Advantage of South America or Europe? The history of World Cup titles prior to Qatar 2022

There are only 19 days left before the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which generates great expectations among soccer fans. The contest will be the 22nd edition in history and here we review the teams that have been champions, as well as learn about the background between the confederations of Europe and South America.

DOES SOUTH AMERICA OR EUROPE HAVE MORE WORLD CUP?

The European teams have grown in recent decades and this is reflected in the statistics, since they have had a champion representative in the last four World Cups: Italy in Germany 2006, Spain in South Africa 2010, Germany in Brazil 2014 and France in Russia 2018.

Due to these precedents, the general balance has tilted towards the old continent: it registers 12 world titles; while South America stayed at nine crowns.

WHO WAS THE LAST SOUTH AMERICAN WORLD CHAMPION?

The Brazilian team was the last South American representative to lift the World Cup: it was in Korea-Japan 2022. Led by Roberto Carlos, Cafú, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo, the ‘Canarinha’ defeated Germany 2-0 in the grand finale. Previously, the Brazilian squad came from losing the trophy in 1998, against the local France (3-0), and from being champion in the United States 1994, by beating Italy on penalties (3-2).

From that moment on, only in Brazil 2014 did a Conmebol team reach the decisive duel for the title. That time, the Argentine team, led by Lionel Messi, lost in extra time against Germany, with an agonizing goal from Mario Götze.

HISTORY OF WORLD CHAMPIONS

WHICH SELECTION WON THE FIRST WORLD CUP?

The first World Cup was organized in 1930 in Uruguay and the local team won the championship, beating Argentina 4-2 in the final. Later, in Brazil 1950, the ‘Charrúas’ would win the title again against the ‘Canarinha’, in what was the last edition with the presence of two South American representatives in the fight for the crown.