World Cup sides
National teams, the years that stuck
73 XIs from 29 countries. Tournament years, not a roster of every friendly. A 2026 side can play 1970 Brazil; that is the point. Club pages live next door.
Club teams instead →Europe
Euros winners, World Cup winners, and the nearly sides that still get shouted about — Cruyff’s Netherlands, Croatia in 2018, Greece in 2004. 2026 squads are in the same list as 1966.
FranceNational team · 2026 / 2018 / 1998 / 1984
France
2026
Didier Deschamps
France
2018
Didier Deschamps
- World Cup
France
1998
Aimé Jacquet
- World Cup
France
1984
Michel Hidalgo
- Euros
SpainNational team · 2026 / 2012 / 2010
GermanyNational team · 2026 / 2014 / 2006 / 1990
Germany
2026
Julian Nagelsmann
Germany
2014
Joachim Löw
- World Cup
Germany
2006
Jürgen Klinsmann
West Germany
1990
Franz Beckenbauer
- World Cup
ItalyNational team · 2026 / 2021 / 2006 / 1994
Italy
2026
Luciano Spalletti
Italy
2021
Roberto Mancini
- Euros
Italy
2006
Marcello Lippi
- World Cup
Italy
1994
Arrigo Sacchi
NetherlandsNational team · 2026 / 2010 / 1988 / 1974
Netherlands
2026
Ronald Koeman
Netherlands
2010
Bert van Marwijk
Netherlands
1988
Rinus Michels
- Euros
Netherlands
1974
Rinus Michels
EnglandNational team · 2026 / 2021 / 2018 / 2004 / 1996 / 1990 / 1966
England
2026
Thomas Tuchel
England
2021
Gareth Southgate
England
2018
Gareth Southgate
England
2004
Sven-Göran Eriksson
England
1996
Terry Venables
England
1990
Bobby Robson
England
1966
Alf Ramsey
- World Cup
PortugalNational team · 2026 / 2016 / 2004
CroatiaNational team · 2026 / 2018 / 1998
BelgiumNational team · 2026 / 2018 / 1986
HungaryNational team · 2026 / 1966 / 1954
DenmarkNational team · 2026 / 1998 / 1992
SwedenNational team · 1994
GreeceNational team · 2004
TurkeyNational team · 2002
CzechiaNational team · 1996
WalesNational team · 2016
South America
Brazil in several peaks (and 2014), Argentina with Maradona and with Messi, Uruguay as the original nuisance, Colombia when Valderrama or James ran the midfield.
BrazilNational team · 2026 / 2014 / 2002 / 1998 / 1994 / 1982 / 1970 / 1962 / 1958
Brazil
2026
Carlo Ancelotti
Brazil
2014
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Brazil
2002
Luiz Felipe Scolari
- World Cup
Brazil
1998
Mário Zagallo
Brazil
1994
Carlos Alberto Parreira
- World Cup
Brazil
1982
Telê Santana
Brazil
1970
Mário Zagallo
- World Cup
Brazil
1962
Aymoré Moreira
- World Cup
Brazil
1958
Vicente Feola
- World Cup
ArgentinaNational team · 2026 / 2022 / 1986
UruguayNational team · 2026 / 2010 / 1950
ColombiaNational team · 2026 / 2014 / 1994
ChileNational team · 2015
Africa
Not a complete CAF archive. Cameroon 90, Nigeria 94, Senegal knocking out France, Morocco to a World Cup semi. The nights that changed who Europe thought could win.
MoroccoNational team · 2022
SenegalNational team · 2002
NigeriaNational team · 1994
CameroonNational team · 1990
North America
Mexico at a home World Cup, the US in 2002. Thin on purpose — we built the arguments people actually type, not every Gold Cup squad.
MexicoNational team · 1986
United StatesNational team · 2002
Asia & Oceania
Japan and South Korea, 2002, co-hosts who stopped being a footnote. If you want a 2026 Asian XI, it is not on this page yet.