Pound for Pound World Championships

The Pound for Pound World Championship (PPWC) is taken from the idea of the Unofficial Football World Championships (UFWC), and follows similar rules to that, the Virtual World Championship and Nasazzi's Baton.

The PPWC rules, while similar to the above competitions, differ in this way:

The tournament only began with the first ever World Cup, in 1930. Therefore Uruguay were the first champions of the world.
A country can only be recognised as world champions if they defeat the current holder in a competitive match, including tournaments for trophies other than World Cups and continental championships. Friendlies do not count.
The title is vacated at the beginning of every FIFA World Cup finals tournament, and contested for during the FIFA World Cup Final. Whoever wins the World Cup deserves to be recognised as the champion, otherwise why have the World Cup?
No-one can claim to be world champions during a World Cup finals tournament until they win the final. Therefore, even if the current holder is defeated during the tournament no title changes hands, as the title was vacated at the beginning of the tournament in order to be awarded to the winner.
The Olympic Games are not included in the men’s championship, as by the time of the 1936 Games (the first Olympic football tournament after 1930) the Olympics were no longer contested by main national teams. The women’s championship includes the Olympic Games as the Olympic women’s tournament is contested by main national teams.

This list shows all matches in which the title changed hands. The figure in the last column is the number of subsequent matches in which the team retained the title.

