Italy at the FIFA World Cup

This is a record of Italy's results at the FIFA World Cup. Italy is one of the most successful national teams in the history of the World Cup, having won four titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), just one fewer than Brazil. The team was present in 18 out of the 22 tournaments, reaching six finals, a third place and a fourth place.

The Italy national team that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.

Overall record

  Champions    Runners-up    Third Place    Fourth Place  

FIFA World Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Did not enter
Italy 1934 Champions 1st 5 4 1 0 12 3
France 1938 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 11 5
Brazil 1950 Group stage 7th 2 1 0 1 4 3
Switzerland 1954 10th 3 1 0 2 6 7
Sweden 1958 Did not qualify
Chile 1962 Group stage 9th 3 1 1 1 3 2
England 1966 9th 3 1 0 2 2 2
Mexico 1970 Runners-up 2nd 6 3 2 1 10 8
West Germany 1974 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 5 4
Argentina 1978 Fourth place 4th 7 4 1 2 9 6
Spain 1982 Champions 1st 7 4 3 0 12 6
Mexico 1986 Round of 16 12th 4 1 2 1 5 6
Italy 1990 Third place 3rd 7 6 1 0 10 2
United States 1994 Runners-up 2nd 7 4 2 1 8 5
France 1998 Quarter-finals 5th 5 3 2 0 8 3
South Korea Japan 2002 Round of 16 15th 4 1 1 2 5 5
Germany 2006 Champions 1st 7 5 2 0 12 2
South Africa 2010 Group stage 26th 3 0 2 1 4 5
Brazil 2014 22nd 3 1 0 2 2 3
Russia 2018 Did not qualify
Qatar 2022
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 [lower-alpha 1]
Total 4 Titles 18/22 83 45 21 17 128 77
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out

Finals
Year Manager Captain Goal Scorer(s)
1934 Vittorio Pozzo Gianpiero Combi Raimundo Orsi, Angelo Schiavio
1938 Vittorio Pozzo Giuseppe Meazza Gino Colaussi (2), Silvio Piola (2)
1970 Ferruccio Valcareggi Giacinto Facchetti Roberto Boninsegna
1982 Enzo Bearzot Dino Zoff Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli, Alessandro Altobelli
1994 Arrigo Sacchi Franco Baresi –
2006 Marcello Lippi Fabio Cannavaro Marco Materazzi

