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.
Champions Runners-up Third Place Fourth Place
| FIFA World Cup record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
 1930
|
Did not enter | |||||||
 1934
|
Champions | 1st | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
 1938
|
Champions | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 |
 1950
|
Group stage | 7th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
 1954
|
10th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | |
 1958
|
Did not qualify | |||||||
 1962
|
Group stage | 9th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
 1966
|
9th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
 1970
|
Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 8 |
 1974
|
Group stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
 1978
|
Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
 1982
|
Champions | 1st | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| 1986
|
Round of 16 | 12th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
 1990
|
Third place | 3rd | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
 1994
|
Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
 1998
|
Quarter-finals | 5th | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
  2002
|
Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| 2006
|
Champions | 1st | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 |
 2010
|
Group stage | 26th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
 2014
|
22nd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
 2018
|
Did not qualify | |||||||
 2022
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 2026
|
To be determined | |||||||
  2030
| ||||||||
 2034
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| Total | 4 Titles | 18/22 | 83 | 45 | 21 | 17 | 128 | 77 |
| Italy's World Cup record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Match | Italy 7–1 United States  (27 May 1934; Rome, Italy) | ||||
| Biggest Win | Italy 7–1 United States (27 May 1934; Rome, Italy) | ||||
| Biggest Defeat | Switzerland 4–1 Italy (23 June 1954; Basel, Switzerland)  Brazil 4–1 Italy (21 June 1970; Mexico City, Mexico) | ||||
| Best Result | Championsin1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006 | ||||
| Worst Result | Group stage in 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1974, 2010 and 2014 | ||||
Italy's score listed first.
| FIFA World Cup matches (by team) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Wins | Draws | Losses | Total | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded |
| Argentina |
2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
 Australia |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
 Austria |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
 Belgium |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Brazil |
2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
 Bulgaria |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
 Cameroon |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Chile |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
 Costa Rica |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Croatia |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Czech Republic |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Czechoslovakia |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
 Ecuador |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| England |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| France |
2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Germany |
3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
 Ghana |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
 Haiti |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
 Hungary |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
 Israel |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mexico |
1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
 Netherlands |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 New Zealand |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
 Nigeria |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
 North Korea |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Norway |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
 Paraguay |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
 Peru |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
 Poland |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
 Republic of Ireland |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
 Slovakia |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
 South Korea |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
 Soviet Union |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Spain |
2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Sweden |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Switzerland |
1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
 Ukraine |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| United States |
2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| Uruguay |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
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)
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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
Referee: Georges Capdeville (France)
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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 |
|---|---|---|
66' 71' 86' |
Report | Boninsegna 37' |
Attendance: 107,412
Referee: Rudi Glöckner (West Germany)
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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
Referee: Arnaldo Cézar Coelho (Brazil)
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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  Romário  Branco Dunga |
3–2 | Baresi Albertini Evani Massaro R. Baggio |
Attendance: 94,194
Referee: Sándor Puhl (Hungary)
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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 |
|---|---|---|
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Report | |
| Penalties | ||
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5–3 |
Trezeguet Abidal Sagnol |
Attendance: 69,000[1]
Referee: Horacio Elizondo (Argentina)[1]
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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.[2]
| Rank | Player | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paolo Maldini | 23 | 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 |
| 2 | Antonio Cabrini | 18 | 1978, 1982 and 1986 |
| Gaetano Scirea | 18 | 1978, 1982 and 1986 | |
| Fabio Cannavaro | 18 | 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 | |
| 5 | Dino Zoff | 17 | 1974, 1978 and 1982 |
| 6 | Giuseppe Bergomi | 16 | 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1998 |
| Roberto Baggio | 16 | 1990, 1994 and 1998 | |
| 8 | Paolo Rossi | 14 | 1978 and 1982 |
| Gianluigi Buffon | 14 | 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 | |
| 10 | Claudio Gentile | 13 | 1978 and 1982 |
| Marco Tardelli | 13 | 1978 and 1982 | |
| Gianluca Zambrotta | 13 | 2002, 2006 and 2010 |
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.[3]
| Rank | Player | Goals | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paolo Rossi | 9 | 1978 (3) and 1982 (6) |
| Roberto Baggio | 9 | 1990 (2), 1994 (5) and 1998 (2) | |
| Christian Vieri | 9 | 1998 (5) and 2002 (4) | |
| 4 | Salvatore Schillaci | 6 | 1990 |
| 5 | Silvio Piola | 5 | 1938 |
| Alessandro Altobelli | 5 | 1982 (1) and 1986 (4) | |
| 7 | Angelo Schiavio | 4 | 1934 |
| Gino Colaussi | 4 | 1938 | |
| 9 | Raimundo Orsi | 3 | 1934 |
| Giuseppe Meazza | 3 | 1934 (2) and 1938 (1) | |
| Gigi Riva | 3 | 1970 | |
| Gianni Rivera | 3 | 1970 (2) and 1974 (1) |
Other individual awards
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.
