Why America is a stumbling block for European teams: this is the only national team that managed to win over the pond
Nine editions of the World Cup have been held in the Americas and only in one of them have they emerged victorious.
After four long years of waiting, the World Cup is finally here. The 2026 tournament marks the ninth time soccer’s biggest prize has been contested in the Americas. The last edition held on the continent came in 2014, when Germany lifted the trophy in Brazil and shattered one of the competition’s longest-standing traditions: no European nation had ever won a World Cup hosted in the Americas.
The origins of the ‘curse’
The roots of that trend stretch back to the very first World Cup in 1930. Hosted by Uruguay, the inaugural tournament ended with the home nation lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy and setting the tone for decades to come.
After the interruption caused by World War II, the competition returned in 1950, this time in Brazil. That tournament became immortalized by the ‘Maracanazo’, one of the greatest upsets in soccer history, as Uruguay stunned the hosts in front of a packed Maracanã Stadium. Four years later, another World Cup in the Americas ended with South American success, as Brazil claimed the title.
The pattern continued in 1970, when Pelé inspired one of the most celebrated teams ever assembled, leading Brazil to a third World Cup crown with victory over Italy in Mexico City. The tournaments hosted by Argentina in 1978 and Mexico in 1986 also finished with South American champions, as Argentina triumphed on both occasions.
Brazil 2014 changed everything
Nearly three decades later, the World Cup returned to South America. Brazil entered the 2014 tournament among the favorites, driven by the hope of winning on home soil and led by Neymar. However, the forward suffered a tournament-ending injury in the quarterfinals, missing the decisive stages.
Germany then produced one of the most astonishing results in World Cup history, demolishing Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals before defeating Argentina in the final. In doing so, the Germans became the first European nation to win a World Cup in the Americas.
Now, the 2026 World Cup presents Europe with the chance to prove that 2014 was not a one-off. Yet defending champions Argentina, alongside Brazil, Uruguay and Morocco, will be determined to keep the trophy on their side of the Atlantic.
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