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Unofficial World Championship (RSSSF)

A boxing-style lineal title: it began with England in 1872, and ever since it passes to whoever beats the reigning holder — in a friendly, a qualifier, or a World Cup final alike. A draw (or a shootout loss aside) keeps it. This is a descriptive lineage, not an official competition.

The Unofficial World Championship match list is maintained by the RSSSF (Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation) — compiled by James Allnutt, Paul Crankshaw, Jostein Nygård and Roberto Di Maggio. rsssf.org. Reproduced with attribution; this page is not affiliated with ufwc.co.uk.
The hook · 2026

The unofficial title cannot change hands at this World Cup. Turkey reclaimed it in their final group match — United States 2–3 Turkey — then exited at the group stage. With the holder already eliminated, no remaining fixture puts the title on the line: whoever lifts the trophy will not be the unofficial world champion.

Current unofficial champion
🇹🇷 Turkey
Holder since United States 2–3 Turkey (2026-06-26). The title passes whenever the holder is beaten — in any match, at any level.

The title at our seven World Cups

YearMatchOutcome
2002holder not involved in a WC match
2006holder not involved in a WC match
2010Netherlands 2–0 Denmark (title retained)
2010Netherlands 1–0 Japan (title retained)
2010Cameroon 1–2 Netherlands (title retained)
2010Netherlands 2–1 Slovakia (title retained)
2010Netherlands 2–1 Brazil (title retained)
2010Netherlands 3–2 Uruguay (title retained)
2010Spain 1–0 Netherlands → Spain takes the title
2014holder not involved in a WC match
2018Denmark 1–0 Peru → Denmark takes the title
2018Denmark 1–1 Australia (title retained)
2018Denmark 0–0 France (title retained)
2018Croatia 1–1 Denmark → Croatia takes the title
2018Russia 2–2 Croatia (title retained)
2018Croatia 2–1 England (title retained)
2018France 4–2 Croatia → France takes the title
2022Croatia 0–0 Morocco (title retained)
2022Croatia 4–1 Canada (title retained)
2022Croatia 0–0 Belgium (title retained)
2022Croatia 1–1 Japan (title retained)
2022Croatia 1–1 Brazil (title retained)
2022Argentina 3–0 Croatia → Argentina takes the title
2022Argentina 3–3 France (title retained)
2026Australia 2–0 Turkey → Australia takes the title
2026United States 2–0 Australia → United States takes the title
2026United States 2–3 Turkey → Turkey takes the title
🇦🇺 Australia's unofficial reigns
  • 1992-06-14 → 1992-06-14 (0 days)
  • 2026-06-14 → 2026-06-14 (0 days)
Two brief reigns, 0 days in total — and both began on 14 June, 34 years apart.

