Who Won the World Cup Last: What Really Happened in Qatar and Australia

Honestly, if you're asking who won the world cup last, you’ve gotta specify which one. Most people are thinking of the men’s tournament in Qatar, but we’ve had a massive women’s tournament since then that changed the game forever.

Argentina is the reigning men’s champion. They climbed the mountain in December 2022. It was a whole thing. Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the gold, basically completing football as if it were a video game he’d been stuck on for twenty years.

But then you have Spain. They took the crown in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. They beat England 1-0 in a final that was just as tense, even if the scoreline looks a bit quieter.

Argentina’s Wild Ride to the 2022 Title

The men’s final in Qatar was, frankly, ridiculous. People call it the greatest game ever played, and they aren't just being dramatic for the sake of it. Argentina was cruising. They were 2-0 up. It looked like a snooze-fest until Kylian Mbappé decided to turn into a superhero and scored twice in 97 seconds.

I remember watching it and thinking Argentina was finished. They looked rattled.

Then extra time happened. Messi scores. Mbappé scores again to finish his hat trick. The game ends 3-3. It goes to a shootout, and that’s where Emi Martínez—Argentina's keeper—became a national hero (and a bit of a villain to the French). Argentina won the shootout 4-2.

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Why Argentina Winning Still Matters

It wasn't just about a trophy. It was about the "GOAT" debate. For years, people held it against Messi that he hadn’t won the big one. Maradona had 1986. Messi had... a lot of silver medals. By winning in 2022, he basically silenced every critic he ever had.

• The Saudi Shock: People forget they actually lost their first game to Saudi Arabia. It was a massive upset.
• The Scaloni Factor: Lionel Scaloni, the coach, was originally an interim fix. He ended up winning the Copa América and the World Cup back-to-back.
• The Drought: Argentina hadn't won since 1986. That’s 36 years of heartbreak wiped away in one night in Lusail.

Spain and the 2023 Women’s World Cup Shake-up

While the men’s side was about legacy, the women’s tournament in 2023 was about a changing of the guard. The US Women’s National Team (USWNT) had dominated for years. They went to Australia and New Zealand expecting to win a third straight title.

They didn't. They crashed out in the Round of 16.

Spain stepped into the vacuum. What’s crazy is that the Spanish team was in the middle of a massive internal revolt against their coach, Jorge Vilda, just months before the tournament. Several top players refused to play. Despite the drama, they played some of the most beautiful "tiki-taka" football we've seen in the women’s game.

The Final Against the Lionesses

England was the favorite for a lot of people. They were the European champions. But Olga Carmona scored a low, driven shot in the 29th minute that Mary Earps just couldn't reach.

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Spain held on. They won 1-0. It was their first-ever title, making them only the second nation (after Germany) to have won both the Men’s and Women’s World Cups.

What Most People Get Wrong About the "Last" Winner

When searching for who won the world cup last, the "last" is relative.

If we are talking about the most recent major FIFA World Cup regardless of gender, it's Spain (August 2023). If we are talking about the tournament that stops the world for a month and has the highest viewership, it's Argentina (December 2022).

There's also the Club World Cup. Manchester City won that in late 2023, beating Fluminense 4-0. But usually, when you're at a bar or arguing with friends, you mean the international ones.

Quick Reference of Recent Champions

Argentina (Men's 2022) - Defeated France on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
Spain (Women's 2023) - Defeated England 1-0.
Germany (Men's U-17 2023) - They actually won the youth version recently too, beating France.

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Looking Ahead to 2026 and 2027

The cycle never stops. The next Men’s World Cup is in 2026. It’s being hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. It’s going to be huge—48 teams instead of the usual 32. That means more games, more travel, and probably a lot more chaos.

For the women, the next one is in 2027. Brazil is hosting. It’ll be the first time the Women’s World Cup goes to South America, which is a massive deal for a continent that lives and breathes football.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the qualifying rounds. The South American (CONMEBOL) qualifiers for 2026 are already well underway, and Argentina is looking like they haven't lost a step. They're still the team to beat.

Actionable Insights for Fans:

• Check the Rankings: FIFA updates their world rankings monthly. Argentina usually sits at #1 for the men, while the women's rankings fluctuate wildly between Spain, the USA, and France.
• Mark Your Calendar: The 2026 World Cup starts in June. If you're planning to attend games in North America, tickets and housing will be a nightmare if you don't look early.
• Watch the Youth: If you want to know who will win in 2030, watch the U-20 tournaments. That’s where players like Alvarez and Mbappé first signaled they were different.