Italy is one of the most successful national teams in the history of the FIFA World Cup, having won four titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), just one fewer than Brazil. The team has been present in 18 out of the 23 tournaments, reaching six finals, a third place, and a fourth place.

FIFA World Cup record Overall record Champions   Runners-up   Third Place   Fourth Place  

FIFA World Cup record Qualification recordYearRoundPosition* 1930Did not enterDid not enter 1934Champions1st5410123110040 1938Champions4400115Qualified as defending champions 1950Group stage7th210143Qualified as defending champions 195410th310267220072 1958Did not qualify420255 1962Group stage9th3111322200102 19669th3102226411173 1970Runners-up2nd63211084310103 1974Group stage10th3111546420120 1978Fourth place4th7412966501184 1982Champions1st74301268521125 1986Round of 1612th412156Qualified as defending champions 1990Third place3rd7610102Qualified as hosts 1994Runners-up2nd74218510721227 1998Quarter-finals5th53208310640132 2002Round of 1615th4112558620163 2006Champions1st752012210721178 2010Group stage26th30214510730187 201422nd31022310640199 2018Did not qualify12732219 20229441133 2026107122413 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034Total4 titles834521171287712885311225885 *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out

Italy's World Cup recordFirst Match 7–1 (27 May 1934; Rome, Italy)Biggest Win 7–1 (27 May 1934; Rome, Italy)Biggest Defeat 4–1 (23 June 1954; Basel, Switzerland) 4–1 (21 June 1970; Mexico City, Mexico)Best ResultChampions in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006Worst ResultGroup stage in 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1974, 2010 and 2014

Finals Year Manager Captain Italy scorers 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 World CupRoundOpponentScoreVenueItaly scorers1934Round of 167–1RomeSchiavio (3), Orsi (2), Ferrari, MeazzaQuarter-finals1–1 FlorenceFerrari1–0FlorenceMeazzaSemi-finals 1–0MilanGuaitaFinal2–1 RomeOrsi, Schiavio1938Round of 162–1 MarseilleFerraris, PiolaQuarter-finals 3–1ParisPiola (2), ColaussiSemi-finals2–1MarseilleColaussi, MeazzaFinal4–2ParisColaussi (2), Piola (2)1950Group 32–3São PauloCarapellese, Muccinelli2–0São PauloCarapellese, Pandolfini1954Group 41–2LausanneBoniperti4–1LuganoPandolfini, Galli, Frignani, LorenziPlay-off1–4BaselNesti 1962Group 20–0Santiago0–2Santiago3–0SantiagoBulgarelli (2), Mora1966Group 42–0SunderlandA. Mazzola, Barison0–1Sunderland0–1Middlesbrough1970Group 21–0TolucaDomenghini0–0Puebla0–0TolucaQuarter-finals4–1TolucaRiva (2), Guzmán (o.g.), RiveraSemi-finals4–3 Mexico CityBoninsegna, Burgnich, Riva, RiveraFinal1–4Mexico CityBoninsegna1974Group 43–1MunichRivera, Benetti, Anastasi1–1StuttgartPerfumo (o.g.)1–2StuttgartCapello1978Group 12–1Mar del PlataRossi, Zaccarelli3–1Mar del PlataRossi, Bettega, Benetti1–0Buenos AiresBettegaGroup A0–0Buenos Aires1–0Buenos AiresRossi1–2Buenos AiresBrandts (o.g.)Match for third place1–2Buenos AiresCausio1982Group 10–0Vigo1–1VigoConti1–1VigoGrazianiGroup C2–1BarcelonaTardelli, Cabrini3–2BarcelonaRossi (3)Semi-finals2–0BarcelonaRossi (2)Final3–1MadridRossi, Tardelli, Altobelli1986Group A1–1Mexico CityAltobelli1–1PueblaAltobelli3–2PueblaAltobelli (2), Cho Kwang-rae (o.g.)Round of 160–2Mexico City1990Group A1–0RomeSchillaci1–0RomeGiannini2–0RomeSchillaci, R. BaggioRound of 16 2–0RomeSchillaci, SerenaQuarter-finals1–0RomeSchillaciSemi-finals1–1 NaplesSchillaciMatch for third place2–1BariR. Baggio, Schillaci1994Group E0–1East Rutherford1–0East RutherfordD. Baggio1–1Washington, D.C.MassaroRound of 162–1 FoxboroughR. Baggio (2)Quarter-finals2–1FoxboroughD. Baggio, R. BaggioSemi-finals2–1East RutherfordR. Baggio (2)Final0–0 Pasadena1998Group B2–2BordeauxVieri, R. Baggio3–0MontpellierVieri (2), Di Biagio2–1Saint-DenisVieri, R. BaggioRound of 161–0MarseilleVieriQuarter-finals0–0 Saint-Denis2002Group G2–0SapporoVieri (2)1–2IbarakiVieri1–1ŌitaDel PieroRound of 161–2 DaejeonVieri2006Group E2–0HanoverPirlo, Iaquinta1–1KaiserslauternGilardino2–0HamburgMaterazzi, InzaghiRound of 161–0KaiserslauternTottiQuarter-finals3–0HamburgToni (2), ZambrottaSemi-finals2–0 DortmundGrosso, Del PieroFinal1–1 BerlinMaterazzi2010Group F1–1Cape TownDe Rossi1–1NelspruitIaquinta2–3JohannesburgDi Natale, Quagliarella2014Group D2–1ManausMarchisio, Balotelli0–1Recife0–1Natal