Full title lineage — 248 changes since 1872

DateNew holderHowComp
2026-06-26🇹🇷 Turkeybeat United States 2–3WC
2026-06-19🇺🇸 United Statesbeat Australia 2–0WC
2026-06-14🇦🇺 Australiabeat Turkey 2–0WC
2026-03-31🇹🇷 Turkeybeat Kosovo 0–1WCQ
2025-09-08 Kosovobeat Sweden 2–0WCQ
2025-06-10🇸🇪 Swedenbeat Algeria 4–3F
2024-11-17🇩🇿 Algeriabeat Liberia 5–1ACQ
2024-10-27 Liberiabeat Sierra Leone 1–2ANQ
2024-10-15 Sierra Leonebeat Ivory Coast 1–0ACQ
2024-03-26🇨🇮 Ivory Coastbeat Uruguay 2–1F
2023-11-17🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Argentina 0–2WCQ
2022-12-13🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Croatia 3–0WC
2022-06-10🇭🇷 Croatiabeat Denmark 0–1NL
2022-06-03🇩🇰 Denmarkbeat France 1–2NL
2021-10-10🇫🇷 Francebeat Spain 2–1NL
2021-10-06🇪🇸 Spainbeat Italy 1–2NL
2020-09-07🇮🇹 Italybeat Netherlands 0–1UNL
2019-09-06🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Germany 2–4ECQ
2019-03-24🇩🇪 Germanybeat Netherlands 2–3ECQ
2018-11-16🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat France 2–0UNL
2018-07-15🇫🇷 Francebeat Croatia 4–2WC
2018-07-01🇭🇷 Croatiabeat Denmark 1–1WC
2018-06-16🇩🇰 Denmarkbeat Peru 1–0WC
2017-09-01🇵🇪 Perubeat Bolivia 2–1WCQ
2017-03-28 Boliviabeat Argentina 2–0WCQ
2017-03-23🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Chile 1–0WCQ
2016-11-15🇨🇱 Chilebeat Uruguay 3–1WCQ
2016-09-06🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Paraguay 4–0WCQ
2016-09-01🇵🇾 Paraguaybeat Chile 2–1WCQ
2016-06-18🇨🇱 Chilebeat Mexico 7–0CA
2016-06-05🇲🇽 Mexicobeat Uruguay 3–1CA
2015-11-17🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Chile 3–0WCQ
2015-07-04🇨🇱 Chilebeat Argentina 0–0CA
2015-06-17🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Uruguay 1–0CA
2014-11-19🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Chile 1–2F
2014-10-11🇨🇱 Chilebeat Peru 3–0F
2014-09-09🇵🇪 Perubeat Qatar 0–2F
2014-01-07🇶🇦 Qatarbeat Jordan 2–0WAC
2014-01-01🇯🇴 Jordanbeat Kuwait 1–2WAC
2013-09-06 Kuwaitbeat Korea DPR 2–1F
2011-11-15🇰🇵 North Koreabeat Japan 1–0WCQ
2010-10-08🇯🇵 Japanbeat Argentina 1–0F
2010-09-07🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Spain 4–1F
2010-07-11🇪🇸 Spainbeat Netherlands 1–0WC
2008-11-19🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Sweden 3–1F
2008-09-10🇸🇪 Swedenbeat Hungary 2–1WCQ
2008-05-24 Hungarybeat Greece 3–2F
2007-10-17🇬🇷 Greecebeat Turkey 0–1ECQ
2007-09-12🇹🇷 Turkeybeat Hungary 3–0ECQ
2007-08-22 Hungarybeat Italy 3–1F
2007-03-28🇮🇹 Italybeat Scotland 2–0ECQ
2007-03-24🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat Georgia 2–1ECQ
2006-11-15 Georgiabeat Uruguay 2–0F
2006-10-18🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Venezuela 4–0F
2006-09-27 Venezuelabeat Uruguay 1–0F
2006-05-23🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Romania 0–2F
2005-11-16 Romaniabeat Nigeria 3–0F
2005-10-08🇳🇬 Nigeriabeat Zimbabwe 5–1WCQ
2005-03-27 Zimbabwebeat Angola 2–0WCQ
2004-06-20🇦🇴 Angolabeat Nigeria 1–0WCQ
2004-05-29🇳🇬 Nigeriabeat Ireland Republic 0–3F
2004-03-31 Ireland Republicbeat Czech Republic 2–1F
2003-09-10🇨🇿 Czech Republicbeat Netherlands 3–1ECQ
2002-03-27🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Spain 1–0F
2001-03-28🇪🇸 Spainbeat France 2–1F
2000-07-02🇫🇷 Francebeat Italy 1–2EC
2000-06-24🇮🇹 Italybeat Romania 0–2EC
2000-06-20 Romaniabeat England 2–3EC
2000-06-17🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Germany 0–1EC
2000-06-03🇩🇪 Germanybeat Czech Republic 3–2F
2000-04-26🇨🇿 Czech Republicbeat Israel 4–1F
2000-02-23 Israelbeat Russia 4–1F
1999-06-05🇷🇺 Russiabeat France 2–3ECQ
1998-07-12🇫🇷 Francebeat Brazil 3–0WC
1998-07-07🇧🇷 Brazilbeat Netherlands 1–1WC
1998-07-04🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Argentina 1–2WC
1998-04-29🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Brazil 0–1F
1998-03-25🇧🇷 Brazilbeat Germany 1–2F
1996-06-30🇩🇪 Germanybeat Czech Republic 1–2EC
1996-06-26🇨🇿 Czech Republicbeat France 0–0EC
1995-11-15🇫🇷 Francebeat Israel 2–0ECQ
1995-09-20 Israelbeat Uruguay 3–1F
1995-07-23🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Brazil 1–1CA
1995-07-13🇧🇷 Brazilbeat Colombia 0–3CA
1994-06-26🇨🇴 Colombiabeat Switzerland 0–2WC
1994-06-22🇨🇭 Switzerlandbeat Romania 1–4WC
1994-04-20 Romaniabeat Bolivia 3–0F
1994-04-07 Boliviabeat Colombia 0–1F
1993-08-15🇨🇴 Colombiabeat Argentina 2–1WCQ
1992-06-18🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Australia 2–0F
1992-06-14🇦🇺 Australiabeat United States 0–1F
