The team has not lifted the cup for 24 years, the same number of years between the three and four years
In 2026, it equaled the longest fast in its history between titles. It’s been 24 years without lifting the main trophy in world football, repeating the same interval recorded between the third title won in 1970 and the fourth title won in 1994.
The last Brazilian title was in the 2002 World Cup, played in South Korea and Japan. In the decision, Brazil beat Germany 2-0, with 2 goals from Ronaldo Nazário, known as Ronaldo Fenômeno, and won the fifth world championship. That team’s campaign, led by Luiz Felipe Scolari, ended undefeated, with 7 wins in 7 games.
PARTICIPATION IN THE CUP
Since then, Brazil has entered every World Cup with high expectations, but has accumulated frustrating eliminations and campaigns below expectations. In 2006, in Germany, the team arrived at the tournament with a squad considered one of the most talented in recent history, made up of names such as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Kaká, Adriano Imperador and Ronaldo. Despite favoritism, they were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals, after a 1-0 defeat.
In the 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa, Brazil lost again in the quarterfinals. The team coached by Dunga was defeated by the Dutch football team 2-1, in an upset.
The most remembered episode of the period was in 2014. Hosting the World Cup for the 2nd time, Brazil reached the semifinals, but suffered a 7-1 defeat to Germany at the Mineirão Stadium, in Belo Horizonte. The result went down in history as the Brazilian team’s worst defeat in cups and one of the biggest defeats ever recorded in the tournament’s semifinals.
In 2018, in Russia, Brazil was eliminated again in the quarterfinals, this time by Belgium, 2-1. In 2022, in the World Cup held in Qatar, the Brazilian team lost to Croatia on penalties, also in the quarterfinals, after a 1-1 draw in extra time.
HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY
Brazil remains the greatest champion in the history of the World Cup, with 5 world titles won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. The Brazilian team also maintains another record: it is the only one present in all editions of the World Cup since the tournament was created in 1930.
The first title came in 1958, in Sweden, led by Pelé, then 17 years old. The second championship was won in 1962, in Chile. In 1970, in Mexico, the team led by “king of football” won the third championship with one of the most remembered teams in the history of football.
After that, Brazil faced an interval of 24 years without titles until winning the World Cup again in 1994, in the United States. The campaign ended with victory over Italy on penalties, after a goalless draw in the final.
The fifth championship came 8 years later, in 2002. Since then, however, the country has not played in a World Cup final again.
If they do not win the title in the 2026 edition, played in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Brazilian team will establish the longest gap between titles in their history at World Cups.
