Qatar 2022 is nearly here, so HITC Football has outlined the top 12 countries to have never won the World Cup. Some big names are so far yet to lift a title, including the Netherlands.
FIFA has crowned just eight nations champions of the world since it first held a World Cup in 1930. Six of the total eight winners have also lifted multiple titles across the 21 editions leading up to Qatar 2022. Brazil are the most successful country with five titles in the bag.
Germany can match Brazil’s haul by winning it all at the first World Cup held in the Middle East this year. Die Mannschaft and Italy rank second with four titles to date, ahead of 2018 champions France plus Argentina and Uruguay. The trio has each sealed two titles to date.
England and Spain head to Qatar as the only one-time winners of the World Cup with titles in 1966 and 2010. Neither nation has yet finished a tournament as the runners-up or taken a third-place prize. But both have lost in the third-place place-off on two and one occasions.
Which countries have come closest to winning a World Cup without success?
Five countries have made a World Cup final across the 21 tournaments leading up to Qatar 2022 without yet winning a global title. Croatia joined the clutch of nations to lose the FIFA showpiece tie at Russia 2018. France beat Vatreni 4-2 in Moscow to clinch a second crown.
Croatia had previously only made the semi-final on one occasion and crashed out after the group stage three times. They lost at the penultimate hurdle at France 1998 before taking the bronze spoon over the Netherlands. It was quite the run for Croatia’s first appearance.
The Netherlands are also among the five countries to make a final but never win a World Cup. Oranje have made it to the last stage three times. But they have found themselves on the wrong side of results against West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978) and Spain (2010).
No country has lost in more finals without winning a World Cup title than the Netherlands so far. The Dutch also made it to the semi-finals at Brazil 2014, but Argentina sent Holland to another third-place play-off. The Netherlands beat Brazil 3-0 in the capital city this time.
Hungary and the Czech Republic have lost both of their finals to date
Two nations, meanwhile, have made it to a final twice but lost on both occasions. Hungary and the Czech Republic (then competing as Czechoslovakia) lost in their only appearances in the FIFA showpiece tie. They also made it to their first finals during successive editions.
Hungary reached the World Cup final for the first time in 1938 but Italy secured the second of their four titles. Magyarok would later make it back to the last round in 1954 but lost to West Germany in Switzerland. Hungary have not yet appeared in another World Cup final.
The Czech Republic have also not made it to a final since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992. As Czechoslovakia, they played in the 1934 and 1962 finals but lost in both to Italy and Brazil. They exited in the group stage at their only appearance as the Czech Republic.
Sweden, meanwhile, have enjoyed four top-four finishes to date but lost in their only final in 1958. Brazil took their maiden crown in Sweden by beating the host nation 5-2. Blagult had already finished third in 1950 and again in 1994. They also made the 1938 semi-finals.
Belgium became the seventh country to finish third at a World Cup in 2018
Belgium became the seventh country to finish third at a World Cup in 2018, having won in their second play-off appearance. The Red Devils had lost their previous bronze medal tie to France at Mexico 1986. They have also made one additional quarter-final at Brazil 2014.
The United States of America were the first nation to take the bronze spoon at the maiden World Cup in 1930. Yet the USA have not made it back to a semi-final since, with a quarter-final run in 2002 their next-best finish. They have only advanced beyond the last 16 twice.
Poland, meanwhile, have more third-place finishes than any country without yet winning a World Cup title. Bialo-czerwoni lost in the semi-finals during 1974 and 1982 but went on to win the play-off game. The two tournaments also mark their only top-four finishes to date.
Austria and Portugal, on the other hand, have won and lost in a third-place play-off tie, like Belgium. Das Team were defeated at the 1934 World Cup before returning to take third at the 1954 edition. The Selecao, meanwhile, took bronze in 1966 but lost in the tie in 2006.
Chile and Turkey have featured in one third-place play-off tie and won in the game. La Roja took bronze on home soil during 1962 after overcoming Yugoslavia 1-0. While the Crescent Stars overcame co-hosts South Korea in 2002. Japan also co-hosted the 2002 tournament.
The USA did not play a play-off tie to finish third in 1930. FIFA handed the bronze spoon to the defeated semi-finalist who registered the best record throughout that tournament. The USA boasted only a superior goal difference to Yugoslavia with otherwise identical records.
Ranking the best countries to so far never win a World Cup ahead of Qatar 2022
1. Netherlands (3x runners-up, 1x third-place finishers)
=2. Hungary (2x runners-up)
=2. Czech Republic (2x runners-up as Czechoslovakia)
4. Sweden (1x runners-up, 2x third-place)
5. Croatia (1x runners-up, 1x third-place)
6. Poland (2x third-place finishers)
=7. Austria (1x third-place finishers, 1x fourth-place finishers)
=7. Portugal (1x third-place finishers, 1x fourth-place finishers)
=7. Belgium (1x third-place finishers, 1x fourth-place finishers)
=10. USA (1x third-place finishers)
=10. Chile (1x third-place finishers)
=10. Turkey (1x third-place finishers)
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