World Cup: How the all-time title winners list could change after Spain-Argentina final
By Luke Oluoch, July 17, 2026The FIFA World Cup is set to conclude after the final on Sunday, July 19, 2026, with either Spain or Argentina adding a coveted star to their crest.
The European giants and Copa América champions will battle it out in New York, having earned their places in the final after a grueling tournament that saw 48 teams make history in this expanded World Cup showpiece.
Spain defeated France 2-0 to advance, while England was eliminated by Argentina, sealing back-to-back final appearances on the global stage for the South American giants.
World Cup all-time winner list
In international football, World Cup titles are symbolised by a star placed just above a national federation’s crest, with a new star added each time a country wins the tournament.
Brazil currently leads the all-time winners’ list with five stars, while European powerhouses Germany and Italy sit in second place with four titles each. Argentina currently wraps up the top four with three stars.
Spain, whose first and only World Cup triumph came at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, is once again poised for glory. Luis de la Fuente’s side can claim their second global crown on Sunday, which would move them into the top six of all-time winners alongside inaugural champions Uruguay and France.
Currently, Spain is ranked alongside England among the nations with a single World Cup title.
Messi and Argentine eye history
Meanwhile, for Argentina and Lionel Messi, the 2026 final is a chance to further cement a golden era and write another legendary chapter in the football history books.
The 2022 World Cup winner is seeking back-to-back global triumphs in what will be his third career World Cup final. Messi remains one of the few active players from the 2014 final, where Argentina suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Germany courtesy of a late Mario Götze strike.
A win in 2026 would secure a fourth star for the South American nation and a personal second for the Argentine maestro, while also establishing Lionel Scaloni as a back-to-back World Cup-winning coach.
This historic feat would see Argentina draw level with Germany and Italy on four titles apiece.