By match

Italy's score listed first

World Cup Round Opponent Score Venue Scorers
1934Round of 16 United States7–1RomeSchiavio (3), Orsi (2), Ferrari, Meazza
Quarter-finals Spain1–1 (a.e.t.)FlorenceFerrari
 Spain1–0FlorenceMeazza
Semi-finals Austria1–0MilanGuaita
Final Czechoslovakia2–1 (a.e.t.)RomeOrsi, Schiavio
1938Round of 16 Norway2–1 (a.e.t.)MarseilleFerraris, Piola
Quarter-finals France3–1ParisPiola (2), Colaussi
Semi-finals Brazil2–1MarseilleColaussi, Meazza
Final Hungary4–2ParisColaussi (2), Piola (2)
1950Group stage Sweden2–3São PauloCarapellese, Muccinelli
 Paraguay2–0São PauloCarapellese, Pandolfini
1954Group stage  Switzerland1–2LausanneBoniperti
 Belgium4–1LuganoPandolfini, Galli, Frignani, Lorenzi
Play-off  Switzerland1–4BaselNesti
1962Group stage West Germany0–0Santiago—
 Chile0–2Santiago—
  Switzerland3–0SantiagoBulgarelli (2), Mora
1966Group stage Chile2–0SunderlandA. Mazzola, Barison
 Soviet Union0–1Sunderland—
 North Korea0–1Middlesbrough—
1970Group stage Sweden1–0TolucaDomenghini
 Uruguay0–0Puebla—
 Israel0–0Toluca—
Quarter-finals Mexico4–1TolucaRiva (2), Guzmán (o.g.), Rivera
Semi-finals West Germany4–3 (a.e.t.)Mexico CityBoninsegna, Burgnich, Riva, Rivera
Final Brazil1–4Mexico CityBoninsegna
1974Group stage Haiti3–1MunichRivera, Benetti, Anastasi
 Argentina1–1StuttgartPerfumo (o.g.)
 Poland1–2StuttgartCapello
1978Group stage France2–1Mar del PlataRossi, Zaccarelli
 Hungary3–1Mar del PlataRossi, Bettega, Benetti
 Argentina1–0Buenos AiresBettega
Second round West Germany0–0Buenos Aires—
 Austria1–0Buenos AiresRossi
 Netherlands1–2Buenos AiresBrandts (o.g.)
Third place play-off Brazil1–2Buenos AiresCausio
1982Group stage Poland0–0Vigo—
 Peru1–1VigoConti
 Cameroon1–1VigoGraziani
Second round Argentina2–1BarcelonaTardelli, Cabrini
 Brazil3–2BarcelonaRossi (3)
Semi-finals Poland2–0BarcelonaRossi (2)
Final West Germany3–1MadridRossi, Tardelli, Altobelli
1986Group stage Bulgaria1–1Mexico CityAltobelli
 Argentina1–1PueblaAltobelli
 South Korea3–2PueblaAltobelli (2), Cho K. R. (o.g.)
Round of 16 France0–2Mexico City—
1990Group stage Austria1–0RomeSchillaci
 United States1–0RomeGiannini
 Czechoslovakia2–0RomeSchillaci, R. Baggio
Round of 16 Uruguay2–0RomeSchillaci, Serena
Quarter-finals Republic of Ireland1–0RomeSchillaci
Semi-finals Argentina1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 pen.)		NaplesSchillaci
Third place play-off England2–1BariR. Baggio, Schillaci
1994Group stage Republic of Ireland0–1East Rutherford—
 Norway1–0East RutherfordD. Baggio
 Mexico1–1Washington, D.C.Massaro
Round of 16 Nigeria2–1 (a.e.t.)FoxboroughR. Baggio (2)
Quarter-finals Spain2–1FoxboroughD. Baggio, R. Baggio
Semi-finals Bulgaria2–1East RutherfordR. Baggio (2)
Final Brazil0–0 (a.e.t.)
(2–3 pen.)		Pasadena—
1998Group stage Chile2–2BordeauxVieri, R. Baggio
 Cameroon3–0MontpellierVieri (2), Di Biagio
 Austria2–1Saint-DenisVieri, R. Baggio
Round of 16 Norway1–0MarseilleVieri
Quarter-finals France0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 pen.)		Saint-Denis—
2002Group stage Ecuador2–0SapporoVieri (2)
 Croatia1–2IbarakiVieri
 Mexico1–1ŌitaDel Piero
Round of 16 South Korea1–2 (a.e.t.)DaejeonVieri
2006Group stage Ghana2–0HanoverPirlo, Iaquinta
 United States1–1KaiserslauternGilardino
 Czech Republic2–0HamburgMaterazzi, Inzaghi
Round of 16 Australia1–0KaiserslauternTotti
Quarter-finals Ukraine3–0HamburgToni (2), Zambrotta
Semi-finals Germany2–0 (a.e.t.)DortmundGrosso, Del Piero
Final France1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 pen.)		BerlinMaterazzi
2010Group stage Paraguay1–1Cape TownDe Rossi
 New Zealand1–1NelspruitIaquinta
 Slovakia2–3JohannesburgDi Natale, Quagliarella
2014Group stage England2–1ManausMarchisio, Balotelli
 Costa Rica0–1Recife—
 Uruguay0–1Natal—

Record by opponent
FIFA World Cup matches (by team)
Opponent Wins Draws Losses Total Goals Scored Goals Conceded
 Argentina230564
 Australia100110
 Austria400451
 Belgium100141
 Brazil212579
 Bulgaria110232
 Cameroon110241
 Chile111344
 Costa Rica001101
 Croatia001112
 Czech Republic100120
 Czechoslovakia200241
 Ecuador100120
 England200242
 France221565
 Germany320594
 Ghana100120
 Haiti100131
 Hungary200273
 Israel010100
 Mexico120363
 Netherlands001112
 New Zealand010111
 Nigeria100121
 North Korea001101
 Norway300341
 Paraguay110231
 Peru010111
 Poland111332
 Republic of Ireland101211
 Slovakia001123
 South Korea101244
 Soviet Union001101
 Spain210342
 Sweden101233
  Switzerland102356
 Ukraine100130
 United States210392
 Uruguay111321

World Cup Finals

1934 World Cup Final v Czechoslovakia
Main article: 1934 FIFA World Cup Final

With temperatures around 40 °C (104 °F), Italy won their home tournament in 1934 after going into extra time against Czechoslovakia.

