The World Cup final is the last match of the competition, played by the only two teams remaining in contention, and the result determines which country is declared the world champion. It is a one-off match decided in regulation time. In case of a draw, extra time is used. If scores are then still level, a penalty shoot-out determines the winner,[1] under the rules in force since 1986; prior to that, finals still tied after extra time would have been replayed,[n 1] though this never proved necessary. The golden goal rule would have applied during extra time in 1998 and 2002, but was not put in practice either.
The only exception to this type of format was the 1950 World Cup, which featured a final round-robin group of four teams; the decisive match of that group is often regarded as the de facto final of that tournament, including by FIFA itself.[3]
The team that wins the final receives the FIFA World Cup Trophy, and its name is engraved on the bottom side of the trophy.[4] Of 80 different nations that have appeared in the tournament, 13 have made it to the final, and 8 have won. Brazil, the only team that has participated in every World Cup, is also the most successful team in the competition, having won five titles and finished second twice.[5]Italy and Germany[n 2] have four titles each, with Germany having reached more finals than any other team, eight. Current champion Argentina has three titles, Uruguay and France have two each, while England and Spain have one each. Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Sweden, the Netherlands and Croatia have played in the final without winning. Only teams from Europe (UEFA) and South America (CONMEBOL) have ever competed in the final.
^The 1962 and 1966 finals had provisions for only a single replay, and then a drawing of lots. For knockout matches other than the finals, penalty shoot-outs had been adopted from 1978, while lots would have been drawn between 1962 and 1974.[2]
^The team's totals include the records of West Germany (1954–1990).[6]
^Decisive match of a final stage; technically not a final but often regarded as such.
References
General
"World Cup 1930–2018". Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
Specific
^"Laws of the Game"(PDF). FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original(PDF) on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
^"1934 FIFA World Cup Italy". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1938 FIFA World Cup France". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"World Cup history – France 1938". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1958 FIFA World Cup Sweden". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"World Cup history – Sweden 1958". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1962 FIFA World Cup Chile". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"World Cup history – Chile 1962". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1982 FIFA World Cup Spain". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"World Cup history – Spain 1982". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"World Cup history – Mexico 1986". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1990 FIFA World Cup Italy". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"World Cup history – Italy 1990". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1994 FIFA World Cup USA". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"World Cup history – USA 1994". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
^"1998 FIFA World Cup France". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2009.