How many European teams are in the World Cup?
European teams have a rich heritage in the World Cup. All but two World Cup finals have had representation from Europe, while a team from the continent has won the last four tournaments.
France are the reigning champions, overcoming Croatia 4-2 in 2018's final, and a number of their local neighbours will be eyeing up the trophy once again.
Here's the lowdown on which European teams will be playing in Qatar this winter.
How many European teams are in the 2022 World Cup?
Germany were the first European team to qualify for the World Cup as they won Group J, being officially confirmed as present in Qatar on 11 October 2021. Denmark joined them a day later before other heavyweights including France, Belgium and England sealed their spots in November of the same year.
In total, 13 member sides from UEFA qualified for the World Cup either as group winners or play-off victors.
Group A
- Netherlands
Group B
- England
- Wales
Group C
- Poland
Group D
- France
- Denmark
Group E
- Spain
- Germany
Group F
- Belgium
- Croatia
Group G
- Serbia
- Switzerland
Group H
- Portugal
Qualified as qualification group winners
- Serbia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- France
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Netherlands
- Croatia
- England
- Germany
Qualified through play-offs
- Poland
- Portugal
- Wales
How many European teams have won the World Cup?
Five European sides have won the World Cup. The first was Italy, who were triumphant in 1934 before retaining that title four years later.
The Azzurri are the joint-most successful European team in World Cup history alongside Germany, who have claimed the trophy four times from their first in 1954 to their most recent in 2014.
France have won the competition twice and are the reigning champions, while Spain and England have one solitary success each.
- Italy - 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
- Germany/West Germany - 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
- England - 1966
- France - 1998, 2018
- Spain - 2010