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[What is the World Cup?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-is-the-World-Cup) - [Why is the World Cup every four years?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Why-is-the-World-Cup-every-four-years) - [How does qualifying for the World Cup work?](https://www.britannica.com/question/How-does-qualifying-for-the-World-Cup-work) - [Where does World Cup prize money come from?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Where-does-World-Cup-prize-money-come-from) - [Who is the World Cup’s top scorer?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Who-is-the-World-Cups-top-scorer)  Contents [Sports & Recreation](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Sports-Recreation) [Soccer](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Soccer) CITE *verified*Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/sports/World-Cup-football> Feedback External Websites Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. External Websites - [U.S. Soccer - Hispanic Heritage: Marcelo Balboa�s Pride and Passion for Representing the USMNT](https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/10/hispanic-heritage-marcelo-balboas-pride-and-passion-for-representing-the-usmnt) - [Official Site of FIFA](https://inside.fifa.com/) - [Football History - The history of FIFA World Cup](https://www.footballhistory.org/world-cup/index.html) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. - [World Cup - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/World-Cup/390872) - [World Cup - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/World-Cup/487889) [](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/143472-050-6ECD0DB0/Carlos-Alberto-Torres-holds-Jules-Rimet-trophy-Brazil-1970.jpg) [Carlos Alberto Torres](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/143472-050-6ECD0DB0/Carlos-Alberto-Torres-holds-Jules-Rimet-trophy-Brazil-1970.jpg) Captain Carlos Alberto Torres holding the Jules Rimet trophy aloft after Brazil's triumph at the 1970 World Cup. (more) # World Cup football tournament Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: FIFA World Cup Written and fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 14, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/sports/World-Cup-football/additional-info#history)  Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions ### What is the World Cup? The World Cup in [football](https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer) (soccer) is a quadrennial tournament of 32 men’s national teams that is organized by the [Fédération Internationale de Football Association](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Federation-Internationale-de-Football-Association) (FIFA). It determines the sport’s men’s world champion. It is likely the most popular sporting event in the world, drawing billions of television viewers every tournament. ### Why is the World Cup every four years? The World Cup happens every four years in order to have enough time for the qualification tournaments and playoffs among national teams to take place. Additionally, four years provides the host country adequate time to plan the logistics of the tournament and how to best accommodate an influx of millions of fans. ### How does qualifying for the World Cup work? Qualifying for the World Cup is a long process during the years between each quadrennial tournament. Each of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s six confederations determines its own qualification system, which produces the men’s teams that represent each confederation’s region. The six confederations are Africa; Asia; Europe; North America, Central America, and the Caribbean; Oceania; and South America. ### Where does World Cup prize money come from? World Cup prize money comes from the earnings of the nonprofit Fédération Internationale de Football Association. FIFA’s revenue is generated by high bids for television, marketing, and licensing rights for major football events that FIFA organizes. FIFA does not incur expenses for the construction of World Cup infrastructure, as those fall on the host country. ### Who is the World Cup’s top scorer? The men’s World Cup all-time top scorer is [Miroslav Klose](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Miroslav-Klose) of the German national football (soccer) team. He scored a total of 16 goals across four World Cup tournaments, from 2002 through 2014. [Marta](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marta), playing for the Brazilian women’s national team, scored her 17th World Cup goal during the 2019 [Women’s World Cup](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Womens-World-Cup), becoming the top scorer across the men’s and women’s tournaments. She played in five World Cups, from 2003 through 2019. ## News • [Matt Crocker quits as US Soccer Federation sporting director 2 months before World Cup](https://www.britannica.com/news/648277/46d1047e9c5ba88d221a315e55aabd0b) • Apr. 14, 2026, 5:39 PM ET (AP) ...