What are the best teams to never win the World Cup? Read here for the best countries to never win the men’s FIFA World Cup and the closest they got.
When we consider the best teams to never win the World Cup, countries fall into one of two camps:
There are nations that had one or two particularly strong tournaments, but fell agonisingly short.
For others, it is a case of consistently contending, and often being considered a favourite among the World Cup outright winner odds, but never getting over the hump.
Below, we have compiled a list of the best countries to never win a World Cup, starting with the Netherlands, who have a knack for always being the bridesmaid:
Team | Best World Cup finish | Years achieved |
Netherlands | Runners-up | 1974, 1978, 2010 |
Hungary | Runners-up | 1938, 1954 |
Croatia | Runners-up | 2018 |
Sweden | Runners-up | 1958 |
Portugal | Third place | 1966 |
Belgium | Third place | 2018 |
USA | Third place | 1930 |
South Korea | Fourth place | 2002 |
Bulgaria | Fourth place | 1994 |
Morocco | Fourth place | 2022 |
Reading on, we’ve delved into the names who make the list; but, if you’re ready to back your favourites, why not dive straight into the latest World Cup betting odds for all the matches as they unfold?
The best countries to never win a World Cup
Being one of the best teams to never win a World Cup doesn’t always mean they finished as runners-up. It can just be a brilliant team falling short due to misfortune, an off-day, or coming up against an even better team.
Netherlands
England and Spain have combined for the same number of semi-final appearances as the Netherlands. Five times reaching the semis, the Netherlands have finished as runners-up on three occasions, as well as third in 2014 and fourth in 1998.
The brilliant Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens were the stars in the 1974 team which lost the final to West Germany. Four years later, it was Argentina that handed the Oranje World Cup final heartbreak with an extra time win.
Along with Cruyff – perhaps the most influential person in the history of the sport – Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp, Clarence Seedorf, and Jaap Stam are among the other Dutch greats to suffer World Cup near-misses.
Hungary
The 1954 Hungarians are arguably the best team to never win a World Cup. They blew a 2-0 lead in the final, with Helmut Rahn scoring an 84th-minute winner for West Germany to break Hungarian hearts.
A 9-0 win over South Korea and an 8-3 victory against Germany put Hungary into the knockout rounds where they saw off Brazil and Uruguay. The Germans enacted revenge with their comeback in the final, making Sándor Kocsis and Ferenc Puskás two of the best players to never win the tournament.
Croatia
Croatia’s first semi-final appearance was powered by Davor Šuker’s Golden Boot efforts in 1998. They have been fringe contenders in most World Cups since, but had to wait until 2018 for their next semi-final appearance.
Overcoming England in extra time, Croatia – led by one of the best midfielders of his generation in Luka Modrić – fell to France in the final. Despite numerous high-profile retirements, they also managed to reach the semis in Qatar four years later.
Sweden
Sweden have reached double as many World Cup semi-finals as Spain. Fourth in 1938 and third in 1950, the Swedes then lost the 1958 World Cup final on home soil to Pelé’s Brazil. It was an emphatic 5-2 defeat in the final.
It took 36 years for Sweden to reach another World Cup semi-final. In 1994, Sweden beat Saudi Arabia and Romania in the knockout rounds before losing the semi-final to Brazil and beating Bulgaria in the playoff.
Portugal
Portugal are perhaps the strongest footballing nation to never reach a World Cup final. They have reached just two semi-finals – 1966 and 2006 – despite producing some of the world’s greatest ever players, including Eusébio, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luis Figo.
With only one knockout win since 2006, Portugal are nip-and-tuck with the Netherlands as the biggest underachievers in World Cup history.
Belgium
Semi-finalists in 1986 and 2018, Belgium were considered serious contenders during the peak years of their golden generation, but never reached a World Cup final. A painful loss to France in the 2018 semi-final is the closest Belgium have come, which ended in a third placed finish after a win over England.
On paper, the 2018 Belgium squad is one of the three or four most talented groups to never make a World Cup final. From Eden Hazard to Kevin De Bruyne, from Thibaut Courtois to Vincent Kompany, the Red Devils had a truly star-studded team.
USA
After beating Paraguay and Belgium in the group stage of the 1930 World Cup, the United States were beaten 6-1 by Argentina in the semi-finals. It is still their best showing at a World Cup, albeit when the tournament was much smaller.
In more recent times, the Stars and Stripes were quarter-finalists in 2002 and reached the round of 16 in 2010, 2014, and 2022.
South Korea
South Korea reaching the semis as co-hosts in 2002 is one of the most remarkable World Cup stories. They hadn’t won a World Cup match heading into the 2002 edition, but stunned fans worldwide when they beat Poland and Portugal in the group stage.
An extra time win over Italy and a penalty shootout triumph against Spain booked a semi-final meeting with Germany, which ended in a 1-0 defeat in Seoul.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria have had some wonderful players over the years and registered a fourth-placed finish in the 1990s.
Behind Ballon d’Or winner Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria knocked out Mexico and Italy in 1994. Losses to Italy and Sweden ensured it was a fourth place for the Lions, but it is the closest they’ve come to World Cup glory. In their six other World Cup entries, they haven’t won a single match.
Morocco
Morocco topped their group in 2022 ahead of Croatia and Belgium. Resolute displays against Spain and Portugal followed, earning a place in the semi-final against France. It was a step too far for the Atlas Lions, but still represented by far their best showing at a World Cup.
Runners-up at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco are once again poised for be very competitive at the 2026 World Cup.
Want to learn more about the World Cup?
Now you know the best teams to never win the World Cup, you might be looking to learn more about the World Cup. You can learn everything from the most successful nations and top goal scorers through to team previews on the Betway World Cup blog. Look no further, whether you’re looking to find out Germany’s leading World Cup scorer or Belgium’s overall World Cup record.
