<P> For the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, the final tournament is rotated between confederations, allowing only countries from the chosen confederation (Africa in 2010, South America in 2014) to bid to host the tournament . The rotation policy was introduced after the controversy surrounding Germany's victory over South Africa in the vote to host the 2006 tournament . However, the policy of continental rotation will not continue beyond 2014, so any country, except those belonging to confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments, can apply as hosts for World Cups starting from 2018 . This is partly to avoid a similar scenario to the bidding process for the 2014 tournament, where Brazil was the only official bidder . </P> <P> The 2026 FIFA World Cup was chosen to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time a World Cup has been shared by three host nations . The 2026 tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever held, with 48 teams playing 80 matches . Sixty matches will take place in the US, including all matches from the quarter - finals onward, while Canada and Mexico will host 10 games each . </P> <P> Six of the eight champions have won one of their titles while playing in their own homeland, the exceptions being Brazil, who finished as runners - up after losing the deciding match on home soil in 1950 and lost their semi-final against Germany in 2014, and Spain, which reached the second round on home soil in 1982 . England (1966) won its only title while playing as a host nation . Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), Argentina (1978) and France (1998) won their first titles as host nations but have gone on to win again, while Germany (1974) won their second title on home soil . </P> <P> Other nations have also been successful when hosting the tournament . Switzerland (quarter - finals 1954), Sweden (runners - up in 1958), Chile (third place in 1962), South Korea (fourth place in 2002), and Mexico (quarter - finals in 1970 and 1986) all have their best results when serving as hosts . So far, South Africa (2010) has been the only host nation to fail to advance beyond the first round . </P>

Has the host country ever won world cup