There have been a total of 21 World Cups: the first was in 1930 and the most recent was in 2018. Only eight countries have ever won the World Cup. Brazil has the most World Cups with five. Italy and Germany are close behind with four each. Brazil and Italy are the only countries to win back-to-back titles.
| Year | Hosts | Winner | Score |
| 2018 | Russia | France | France 4-2 Croatia |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Germany 1-0 Argentina |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Spain 1-0 Netherlands |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | 1-1, then Italy beat France 5-3 in penalties |
| 2002 | Japan / S. Korea | Brazil | Brazil 2-0 Germany |
| 1998 | France | France | France 3-0 Brazil |
| 1994 | USA | Brazil | 0-0, then Brazil defeated Italy 3-2 in penalties |
| 1990 | Italy | Germany | Germany 1-0 Argentina |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | Argentina 3-2 Germany |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | Italy 3-1 Germany |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | Argentina 3-1 Holland |
| 1974 | Germany | Germany | Germany 2-1 Holland |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | Brazil 4-1 Italy |
| 1966 | England | England | England 4-2 Germany |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | Brazil 5-2 Sweden |
| 1954 | Switzerland | Germany | Germany 3-2 Hungary |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | Uruguay 2-1 Brazil |
| 1946 | not held | ||
| 1942 | not held | ||
| 1938 | France | Italy | Italy 4-2 Hungary |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy | Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Uruguay 4-2 Argentina |