Top 11 Countries With the Most World Cup Appearances

The first World Cup in the history of football (soccer) was invitational and only 13 teams entered in the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Since the 1934 World Cup in Italy teams have to qualify to the tournament.

The first World Cup qualifying match was played on 11 June 1933 in Stockholm where Sweden defeated Estonia 6-5. Today, qualifying tournaments are held within the six FIFA continental zones (Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America and Caribbean, Oceania and South America).

A requirement to win the World Cup title is to qualify for it. Many times favorites fail before the tournament even started. Here is the list of teams that are the best at qualifying to the World Cup.

11. Samurais and Portuguese

Japan and Portugal have participated in five FIFA World Cups each. Actually, the Japanese have only four participations but they have qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They have never gone beyond the round of 16. The Portuguese have a third place as best result. Led by legendary Eusebio, they only lost against host nation England in the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

10. African Lions

Cameroon has qualified six times for the FIFA World Cup, more than any other African nation. Despite being unbeaten in the 1982 FIFA World Cup, their first World Cup appearance, they failed to qualify for the second round. Once they have played in the second round. It was at the 1990 World Cup when they lost in the quarter-final against England.

9. All Europe

Austria, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland have all played in seven FIFA World Cups. Austria only lost to World Champions West Germany, when they finished third, in the 1954 World Cup. Bulgaria has only advanced from the group stage twice in seven attempts. In 1994, they played for third place against Sweden but lost. Romania has quarterfinals in 1994 as the best result. Sweden was the stronger team in the penalty shootout. The Poles have two bronze medals in the World Cup (1974 and 1982).

8. Kilts and South Americans

Chile, Paraguay and Scotland have all played in eight World Cups without being able to call themselves World Champions. Chile hosted the 1962 FIFA World Cup and finished third. It is their best result to date. In the 2010 World Cup Paraguay lost against, future World Champions, Spain in the quarterfinals. They had never advanced so long before. Scotland has never played a match in the second round at the World Cup.

7. Nine is the lucky number

Several countries have played nine World Cups. The list consists of Czech Republic and Slovakia (includes Czechoslovakia), Hungary, South Korea, Holland, Russia (includes Soviet Union), Switzerland together with the United States. Czechoslovakia has played two finals without winning (1934 and 1962). Czech Republic played in the 2006 World Cup without qualifying to the second round. The Slovaks progressed to the second round in 2010.

The Hungarian team that lost the final in 1954 is perhaps the best team that has not won a World Cup. Hungary had great results until the mid-1960s. Two silver medals and three quarter-finals but no gold. South Korea advanced from the group in their sixth attempt. They needed a home World Cup in 2002 and they progressed all the way to the semifinals. But they missed the medal, Turkey became too difficult in the match for the bronze.

Holland had like Hungary fantastic teams without winning the World Cup. Oranje has played three World Cup Finals without lifting the desirable trophy (1974, 1978 and 2010). The Soviets never managed to position themselves better than fourth in a World Cup. The Swiss have never gone beyond the quarter-finals. USA finished third in the first World Cup in the history of football. They have had eight attempts to repeat the feat but at best, they have advanced to the quarter finals (2002).

6. First champions have 11 World Cup appearances

Belgium, Yugoslavia (includes Serbia), Sweden and Uruguay have all participated in eleven FIFA Word Cups. The Belgians finished just outside the medals in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, neither before nor after they have performed better. Yugoslavia was together with the U.S., awarded o bronze medal in the first World Cup. They finished fourth in the 1962 World Cup and they have played three quarter finals, without counting the tournaments where they advanced to the semifinals.

Sweden has two bronze medals (1950 and 1994) and one silver (1958) as the best performances in the FIFA World Cup. Uruguay went down in the history books by winning the first World Cup in the history of football. They have won the desirable title twice (1930 and 1950) and have three fourth places (1954, 1970 and 2010).

5. Europe's big ones

Together, they have played 39 World Cups and all have won the title. France, Spain and England have played in thirteen World Cups each. France won the 1998 World Cup at home and lost the 2006 final against Italy. Spain is title holder, before that the Spaniards had a fourth place as best result. Just as France, England won the FIFA World Cup on home soil. They won the 1966 final at Wembley against West Germany. Otherwise quarterfinal is the most common result for the English (1954, 1962, 1970, 1986, 2002 and 2006).

4. No gold in 14 attempts

Mexico has played fourteen World Cups without winning the title. Twice they have advanced to the quarterfinals. Both times they were the hosts for the World Cup (1970 and 1986). In five consecutive World Cups, they have advanced to the round of 16 (1994-2010).

3. Argentina in third place

Argentina is the only country to have played in fifteen World Cups. The Argentines have won the World Cup gold twice (1978 and 1986). La Albiceleste lost the first World Cup final in the sport's history in 1930. It took them 48 years to play in a final again, but in 1978 they went off the pitch as winners.

2. Europe's best

Italy and Germany (includes West Germany) have played in the FIFA World Cup seventeen times each. Both declined the invitation to the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Italy has won the World Cup four times. The first gold came as early as in 1934, the last came in 2006. All titles have been won on European soil (1934-Italy, 1938-France, 1982-Spain and 2006-Germany). Three-time champions Germany have also only won on European soil (1953-Switzerland, 1974-Germany and 1990-Italy). The Germans have eleven medals including the three gold medals

1. Joga Bonito

The most champions are also the most participants. Brazil has won the World Cup a record five times and the Brazilians have participated in the World Cup a record twenty times. They were part of the first World Cup, but they did not win before 1958 in Sweden. They won 5-2 against the host nation in the final and Brazil's dynasty began along with Pele's amazing skills. The latest gold came in 2002. The 2014 tournament is held in Brazil. Can they handle the pressure and win the sixth?