<P> This is a record of Italy's results at the FIFA World Cup . The World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body . The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, due to World War II . </P> <P> The tournament consists of two parts, the qualification phase and the final phase (officially called the World Cup Finals). The qualification phase, which currently take place over the three years preceding the Finals, is used to determine which teams qualify for the Finals . The current format of the Finals involves 32 teams competing for the title, at venues within the host nation (or nations) over a period of about a month . The World Cup Finals is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 tournament final . </P> <P> Italy is one of the most successful national teams in the history of the World Cup, having won four titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), just one fewer than Brazil . The team was present in 18 out of the 21 tournaments, reaching six finals, a third place and a fourth place . </P> <P> Champions Runners - up Third Place Fourth Place </P>

When did italy last win the world cup in soccer