Record of World Cup host nations: How many times has a country won the FIFA tournament they hosted?

Joshua Thomas

Record of World Cup host nations: How many times has a country won the FIFA tournament they hosted? image

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the 2022 tournament is being played in the Middle East.

Qatar controversially earned hosting rights over a decade ago and 2022 also marked the nation's first appearance in the finals. 

Before Qatar, host nations had historically performed quite well in the tournament with home-field advantage often seeing sides punch above their weight.

So just how well have past host nations performed? And where does Qatar's performance match up historically?  

MORE: Who has won the most World Cups? 

How many times has a host country won the World Cup?

Six teams have won the World Cup as the tournament's host nation. 

Uruguay were the first when they won the inaugural competition after claiming four straight victories in 1930. 

Italy were next in 1934, and like Uruguay, only needed to win four games to lift the trophy. 

It wasn't until 1966 when a host nation once again won the World Cup with England this time pulling off the feat after remaining unbeaten in their six matches. 

Eight years later, West Germany would also lift the title at home despite losing to East Germany in the group stages. 

Argentina became the next successful host nation in 1978, and like West Germany also lost a game on their way to the title. 

France were the most recent host nation to triumph when they did so in 1998. That campaign is considered one of the best in World Cup history as Les Bleus won all seven of their games, scoring 15 goals and conceding just twice.

How many times has a World Cup host nation reached the knockout stages?

Prior to Qatar, in the previous 22 World Cups, only two nations failed to progress past the group stages.

Spain were the first to earn this unwanted honour in 1982 when teams notably had to navigate two phases of group stage play to reach the semifinals. Spain came second in their initial group behind Northern Ireland before finishing last in the next group section behind West Germany and England — winning just one of their five games on home soil. 

South Africa were the next and most recent team not to qualify for the knockout stages when they did so in 2010. The Bafana Bafana did, however, impress on home soil drawing with Mexico in the opening match before stunning France 2-1 in their last group game. They only missed out on progressing past the group stage due to goal difference. 

Unfortunately for Qatar a combination of inexperience at the highest level and a fairly competitive group with Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands meant that they were eliminated after just two matches.

FIFA World Cup host nation's record

Qatar 2022 marks the 23rd men's World Cup in history and the first to be played in the Middle East. 

Having the tournament in your own country has inevitably helped a number of teams in the past with a number of sides going on to lift the trophy on home soil or at least going deep into the knockout stages. 

Here's how every World Cup host nation has performed in the past: 

Year Host Result Record
(W-D-L)
Goals
scored
Goals
conceded
1930 Uruguay Winner 4-0-0 15 3
1934 Italy Winner 4-0-0 11 3
1938 France Quarterfinals 1-0-1 4 4
1950 Brazil Runner-up 4-1-1 22 6
1954 Switzerland Quarter-finals 2-0-2 11 11
1958 Sweden Runner-up 4-1-1 12 7
1962 Chile Third 5-0-2 10 8
1966 England Winner 5-1-0 11 3
1970 Mexico Quarter-finals 2-1-1 6 4
1974 West
Germany
Winner 6-0-1 13 4
1978 Argentina Winner 5-1-1 15 4
1982 Spain Group stage 1-2-2 4 5
1986 Mexico Quarterfinals 3-1-1 6 2
1990 Italy Third 6-0-1 10 2
1994 USA Round of 16 1-1-2 3 4
1998 France Winner 7-0-0 15 2
2002 Japan Round of 16 2-1-1 5 3
2002 South Korea Fourth 4-1-2 8 6
2006 Germany Third 6-0-1 14 6
2010 South Africa Group stage 1-1-1 3 5
2014 Brazil Fourth 4-1-2 11 14
2018 Russia Quarterfinals 3-0-2 11 7
2018 Qatar Group Stage 0-0-2 1 5

Do host nations qualify automatically for the World Cup?

Since 1938, host nations have automatically qualified for the World Cup when it is played in their country. 

This practice is expected to continue for the forseeable future and ensures host nations are represented at tournaments on their own soil. 

Between 1938 and 2002, the World Cup holders were also given an automatic place in the next tournament as a reward for finishing first. 

While reigning champions have had to qualify for each tournament after 2002, no team to date has missed out on qualifying for a World Cup after winning the previous edition. 

MORE: Where will 2026 FIFA World Cup be played?

2026 World Cup host

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the 2026 tournament will be hosted by three nations in the form of Canada, Mexico and the USA. 

In 2002, Japan and South Korea co-hosted the World Cup and both teams managed to qualify for the knockout stages. 

Canada, Mexico and the USA will be hoping to enjoy similar success in four years and all three have managed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Joshua Thomas

Joshua Thomas Photo

Josh has been covering sport for nearly a decade now having fallen in love with football at a young age. A UTS graduate, Josh has previously worked for GOAL and now covers football closely for The Sporting News.