Germany at the FIFA World Cup

This is a record of the men's Germany and West Germany's results at the FIFA World Cup. For Germany's World Cup history, FIFA considers only the teams managed by the German Football Association, comprising three periods: Germany (during Nazi era), West Germany and reunified Germany. The men's Germany national football team is one of the most successful national teams at the FIFA World Cup, winning four titles, earning second-place and third-place finishes four times each and one fourth-place finish. Germany's 12 podium finishes (3rd place or better) in 20 tournaments add up to at least three more than any other nation. In addition, Germany are the only team which has stood on the podium at least once during the completed decades in which at least one tournament was held (1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s). Along with Argentina, Brazil and Spain, they are one of the four national teams to win outside their continental confederation, with the title of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in South America. The team qualified for every FIFA World Cup tournament they have entered (20 out of the 22), the second most frequent, and only failed to reach the quarter-finals three times, in 1938, 2018, and 2022. With this, Germany's 8th place or better (quarter-finals) in 17 out of 20 tournaments (85%) ranks highest in FIFA World Cup finals history. It makes Germany the best team in the history of the tournament in terms of final positions, if points were awarded proportionally for a title, runner-up finish, third-place finish, semi-final and quarter-final appearances.

Germany celebrating victory in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

Records

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  Champions    Runners-up    Third place     Tournament played fully or partially on home soil  

FIFA World Cup finals record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA Campaign
  1930 Did not enter Did not enter
  1934 Third place 3rd 4 3 0 1 11 8 Squad 1 1 0 0 9 1 1934
  1938 First round 10th 2 0 1 1 3 5 Squad 3 3 0 0 11 1 1938
  1950 Banned from entering Banned from entering 1950
  1954 Champions 1st 6 5 0 1 25 14 Squad 4 3 1 0 12 3 1954
  1958 Fourth place 4th 6 2 2 2 12 14 Squad Qualified as defending champions 1958
  1962 Quarter-finals 7th 4 2 1 1 4 2 Squad 4 4 0 0 11 5 1962
  1966 Runners-up 2nd 6 4 1 1 15 6 Squad 4 3 1 0 14 2 1966
  1970 Third place 3rd 6 5 0 1 17 10 Squad 6 5 1 0 20 3 1970
  1974 Champions 1st 7 6 0 1 13 4 Squad Qualified as hosts 1974
  1978 Second group stage 6th 6 1 4 1 10 5 Squad Qualified as defending champions 1978
  1982 Runners-up 2nd 7 3 2 2 12 10 Squad 8 8 0 0 33 3 1982
  1986 Runners-up 2nd 7 3 2 2 8 7 Squad 8 5 2 1 22 9 1986
  1990 Champions 1st 7 5 2 0 15 5 Squad 6 3 3 0 13 3 1990
  1994 Quarter-finals 5th 5 3 1 1 9 7 Squad Qualified as defending champions 1994
  1998 7th 5 3 1 1 8 6 Squad 10 6 4 0 23 9 1998
    2002 Runners-up 2nd 7 5 1 1 14 3 Squad 10 6 3 1 19 12 2002
  2006 Third place 3rd 7 5 1 1 14 6 Squad Qualified as hosts 2006
  2010 3rd 7 5 0 2 16 5 Squad 10 8 2 0 26 5 2010
  2014 Champions 1st 7 6 1 0 18 4 Squad 10 9 1 0 36 10 2014
  2018 Group stage 22nd 3 1 0 2 2 4 Squad 10 10 0 0 43 4 2018
  2022 17th 3 1 1 1 6 5 Squad 10 9 0 1 36 4 2022
      2026 To be determined To be determined 2026
      2030 2030
Total 4 titles 20/22 112 68 21* 23 232 130 104 83 18 3 328 74 Total
*Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.


Winning World Cups

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Year Manager Captain Winning goalscorer(s)
1954 Sepp Herberger Fritz Walter Helmut Rahn
1974 Helmut Schön Franz Beckenbauer Gerd Müller
1990 Franz Beckenbauer Lothar Matthäus Andreas Brehme
2014 Joachim Löw Philipp Lahm Mario Götze

FIFA World Cup finals

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1954 World Cup Final v Hungary

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Only 14 days before the final, West Germany played the favoured Hungarian Golden Team in the first round of the tournament and suffered a 3–8 loss, their highest World Cup defeat to this day. In the final, Hungary was up by two goals after only eight minutes, so it came as a surprise that the West German team not only quickly equalized but turned the game around in the 84th minute with a goal scored by Helmut Rahn.

