The FIFA World Cup is the world's most prestigious football (soccer) tournament. It is held every four years between men's national teams. Unlike the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup is typically spread out between multiple cities of the host country. It is one of the most watched sporting events of the world, only rivalled by the Summer Olympics. Although the standard of football is generally considered to lower than in the UEFA Champions' League these days, the FIFA World Cup remains the sports' most coveted prize, and many football legends have even said that they will willingly give up all the UEFA Champions' League titles and Ballon d'Ors that they have won just for the chance to win the FIFA World Cup.

• Uruguay — hosted the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. All matches were played in the capital Montevideo.
• Italy — hosted in 1934 and 1990.
• France — hosted in 1938 and 1998.
• Brazil — hosted in 1950 and 2014.
• Switzerland — hosted in 1954.
• Sweden — hosted in 1958.
• Chile — hosted in 1962.
• England — hosted in 1966.
• Mexico — hosted in 1970 and 1986, and will co-host with the United States and Canada in 2026.
• Germany — hosted as West Germany in 1974, and again as a unified Germany in 2006.
• Argentina — hosted as in 1978.
• Spain — hosted in 1982.
• United States — hosted in 1994, and will co-host with Canada and Mexico in 2026.
• Japan — co-hosted with South Korea in 2002.
• South Korea — co-hosted with Japan in 2002.
• South Africa — hosted in 2010.
• Russia — hosted in 2018.
• Qatar — hosted in 2022.
• Canada — will co-host with the United States and Mexico in 2026.