Italy 2–1 (a.e.t.) Czechoslovakia
Orsi 81'
Schiavio 95'		 Report Puč 71'
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Ivan Eklind (Sweden)
GKGianpiero Combi (c)
RBEraldo Monzeglio
LBLuigi Allemandi
RHAttilio Ferraris
CHLuis Monti
LHLuigi Bertolini
OREnrique Guaita
IRGiuseppe Meazza
ILGiovanni Ferrari
OLRaimundo Orsi
CFAngelo Schiavio
Manager:
Italy Vittorio Pozzo
GKFrantišek Plánička (c)
RBJosef Čtyřoký
LBLadislav Ženíšek
RHRudolf Krčil
CHŠtefan Čambal
LHJosef Košťálek
ORAntonín Puč
IROldřich Nejedlý
ILFrantišek Svoboda
OLFrantišek Junek
CFJiří Sobotka
Manager:
Czechoslovakia Karel Petrů

1938 World Cup Final v Hungary
Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup Final

After a difficult route to the final, defeating hosts France in the quarter-finals and Brazil in the semis, Italy was the first team to win the World Cup title on foreign ground. Also, it was the first of only two times in World Cup history that a team successfully defended their title.

Italy 4–2 Hungary
Colaussi 6', 35'
Piola 16', 82'		 Report Titkos 8'
Sárosi 70'
Attendance: 45,000
GKAldo Olivieri
RBAlfredo Foni
LBPietro Rava
RHPietro Serantoni
LHUgo Locatelli
CHMichele Andreolo
IRGiuseppe Meazza (c)
ILGiovanni Ferrari
ORAmedeo Biavati
CFSilvio Piola
OLGino Colaussi
Manager:
Italy Vittorio Pozzo
GKAntal Szabó
RBSándor Bíró
LBGyula Polgár
RHGyula Lázár
LHAntal Szalay
CHGyörgy Szűcs
IRGyula Zsengellér
ILJenő Vincze
ORPál Titkos
CFGyörgy Sárosi (c)
OLFerenc Sas
Manager:
Hungary Alfréd Schaffer

1970 World Cup Final v Brazil
Main article: 1970 FIFA World Cup Final

In 1970, the Brazilian team featured superstars like Pelé, Rivellino, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto and were considered favourites for the title. Particularly in the second half, the Italians were outclassed by the Brazilians passing play.

Brazil 4–1 Italy
 Report Boninsegna 37'
Attendance: 107,412
GK1Félix
DF4Carlos Alberto (c)
DF2Brito
DF3Piazza
DF16Everaldo
MF5Clodoaldo
MF8Gérson
FW7Jairzinho
FW9Tostão
FW10Pelé
FW11RivellinoYellow card
Manager:
Brazil Mário Zagallo
GK1Enrico Albertosi
DF2Tarcisio BurgnichYellow card
DF5Pierluigi Cera
DF8Roberto Rosato
DF3Giacinto Facchetti (c)
MF10Mario Bertinidownward-facing red arrow 75'
MF13Angelo Domenghini
MF16Giancarlo De Sisti
FW15Sandro Mazzola
FW11Gigi Riva
FW20Roberto Boninsegnadownward-facing red arrow 84'
Substitutions:
MF18Antonio Julianoupward-facing green arrow 75'
MF14Gianni Riveraupward-facing green arrow 84'
Manager:
Italy Ferruccio Valcareggi

1982 World Cup Final v West Germany
Main article: 1982 FIFA World Cup Final

Italy played three draws in the first group stage in a worrisome start to the tournament, proceeding ahead of Cameroon only on number of goals scored. However, the Italians continued to defeat Brazil, Argentina and a strong Polish side over the course of the tournament and faced West Germany in the final in Madrid.

Antonio Cabrini missed a penalty in the goalless first half, but the dominant Italian side eventually built up a 3–0 lead and won by 3–1 in the end, securing their third World Cup trophy.