By opponent FIFA World Cup matches (by opponent)Opponent523064110010440051110041521279211032211041311144100101100112110020220041110020220042522165532094110020110031220073101000312063100112101011110021100101330041211031101011311132210111100123210144100101321042210133310256110030321092311121

World Cup Finals

1934 v Czechoslovakia

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

GK Gianpiero Combi (c)RB Eraldo MonzeglioLB Luigi AllemandiRH Attilio FerrarisCH Luis MontiLH Luigi BertoliniOR Enrique GuaitaIR Giuseppe MeazzaIL Giovanni FerrariOL Raimundo OrsiCF Angelo SchiavioManager:Vittorio PozzoGK František Plánička (c)RB Josef ČtyřokýLB Ladislav ŽeníšekRH Rudolf KrčilCH Štefan ČambalLH Josef KošťálekOR Antonín PučIR Oldřich NejedlýIL František SvobodaOL František JunekCF Jiří SobotkaManager:Karel Petrů

1938 v Hungary

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.

GK Aldo OlivieriRB Alfredo FoniLB Pietro RavaRH Pietro SerantoniLH Ugo LocatelliCH Michele AndreoloIR Giuseppe Meazza (c)IL Giovanni FerrariOR Amedeo BiavatiCF Silvio PiolaOL Gino ColaussiManager:Vittorio Pozzo GK Antal SzabóRB Sándor BíróLB Gyula PolgárRH Gyula LázárLH Antal SzalayCH György SzűcsIR Gyula ZsengellérIL Jenő VinczeOR Pál TitkosCF György Sárosi (c)OL Ferenc SasManager:Alfréd Schaffer

1970 v Brazil

In 1970, the Brazilian team featured superstars including Pelé, Rivellino, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto, and were considered favourites for the title. Particularly in the second half of the final, Italy was outclassed by Brazil's passing play.

GK 1 FélixDF 4 Carlos Alberto (c)DF 2 BritoDF 3 PiazzaDF 16EveraldoMF 5 ClodoaldoMF 8 GérsonFW 7 JairzinhoFW 9 Tostão FW 10Pelé FW 11Rivellino Manager:Mário Zagallo GK 1 Enrico Albertosi DF 2 Tarcisio Burgnich DF 5 Pierluigi CeraDF 8 Roberto RosatoDF 3 Giacinto Facchetti (c)MF 10Mario Bertini MF 13Angelo DomenghiniMF 16Giancarlo De SistiFW 15Sandro MazzolaFW 11Gigi RivaFW 20Roberto Boninsegna Substitutions:MF 18Antonio Juliano MF 14Gianni Rivera Manager:Ferruccio Valcareggi

1982 v West Germany

Italy recorded 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 went on to defeat Brazil, Argentina and a strong Polish side over the course of the tournament before facing West Germany in the final in Madrid.

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

GK 1 Dino Zoff (c)SW 7 Gaetano ScireaCB 6 Claudio GentileCB 5 Fulvio CollovatiRWB3 Giuseppe BergomiLWB4 Antonio CabriniDM 13Gabriele Oriali RM 16Bruno Conti CM 14Marco TardelliLW 19Francesco Graziani CF 20Paolo RossiSubstitutions:FW 18Alessandro Altobelli MF 15Franco Causio Manager:Enzo Bearzot GK 1 Harald SchumacherSW 15Uli Stielike RB 20Manfred KaltzCB 4 Karlheinz FörsterLB 5 Bernd FörsterRM 6 Wolfgang Dremmler CM 3 Paul BreitnerLM 2 Hans-Peter BriegelRW 11Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (c) LW 7 Pierre Littbarski CF 8 Klaus FischerSubstitutions:FW 9 Horst Hrubesch MF 10Hansi Müller Manager:Jupp Derwall

1994 v Brazil

The 1994 final was the first ever to be decided on penalties after a 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.

