<P> The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA, Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the sport's global governing body . The championship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 when it was not held due to the Second World War . The competition originally featured 16 teams, and later 24, before settling on its current format of 32 teams starting with the 1998 tournament . Teams initially compete in a group stage, with the final 16 progressing to knockout stages to decide the winner . </P> <P> As of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 79 national teams have competed at the final tournaments . Brazil are the only team to have appeared in all 21 tournaments to date, with Germany having participated in 19, Italy in 18, Argentina in 17 and Mexico in 16 . To date, eight nations have won the tournament . The inaugural winners in 1930 were Uruguay; the current champions are France . The most successful nation in the competition are currently Brazil, who have won the cup on five occasions . Five teams have appeared in FIFA World Cup finals without winning, while twelve more have appeared in semi-finals . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Team </Th> <Th> Appearances </Th> <Th> Record streak </Th> <Th> Active streak </Th> <Th> Debut </Th> <Th> Most recent </Th> <Th> Best result (* hosts) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Brazil </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Champions (1954, 1974 *, 1990, 2014) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Champions (1934 *, 1938, 1982, 2006) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Argentina </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Champions (1978 *, 1986) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mexico </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1970 *, 1986 *) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Champions (2010) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> France </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Champions (1998 *, 2018) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Champions (1966 *) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Belgium </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Third place (2018) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Uruguay </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Champions (1930 *, 1950) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Serbia </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Fourth place (1930, 1962) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sweden </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Runners - up (1958 *) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Switzerland </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954 *) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Fourth place (1966) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Korea </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Fourth place (2002 *) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Third place (1930) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Netherlands </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Runners - up (1974, 1978, 2010) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hungary </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Runners - up (1938, 1954) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Czech Republic </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Runners - up (1934, 1962) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chile </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Third place (1962 *) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Scotland </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Poland </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Third place (1974, 1982) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Paraguay </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (2010) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Portugal </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 1966 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Third place (1966) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bulgaria </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1962 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Fourth place (1994) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cameroon </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1990) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Romania </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1994) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Austria </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Third place (1954) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (2002 *, 2010, 2018) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nigeria </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (1994, 1998, 2014) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Colombia </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1962 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (2014) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (2006) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Saudi Arabia </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (1994) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Croatia </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Runners - up (2018) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tunisia </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iran </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Costa Rica </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (2014) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Peru </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1970, 1978 (top 8)) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Morocco </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (1986) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Denmark </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1998) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Algeria </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (2014) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ghana </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (2010) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ivory Coast </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Norway </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (1998) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Honduras </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Greece </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (2014) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ecuador </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Round 2 (2006) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Northern Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1958) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Republic of Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1990) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Africa </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Egypt </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bolivia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Turkey </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> Third place (2002) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Senegal </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (2002) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Korea </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1966 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1966) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> El Salvador </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Zealand </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Slovenia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cuba </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1938) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Indonesia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wales </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1958) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Israel </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> DR Congo </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> East Germany </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (1974 (top 8)) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Haiti </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kuwait </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iraq </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United Arab Emirates </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jamaica </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> China PR </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Angola </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Togo </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Trinidad and Tobago </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ukraine </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Quarterfinals (2006) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Slovakia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Round 2 (2010) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bosnia and Herzegovina </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iceland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Panama </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Which country has played the most world cup matches