Short answers, pulled from the story.
As of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, 80 national teams have competed at the final tournaments. Including the 2026 edition, that total rises to 84 when using FIFA's view on successor and renamed teams.
Brazil is the only country to have appeared in all 22 FIFA World Cup tournaments held through the 2022 edition. Germany is second with 20 appearances.
Brazil is the most successful nation in the competition with five World Cup titles. Eight nations in total have won the tournament, with Uruguay being the inaugural champions in 1930 and Argentina being the current champions after winning in 2022.
Host nations have won the FIFA World Cup seven times across the 24 editions held through 2026. Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978), and France (1998) all won on home soil.
The longest single drought between appearances on record is 15 missed tournaments, with one nation absent from 1958 through 2022. Two teams last appeared in 1938 and have each missed 20 consecutive World Cups, the longest active droughts in the competition's history.
UEFA has produced 12 World Cup champions, the most of any confederation. CONMEBOL is second with 10 titles. No team from CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, or OFC has ever won the tournament.