeared in the final three times in a row. Brazil won in 1994, lost in 1998, and won in 2002. West Germany lost in 1982 and 1986 and prevailed in 1990. Being the host nation does not always guarantee winning the tournament. Of the eight nations that have won the World Cup, six of them have won on home soil. Those were Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934, England in 1966, (West) Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978, and France in 1998.
FIFA World Cup winners
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