The World Cup with the most teams and matches in history will end on Sunday, July 19, with no surprises on the throne. The 2026 edition, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, already has a champion: it will belong to one of the eight nations that make up the elite of football.
The 48-team party organized by FIFA will conclude without any new members joining the pantheon. Spain was the last team to taste eternal glory for the first time at South Africa 2010. Since then, access has been closed. Interestingly, the current semifinalists represent the chronological order of the last debutant champions over a span of six decades. England inaugurated this cycle as hosts in 1966. Argentina and France joined them in their own tournaments of 1978 and 1998. Spain broke the home - field advantage by being crowned champions on African soil.
An industry monopolized by two continents
The tournament, which began in Uruguay in 1930 with 13 teams, has transformed into a behemoth of 48 participants . FIFA is even considering expanding the format to 64 countries for the centenary edition in 2030. However, size doesn't guarantee prestige.
Uruguay , Italy , Germany , and Brazil have dominated the trophies of the previous 22 editions, along with the 2026 semi-finalists. The geopolitical map of success boils down to a couple of coordinates: UEFA dominates with 12 crowns spread across five nations, while Conmebol holds its own with 10 titles divided among three countries.
The list of winners is undeniable. Brazil boasts five stars. Italy and Germany each hold four. Argentina shines with three. Uruguay and France have two, while England and Spain bring up the rear with one. The remaining 211 FIFA members act as mere spectators of others' glory.
Brazil and Pelé were crowned world champions in Mexico 1970 after defeating Italy 4-1 at the Azteca Stadium. Mexsport
The financial engine behind the success to become World Champion
This vast difference on the field stems from the administrative side. The five European powerhouses boast the most powerful leagues on the planet. Their infrastructure relies on native talent and the massive importation of stars from Brazil and Argentina , two purely export-oriented markets. In this arena, Uruguay survives like an aging monarch struggling to recapture its lost glory. © 2026 Imagen - Excélsior. Todos los derechos reservados. El contenido de este sitio y de la edición impresa está protegido por la Ley Federal del Derecho de Autor. Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial sin autorización previa y por escrito. El material de terceros conserva sus propios derechos.The harsh reality of the Mexican National Team
Mexico holds a secure place in the annals of World Cup history. El Tri played in the opening match in 1930, where they were thrashed 4-1 by France in Montevideo. One hundred years later, the nation's football development is far from the success of the champions.
Relegated to CONCACAF , one of the least competitive zones, Mexican soccer exports very little talent to elite leagues. Given this situation, the historic high of reaching the quarterfinals in Mexico 1986 seems like an insurmountable barrier. The reality is that El Tri only truly competes when the tournament returns home and playing on the field fuels pride, as was the case in this 2026 World Cup. © 2026 Imagen - Excélsior. Todos los derechos reservados. El contenido de este sitio y de la edición impresa está protegido por la Ley Federal del Derecho de Autor. Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial sin autorización previa y por escrito. El material de terceros conserva sus propios derechos.
The World Cup with the most teams and matches in history will end on Sunday, July 19, with no surprises on the throne. The 2026 edition, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, already has a champion: it will belong to one of the eight nations that make up the elite of football.
The 48-team party organized by FIFA will conclude without any new members joining the pantheon. Spain was the last team to taste eternal glory for the first time at South Africa 2010. Since then, access has been closed. Interestingly, the current semifinalists represent the chronological order of the last debutant champions over a span of six decades. England inaugurated this cycle as hosts in 1966. Argentina and France joined them in their own tournaments of 1978 and 1998. Spain broke the home - field advantage by being crowned champions on African soil.
An industry monopolized by two continents
The tournament, which began in Uruguay in 1930 with 13 teams, has transformed into a behemoth of 48 participants . FIFA is even considering expanding the format to 64 countries for the centenary edition in 2030. However, size doesn't guarantee prestige.
Uruguay , Italy , Germany , and Brazil have dominated the trophies of the previous 22 editions, along with the 2026 semi-finalists. The geopolitical map of success boils down to a couple of coordinates: UEFA dominates with 12 crowns spread across five nations, while Conmebol holds its own with 10 titles divided among three countries.
The list of winners is undeniable. Brazil boasts five stars. Italy and Germany each hold four. Argentina shines with three. Uruguay and France have two, while England and Spain bring up the rear with one. The remaining 211 FIFA members act as mere spectators of others' glory.
Brazil and Pelé were crowned world champions in Mexico 1970 after defeating Italy 4-1 at the Azteca Stadium. Mexsport
The financial engine behind the success to become World Champion
This vast difference on the field stems from the administrative side. The five European powerhouses boast the most powerful leagues on the planet. Their infrastructure relies on native talent and the massive importation of stars from Brazil and Argentina , two purely export-oriented markets. In this arena, Uruguay survives like an aging monarch struggling to recapture its lost glory. © 2026 Imagen - Excélsior. Todos los derechos reservados. El contenido de este sitio y de la edición impresa está protegido por la Ley Federal del Derecho de Autor. Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial sin autorización previa y por escrito. El material de terceros conserva sus propios derechos.The harsh reality of the Mexican National Team
Mexico holds a secure place in the annals of World Cup history. El Tri played in the opening match in 1930, where they were thrashed 4-1 by France in Montevideo. One hundred years later, the nation's football development is far from the success of the champions.
Relegated to CONCACAF , one of the least competitive zones, Mexican soccer exports very little talent to elite leagues. Given this situation, the historic high of reaching the quarterfinals in Mexico 1986 seems like an insurmountable barrier. The reality is that El Tri only truly competes when the tournament returns home and playing on the field fuels pride, as was the case in this 2026 World Cup. © 2026 Imagen - Excélsior. Todos los derechos reservados. El contenido de este sitio y de la edición impresa está protegido por la Ley Federal del Derecho de Autor. Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial sin autorización previa y por escrito. El material de terceros conserva sus propios derechos.
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