All World Cup Finals Ranked: From 1930 to 2022
Twenty-two World Cup finals. Twenty-two moments that defined football history. From the inaugural 1930 final in Montevideo to the extraordinary penalty shootout in 2022, this is the definitive ranking of every World Cup final.
The Top 5 Greatest World Cup Finals
#1 — 2022: Argentina 3-3 France (Argentina win 4-2 on penalties)
Venue: Lusail Stadium, Qatar | Attendance: 88,966
The greatest World Cup final ever played. Argentina led 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining. France scored twice in 97 seconds through Mbappé to level. Messi restored Argentina's lead in extra time. Mbappé equalized again to complete his hat-trick. Argentina won on penalties.
Why it's #1: No final has ever had this level of drama, quality, and narrative. Two of the greatest players in history — Messi and Mbappé — both at their absolute best. The comeback, the extra time, the penalties. Nothing in football history compares.
#2 — 1970: Brazil 4-1 Italy
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Attendance: 107,412
Brazil's greatest team against Italy's greatest defensive system. Brazil won with a performance of such beauty that it remains the benchmark for attacking football. Carlos Alberto's fourth goal — a thunderous right-foot finish after a flowing 10-pass move — is the greatest team goal ever scored.
Why it's #2: The most complete team performance in World Cup final history. Brazil didn't just win — they played football from another dimension.
#3 — 1966: England 4-2 West Germany (AET)
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London | Attendance: 96,924
England's only World Cup title, decided by one of the most controversial goals in history. Geoff Hurst's second goal — did it cross the line? — gave England a 3-2 lead in extra time. Hurst completed his hat-trick in the final seconds. England won 4-2.
Why it's #3: The controversy, the drama, the hat-trick, the home crowd. England's finest hour.
#4 — 2006: Italy 1-1 France (Italy win 5-3 on penalties)
Venue: Olympiastadion, Berlin | Attendance: 69,000
Zidane's Panenka penalty. Zidane's headbutt. Italy's penalty shootout victory. The final was defined by Zidane's extraordinary last act — a headbutt on Marco Materazzi that earned him a red card in his final professional match.
Why it's #4: The most dramatic individual moment in final history. Zidane's headbutt overshadowed everything, but the match itself was excellent.
#5 — 1986: Argentina 3-2 West Germany
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Attendance: 114,600
Argentina led 2-0, West Germany came back to 2-2, then Jorge Burruchaga scored the winner in the 83rd minute. Maradona's tournament, Maradona's final.
Why it's #5: The comeback, the winner, the atmosphere. One of the most dramatic finals ever.
All 22 Finals: Complete Results
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | 4-2 | Argentina | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo |
| 1934 | Italy | 2-1 (AET) | Czechoslovakia | Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome |
| 1938 | Italy | 4-2 | Hungary | Stade Olympique, Paris |
| 1950 | Uruguay | 2-1 | Brazil | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro* |
| 1954 | West Germany | 3-2 | Hungary | Wankdorf Stadium, Bern |
| 1958 | Brazil | 5-2 | Sweden | Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm |
| 1962 | Brazil | 3-1 | Czechoslovakia | Estadio Nacional, Santiago |
| 1966 | England | 4-2 (AET) | West Germany | Wembley Stadium, London |
| 1970 | Brazil | 4-1 | Italy | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 1974 | West Germany | 2-1 | Netherlands | Olympiastadion, Munich |
| 1978 | Argentina | 3-1 (AET) | Netherlands | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires |
| 1982 | Italy | 3-1 | West Germany | Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1986 | Argentina | 3-2 | West Germany | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 1990 | West Germany | 1-0 | Argentina | Stadio Olimpico, Rome |
| 1994 | Brazil | 0-0 (3-2 pens) | Italy | Rose Bowl, Pasadena |
| 1998 | France | 3-0 | Brazil | Stade de France, Paris |
| 2002 | Brazil | 2-0 | Germany | International Stadium, Yokohama |
| 2006 | Italy | 1-1 (5-3 pens) | France | Olympiastadion, Berlin |
| 2010 | Spain | 1-0 (AET) | Netherlands | Soccer City, Johannesburg |
| 2014 | Germany | 1-0 (AET) | Argentina | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro |
| 2018 | France | 4-2 | Croatia | Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow |
| 2022 | Argentina | 3-3 (4-2 pens) | France | Lusail Stadium, Qatar |
*1950 had no official final — Uruguay won the final round-robin group
Finals by Country
| Country | Finals Won | Finals Lost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Germany/W. Germany | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Italy | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Argentina | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| France | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| England | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Czechoslovakia | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Hungary | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Croatia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweden | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Netherlands have the most finals without a title — three appearances (1974, 1978, 2010), three defeats.
The 2026 Final
The 2026 World Cup Final takes place on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With a capacity of 82,500 and an expected global audience of 1.5 billion, it will be the most-watched sporting event in history.
Our simulator predicts Brazil vs France as the most likely final (18% of simulations). See the full predictions.