Men's Championship

DATE		MATCH				TOURNAMENT		SUCCESSFUL DEFENCES
30/07/1930	Uruguay 4-2 Argentina		World Cup Final			0
06/09/1931	Brazil 2-0 Uruguay		Rio Branco Cup			1
27/05/1934		Title vacated
10/06/1934	Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia	World Cup Final			1
27/10/1935	Czechoslovakia 2-1 Italy	Dr Gero Cup			4
23/05/1937	Italy 1-0 Czechoslovakia	Dr Gero Cup			1
04/06/1938		Title vacated
19/06/1938	Italy 4-2 Hungary		World Cup Final			2
02/04/1950	Austria 1-0 Italy		International Cup		0
24/06/1950		Title vacated
16/07/1950	Uruguay 2-1 Brazil		World Cup			3
13/04/1952	Chile 2-0 Uruguay		Panamerican Championship	0
20/04/1952	Brazil 3-0 Chile		Panamerican Championship	3
19/03/1953	Peru 1-0 Brazil			South American Championship	0
28/03/1953	Uruguay 3-0 Peru		South American Championship	0
16/06/1954		Title vacated
04/07/1954	West Germany 3-2 Hungary	World Cup Final			0
08/06/1958		Title vacated
29/06/1958	Brazil 5-2 Sweden		World Cup Final			9
12/12/1959	Uruguay 3-0 Brazil		S. Amer. Extra Championship	4
17/08/1960	Argentina 4-0 Uruguay		Atlantic Cup			2
30/05/1962		Title vacated
17/06/1962	Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia	World Cup Final			2
17/03/1963	Paraguay 2-0 Brazil		South American Championship	1
24/03/1963	Bolivia 2-0 Paraguay		South American Championship	2
25/07/1965	Paraguay 2-0 Bolivia		World Cup Qualifier		0
01/08/1965	Argentina 3-0 Paraguay		World Cup Qualifier		3
11/07/1966		Title vacated
30/07/1966	England 4-2 West Germany	World Cup Final			2
15/04/1967	Scotland 3-2 England		European Championship Qual.	0
21/10/1967	N. Ireland 1-0 Scotland 	European Championship Qual.	0
22/11/1967	England 2-0 N. Ireland		European Championship Qual.	3
05/06/1968	Yugoslavia 1-0 England		European Championship		1
10/06/1968	Italy 2-0 Yugoslavia		European Championship		4
31/05/1970		Title vacated
21/06/1970	Brazil 4-1 Italy		World Cup Final			7
13/06/1974		Title vacated
07/07/1974	West Germany 2-1 Netherlands  	World Cup Final			9
20/06/1976	Czechoslovakia 2-2 West
                       Germany (5-3 pens)	European Championship		1
30/03/1977	Wales 3-0 Czechoslovakia	World Cup Qualifier		0
12/10/1977	Scotland 2-0 Wales		World Cup Qualifier		2
20/05/1978	England 1-0 Scotland		British Home Championship	0
01/06/1978		Title vacated
25/06/1978	Argentina 3-1 Netherlands	World Cup Final			1
18/07/1979	Bolivia 2-1 Argentina		Copa América			1
01/08/1979	Paraguay 2-0 Bolivia		Peace of Chaco Cup		7
05/12/1979	Chile 1-0 Paraguay		Copa América			1
29/04/1981	Uruguay 2-1 Chile		Copa Pinto Duran 		2
23/08/1981	Peru 2-1 Uruguay		World Cup Qualifier		2
13/06/1982		Title vacated
11/07/1982	Italy 3-1 West Germany		World Cup Final			5
29/05/1983	Sweden 2-0 Italy		European Championship Qual.	0
09/06/1983	Romania 1-0 Sweden		European Championship Qual.	3
17/06/1984	West Germany 2-1 Romania	European Championship		0
20/06/1984	Spain 1-0 West Germany  	European Championship		1
27/06/1984	France 2-0 Spain		European Championship		4
02/05/1985	Bulgaria 2-0 France		World Cup Qualifier		2
16/11/1985	East Germany 2-1 Bulgaria	World Cup Qualifier		0
31/05/1986		Title vacated
29/06/1986	Argentina 3-2 West Germany 	World Cup Final			2
09/07/1987	Uruguay 1-0 Argentina		Copa América			1
07/08/1988	Colombia 2-1 Uruguay		Jiménez de Quesada Cup		3
05/07/1989	Paraguay 1-0 Colombia		Copa América			1
09/07/1989	Brazil 2-0 Paraguay		Copa América			7
08/06/1990		Title vacated
08/07/1990	West Germany 1-0 Argentina  	World Cup Final			2
05/06/1991	Wales 1-0 Germany		European Championship Qual.	0
16/10/1991	Germany 4-1 Wales		European Championship Qual.	4
18/06/1992	Netherlands 3-1 Germany 	European Championship		0
22/06/1992	Denmark 2-2 Netherlands
				  (5-4 pens)  	European Championship		5
24/02/1993	Argentina 1-1 Denmark 
		                 (5-4 pens)	Artemio Franchi Trophy		8