(Show more) [Three-time World Cup finalist the Netherlands faces Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F](https://www.britannica.com/news/648277/56c0b58b0872d8a0b01a1548786f34ad) • Apr. 14, 2026, 10:10 AM ET (AP) [Italy soccer president and delegation chief Buffon resign after another World Cup failure](https://www.britannica.com/news/648277/dfc024759ddda518e0f0afc24ac317c9) • Apr. 13, 2026, 11:34 AM ET (AP) [FIFA adds new even more expensive World Cup ticket categories](https://www.britannica.com/news/648277/07f3e1f9bd6001cea59163046d317f59) • Apr. 13, 2026, 11:33 AM ET (AP) [Iranian American soccer fans are torn between pride and protest as the World Cup nears](https://www.britannica.com/news/648277/f6da62f387eb3664e15845afc726c4ff) • Apr. 13, 2026, 11:21 AM ET (AP) Show less [](https://cdn.britannica.com/85/139485-050-BCF84C18/FIFA-World-Cup-trophy.jpg) [FIFA World Cup trophy](https://cdn.britannica.com/85/139485-050-BCF84C18/FIFA-World-Cup-trophy.jpg)The FIFA World Cup trophy. (more) **World Cup**, in [football](https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer) (soccer), quadrennial tournament of men’s national teams that determines the sport’s world champion. It is likely the most popular sporting event in the world, drawing billions of [television](https://www.britannica.com/technology/television-technology) viewers every tournament. Countries [worldwide](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/worldwide) compete vigorously, many years in advance, to host the lucrative event, and accusations of bribery connected to the awarding of hosting rights have long shadowed the tournament. In fact, the [2015 FIFA corruption scandal](https://www.britannica.com/event/2015-FIFA-corruption-scandal) implicated more than two dozen [FIFA](https://www.britannica.com/topic/FIFA-game-series) officials and their associates in a 24-year self-enrichment scheme that reached the highest levels of FIFA management. The equivalent tournament for women’s national football teams is the [Women’s World Cup](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Womens-World-Cup). [1 of 3](https://www.britannica.com/video/did-you-know-FIFA-World-Cup-soccer/-255381) The history behind the FIFA World CupWatch this video to learn more about the history of the FIFA World Cup. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/sports/World-Cup-football/images-videos) [2 of 3](https://cdn.britannica.com/02/118102-050-00E5387C/Uruguay-scores-goal-against-Argentina-1930-World-Cup-final-soccer.jpg) [1930 World Cup](https://cdn.britannica.com/02/118102-050-00E5387C/Uruguay-scores-goal-against-Argentina-1930-World-Cup-final-soccer.jpg)Uruguay scoring its first goal in the World Cup final against Argentina, in Montevideo, Uruguay, July 30, 1930. (more) [3 of 3](https://www.britannica.com/video/running-bar-chart-total-mens-World-Cup-titles-1930-2022-by-country/-271882) Explore which countries won the most men's World Cup titles over timeLearn more about which countries have won the most men's World Cup titles since 1930. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/sports/World-Cup-football/images-videos) The first competition for the cup was organized in 1930 by the [Fédération Internationale de Football Association](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Federation-Internationale-de-Football-Association) (FIFA) and was won by [Uruguay](https://www.britannica.com/place/Uruguay). Held every four years since that time, except during [World War II](https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II), the competition consists of international sectional tournaments leading to a final elimination event made up of 32 national teams. Unlike [Olympic](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games) football, World Cup teams are not limited to players of a certain age or [amateur](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/amateur) status, so the competition serves more nearly as a contest between the world’s best players. Referees are selected from lists that are submitted by all the national associations. The trophy cup awarded from 1930 to 1970 was the [Jules Rimet Trophy](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Jules-Rimet-Trophy), named for the Frenchman who proposed the tournament. This cup was permanently awarded in 1970 to then three-time winner [Brazil](https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil) (1958, 1962, and 1970), and a new trophy called the FIFA World Cup was put up for competition. Many other [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports) have organized “World Cup” competitions. [ Britannica Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/great-moments-in-sports-quiz) For a list of World Cup champions, *see* table. | year | result | | | | |---|---|---|---|---| | \*Won after extra time (AET). | | | | | | \*\*Won on penalty kicks. | | | | | | 1930 | Uruguay | 4 | Argentina | 2 | | 1934 | Italy\* | 2 | Czechoslovakia | 1 | | 1938 | Italy | 4 | Hungary | 2 | | 1950 | Uruguay | 2 | Brazil | 1 | | 1954 | West Germany | 3 | Hungary | 2 | | 1958 | Brazil | 5 | Sweden | 2 | | 1962 | Brazil | 3 | Czechoslovakia | 1 | | 1966 | England\* | 4 | West Germany | 2 | | 1970 | Brazil | 4 | Italy | 1 | | 1974 | West Germany | 2 | Netherlands | 1 | | 1978 | Argentina\* | 3 | Netherlands | 1 | | 1982 | Italy | 3 | West Germany | 1 | | 1986 | Argentina | 3 | West Germany | 2 | | 1990 | West Germany | 1 | Argentina | 0 | | 1994 | Brazil\*\* | 0 | Italy | 0 | | 1998 | France | 3 | Brazil | 0 | | 2002 | Brazil | 2 | Germany | 0 | | 2006 | Italy\*\* | 1 | France | 1 | | 2010 | Spain\* | 1 | Netherlands | 0 | | 2014 | Germany\* | 1 | Argentina | 0 | | 2018 | France | 4 | Croatia | 2 | | 2022 | Argentina\*\* | 3 | France | 3 | [The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) This article was most recently revised and updated by [Mindy Johnston](https://www.britannica.com/editor/mindy-johnston/12488102).

