This article summarizes the results and overall performance of Brazil at the FIFA World Cup, including the qualification phase and the final phase, officially called the World Cup finals. The qualification phase, which currently takes 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 48 teams competing for the title, at venues within the host country.
Brazil is the most successful national team in the history of the World Cup, having won five titles, earning second place, third place and fourth place finishes twice each. Brazil is one of four countries along with Argentina, Spain and Germany to win a FIFA World Cup away from its continent (Sweden 1958, Chile 1962, Mexico 1970, United States 1994 and South Korea/Japan 2002). Brazil is also the only national team to have played in all FIFA World Cup editions without any absence or need for play-offs. In 22 World Cup tournaments, Brazil has 76 victories out of 114 matches. Brazil also has the best overall performance in World Cup history in both proportional and absolute terms, with a record of 76 victories in 114 matches played, 129 goal difference, 247 points and only 19 losses. [1] [2]
Traditionally, Brazil's greatest rival is Argentina. The two countries have met each other four times in the history of the FIFA World Cup, with two wins for Brazil (West Germany 1974 and Spain 1982), one for Argentina (Italy 1990) and a draw (Argentina 1978). The country that played the most matches against Brazil at the World Cup is Sweden: seven times, with five wins for Brazil and two draws. Three other historical rivals are Italy, which lost two World Cup finals against Brazil and eliminated the Brazilians in two tournaments (France 1938 and Spain 1982), France, which has defeated Brazil on three occasions (Mexico 1986, France 1998 and Germany 2006), and the Netherlands, which has eliminated Brazil at two of their five meetings (West Germany 1974 and South Africa 2010), and won the match for third place in Brazil 2014.
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| | Round of 16 | 14th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 11 |
| | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 6 |
| | Quarter-finals | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 5 |
| | Group stage | 11th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| | Champions | 1st | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 |
| | Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| | Third Place | 3rd | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| | Second group stage | 5th | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 6 |
| | Quarter-finals | 5th | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| | Round of 16 | 9th | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| | Champions | 1st | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| | Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 10 |
| | Champions | 1st | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 |
| | Quarter-finals | 5th | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| | Quarter-finals | 6th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| | Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 14 |
| | Quarter-finals | 6th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
| | Quarter-finals | 7th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
| | Qualified | |||||||
| | To be determined | |||||||
| | ||||||||
| Total | 23/23 | 5 Titles | 114 | 76 | 19 | 19 | 237 | 108 |
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
| Brazil's World Cup record | |
|---|---|
| First match | (14 July 1930; Montevideo, Uruguay) |
| Biggest win | (9 July 1950; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) |
| Biggest defeat | (8 July 2014; Belo Horizonte, Brazil) |
| Best result | Champions in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 |
| Worst result | First round in 1934, group stage in 1930 and 1966 |
| Year | Manager | Captain | Goalscorer(s) in final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Vicente Feola | Bellini | Vavá (2), Pelé (2), Zagallo |
| 1962 | Aymoré Moreira | Mauro Ramos | Amarildo, Zito, Vavá |
| 1970 | Mário Zagallo | Carlos Alberto Torres | Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto Torres |
| 1994 | Carlos Alberto Parreira | Dunga | N/A |
| 2002 | Luiz Felipe Scolari | Cafu | Ronaldo (2) |
| Year | Round | Opponents | Score | Brazil scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Group B | 1–2 | Preguinho | |
| 4–0 | Moderato (2), Preguinho (2) | |||
| | Round of 16 | 1–3 | Leônidas | |