GK 1 Cláudio TaffarelRB 2 Jorginho CB 13AldairCB 15Márcio SantosLB 6 BrancoCM 5 Mauro SilvaCM 8 Dunga (c)AM 17Mazinho AM 9 Zinho CF 11RomárioCF 7 BebetoSubstitutions:DF 14Cafu FW 21Viola Manager:Carlos Alberto Parreira GK 1 Gianluca PagliucaRB 8 Roberto Mussi CB 6 Franco Baresi (c)CB 5 Paolo MaldiniLB 3 Antonio BenarrivoRM 14Nicola BertiCM 13Dino Baggio CM 11Demetrio Albertini LM 16Roberto DonadoniCF 10Roberto BaggioCF 19Daniele MassaroSubstitutes:DF 2 Luigi Apolloni MF 17Alberigo Evani Manager:Arrigo Sacchi

2006 v France

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 match, 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 shoot-out 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 loss to Brazil.

GK 1 Gianluigi BuffonRB 19Gianluca Zambrotta CB 5 Fabio Cannavaro (c)CB 23Marco MaterazziLB 3 Fabio GrossoRM 16Mauro Camoranesi CM 8 Gennaro GattusoCM 21Andrea PirloLM 20Simone Perrotta SS 10Francesco Totti CF 9 Luca ToniSubstitutions:MF 4 Daniele De Rossi FW 15Vincenzo Iaquinta FW 7 Alessandro Del Piero Manager:Marcello Lippi GK 16Fabien BarthezRB 19Willy Sagnol CB 15Lilian ThuramCB 5 William GallasLB 3 Eric AbidalCM 4 Patrick Vieira CM 6 Claude Makélélé RW 22Franck Ribéry AM 10Zinedine Zidane (c) LW 7 Florent Malouda CF 12Thierry Henry Substitutions:MF 18 Alou Diarra FW 20 David Trezeguet FW 11 Sylvain Wiltord Manager:Raymond Domenech

Player records Most appearances Despite playing in a record 23 FIFA World Cup matches across four tournaments for Italy, Paolo Maldini never lifted the trophy. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is the only Italian player to have been part of five World Cup squads, although he only made an appearance in four. RankPlayerMatchesWorld Cups1Paolo Maldini231990, 1994, 1998 and 20022Antonio Cabrini181978, 1982 and 1986Gaetano Scirea181978, 1982 and 1986Fabio Cannavaro181998, 2002, 2006 and 20105Dino Zoff171974, 1978 and 19826Giuseppe Bergomi161982, 1986, 1990 and 1998Roberto Baggio161990, 1994 and 19988Paolo Rossi141978 and 1982Gianluigi Buffon141998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 201410Claudio Gentile131978 and 1982Marco Tardelli131978 and 1982Gianluca Zambrotta132002, 2006 and 2010

Top goalscorers Two Italians were awarded the Golden Boot for top goalscorer at a FIFA World Cup: Paolo Rossi in 1982 and Salvatore Schillaci in 1990, with both having six goals. RankPlayerGoalsWorld Cups1Paolo Rossi91978 (3) and 1982 (6)Roberto Baggio91990 (2), 1994 (5) and 1998 (2)Christian Vieri91998 (5) and 2002 (4)4Salvatore Schillaci619905Silvio Piola51938Alessandro Altobelli51982 (1) and 1986 (4)7Angelo Schiavio41934Gino Colaussi419389Raimundo Orsi31934Giuseppe Meazza31934 (2) and 1938 (1)Gigi Riva31970Gianni Rivera31970 (2) and 1974 (1)

Awards

Team Champions (4): 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 Runners-up (2): 1970, 1994 Third place (1): 1990

Individual

Golden Ball award

Golden Ball: Giuseppe Meazza (1934; unofficial) Paolo Rossi (1982) Salvatore Schillaci (1990) Silver Ball: Silvio Piola (1938; unofficial) Paolo Rossi (1978; unofficial) Roberto Baggio (1994) Fabio Cannavaro (2006) Bronze Ball: Andrea Pirlo (2006)

Golden Boot award

Golden Boot: Paolo Rossi (1982) Salvatore Schillaci (1990) Silver Boot: Angelo Schiavio (1934; retrospective) Silvio Piola (1938; retrospective) Christian Vieri (1998)