- Ask Steven
Countries to feature in every World Cup
How many countries have featured in every football World Cup? asked Kenneth Lawrence
Only one country has been present at all 19 World Cup finals tournaments between 1930 and 2010 - Brazil, the five-times winners and hosts for the 20th one next year. Italy come next, having been in 17 previous tournaments - they missed the inaugural one, in Uruguay in 1930, and failed to qualify in 1958.
Germany have also been in 17 (including as West Germany from 1954 to 1990): they also missed the first one and were not invited to take part in 1950. Argentina have been in 15 finals tournaments - they did not enter in 1938, 1950 and 1954 for various reasons, and failed to qualify in 1970. Englasnd have been in 13 finals tournaments, and Scotland in eight.
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