15/08/1993	Colombia 2-1 Argentina		World Cup Qualifier		7
17/06/1994 		Title vacated
17/07/1994	Brazil 0-0 Italy (3-2 pens)	World Cup Final			8
23/07/1995	Uruguay 1-1 Brazil (5-3 pens)	Copa América			1
12/11/1996	Chile 1-0 Uruguay		World Cup Qualifier		1
12/01/1997	Peru 2-1 Chile			World Cup Qualifier		1
19/01/1997	Denmark 2-1 Peru		US Cup				4
20/08/1997	Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-0 Denmark  World Cup Qualifier		0
06/09/1997	Croatia 3-2 Bosnia-Herz.	World Cup Qualifier		0
10/09/1997	Denmark 3-1 Croatia		World Cup Qualifier		1
10/06/1998		Title vacated
12/07/1998	France 3-0 Brazil		World Cup Final			5
05/06/1999	Russia 3-2 France		European Championship Qual.	11
01/09/2001	Slovenia 2-1 Russia		World Cup Qualifier		4
13/01/2002	Honduras 5-1 Slovenia		Carlsberg Lunar New Year Cup	1
31/05/2002		Title vacated
30/06/2002	Brazil 2-0 Germany		World Cup Final			0
19/06/2003	Cameroon 1-0 Brazil		Confederations Cup		3
29/06/2003	France 1-0 Cameroon		Confederations Cup		6
25/06/2004	Greece 1-0 France		European Championship		2
04/09/2004	Albania 2-1 Greece		World Cup Qualifier		0
08/09/2004	Georgia 2-0 Albania		World Cup Qualifier		0
13/10/2004	Ukraine 2-0 Georgia		World Cup Qualifier		6
07/09/2005	Turkey 1-0 Ukraine		World Cup Qualifier		1
12/11/2005	Switzerland 2-0 Turkey		World Cup Qualifier		0
16/11/2005	Turkey 4-2 Switzerland		World Cup Qualifier		0
09/06/2006		Title vacated
09/07/2006	Italy 1-1 France (5-3 pens)	World Cup Final			1
06/09/2006	France 3-1 Italy		European Championship Qual.	0
07/10/2006	Scotland 1-0 France		European Championship Qual.	0
11/10/2006	Ukraine 2-0 Scotland		European Championship Qual.	2
02/06/2007	France 2-0 Ukraine		European Championship Qual.	2
12/09/2007	Scotland 1-0 France		European Championship Qual.	1
17/10/2007	Georgia 2-0 Scotland		European Championship Qual.	0
21/11/2007	Lithuania 2-0 Georgia		European Championship Qual.	1
01/06/2008	Latvia 2-1 Lithuania		Baltic Cup			1
10/09/2008	Greece 2-0 Latvia		World Cup Qualifier		1
15/10/2008	Switzerland 2-1 Greece		World Cup Qualifier		6
11/06/2010		Title vacated
11/07/2010	Spain 1-0 Netherlands		World Cup Final			23
30/06/2013	Brazil 3-0 Spain		Confederations Cup		0
12/06/2014		Title vacated
13/07/2014	Germany 1-0 Argentina		World Cup Final			1
11/10/2014	Poland 2-0 Germany		European Championship Qual.	4
04/09/2015	Germany 3-1 Poland		European Championship Qual.	1
08/10/2015	Rep. of Ireland 1-0 Germany 	European Championship Qual.	0
11/10/2015	Poland 2-1 Rep. of Ireland	European Championship Qual.	4
30/06/2016	Portugal 1-1 Poland (5-3 pens) European Championship		2
06/09/2016	Switzerland 2-0 Portugal	World Cup Qualifier		8
10/10/2017	Portugal 2-0 Switzerland	World Cup Qualifier		0
14/06/2018		Title vacated
15/07/2018	France 4-2 Croatia		World Cup Final			3
16/11/2018	Netherlands 2-0 France		UEFA Nations League		2
24/03/2019	Germany 3-2 Netherlands 	European Championship Qual.	2
06/09/2019	Netherlands 4-2 Germany 	European Championship Qual.	6
07/09/2020      Italy 1-0 Netherlands		UEFA Nations League		17
06/10/2021	Spain 2-1 Italy			UEFA Nations League		0
10/10/2021	France 2-1 Spain		UEFA Nations League		2
03/06/2022	Denmark 2-1 France		UEFA Nations League		1
10/06/2022	Croatia 1-0 Denmark		UEFA Nations League		3
20/11/2022		Title vacated
18/12/2022      Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 pens)	World Cup Final			4
16/11/2023	Uruguay 2-0 Argentina  	        World Cup Qualifier             5
10/07/2024	Colombia 1-0 Uruguay		Copa América			0	
14/07/2024	Argentina 1-0 Colombia		Copa América			1
10/09/2024	Colombia 2-1 Argentina 		World Cup Qualifier		0
10/10/2024	Bolivia 1-0 Colombia   		World Cup Qualifier		0
15/10/2024	Argentina 6-0 Bolivia    	World Cup Qualifier		0
14/11/2024	Paraguay 2-1 Argentina    	World Cup Qualifier		1
Next match:
20/03/2025	Paraguay - Chile        	World Cup Qualifier