West Germany  3–2  Hungary
  • Morlock   10'
  • Rahn   18', 84'
Report
Attendance: 62,500
GK 1 Toni Turek
RB 7 Josef Posipal
CB 10 Werner Liebrich
LB 3 Werner Kohlmeyer
HB 6 Horst Eckel
HB 8 Karl Mai
IR 13 Max Morlock
IL 16 Fritz Walter (c)
OR 12 Helmut Rahn
CF 15 Ottmar Walter
OL 20 Hans Schäfer
Manager:
  Sepp Herberger
 
GK 1 Gyula Grosics
RB 2 Jenő Buzánszky
CB 3 Gyula Lóránt
LB 4 Mihály Lantos
HB 5 József Bozsik
HB 6 József Zakariás
RW 11 Zoltán Czibor
AM 9 Nándor Hidegkuti
LW 20 Mihály Tóth
CF 8 Sándor Kocsis
CF 10 Ferenc Puskás (c)
Manager:
  Gusztáv Sebes

1966 World Cup Final v England

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The strongly contested game between host nation England and West Germany went into extra time after a score of 2-2 after 90 minutes. Geoff Hurst's goal in the 101st minute is one of the most controversial in football history: His shot bounced off the cross-bar onto the ground and back away from the goal. After a brief discussion with the Soviet linesman Tofiq Bahramov, referee Gottfried Dienst awarded the goal. With the West Germans forced to press for the equalizer, Hurst converted a counterattack in the 120th minute and decided the match for England.

England  4–2 (a.e.t.)  West Germany
Hurst   18', 101', 120'
Peters   78'
Report Haller   12'
Weber   89'
GK 1 Gordon Banks
RB 2 George Cohen
CB 5 Jack Charlton
CB 6 Bobby Moore (c)
LB 3 Ray Wilson
DM 4 Nobby Stiles
RM 7 Alan Ball
AM 9 Bobby Charlton
LM 16 Martin Peters   20'
CF 10 Geoff Hurst
CF 21 Roger Hunt
Manager:
  Alf Ramsey
 
GK 1 Hans Tilkowski
RB 2 Horst-Dieter Höttges
CB 5 Willi Schulz
CB 6 Wolfgang Weber
LB 3 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
CM 4 Franz Beckenbauer
CM 12 Wolfgang Overath
RF 8 Helmut Haller
CF 9 Uwe Seeler (c)
CF 10 Sigfried Held
LF 11 Lothar Emmerich
Manager:
  Helmut Schön

1974 World Cup Final v the Netherlands

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West Germany reached the final as host nation in 1974 and were facing their neighbours and rivals from the Netherlands. After an early penalty scored by Johan Neeskens, West Germany turned the game around to win their second World Cup trophy.

Netherlands  1–2  West Germany
Neeskens   2' (pen.) Report Breitner   25' (pen.)
Müller   43'
Attendance: 75,200
Referee: Jack Taylor (England)
GK 8 Jan Jongbloed
RB 20 Wim Suurbier
CB 17 Wim Rijsbergen   69'
CB 2 Arie Haan
LB 12 Ruud Krol
RM 6 Wim Jansen
CM 13 Johan Neeskens   40'
LM 3 Willem van Hanegem   23'
RF 16 Johnny Rep
CF 14 Johan Cruyff (c)   45'
LF 15 Rob Rensenbrink   46'
Substitutes:
GK 18 Piet Schrijvers
DF 5 Rinus Israël
MF 7 Theo de Jong   69'
MF 10 René van de Kerkhof   46'
FW 9 Piet Keizer
Manager:
  Rinus Michels
 
GK 1 Sepp Maier
RB 2 Berti Vogts   4'
CB 5 Franz Beckenbauer (c)
CB 4 Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck
LB 3 Paul Breitner
RM 16 Rainer Bonhof
CM 14 Uli Hoeneß
LM 12 Wolfgang Overath
RF 9 Jürgen Grabowski
CF 13 Gerd Müller
LF 17 Bernd Hölzenbein
Substitutes:
GK 21 Norbert Nigbur
DF 6 Horst-Dieter Höttges
MF 8 Bernhard Cullmann
MF 15 Heinz Flohe
FW 11 Jupp Heynckes
Manager:
  Helmut Schön

1982 World Cup Final v Italy

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Paul Breitner became only the third player in World Cup history to have scored in two separate finals, but only after the Italians had already taken a 3–0 lead after 81 minutes.