1992-06-04🇺🇸 United Statesbeat Portugal 1–0F
1992-02-13🇵🇹 Portugalbeat Netherlands 2–0F
1990-11-21🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Greece 2–0ECQ
1990-01-17🇬🇷 Greecebeat Belgium 2–0F
1989-08-23🇧🇪 Belgiumbeat Denmark 3–0F
1989-06-14🇩🇰 Denmarkbeat Sweden 6–0F
1989-05-07🇸🇪 Swedenbeat Poland 2–1WCQ
1989-04-12🇵🇱 Polandbeat Romania 2–1F
1989-03-29 Romaniabeat Italy 1–0F
1988-11-16🇮🇹 Italybeat Netherlands 1–0F
1988-09-14🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Wales 1–0WCQ
1988-06-04🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Walesbeat Italy 0–1F
1987-06-10🇮🇹 Italybeat Argentina 1–3F
1986-06-25🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Belgium 0–2WC
1986-06-22🇧🇪 Belgiumbeat Spain 1–1WC
1986-06-18🇪🇸 Spainbeat Denmark 1–5WC
1986-06-13🇩🇰 Denmarkbeat Germany 0–2WC
1986-05-14🇩🇪 Germanybeat Netherlands 3–1F
1985-11-20🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Belgium 2–1WCQ
1985-10-16🇧🇪 Belgiumbeat Netherlands 1–0WCQ
1985-09-04🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Bulgaria 1–0F
1985-05-02 Bulgariabeat France 2–0WCQ
1984-06-16🇫🇷 Francebeat Belgium 5–0EC
1984-06-13🇧🇪 Belgiumbeat Yugoslavia 0–2EC
1984-06-02 Yugoslaviabeat Portugal 2–3F
1983-11-13🇵🇹 Portugalbeat Soviet Union 1–0ECQ
1983-04-13 Soviet Unionbeat Switzerland 0–1F
1982-10-27🇨🇭 Switzerlandbeat Italy 0–1F
1982-07-08🇮🇹 Italybeat Poland 0–2WC
1982-06-22🇵🇱 Polandbeat Peru 1–5WC
1982-03-30🇵🇪 Perubeat Chile 1–0F
1982-03-23🇨🇱 Chilebeat Peru 2–1F
1981-08-23🇵🇪 Perubeat Uruguay 1–2WCQ
1981-01-10🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Brazil 2–1F
1980-06-24🇧🇷 Brazilbeat Chile 2–1F
1979-12-05🇨🇱 Chilebeat Paraguay 1–0CA
1979-08-01🇵🇾 Paraguaybeat Bolivia 2–0F
1979-07-18 Boliviabeat Argentina 2–1CA
1978-06-25🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Netherlands 3–1WC
1978-06-21🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Italy 1–2WC
1978-06-02🇮🇹 Italybeat France 1–2WC
1977-11-16🇫🇷 Francebeat Bulgaria 3–1WCQ
1977-06-01 Bulgariabeat Ireland Republic 2–1WCQ
1977-03-30 Ireland Republicbeat France 1–0WCQ
1977-02-23🇫🇷 Francebeat Germany 1–0F
1976-11-17🇩🇪 Germanybeat Czechoslovakia 2–0F
1975-10-30 Czechoslovakiabeat England 2–1ECQ
1975-03-12🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Germany 2–0F
1974-07-07🇩🇪 Germanybeat Netherlands 2–1WC
1973-05-02🇳🇱 Netherlandsbeat Spain 3–2F
1972-01-12🇪🇸 Spainbeat Hungary 1–0F
1971-09-25 Hungarybeat Bulgaria 2–0ECQ
1971-05-19 Bulgariabeat Hungary 3–0ECQ
1970-11-15 Hungarybeat Switzerland 0–1F
1970-05-03🇨🇭 Switzerlandbeat France 2–1F
1969-11-01🇫🇷 Francebeat Sweden 3–0WCQ
1969-08-06🇸🇪 Swedenbeat Soviet Union 0–1F
1968-06-16 Soviet Unionbeat Austria 3–1F
1967-10-15🇦🇹 Austriabeat Soviet Union 1–0ECQ
1967-05-10 Soviet Unionbeat Scotland 0–2F
1967-04-15🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–3ECQ
1966-07-30🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Germany 4–2WC
1966-07-25🇩🇪 Germanybeat Soviet Union 1–2WC
1966-02-23 Soviet Unionbeat Chile 0–2F
1965-08-22🇨🇱 Chilebeat Ecuador 3–1WCQ
1965-06-20🇪🇨 Ecuadorbeat Colombia 0–1WCQ
1963-09-04🇨🇴 Colombiabeat Costa Rica 1–0F
1963-03-28🇨🇷 Costa Ricabeat Netherlands Antilles 0–1CC
1963-03-24 Netherlands Antillesbeat Mexico 1–2CC
1962-06-07🇲🇽 Mexicobeat Czechoslovakia 1–3WC
1962-05-31 Czechoslovakiabeat Spain 0–1WC
1961-06-11🇪🇸 Spainbeat Argentina 2–0F
1960-08-17🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Uruguay 4–0F
1959-12-12🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Brazil 0–3CA
1958-06-29🇧🇷 Brazilbeat Sweden 2–5WC
1958-06-24🇸🇪 Swedenbeat Germany 3–1WC
1958-06-08🇩🇪 Germanybeat Argentina 1–3WC
1958-04-30🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Uruguay 2–0F
1958-04-06🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Argentina 1–0F
1957-10-27🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Bolivia 4–0WCQ
1957-09-29 Boliviabeat Chile 3–0WCQ
1957-09-15🇨🇱 Chilebeat Brazil 1–0F
1957-07-10🇧🇷 Brazilbeat Argentina 2–0F
1957-04-09🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Peru 1–4F
1957-04-06🇵🇪 Perubeat Argentina 2–1CA
1956-06-24🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Italy 1–0F
1956-04-25🇮🇹 Italybeat Brazil 3–0F
1956-02-05🇧🇷 Brazilbeat Argentina 0–1CA
1955-03-02🇦🇷 Argentinabeat Paraguay 3–5CA
1954-04-10🇵🇾 Paraguaybeat Uruguay 1–4F
1953-03-28🇺🇾 Uruguaybeat Peru 0–3CA
1953-03-19🇵🇪 Perubeat Brazil 1–0CA
1952-04-20🇧🇷 Brazilbeat Chile 0–3PA