Italy 3–1 West Germany
Rossi 57'
Tardelli 69'
Altobelli 81'		 Report Breitner 83'
Attendance: 90,000
GK1Dino Zoff (c)
SW7Gaetano Scirea
CB6Claudio Gentile
CB5Fulvio Collovati
RWB3Giuseppe Bergomi
LWB4Antonio Cabrini
DM13Gabriele OrialiYellow card 73'
RM16Bruno ContiYellow card 31'
CM14Marco Tardelli
LW19Francesco Grazianidownward-facing red arrow 7'
CF20Paolo Rossi
Substitutions:
GK12Ivano Bordon
MF10Giuseppe Dossena
MF11Giampiero Marini
MF15Franco Causioupward-facing green arrow 89'
FW18Alessandro Altobelliupward-facing green arrow 7'downward-facing red arrow 89'
Manager:
Italy Enzo Bearzot
GK1Harald Schumacher
SW15Uli StielikeYellow card 73'
RB20Manfred Kaltz
CB4Karlheinz Förster
LB5Bernd Förster
RM6Wolfgang DremmlerYellow card 61'downward-facing red arrow 62'
CM3Paul Breitner
LM2Hans-Peter Briegel
RW11Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (c)downward-facing red arrow 70'
LW7Pierre LittbarskiYellow card 88'
CF8Klaus Fischer
Substitutions:
GK21Bernd Franke
DF12Wilfried Hannes
MF10Hansi Müllerupward-facing green arrow 70'
MF14Felix Magath
FW9Horst Hrubeschupward-facing green arrow 62'
Manager:
West Germany Jupp Derwall

1994 World Cup Final v Brazil
Main article: 1994 FIFA World Cup Final

The 1994 final was the first ever to be decided on penalties after goalless 120 minutes. Italian captain Franco Baresi missed the very first penalty, and Roberto Baggio the decisive last one.

Italy became the first team to lose two World Cup finals against the same opponent.

Brazil 0–0 (a.e.t.) Italy
Report
Penalties
Márcio Santos soccer ball with red X
Romário soccer ball with check mark
Branco soccer ball with check mark
Dunga soccer ball with check mark		 3–2 soccer ball with red X Baresi
soccer ball with check mark Albertini
soccer ball with check mark Evani
soccer ball with red X Massaro
soccer ball with red X R. Baggio
Attendance: 94,194
GK1Cláudio Taffarel
RB2Jorginhodownward-facing red arrow 21'
CB13Aldair
CB15Marcio Santos
LB6Branco
CM5Mauro Silva
CM8Dunga (c)
AM17MazinhoYellow card 4'
AM9Zinhodownward-facing red arrow 106'
CF11Romário
CF7Bebeto
Substitutions:
DF14CafuYellow card 87'upward-facing green arrow 21'
FW21Violaupward-facing green arrow 106'
Manager:
Brazil Carlos Alberto Parreira
GK1Gianluca Pagliuca
RB8Roberto Mussidownward-facing red arrow 35'
CB6Franco Baresi (c)
CB5Paolo Maldini
LB3Antonio Benarrivo
RM14Nicola Berti
CM13Dino Baggiodownward-facing red arrow 95'
CM11Demetrio AlbertiniYellow card 42'
LM16Roberto Donadoni
CF10Roberto Baggio
CF19Daniele Massaro
Substitutes:
DF2Luigi ApolloniYellow card 41'upward-facing green arrow 35'
MF17Alberigo Evaniupward-facing green arrow 95'
Manager:
Italy Arrigo Sacchi

2006 World Cup Final v France
Main article: 2006 FIFA World Cup Final

Italian defender Marco Materazzi was involved in all three outstanding moments of the first 120 minutes: He conceded the penalty that was converted by Zinedine Zidane early in the game, equalised with a powerful header soon after, and provoked Zidane in a manner that lead to the French captain being sent off. He also scored in the penalty-shootout that was to follow.

It was only the second time a World Cup final was decided on penalties, again involving Italy after the 1994 final lost to Brazil.