Italy  3–1  West Germany
Rossi   57'
Tardelli   69'
Altobelli   81'
Report Breitner   83'
GK 1 Dino Zoff (c)
SW 7 Gaetano Scirea
CB 6 Claudio Gentile
CB 5 Fulvio Collovati
RWB 3 Giuseppe Bergomi
LWB 4 Antonio Cabrini
DM 13 Gabriele Oriali   73'
RM 16 Bruno Conti   31'
CM 14 Marco Tardelli
LW 19 Francesco Graziani   7'
CF 20 Paolo Rossi
Substitutions:
GK 12 Ivano Bordon
MF 10 Giuseppe Dossena
MF 11 Giampiero Marini
MF 15 Franco Causio   89'
FW 18 Alessandro Altobelli   7'   89'
Manager:
  Enzo Bearzot
 
GK 1 Harald Schumacher
SW 15 Uli Stielike   73'
RB 20 Manfred Kaltz
CB 4 Karlheinz Förster
LB 5 Bernd Förster
RM 6 Wolfgang Dremmler   61'   62'
CM 3 Paul Breitner
LM 2 Hans-Peter Briegel
RW 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (c)   70'
LW 7 Pierre Littbarski   88'
CF 8 Klaus Fischer
Substitutions:
GK 21 Bernd Franke
DF 12 Wilfried Hannes
MF 10 Hansi Müller   70'
MF 14 Felix Magath
FW 9 Horst Hrubesch   62'
Manager:
  Jupp Derwall

1986 World Cup Final v Argentina

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With the highest attendance ever at a FIFA World Cup final, West Germany faced Argentina in Mexico City. Although the Argentinian star player Diego Maradona was closely guarded by the West German team, he assisted the decisive 3-2 scored by Jorge Burruchaga, ensuring his country's second World Cup win. Late during the match, three yellow cards were given to Argentinians for time wasting.

Argentina  3–2  West Germany
Brown   23'
Valdano   56'
Burruchaga   84'
Report Rummenigge   74'
Völler   81'
GK 18 Nery Pumpido   85'
SW 5 José Luis Brown
CB 9 José Luis Cuciuffo
CB 19 Oscar Ruggeri
RWB 14 Ricardo Giusti
LWB 16 Julio Olarticoechea   77'
DM 2 Sergio Batista
CM 12 Héctor Enrique   81'
AM 7 Jorge Burruchaga   90'
SS 10 Diego Maradona (c)   17'
CF 11 Jorge Valdano
Substitutions:
MF 21 Marcelo Trobbiani   90'
Manager:
  Carlos Bilardo
 
GK 1 Harald Schumacher
SW 17 Ditmar Jakobs
CB 4 Karlheinz Förster
CB 2 Hans-Peter Briegel   62'
RWB 14 Thomas Berthold
LWB 3 Andreas Brehme
CM 6 Norbert Eder
CM 8 Lothar Matthäus   21'
AM 10 Felix Magath   62'
CF 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (c)
CF 19 Klaus Allofs   46'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Rudi Völler   46'
FW 20 Dieter Hoeneß   62'
Manager:
  Franz Beckenbauer

1990 World Cup Final v Argentina

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For this re-match of the 1986 Final, Argentina played extremely defensively. Defender Pedro Monzón became the first player ever to receive a red card in a World Cup final, only to be joined by teammate Gustavo Dezotti 22 minutes later. Although West Germany was the dominating side with 23:1 shots, it is fitting that the rough match was decided by a penalty kick taken by Andreas Brehme.

Franz Beckenbauer achieved the feat to lose and then win a World Cup final each as player (1966, 1974) and manager (1986, 1990).

West Germany  1–0  Argentina
Brehme   85' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 73,603
GK 1 Bodo Illgner
SW 5 Klaus Augenthaler
CB 6 Guido Buchwald
CB 4 Jürgen Kohler
RWB 14 Thomas Berthold   73'
LWB 3 Andreas Brehme
CM 8 Thomas Häßler
CM 10 Lothar Matthäus (c)
CM 7 Pierre Littbarski
CF 9 Rudi Völler   52'
CF 18 Jürgen Klinsmann
Substitutes:
GK 12 Raimond Aumann
DF 2 Stefan Reuter   73'
MF 15 Uwe Bein
MF 20 Olaf Thon
FW 13 Karl-Heinz Riedle
Manager:
  Franz Beckenbauer
 
