<Li> 1 . In 1942, Germany was expected to be the host country, but because of the World War II, the World Cup was cancelled . </Li> <P> Except 1934, host nations are granted an automatic spot in the World Cup group stages . The first host ever to fail to advance past the first round was South Africa in 2010 . denotes the best result in the team's history, - the best result at the time of the competition (improved later). </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Host nation </Th> <Th> Finish </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> Uruguay </Td> <Td> Champions </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> Champions </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> Quarter - final ‡ </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> Germany (expected) </Td> <Td> Tournament is canceled due to World War II </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 1946 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Tournament canceled, during the World War II </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> Brazil </Td> <Td> Runners - up </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> Switzerland </Td> <Td> Quarter - final † </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> Sweden </Td> <Td> Runners - up </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 1962 </Td> <Td> Chile </Td> <Td> Third place </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 1966 </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> Champions </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> Mexico </Td> <Td> Quarter - final † </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> West Germany </Td> <Td> Champions </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> Argentina </Td> <Td> Champions </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> Round 2 (Top 12) (Format was different from other cups .) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Mexico </Td> <Td> Quarter - final † </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> Third place </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> Round of 16 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> Champions </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> South Korea </Td> <Td> Fourth place </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> Round of 16 † </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> Third place </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> South Africa </Td> <Td> Group stage </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Brazil </Td> <Td> Fourth place </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> Quarter - final </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> 2022 </Td> <Td> Qatar </Td> <Td> TBD </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> 2026 </Td> <Td> Canada </Td> <Td> TBD </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mexico </Td> <Td> TBD </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> TBD </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Host nation </Th> <Th> Finish </Th> </Tr>

When was the last time the host country won the world cup