In the summer of 2026, 48 of the finest footballing nations will embark upon the Americas to contest the biggest FIFA World Cup of all time. The number of participants is up from 32, delivering nearly twice as many matches as in previous editions of the tournament. Ultimately, the field will be whittled down to just two, who will clash against each other at MetLife Stadium on July 19th, 2026.
Argentina heads into the tournament as the reigning champions. Lionel Messi famously cemented his legacy as the greatest player that’s ever lived when he led his beloved Albiceleste to the title just over two years ago in Qatar, defeating France in one of the greatest finals to ever be played. Now, online sportsbook providers make them a genuine contender to retain the trophy. The latest odds from Bovada’s sportsbook currently make Argentina a +900 frontrunner, but they don’t make them an outright favorite. That honor goes to Brazil, Spain, France, and England, all of whom are jointly priced at +600. But while Messi and Argentina currently have the honor of being the reigning world champions, several other teams have racked up some rather more unwanted records over the years.
Most Final Defeats – Germany
Germany’s footballing prowess is undeniable. With four World Cup titles to their name, they are one of the most successful teams in the tournament’s history, only behind Brazil in terms of total triumphs. Their most recent victory came back in 2014 when they thumped the aforementioned Brazil – who were the tournament hosts – 7-1 in the semifinals, before downing Argentina in the final through Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner.
However, there’s a flip side to their stellar record—they also hold the unwanted record for the most final defeats. The Germans have lost just as many finals as they have won, a stain on an otherwise glittering resume. Their first heartbreak came in 1966 when they lost a controversial final to rivals England at Wembley, rallying from two goals down to ultimately lose 4-2 after extra time following Geoff Hurst’s infamous “ghost goal.”
Between 1982 and 1990, Die Mannschaft reached three straight finals. Inexplicably, however, they lost the first two, becoming the first nation to lose back-to-back showpiece fixtures. They were firstly downed by Italy before losing to Argentina four years later, but they would gain their redemption against the South Americans at Italia ’90.
Their most recent final defeat, in 2002, came at the hands of Brazil, with Ronaldo scoring twice to seal a 2–0 win.
Most Tournaments Played Without Lifting the Trophy – Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo will go down in history as one of the all-time greats. He has conquered nearly every challenge thrown his way. From winning the UEFA Champions League to securing multiple Ballon d’Or awards, he has without a doubt done it all in the beautiful game. Well, almost.
As great as CR7 is, he has never lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy, despite playing in the tournament with Portugal a record five times. He has scored in all five of his forays onto the grandest stage, the only man in history to do so, but he has never emerged as a champion. He came closest in his competition bow back in 2006, reaching the semifinals before ultimately being eliminated by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France, but he hasn’t even made it to the final four since.
His pain was amplified in 2022. While Ronaldo was busy making headlines for his earth-shattering interview with Piers Morgan and subsequent exit from Manchester United, his great rival Lionel Messi was winning the tournament for the first time. Whether the Portuguese sensation can roll back the years at the ripe old age of 41 next summer remains to be seen.
Most Quarterfinal Exits – England
England is synonymous with passion for football, having given birth to the beautiful game. However, their World Cup history has often been an exercise in unfulfilled potential. Their solitary crown came back in 1966, famously beating West Germany on home turf in a controversial fashion, but since then it has been a story of disappointment.
The jump from the quarterfinals to the semifinals is often considered the biggest in the tournament. Unfortunately, the Three Lions have failed to make this jump a record seven times. They have lost 70% of the ten quarterfinals they have competed in, most recently in 2022 when they were beaten by France in Qatar, despite arguably being the better team.
There have been plenty of painful losses along the way. Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” in 1986 and Ronaldinho’s stunning halfway-line freekick in 2002 are the losses that immediately spring to mind, but in recent times, the English have shown signs of life. With a rejuvenated golden generation led by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, they have reached the last two European Championship finals. Unfortunately, they lost both, but they will be gunning for glory under Thomas Tuchel in the Americas in 2026.
Elmer Calvilloro is a seasoned sports analyst with over a decade of experience, specializing in football and basketball. At Watch Every Match, he provides expert game analyses and betting insights. With a Bachelor’s in Sports Communication from the University of Wisconsin, Elmer is dedicated to delivering timely and accurate sports coverage, making him a key contributor to the platform.