GK 12 Sergio Goycochea
SW 20 Juan Simón
CB 18 José Serrizuela
CB 19 Oscar Ruggeri   46'
RWB 4 José Basualdo
LWB 17 Roberto Sensini
DM 13 Néstor Lorenzo
CM 21 Pedro Troglio   84'
AM 10 Diego Maradona (c)   87'
CM 7 Jorge Burruchaga   53'
CF 9 Gustavo Dezotti   5'   87'
Substitutes:
GK 22 Fabián Cancelarich
DF 5 Edgardo Bauza
DF 15 Pedro Monzón   65'   46'
MF 6 Gabriel Calderón   53'
FW 3 Abel Balbo
Manager:
  Carlos Bilardo

2002 World Cup Final v Brazil

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With only one goal conceded during the six matches leading up to the final, hopes were on the German defence to withstand Brazil's star quality strikers. Germany's playmaker Michael Ballack was suspended for the final after picking his second yellow card of the tournament in the semi-final against South Korea. Two goals from Ronaldo in the middle of the second half decided the match in favour of the South Americans and ensured their record fifth title.

Germany  0–2  Brazil
Report Ronaldo   67', 79'
GK 1 Oliver Kahn (c)
CB 2 Thomas Linke
CB 5 Carsten Ramelow
CB 21 Christoph Metzelder
RM 22 Torsten Frings
CM 8 Dietmar Hamann
CM 16 Jens Jeremies   77'
LM 17 Marco Bode   84'
AM 19 Bernd Schneider
CF 11 Miroslav Klose   9'   74'
CF 7 Oliver Neuville
Substitutes:
FW 20 Oliver Bierhoff   74'
FW 14 Gerald Asamoah   77'
MF 6 Christian Ziege   84'
Manager:
  Rudi Völler
 MarcosLúcioEdmílsonRoque JúniorGilberto SilvaCafuKlébersonRoberto CarlosRonaldinhoRivaldoRonaldoOliver NeuvilleMiroslav KloseBernd SchneiderMarco BodeJens JeremiesDietmar HamannTorsten FringsChristoph MetzelderCarsten RamelowThomas LinkeOliver Kahn
GK 1 Marcos
CB 3 Lúcio
CB 5 Edmílson
CB 4 Roque Júnior   6'
RM 2 Cafu (c)
CM 8 Gilberto Silva
CM 15 Kléberson
LM 6 Roberto Carlos
AM 11 Ronaldinho   85'
CF 10 Rivaldo
CF 9 Ronaldo   90'
Substitutes:
MF 19 Juninho   85'
MF 17 Denílson   90'
Manager:
  Luiz Felipe Scolari

2014 World Cup Final v Argentina

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Despite defeating host country Brazil 7–1, Germany was supported by the home fans due to Brazil's rivalry with Argentina. This record third match-up of two teams in World Cup finals saw good chances for both sides in regular time, but stayed goalless until substitute striker Mario Götze scored during the second half of extra time, in the 113th minute. The fourth title was the first since Germany's reunification in October 1990.

Germany  1–0 (a.e.t.)  Argentina
Report
GK 1 Manuel Neuer
RB 16 Philipp Lahm (c)
CB 20 Jérôme Boateng
CB 5 Mats Hummels
LB 4 Benedikt Höwedes   34'
CM 23 Christoph Kramer   31'
CM 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger   29'
CM 18 Toni Kroos
RW 13 Thomas Müller
LW 8 Mesut Özil   120'
CF 11 Miroslav Klose   88'
Substitutions:
FW 9 André Schürrle   31'
MF 19 Mario Götze   88'
DF 17 Per Mertesacker   120'
Manager:
  Joachim Löw
 
GK 1 Sergio Romero
RB 4 Pablo Zabaleta
CB 15 Martín Demichelis
CB 2 Ezequiel Garay
LB 16 Marcos Rojo
CM 14 Javier Mascherano   64'
CM 6 Lucas Biglia
RW 8 Enzo Pérez   86'
LW 22 Ezequiel Lavezzi   46'
SS 10 Lionel Messi (c)
CF 9 Gonzalo Higuaín   78'
Substitutions:
FW 20 Sergio Agüero   65'   46'
FW 18 Rodrigo Palacio   78'
MF 5 Fernando Gago   86'
Manager:
  Alejandro Sabella

Record players

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Lothar Matthäus is the FIFA World Cup's all-time record appearance maker. In addition, along with Antonio Carbajal and Rafael Márquez from Mexico, he is one of the few players to have been fielded in five FIFA World Cups.

Miroslav Klose, who is only one match behind, also holds the record for most victories at FIFA World Cups (17).

