Full List: Countries that have won back-to-back World Cups

Winning the FIFA World Cup is the ultimate achievement in football. Defending that title, however, has proven even more difficult.

In the tournament’s nearly century-long history, only two countries have successfully retained the World Cup trophy, while several others have come agonisingly close.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, defending champions Argentina have the chance to join one of football’s most exclusive clubs. Here’s a look at the only nations to win consecutive World Cup titles—and those who narrowly missed out.

1. Italy (1934 & 1938) – The First Repeat Champions

Italy became the first country to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup, dominating international football throughout the 1930s.