Italy 1–1 (a.e.t.) France
 Report
Penalties
 5–3
Attendance: 69,000[2]
GK1Gianluigi Buffon
RB19Gianluca ZambrottaYellow card 5'
CB5Fabio Cannavaro (c)
CB23Marco Materazzi
LB3Fabio Grosso
RM16Mauro Camoranesidownward-facing red arrow 86'
CM8Gennaro Gattuso
CM21Andrea Pirlo
LM20Simone Perrottadownward-facing red arrow 61'
SS10Francesco Tottidownward-facing red arrow 61'
CF9Luca Toni
Substitutions:
MF4Daniele De Rossiupward-facing green arrow 61'
FW15Vincenzo Iaquintaupward-facing green arrow 61'
FW7Alessandro Del Pieroupward-facing green arrow 86'
Manager:
Italy Marcello Lippi
GK16Fabien Barthez
RB19Willy SagnolYellow card 12'
CB15Lilian Thuram
CB5William Gallas
LB3Eric Abidal
CM4Patrick Vieiradownward-facing red arrow 56'
CM6Claude MakéléléYellow card 76'
RW22Franck Ribérydownward-facing red arrow 100'
AM10Zinedine Zidane (c)Red card 110'
LW7Florent MaloudaYellow card 111'
CF12Thierry Henrydownward-facing red arrow 107'
Substitutions:
MF18Alou Diarraupward-facing green arrow 56'
FW20David Trezeguetupward-facing green arrow 100'
FW11Sylvain Wiltordupward-facing green arrow 107'
Manager:
France Raymond Domenech

Player records

Most appearances

Paolo Maldini is the player with the fourth-most matches at FIFA World Cups, trailing only behind the Argentinian Lionel Messi (26) and the Germans Lothar Matthäus (25) and Miroslav Klose (24). This also makes him the player with the most World Cup matches without winning the trophy.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is the only Italian player, and one of only three in the world, who have been part of five FIFA World Cup squads.[3]

Rank Player Matches World Cups
1Paolo Maldini231990, 1994, 1998 and 2002
2 Antonio Cabrini181978, 1982 and 1986
Gaetano Scirea181978, 1982 and 1986
Fabio Cannavaro181998, 2002, 2006 and 2010
5Dino Zoff171974, 1978 and 1982
6 Giuseppe Bergomi161982, 1986, 1990 and 1998
Roberto Baggio161990, 1994 and 1998
8 Paolo Rossi141978 and 1982
Gianluigi Buffon142002, 2006, 2010 and 2014
10 Claudio Gentile131978 and 1982
Marco Tardelli131978 and 1982
Gianluca Zambrotta132002, 2006 and 2010

Top goalscorers

Two Italians were awarded the Golden Boot for best goalscorer at a FIFA World Cup: Paolo Rossi in 1982 and Salvatore Schillaci in 1990 with 6 goals each.[4]

Rank Player Goals World Cups
1Paolo Rossi91978 (3) and 1982 (6)
Roberto Baggio91990 (2), 1994 (5) and 1998 (2)
Christian Vieri91998 (5) and 2002 (4)
4Salvatore Schillaci61990
5 Silvio Piola51938
Alessandro Altobelli51982 (1) and 1986 (4)
7 Angelo Schiavio41934
Gino Colaussi41938
9Raimundo Orsi31934
Giuseppe Meazza31934 (2) and 1938 (1)
Gigi Riva31970
Gianni Rivera31970 (2) and 1974 (1)

Awards and records

Team awards
  • World Champions 1934
  • World Champions 1938
  • World Champions 1982
  • World Champions 2006
  • Second Place 1970
  • Second Place 1994
  • Third Place 1990

Individual awards

Golden Ball award

Golden Boot award

Other individual awards

Refereeing

Three World Cup finals have been officiated by representatives of the Italian football federation, only English referees have had the honour more often (four times). The 1978 final between Argentina and the Netherlands has been led by Sergio Gonella, who had already officiated the European Championship final two years earlier. The other referees are Pierluigi Collina in 2002, and Nicola Rizzoli in 2014.

The Italian referee with the most World Cup matches, however, is Roberto Rosetti, who has been in charge of six matches total in 2006 and 2010.

See also

Notes
  1. Additional matches are scheduled to be played in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the first world cup, however they are not considered to be official hosts of the tournament. [1]

References
  1. FIFA. "FIFA Council takes key decisions on FIFA World Cup™ editions in 2030 and 2034". FIFA. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  2. "Italy – France". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 5 March 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  3. "Campionati Mondiali: Presenze" [World Cup: Appearances] (in Italian). Italia1910.
  4. "Campionati Mondiali: Gol fatti" [World Cup: Goals scored] (in Italian). Italia1910.
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