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The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is looming ever closer. In November, the top international teams from around the world will compete against each other to claim World Cup glory. It is set to be a fascinating tournament not only for football fans, but for people who support their homeland too. To prepare for the upcoming tournament, let's have a little history lesson and look at previous World Cup winners spanning back to the inaugural tournament in 1930.
1. Brazil – 5 Wins
If you think of football and the one country that embodies its spirit, most people would pick Brazil. This South American country has produced some legendary talents, such as Pele, Neymar and Ronaldo. It is also the most prolific World Cup winning team with five titles.Brazil won their first World Cup in 1958, and then did the double in 1962. Their last title was way back in 2002. Since then, the international squad has failed to recreate their former legendary glory. If you wanted odds for the World Cup, Brazil could be a great choice this year as they have an easier group with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon. Most bookmakers have them as favourites to top their group and claim a trio of victories.
2. Germany & Italy – 4 Wins
Brazil's reign as the World Cup title leaders is under threat from two strong teams: Germany and Italy. Both have four titles, and both remain solid contenders for Qatar.Germany has always had a brilliant international side with iconic players such as Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthaus and Miroslav Klose. Their last World Cup title was in 2014 and they have finished in the top four in four of the last five tournaments.
Italy has had a similar run and claimed their last title in 2006. They have not been as prolific as Germany in terms of top four finishes in recent years, but still have an excellent squad. This could be the year that one of these teams equals Brazil's record, although admittedly their teams aren't as strong as previous tournaments.
3. Argentina, Uruguay, France – 2 Wins
No team has won three titles, but Argentina, Uruguay and France have all won the World Cup twice.Uruguay is often considered an anomaly. They have had few top four finishes outside of their two wins in 1930 and 1950. In decades past, they had a strong international side, although in most cases, they were often overshadowed by Argentina.
Speaking of Argentina, this is a team that has always showed immense promise and has some prodigious talent. Who can forget the likes of Maradona and Messi? Despite their legendary players, they have only won two World Cups in 1978 and 1986. They have had five top-four finishes.
France is now considered one of the strongest international sides and their team is laced with talents such as Mbappe. France is the current World Cup title holder, winning against Croatia in 2018. Their other previous triumph was in 1998 when they hosted the tournament too. France will hope that Qatar is the location where they can once again claim international glory and pull one title closer to the legendary trio.
4. England, Spain – 1 Win
Last, but not least, we have two teams that have only claimed a single World Cup victory: England and Spain.The Premier League is often dubbed as the best football league in the world, and it has helped develop some fantastic English talent. In 1966, England claimed their only World Cup title in a historic win against West Germany. Since then, they have made numerous attempts to reclaim the title, but have ultimately fallen short. Many saw the 1990 World Cup as their best chance to do this, but they remain a strong contender in 2022.
Like England, Spain has won one World Cup too, with theirs being in 2010. At this point, their team was conquering the international football stage and they had arguably one of the strongest international teams ever. This included Spanish legends such as Casillas, Ramos, Busquets, Alonso, Xavi and Iniesta.
You may have been surprised at how few countries have claimed the ultimate football prize. Indeed, less than 10 teams have lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy in the 92 years it has been around. Brazil remains the most successful international team with five World Cups, but Germany and Italy remain close on their heels with four titles each. Could this be the year that someone equals Brazil's record, or will there be a completely new World Cup winner?