There have been 21 FIFA World Cup tournaments since the first one in 1930. Out of the 79 countries that have participated, only 8 countries have managed to win the World Cup more than once. Winning the World Cup is considered the pinnacle achievement in international football. Lifting the trophy twice cements a nation’s status as an elite footballing powerhouse.
The 8 Countries That Have Won 2 World Cups
Here are the 8 countries that have won the FIFA World Cup twice:
| Country | World Cup Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 2 | 1930, 1950 |
| Italy | 2 | 1934, 1938 |
| Brazil | 2 | 1958, 1962 |
| West Germany | 2 | 1974, 1990 |
| Argentina | 2 | 1978, 1986 |
| France | 2 | 1998, 2018 |
| Spain | 2 | 2010 |
| Germany | 2 | 2014 |
As we can see, only 8 nations have managed to lift the World Cup trophy twice. Uruguay was the first country to win 2 titles in 1930 and 1950. Italy managed back-to-back World Cup wins in 1934 and 1938. Brazil earned consecutive wins in 1958 and 1962 during the Pele era. West Germany won the World Cup in 1974 and 1990. Argentina triumphed in 1978 and 1986 led by football legend Diego Maradona. France emerged victorious in 1998 and 2018, twenty years apart. Spain and Germany are the most recent countries to win a second World Cup in 2010 and 2014 respectively.
Why is it Difficult to Win Multiple World Cups?
There are several reasons why it is challenging for a country to win the World Cup more than once:
1. Increasing Competition
As football has grown into the world’s most popular sport, more and more countries have become competitive at the highest level. In the early World Cups, the same few teams like Uruguay, Italy, and Brazil dominated. Now there are many more teams with the talent to contend for the title. This makes repeating as champion extremely difficult.
2. Pressure to Perform
The pressure and expectations on the defending champions are immense. As the previous World Cup winner, all eyes are on you to deliver again. This intense scrutiny can get to players and coaches, affecting performance.
3. Difficulty Remaining at the Top
After winning a World Cup, maintaining that elite level is not easy. Player retirements, coaching changes, and other teams catching up all contribute to the champions coming back down to earth. Staying at the pinnacle of the sport for an extended period is rare.
4. Improved Opposition
Teams that lose a World Cup final or get knocked out by the champions will often come back stronger the next tournament. Hungrier and more motivated after heartbreak, these teams pose a greater threat to the defending champions.
5. Luck and Timing
No matter how good a team is, luck and timing play a big role in winning a World Cup. From drawing favourable matchups to avoiding key injuries, teams need fortune on their side. Repeating requires luck again going their way.
Given all these factors, it’s incredibly hard for a nation to lift the World Cup trophy twice. That’s why only eight countries have accomplished this monumental achievement in football history.
Profiles of the 8 Countries that Have Won 2 World Cups
Here is some more detail on the eight elite teams that make up the dual World Cup winners club:
Uruguay
Uruguay won the first ever World Cup played in 1930 when they hosted the tournament. They defeated Argentina 4-2 in the final. Uruguay won their second championship in 1950 after beating Brazil 2-1 in the decisive game held in Brazil. This outcome was a huge upset and became known as the Maracanazo. Uruguay has not won another World Cup since.
Italy
Italy hosted the 1934 World Cup and won their first title after defeating Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the final. The 1938 edition was held in France and Italy became the first team to successfully defend the championship by beating Hungary 4-2 in the final. Italy would have to wait another 44 years until they won their third World Cup in 1982.
Brazil
In 1958, a 17-year old Pele led Brazil to their first World Cup triumph in Sweden. Four years later in Chile, Brazil won the 1962 tournament making them the third country to win consecutive World Cups. Brazil has gone on to win a record five World Cup titles, the only country to achieve this feat.
West Germany
West Germany won the 1954 World Cup defeating heavy favourites Hungary 3-2 in the final. Twenty years later at the 1974 World Cup held in West Germany, they won their second title by beating Netherlands 2-1 in the final. Since the German reunification in 1990, the team is now simply known as Germany.
Argentina
Argentina hosted and won their first World Cup in 1978 by beating Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final. In the 1986 edition held in Mexico, Argentina triumphed again led by Diego Maradona who scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal en route to the final where they defeated West Germany 3-2.
France
France hosted the World Cup in 1998 and won their first title after comfortably beating Brazil 3-0 in the final held at the Stade de France. In 2018, France won their second championship defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final hosted in Russia. France became the sixth country to win multiple World Cups.
Spain
After many years of disappointment, Spain finally won their first World Cup in 2010 held in South Africa. They defeated Netherlands 1-0 in the final after extra time to capture their maiden title. Spain became the seventh country to win two or more World Cup championships.
Germany
Germany won their fourth World Cup in 2014 hosted by Brazil. They beat Argentina 1-0 in the final held at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. Miroslav Klose became the highest World Cup goalscorer of all-time along the way. Germany joined an exclusive club as just the eighth nation with multiple World Cup triumphs.
Countries With a Chance to Join the Multi-Winner Club at the 2022 World Cup
The 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar starting on November 20. There are a few nations who could potential join the multi-champions club this year:
Argentina
Argentina has not won the World Cup since their 1986 victory. This could be Lionel Messi’s last chance to lead his country to glory. Argentina has a talented squad and will be motivated to win for Messi.
England
England won their lone World Cup title back in 1966. They have a rising squad of young talent and homefield advantage in Qatar. Reaching the semi-finals in 2018, this could be England’s time to finally win another World Cup.
Belgium
Ranked #2 in the world, Belgium has their much-hyped golden generation led by stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. Belgium has never won the World Cup but may never have a better opportunity.
Netherlands
Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010, the Dutch are still searching for a second World Cup title after their win in 1988. The Netherlands did not qualify for the last World Cup and are eager to rectify that disappointment.
Outside of these teams, a surprise winner could also emerge such as Denmark, Portugal or Uruguay again. But Argentina, England, Belgium and Netherlands seem the most likely countries to potentially join the double World Cup champions club.
Conclusion
Winning the FIFA World Cup is the ultimate achievement in football. Thanks to increasing global competition and rising standards in the game, it has become harder than ever for nations to win multiple World Cups. Out of the 79 countries who have competed at the 21 editions of the tournament, only eight have managed to lift the trophy twice. Uruguay, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France, Spain and Germany make up the distinguished list of multi-World Cup champions. Given the challenges of remaining at the summit of world football, this exclusive club is unlikely to expand much further. The 2018 World Cup in Russia will provide the next chance for a country to join this elite band of nations.