Women's Championship

DATE		MATCH				TOURNAMENT		SUCCESSFUL DEFENCES
30/11/1991	USA 2-1 Norway			World Cup Final			1
12/03/1993	Norway 1-0 USA			Cyprus Cup			10
29/07/1994	China 3-2 Norway		Chiquita Cup			4
05/06/1995		Title vacated
18/06/1995	Norway 2-0 Germany		World Cup Final			2
06/08/1995	USA 2-1 Norway			US Cup				19
19/03/1998	Norway 4-1 USA			Algarve Cup			4
25/07/1998	China 1-1 Norway (4-2 pens)	Goodwill Games			0
27/07/1998	USA 2-0 China			Goodwill Games			6
20/03/1999	China 2-1 USA			Algarve Cup			0
19/06/1999		Title vacated
10/07/1999	USA 0-0 China (5-4 pens)	World Cup Final			12
31/05/2000	China 1-0 USA			Pacific Cup			2
08/06/2000	Canada 2-2 China (5-3 pens)	Pacific Cup			2
26/06/2000	China 3-2 Canada		CONCACAF Gold Cup		1
01/07/2000	Brazil 3-2 China		CONCACAF Gold Cup		0
03/07/2000	USA 1-0 Brazil			CONCACAF Gold Cup		7
28/09/2000	Norway 3-2 USA			Olympic Games			1
13/03/2001	China 2-0 Norway		Algarve Cup			4
07/08/2001	Korea Republic 3-1 China	Tiger Pools Toto Cup		4
14/12/2001	Japan 2-1 Korea Republic	Asian Championship		0
16/12/2001	Korea DPR 2-0 Japan		Asian Championship		16
20/09/2003		Title vacated
12/10/2003	Germany 2-1 Sweden		World Cup Final			7
23/08/2004	USA 2-1 Germany			Olympic Games			11
15/03/2006	Germany 0-0 USA (4-3 pens)	Algarve Cup			8
07/03/2007	Norway 2-1 Germany		Algarve Cup			0
09/03/2007	Denmark 1-0 Norway		Algarve Cup			0
11/03/2007	Germany 3-0 Denmark		Algarve Cup			0
13/03/2007	Italy 1-0 Germany		Algarve Cup			0
05/05/2007	Sweden 2-0 Italy		European Championship Qual.	2
10/09/2007		Title vacated
30/09/2007	Germany 2-0 Brazil		World Cup Final			2
04/03/2008	Denmark 1-0 Germany		Algarve Cup			2
12/03/2008	USA 2-1 Denmark			Algarve Cup			8
06/08/2008	Norway 2-0 USA			Olympic Games			1
12/08/2008	Japan 5-1 Norway		Olympic Games			1
18/08/2008	USA 4-2 Japan			Olympic Games			4
11/03/2009	Sweden 1-1 USA (4-3 pens)	Algarve Cup			3
04/09/2009	Norway 3-1 Sweden		European Championship		0
07/09/2009	Germany 3-1 Norway		European Championship		4
03/03/2010	USA 3-2 Germany			Algarve Cup			3
05/11/2010	Mexico 2-1 USA			World Cup Qualifier		0
08/11/2010	Canada 1-0 Mexico		World Cup Qualifier		1
23/01/2011	USA 2-1 Canada			Four Nations Tournament	5
26/06/2011		Title vacated
17/07/2011	Japan 2-2 USA (3-1 pens)	World Cup Final			8
07/03/2012	Germany 4-3 Japan		Algarve Cup			7
13/03/2013	USA 2-0 Germany			Algarve Cup			1
07/03/2014	Sweden 1-0 USA			Algarve Cup			0
10/03/2014	Japan 2-1 Sweden		Algarve Cup			0
12/03/2014	Germany 3-0 Japan		Algarve Cup			5
04/03/2015	Sweden 4-2 Germany		Algarve Cup			0
06/03/2015	Brazil 2-0 Sweden		Algarve Cup			0
09/03/2015	Germany 3-1 Brazil		Algarve Cup			1
06/06/2015		Title vacated
05/07/2015	USA 5-2 Japan			World Cup Final			11
12/08/2016	Sweden 1-1 USA (4-3 pens)	Olympic Games			1
19/08/2016	Germany 2-1 Sweden		Olympic Games			2
01/03/2017	USA 1-0 Germany			SheBelieves Cup			0
04/03/2017	England 1-0 USA			SheBelieves Cup			0
07/03/2017	Germany 1-0 England		SheBelieves Cup			3
30/07/2017	Denmark 2-1 Germany		European Championship		1
06/08/2017	Netherlands 4-2 Denmark 	European Championship		10
04/09/2018	Norway 2-1 Netherlands		World Cup Qualifier		3
07/06/2019		Title vacated
07/07/2019	USA 2-0 Netherlands		World Cup Final			11
21/07/2021	Sweden 3-0 USA   		Olympic Games			4
06/08/2021	Canada 1-1 Sweden (3-2 pens)	Olympic Games			2
23/02/2022	Spain 1-0 Canada		Arnold Clark Cup		2
12/07/2022	Germany 2-0 Spain		European Championship		3
31/07/2022	England 2-1 Germany		European Championship		6
20/07/2023		Title vacated
20/08/2023 	Spain 1-0 England		World Cup Final			4
01/12/2023	Italy 3-2 Spain			UEFA Nations League 		2
09/04/2024 	Finland 2-1 Italy  		European Championship Qual.     0
31/05/2024 	Netherlands 1-0 Finland 	European Championship Qual.     3
Next match: 
21/02/2025 	Netherlands - Germany		UEFA Nations League

About this document

This ranking was originally devised in 2012 by a Scottish football website called The Away End, which is no longer in existence (and did not contain the women's edition).

Prepared and maintained by Jess Cully for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Author: Jess Cully (sirknight1399@gmail.com)
Last updated: 20 Nov 2024