Rank Player Matches World Cups
1 Lothar Matthäus 25 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998
2 Miroslav Klose 24 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014
3 Uwe Seeler 21 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970
4 Philipp Lahm 20 2006, 2010 and 2014
Bastian Schweinsteiger 20 2006, 2010 and 2014
6 Wolfgang Overath 19 1966, 1970 and 1974
Berti Vogts 19 1970, 1974 and 1978
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 19 1978, 1982 and 1986
Per Mertesacker 19 2006, 2010 and 2014
Manuel Neuer 19 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022
Thomas Müller 19 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022
12 Franz Beckenbauer 18 1966, 1970 and 1974
Sepp Maier 18 1970, 1974 and 1978
Thomas Berthold 18 1986, 1990 and 1994

Top goalscorers

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Since 2014, Miroslav Klose is the all-time top goalscorer at FIFA World Cup final tournaments. Gerd Müller used to be the holder of that record from 1974 until it was broken by Ronaldo in 2006.

Rank Player Goals World Cups
1 Miroslav Klose 16 2002 (5), 2006 (5), 2010 (4) and 2014 (2)
2 Gerd Müller 14 1970 (10) and 1974 (4)
3 Jürgen Klinsmann 11 1990 (3), 1994 (5) and 1998 (3)
4 Thomas Müller 10 2010 (5) and 2014 (5)
Helmut Rahn 10 1954 (4) and 1958 (6)
6 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 9 1978 (3), 1982 (5) and 1986 (1)
Uwe Seeler 9 1958 (2), 1962 (2), 1966 (2) and 1970 (3)
8 Rudi Völler 8 1986 (3), 1990 (3) and 1994 (2)
9 Hans Schäfer 7 1954 (4) and 1958 (3)
10 Helmut Haller 6 1966
Lothar Matthäus 6 1986 (1), 1990 (4) and 1994 (1)
Max Morlock 6 1954

By match

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By opponent

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A * indicates national team is now defunct

Legend
Won more than lost
Won equals lost
Lost more than won
Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
  Argentina 7 4 2 1 12 5 +7 57.14%
  Yugoslavia* 6 4 1 1 11 4 +7 66.67%
  Sweden 5 4 0 1 11 7 +4 80.00%
  England 5 2 2 1 10 8 +2 40.00%
  Spain 5 2 2 1 6 5 +1 40.00%
  Italy 5 0 2 3 4 9 −5 0.00%
  Uruguay 4 3 1 0 9 3 +6 75.00%
  Austria 4 3 0 1 12 6 +6 75.00%
  Mexico 4 2 1 1 8 2 +6 50.00%
   Switzerland 4 2 1 1 10 6 +4 50.00%
  France 4 2 1 1 9 9 0 50.00%
  Chile 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6 100.00%
  United States 3 3 0 0 4 0 +4 100.00%
  Netherlands 3 2 1 0 6 4 +2 66.67%
  Poland 3 2 1 0 2 0 +2 66.67%
  South Korea 3 2 0 1 4 4 0 66.67%
  Czechoslovakia* 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 33.33%
  Turkey 2 2 0 0 11 3 +8 100.00%
  Australia 2 2 0 0 7 0 +7 100.00%
  Portugal 2 2 0 0 7 1 +6 100.00%
  Belgium 2 2 0 0 8 4 +4 100.00%
  Costa Rica 2 2 0 0 8 4 +4 100.00%
  Morocco 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 100.00%
  Ghana 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 50.00%
  Brazil 2 1 0 1 7 3 +4 50.00%
  Bulgaria 2 1 0 1 6 4 +2 50.00%
  Algeria 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 50.00%
  Hungary 2 1 0 1 6 10 −4 50.00%
  Saudi Arabia 1 1 0 0 8 0 +8 100.00%
  United Arab Emirates 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4 100.00%
  Ecuador 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 100.00%
  Peru 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 100.00%
  Cameroon 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00%
  Iran 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00%
  Scotland 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 100.00%
  Soviet Union* 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 100.00%
  Bolivia 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 100.00%
  Paraguay 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 100.00%
  Northern Ireland 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 0.00%
  Colombia 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0.00%
  Republic of Ireland 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0.00%
  Tunisia 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.00%
  Japan 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0.00%
  East Germany* 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0.00%
  Serbia 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0.00%
  Denmark 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 0.00%
  Croatia 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0.00%
Total (47) 112 68 21 23 232 130 +102 60.71%

See also

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References

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