1950-07-02🇨🇱 Chilebeat United States 2–5WC
1950-06-29🇺🇸 United Statesbeat England 0–1WC
1950-04-15🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 0–1WCQ
1949-04-09🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 1–3HI
1947-11-19🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Sweden 4–2F
1946-07-07🇸🇪 Swedenbeat Switzerland 7–2F
1945-11-25🇨🇭 Switzerlandbeat Sweden 3–0F
1943-11-07🇸🇪 Swedenbeat Hungary 2–7F
1943-05-16 Hungarybeat Switzerland 1–3F
1942-11-15🇨🇭 Switzerlandbeat Sweden 3–1F
1942-09-20🇸🇪 Swedenbeat Germany 2–3F
1942-05-03🇩🇪 Germanybeat Hungary 3–5F
1941-11-16 Hungarybeat Switzerland 1–2F
1941-04-20🇨🇭 Switzerlandbeat Germany 2–1F
1941-04-06🇩🇪 Germanybeat Hungary 7–0F
1940-03-31 Hungarybeat Switzerland 3–0F
1939-11-12🇨🇭 Switzerlandbeat Italy 3–1F
1939-06-04🇮🇹 Italybeat Yugoslavia 1–2F
1939-05-18 Yugoslaviabeat England 2–1F
1939-04-15🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 1–2HI
1938-04-09🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 0–1HI
1937-11-17🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Wales 2–1HI
1936-12-02🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Walesbeat Scotland 1–2HI
1935-04-06🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–0HI
1934-09-29🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Wales 0–4HI
1933-11-15🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Walesbeat England 1–2HI
1933-10-14🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Northern Ireland 0–3HI
1933-09-16 Northern Irelandbeat Scotland 1–2HI
1933-04-01🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–1HI
1932-12-07🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Austria 4–3F
1931-05-16🇦🇹 Austriabeat Scotland 5–0F
1931-03-28🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–0HI
1930-04-05🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 5–2HI
1928-10-27🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat Wales 4–2HI
1928-02-04🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Walesbeat Northern Ireland 1–2HI
1927-10-22 Northern Irelandbeat England 2–0HI
1927-04-02🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 1–2HI
1925-02-14🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat Wales 3–1HI
1924-02-16🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Walesbeat Scotland 2–0HI
1922-04-08🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 0–1HI
1922-03-13🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Wales 1–0HI
1922-02-04🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Walesbeat Scotland 2–1HI
1921-04-09🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 3–0HI
1920-04-10🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 5–4HI
1920-03-13🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat Ireland 3–0HI
1914-02-14 Irelandbeat England 0–3HI
1913-04-05🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 1–0HI
1910-04-02🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–0HI
1909-03-15🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Wales 2–0HI
1909-03-01🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Walesbeat Scotland 3–2HI
1908-03-07🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat Wales 2–1HI
1907-03-04🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Walesbeat Scotland 1–0HI
1906-04-07🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–1HI
1904-03-12🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Ireland 1–3HI
1903-03-21 Irelandbeat Scotland 0–2HI
1900-04-07🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 4–1HI
1898-04-02🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 1–3HI
1896-04-04🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–1HI
1891-04-06🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 2–1HI
1889-04-13🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–3HI
1888-03-17🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 0–5HI
1880-03-13🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 5–4F
1879-04-05🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Englandbeat Scotland 5–4F
1874-03-07🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotlandbeat England 2–1F
The Unofficial World Championship match list is maintained by the RSSSF (Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation) — compiled by James Allnutt, Paul Crankshaw, Jostein Nygård and Roberto Di Maggio. rsssf.org. Reproduced with attribution; this page is not affiliated with ufwc.co.uk.