| | Round of 16 | 6–5 ( a.e.t. ) | Leônidas (3), Romeu, Perácio (2) | |
| Quarter-finals | 1–1 ( a.e.t. ) | Leônidas | ||
| Quarter-finals (replay) | 2–1 | Leônidas, Roberto | ||
| Semi-finals | 1–2 | Romeu | ||
| Match for third place | 4–2 | Romeu, Leônidas (2), Perácio | ||
| | Group A | 4–0 | Ademir (2), Jair, Baltazar | |
| 2–2 | Alfredo, Baltazar | |||
| 2–0 | Ademir, Zizinho | |||
| Final round | 7–1 | Ademir (4), Chico (2), Maneca | ||
| 6–1 | Ademir (2), Jair, Chico (2), Zizinho | |||
| Final | 1–2 | Friaça | ||
| | Group A | 5–0 | Baltazar, Didi, Pinga (2), Julinho | |
| 1–1 ( a.e.t. ) | Didi | |||
| Quarter-finals | 2–4 | Djalma Santos, Julinho | ||
| | Group D | 3–0 | Mazzola (2), Nilton Santos | |
| 0–0 | ||||
| 2–0 | Vavá (2) | |||
| Quarter-finals | 1–0 | Pelé | ||
| Semi-finals | 5–2 | Vavá, Didi, Pelé (3) | ||
| Final | 5–2 | Vavá (2), Pelé (2), Zagallo | ||
| | Group C | 2–0 | Pelé, Zagallo | |
| 0–0 | ||||
| 2–1 | Amarildo (2) | |||
| Quarter-finals | 3–1 | Garrincha (2), Vavá | ||
| Semi-finals | 4–2 | Garrincha (2), Vavá (2) | ||
| Final | 3–1 | Amarildo, Zito, Vavá | ||
| | Group C | 2–0 | Pelé, Garrincha | |
| 1–3 | Tostão | |||
| 1–3 | Rildo | |||
| | Group C | 4–1 | Rivelino, Pelé, Jairzinho (2) | |
| 1–0 | Jairzinho | |||
| 3–2 | Pelé (2), Jairzinho | |||
| Quarter-finals | 4–2 | Rivelino, Tostão (2), Jairzinho | ||
| Semi-finals | 3–1 | Clodoaldo, Jairzinho, Rivelino | ||
| Final | 4–1 | Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto | ||
| | Group 2 | 0–0 | ||
| 0–0 | ||||
| 3–0 | Jairzinho, Rivelino, Valdomiro | |||
| Group A | 1–0 | Rivelino | ||
| 2–1 | Rivelino, Jairzinho | |||
| 0–2 | ||||
| Match for third place | 0–1 | |||
| | Group 3 | 1–1 | Reinaldo | |
| 0–0 | ||||
| 1–0 | Roberto Dinamite | |||
| Group B | 3–0 | Dirceu (2), Zico | ||
| 0–0 | ||||
| 3–1 | Nelinho, Roberto Dinamite (2) | |||
| Match for third place | 2–1 | Nelinho, Dirceu | ||
| | Group 6 | 2–1 | Sócrates, Éder | |
| 4–1 | Zico, Oscar, Éder, Falcão | |||
| 4–0 | Zico (2), Falcão, Serginho | |||
| Group C | 3–1 | Zico, Serginho, Júnior | ||
| 2–3 | Sócrates, Falcão | |||
| | Group D | 1–0 | Sócrates | |
| 1–0 | Careca | |||
| 3–0 | Careca (2), Josimar | |||
| Round of 16 | 4–0 | Sócrates, Josimar, Edinho, Careca | ||
| Quarter-finals | 1–1 ( a.e.t. ) (3–4 p) | Careca | ||
| | Group C | 2–1 | Careca (2) | |
| 1–0 | Müller | |||
| 1–0 | Müller | |||
| Round of 16 | 0–1 | |||
| | Group B | 2–0 | Romário, Raí | |
| 3–0 | Romário, Márcio Santos, Bebeto | |||
| 1–1 | Romário | |||
| Round of 16 | 1–0 | Bebeto | ||
| Quarter-finals | 3–2 | Romário, Bebeto, Branco | ||
| Semi-finals | 1–0 | Romário | ||
| Final | 0–0 ( a.e.t. ) (3–2 p) | |||
| | Group A | 2–1 | César Sampaio, Boyd (OG) | |
| 3–0 | Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Bebeto | |||
| 1–2 | Bebeto | |||
| Round of 16 | 4–1 | Ronaldo (2), César Sampaio (2) | ||
| Quarter-finals | 3–2 | Bebeto, Rivaldo (2) | ||
| Semi-finals | 1–1 ( a.e.t. ) (4–2 p) | Ronaldo | ||
| Final | 0–3 | |||
| | Group C | 2–1 | Ronaldo, Rivaldo | |
| 4–0 | Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo | |||
| 5–2 | Ronaldo (2), Edmílson, Rivaldo, Júnior | |||
| Round of 16 | 2–0 | Rivaldo, Ronaldo | ||
| Quarter-finals | 2–1 | Rivaldo, Ronaldinho | ||
| Semi-finals | 1–0 | Ronaldo | ||
| Final | 2–0 | Ronaldo (2) | ||
| | Group F | 1–0 | Kaká | |
| 2–0 | Adriano, Fred | |||
| 4–1 | Ronaldo (2), Juninho, Gilberto | |||
| Round of 16 | 3–0 | Adriano, Ronaldo, Zé Roberto | ||
| Quarter-finals | 0–1 | |||
| | Group G | 2–1 | Maicon, Elano | |
| 3–1 | Luís Fabiano (2), Elano | |||
| 0–0 | ||||
| Round of 16 | 3–0 | Juan, Luís Fabiano, Robinho | ||
| Quarter-finals | 1–2 | Robinho | ||
| | Group A | 3–1 | Neymar (2), Oscar | |
| 0–0 | ||||
| 4–1 | Neymar (2), Fred, Fernandinho | |||
| Round of 16 | 1–1 ( a.e.t. ) (3–2 p) | David Luiz | ||
| Quarter-finals | 2–1 | Thiago Silva, David Luiz | ||
| Semi-finals | 1–7 | Oscar | ||
| Match for third place | 0–3 | |||
| | Group E | 1–1 | Coutinho | |
| 2–0 | Coutinho, Neymar | |||
| 2–0 | Paulinho, Thiago Silva | |||
| Round of 16 | 2–0 | Neymar, Firmino | ||
| Quarter-finals | 1–2 | Renato Augusto | ||
| | Group G | 2–0 | Richarlison (2) | |
| 1–0 | Casemiro | |||
| 0–1 | ||||
| Round of 16 | 4–1 | Vinícius, Neymar, Richarlison, Paquetá | ||
| Quarter-finals | 1–1 ( a.e.t. ) (2–4 p) | Neymar |
| Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 50.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 50.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 66.67 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 | |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 75.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 100.00 | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 66.67 | |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 60.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 75.00 | |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 25.00 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 50.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 0.00 | |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 40.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 | |
| 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 80.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 | |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 20.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0.00 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 100.00 | |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 75.00 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 | |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 75.00 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 | |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 60.00 | |
| 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 8 | +13 | 71.43 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 33.33 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 100.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 50.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 | |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 25.00 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 | |
| Total | 114 | 76 | 19 | 19 | 237 | 108 | +129 | 66.67 |
Brazil's record World Cup player, Cafu is also the only player ever to have appeared in three consecutive World Cup finals: 1994, 1998 and 2002.
| Rank | Player | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cafu | 20 | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 |
| 2 | Ronaldo | 19 | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 |
| 3 | Cláudio Taffarel | 18 | 1990, 1994, 1998 |
| Dunga | 18 | 1990, 1994, 1998 | |
| 5 | Roberto Carlos | 17 | 1998, 2002, 2006 |
| Lúcio | 17 | 2002, 2006, 2010 | |
| 7 | Jairzinho | 16 | 1966, 1970, 1974 |
| Gilberto Silva | 16 | 2002, 2006, 2010 | |
| 9 | Nílton Santos | 15 | 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962 |
| Didi | 15 | 1954, 1958, 1962 | |
| Rivellino | 15 | 1970, 1974, 1978 | |
| Bebeto | 15 | 1990, 1994, 1998 |
Altogether eight players share the record of four participations. The goalkeeper Émerson Leão is the only one who has played four tournaments non-consecutively (not called at 1982).
| Apps. | Name | Pos. | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Cafu | DF | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 |
| Castilho | GK | 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962 | |
| Djalma Santos | DF | 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966 | |
| Leão | GK | 1970, 1974, 1978, 1986 | |
| Nílton Santos | DF | 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962 | |
| Pelé | FW | 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 | |
| Ronaldo | FW | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 | |
| Thiago Silva | DF | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
Five Brazilians have won the World Cup Golden Boot Award over the years: Leônidas with 7 goals in 1938, Ademir with 9 goals in 1950, Garrincha and Vavá with 4 goals each in 1962 and Ronaldo with 8 goals in 2002.
| Rank | Player | Goals | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronaldo | 15 | 1998 (4), 2002 (8), 2006 (3) |
| 2 | Pelé | 12 | 1958 (6), 1962 (1), 1966 (1), 1970 (4) |
| 3 | Ademir | 9 | 1950 |
| Vavá | 9 | 1958 (5), 1962 (4) | |
| Jairzinho | 9 | 1970 (7), 1974 (2) | |
| 6 | Leônidas | 8 | 1934 (1), 1938 (7) |
| Rivaldo | 8 | 1998 (3), 2002 (5) | |
| Neymar | 8 | 2014 (4), 2018 (2), 2022 (2) | |
| 9 | Careca | 7 | 1986 (5), 1990 (2) |
| 10 | Bebeto | 6 | 1994 (3), 1998 (3) |
| Rivellino | 6 | 1970 (3), 1974 (3) |
Below is the list of clubs that have provided more than 5 players throughout the FIFA World Cup editions: [3] [4]
| Club | Total players |
|---|---|
| | 47 |
| | 46 |
| | 36 |
| | 34 |
| | 32 |
| | 24 |
| | |
| | |
| | 13 |
| | 12 |
| | 11 |
| | |
| | 10 |
| | 9 |
| | |
| | 8 |
| | |
| | 7 |
| | 6 |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Brazilian coaches have appeared on the sidelines of other nations with some regularity. Three of them have won team awards with their nations: