How rare is a back-to-back World Cup champion? The historical stats behind defending the title
As Argentina continue their bid for successive global titles, we take a look back at the men’s World Cup’s past repeat champions.
In a matchup that witnesses the resumption of a fierce rivalry, Argentina continue their World Cup title defense with a semifinal against England today, as the Albiceleste pursue a feat not achieved in over 60 years.
If the Argentinians reach Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium - with Spain awaiting in the trophy decider - Lionel Scaloni’s side will be just one win away from becoming the first team since 1962 to lift successive men’s World Cups.
Which teams have won back-to-back men’s World Cups?
Sixty-four years ago, Brazil were the tournament’s most recent back-to-back champions. Having secured their maiden world title in 1958, when a 17-year-old Pelé starred in a 5-2 final demolition of Sweden, the Seleção retained the Jules Rimet Trophy in Chile four years later, defeating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the title game. Victory in Santiago came despite the loss of Pelé, one of the game’s greatest ever players, to injury earlier in the tournament.
With their triumph over the Czechs, Brazil became the second team to claim consecutive global crowns: in 1934 and 1938, Vittorio Pozzo’s Italy were the winners of the second and third editions of FIFA’s tournament. Pozzo, who steered the Azzurri to final victories over Czechoslovakia and Hungary, remains the only coach to win the men’s World Cup twice.
No team has ever won the tournament three times on the spin. After the Second World War led to a 12-year World Cup hiatus, Italy’s bid for a third straight title foundered in the group stage in 1950. So, too, did Brazil’s ‘three-peat’ attempt in 1966. Pelé, who threatened to walk away from international soccer over the rough treatment he received from opposition defenders in England, described the Brazilians’ early exit as his “toughest experience” in the game.
From glory to group-stage elimination
The ’50 and ’66 tournaments are far from the only men’s World Cups that brought opening-round elimination for the holders. Indeed, of the 22 editions of the event before 2026, as many as six have seen the champions lay down their crown in the group stage. That includes all but two of the men’s World Cups played this century, and three in a row between 2010 and 2018.
Within a whisker of a repeat World Cup win
Meanwhile, two teams in World Cup history have come within one game of retaining the men’s title. Most recently, France were victorious in Russia in 2018, but lost out in the final four years ago: after a thrilling 3-3 draw, Argentina beat Les Bleus on penalties in Qatar, as ownership of the trophy changed hands for the 15th straight tournament.
Twenty-four years earlier, in between Brazil’s 1994 and 2002 World Cup wins, the South Americans missed out on the ’98 title in a 3-0 final loss to hosts France.
How every defending champion has fared at the men’s World Cup:
- 1934, Uruguay: boycotted tournament
- 1938, Italy: champion
- 1950, Italy: group stage
- 1954, Uruguay: fourth place
- 1958, West Germany: fourth place
- 1962, Brazil: champion
- 1966, Brazil: group stage
- 1970, England: quarterfinals
- 1974, Brazil: third place
- 1978, West Germany: second group stage
- 1982, Argentina: second group stage
- 1986, Italy: round of 16
- 1990, Argentina: runner-up
- 1994, Germany: quarterfinals*
- 1998, Brazil: runner-up
- 2002, France: group stage
- 2006, Brazil: quarterfinals
- 2010, Italy: group stage
- 2014, Spain: group stage
- 2018, Germany: group stage
- 2022, France: runner-up
- 2026, Argentina: TBC
*Won the 1990 World Cup as West Germany
England vs Argentina: kickoff times, how to watch in the U.S.
In the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, England and Argentina face off in Atlanta today, Wednesday, July 15, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT.
If you’re in the U.S., you can watch the game on Fox Network, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Fox One and fubo. You’ll also have the option of following live-text commentary right here at AS USA.
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