Top Questions ### What is the World Cup? ### Why is the World Cup every four years? ### How does qualifying for the World Cup work? ### Where does World Cup prize money come from? ### Who is the World Cup’s top scorer? ## News • **World Cup**, in [football](https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer) (soccer), quadrennial tournament of men’s national teams that determines the sport’s world champion. It is likely the most popular sporting event in the world, drawing billions of [television](https://www.britannica.com/technology/television-technology) viewers every tournament. Countries [worldwide](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/worldwide) compete vigorously, many years in advance, to host the lucrative event, and accusations of bribery connected to the awarding of hosting rights have long shadowed the tournament. In fact, the [2015 FIFA corruption scandal](https://www.britannica.com/event/2015-FIFA-corruption-scandal) implicated more than two dozen [FIFA](https://www.britannica.com/topic/FIFA-game-series) officials and their associates in a 24-year self-enrichment scheme that reached the highest levels of FIFA management. The equivalent tournament for women’s national football teams is the [Women’s World Cup](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Womens-World-Cup). The first competition for the cup was organized in 1930 by the [Fédération Internationale de Football Association](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Federation-Internationale-de-Football-Association) (FIFA) and was won by [Uruguay](https://www.britannica.com/place/Uruguay). Held every four years since that time, except during [World War II](https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II), the competition consists of international sectional tournaments leading to a final elimination event made up of 32 national teams. Unlike [Olympic](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games) football, World Cup teams are not limited to players of a certain age or [amateur](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/amateur) status, so the competition serves more nearly as a contest between the world’s best players. Referees are selected from lists that are submitted by all the national associations. The trophy cup awarded from 1930 to 1970 was the [Jules Rimet Trophy](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Jules-Rimet-Trophy), named for the Frenchman who proposed the tournament. This cup was permanently awarded in 1970 to then three-time winner [Brazil](https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil) (1958, 1962, and 1970), and a new trophy called the FIFA World Cup was put up for competition. Many other [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports) have organized “World Cup” competitions. [ Britannica Quiz Great Moments in Sports Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/great-moments-in-sports-quiz) For a list of World Cup champions, *see* table. | year | result | | | | |---|---|---|---|---| | \*Won after extra time (AET). | | | | | | \*\*Won on penalty kicks. | | | | | | 1930 | Uruguay | 4 | Argentina | 2 | | 1934 | Italy\* | 2 | Czechoslovakia | 1 | | 1938 | Italy | 4 | Hungary | 2 | | 1950 | Uruguay | 2 | Brazil | 1 | | 1954 | West Germany | 3 | Hungary | 2 | | 1958 | Brazil | 5 | Sweden | 2 | | 1962 | Brazil | 3 | Czechoslovakia | 1 | | 1966 | England\* | 4 | West Germany | 2 | | 1970 | Brazil | 4 | Italy | 1 | | 1974 | West Germany | 2 | Netherlands | 1 | | 1978 | Argentina\* | 3 | Netherlands | 1 | | 1982 | Italy | 3 | West Germany | 1 | | 1986 | Argentina | 3 | West Germany | 2 | | 1990 | West Germany | 1 | Argentina | 0 | | 1994 | Brazil\*\* | 0 | Italy | 0 | | 1998 | France | 3 | Brazil | 0 | | 2002 | Brazil | 2 | Germany | 0 | | 2006 | Italy\*\* | 1 | France | 1 | | 2010 | Spain\* | 1 | Netherlands | 0 | | 2014 | Germany\* | 1 | Argentina | 0 | | 2018 | France | 4 | Croatia | 2 | | 2022 | Argentina\*\* | 3 | France | 3 |