Which nations have played in both the FIFA World Cup and Cricket World Cup? The complete list & analysis

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins late at night on June 12, it’s a good time to look back in time to find out how the World Cup Cricket participants have performed in the FIFA World Cup over the ages. The British invented both games.

However, as football spread through Europe (and, with it, to the length and breadth of Africa and the Americas), cricket remained confined mostly to Commonwealth nations. Despite that, there have been several nations that have made it big in both the game and participated in both the World Cups.

England, of course, is the biggest name across both games because of the heritage of the sports in both countries, while Italy becomes the new team in the list as they featured in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Australia, England, New Zealand, and the West Indies refer to all World Cup Cricket Contests, which are 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015. England is the only team to have reached the final of both competitions. They have joined South Africa as the only two teams to have hosted both competitions.

India were invited to the FIFA World Cup 1950, but they had to decline the offer. FIFA didn’t allow them to play barefoot, which was common practice among the Indian football players of the era.

Which country has the best combined record across Football and Cricket's greatest tournaments?

Let’s take a look at which countries have the best combined record across the football and cricket’s greatest tournaments-

#1 Australia (7 FIFA World Cups and 22 Cricket World Cups)-

Australia have featured in seven FIFA World Cup editions from 1974 in Germany to the 2026 edition in North America. The best result for the side in the football World Cup came in the 2006 and 2022 editions when they finished at the Round of 16.

On the other hand, in terms of playing the cricket World Cups, they reached the ODI World Cups 13 times from 1975 to 2023, recently winning the competition in India under the leadership of Pat Cummins when they beat the Rohit Sharma-led side at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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They also won the 2021 T20 World Cup, beating New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, having participated in nine 20-over World Cups.

#2 Canada (3 FIFA World Cups and 6 Cricket World Cups)-

Canada have been part of three editions of the FIFA World Cups since 1986. They played the competition in Mexico and featured in two more seasons of the event in 2022 (Qatar) and 2026 (Canada/Mexico/USA). Their best result in the competition’s history came in 1986 and 2022 at the group stage. 

On the other hand, Canada played in four ODI World Cups, which were in 1979, 2003, 2007, and 2011. Their two T20 World Cups were in the last two seasons in 2024 and 2026. The 2024 edition was co-hosted by them along with the United States of America.

#3 England (18 FIFA World Cups and 23 Cricket World Cups)-

England have played in 17 seasons of the FIFA World Cup tournament editions, which started with their debut in 1950. That edition took place in Brazil, while they became the champions in 1996 as hosts when they secured their sole championship by defeating West Germany 4-2 after extra time in the final at Wembley Stadium.

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They have played 23 Cricket World Cups, including the ODIs and T20Is. Their best result in the 50-over event came in 2019, winning the title at home. In the shortest format, they grabbed the trophy twice in 2010 and 2022.

#4 Netherlands (12 FIFA World Cups and 12 Cricket World Cups)-

Netherlands have featured in a lot of 12 FIFA World Cups, starting in 1934 in Italy, including the 2026 edition in Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America. They have reached the World Cup final three times in 1974, 1978, and 2010, holding the record for the most event tournament final appearances without ever winning the championship.

The Dutch side featured in a total of 12 Cricket World Cups, including five in the ODIs, while seven came in the T20 World Cups. Their best result of the event was a 10th-place finish in 2023, including the group-stage wins over South Africa and Bangladesh.

#5 New Zealand (3 FIFA World Cups and 23 Cricket World Cups)-

The New Zealand side played in three FIFA World Cup editions, which were in 1982 (Spain), 2010 (South Africa), and the 2026 (Canada, Mexico, and USA) editions. Their best result in the men’s World Cup is an undefeated group-stage exit in 2010. It included three historic draws against Slovakia, Italy, and Paraguay.

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In cricket, the Blackcaps have featured in 23 Cricket World Cups, which are divided into 13 ODI World Cups and 10 T20 World Cups. In the 50-over format, their best results were in 2015 and 2019, finishing as the runners-up. In the 20-over format, they ended as the runners-up in 2021 and 2026.

#6 Ireland (3 FIFA World Cups and 12 Cricket World Cups)-

Ireland have featured in three FIFA World Cup editions. They have appeared in three seasons, which were in 1990 (Italy), 1994 (United States), and 2002 (Japan/South Korea). Their best-ever result in the tournament came in their very first edition when they reached the quarter-finals. They were not part of the 2026 edition after failing in the qualifiers.

They were part of the three ODI World Cups, which were in 2007, 2011, and 2015. In the 20-over World Cup, they played nine editions, which took place from 2009 to 2026. They didn’t qualify for the semis ever in the event.

#7 Scotland (9 FIFA World Cups and 10 Cricket World Cups)-

Scotland have been part of the FIFA World Cups nine times, starting from 1954 to the 2026 editions. They earned a spot in 1950 but declined to attend the event. Their journey in the football World Cups began in 1954, as their best result came in the group stage during all nine seasons of the competition. Till 2026, they hold the record for the most World Cup appearances by a nation without ever advancing past the first round.

See Also: Why Scotland will replace Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026 if Bangladesh withdraws?

In the Cricket World Cups, they played in a combined total of nine ICC Men’s World Cup events, out of which three came in ODIs and seven T20 World Cups. Their 50-over World Cups came in 1999, 2007, and 2015. In the T20 World Cup 2026, they replaced Bangladesh at the eleventh hour of the competition.

#8 South Africa (4 FIFA World Cups, 19 Cricket World Cups)-

South Africa have been part of four FIFA World Cups. These came in 1998 (France), 2002 (South Korea/Japan), 2010 (South Africa), and 2026 (Canada, Mexico, and the USA). In the 2010 edition, they played the competition at home. Their best result in the football World Cup came when they reached the group stage in 1998, 2002, and 2010.

The Proteas have been part of a combined total of 19 Cricket World Cups across the ODI and T20 formats. Out of this, the nine editions were in the 50-over format between 1992 and 2023, while in the T20 World Cups, they played in nine events since the inaugural event in 2007. Their best result in T20Is was finishing as the runners-up against India, while they reached the semifinals in the ODI WCs.

#9 United Arab Emirates (1 FIFA World Cup and 4 Cricket World Cups)-

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has played in exactly one FIFA World Cup edition. They qualified for the competition just once in 1990. During the historic run in Italy, the team was eliminated in the group stage after playing in three matches. They lost all three encounters against Colombia, West Germany, and Yugoslavia.

The UAE have played in a total of four Cricket World Cups across both formats. Out of these, two came in the ODIs, and two were in the shortest format. They qualified and played in the two ODI WCs in 1996 and 2011, while in the T20 WCs, they played in 2014 and 2022.

#10 West Indies (4 FIFA World Cups and 21 Cricket World Cups)-

West Indies don’t have access to feature in the FIFA World Cups. Instead, they are divided into Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti. Jamaica played in 1998 in France, Trinidad and Tobago played in 2006 in Germany, while Haiti featured in two editions, which were in 1974 in West Germany and in 2026. All three nations have reached the group stage but never advanced to the knockout rounds 

West Indies played in 21 editions of the Cricket World Cups, which were divided into 12 ODI World Cups and nine T20 World Cups. They won the 50-over WCs in 1975 and 1979, along with two T20 WCs in 2012 and 2016.

#11 Italy (18 FIFA World Cups and 1 Cricket World Cup)-

Italy have played in 18 editions of the men’s FIFA World Cup. Throughout the tournament, they appeared in 18 out of 2023 seasons, winning the championship in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006, marking them the second-most successful nation in the history of the Football World Cup, trailing Brazil.

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They have played in just one Men’s T20 World Cup, as the historic feat came in 2026 when they played the event in India and Sri Lanka. They have yet to play a single ODI World Cup.

#12 United States of America (12 FIFA World Cups and 2 Cricket World Cups)-

The United States of America have played 12 FIFA World Cups, including the 2026 season, starting from the 1930 edition in Uruguay. Their best result of it came when they finished in third place in the inaugural event in 1930. They reached the semi-finals in Uruguay by winning their group with consecutive wins over Belgium and Paraguay.

They played in two T20 World Cups, which were in 2024 and 2026. In the 2024 edition at home, they blew away Pakistan and automatically qualified for the 2026 edition in India and Sri Lanka.

Number of editions in both FIFA World Cups and Cricket World Cups-

FIFA World Cup and Cricket World Cups- FAQs