1990 FIFA World Cup
Hosted by Italy. A defensive, low-scoring tournament. Cameroon's run to the quarter-finals captured the world's imagination.
The 1990 FIFA World Cup at a glance
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Italy and contested by 24 teams over 52 matches, producing 115 goals (2.21 per match). A defensive, low-scoring tournament. Cameroon's run to the quarter-finals captured the world's imagination. The final, West Germany 1-0 Argentina, was played at Stadio Olimpico, Rome.
Salvatore Schillaci of Italy won the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Scoring rate of 2.21 goals per match was 0.33 lower than the previous edition's 2.54. Final standings: 1st West Germany, 2nd Argentina, 3rd Italy, 4th England.
Final
Tournament
1990 FIFA World Cup records
| Champion | West Germany |
| Runner-up | Argentina |
| Third place | Italy |
| Fourth place | England |
| Final score | West Germany 1-0 Argentina |
| Final venue | Stadio Olimpico, Rome |
| Host country | Italy |
| Teams | 24 |
| Matches | 52 |
| Goals | 115 |
| Goals per match | 2.21 |
| Top scorer | Salvatore Schillaci (6 goals) |
| Top scorer nationality | Italy |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1990 FIFA World Cup?
West Germany won the 1990 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina Germany 1-0 Argentina in the final at Stadio Olimpico, Rome.
Where was the 1990 World Cup held?
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Italy. The final was played at Stadio Olimpico, Rome.
Who was the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup?
Salvatore Schillaci of Italy was the top scorer at the 1990 FIFA World Cup with 6 goals.
How many teams and matches were at the 1990 World Cup?
24 teams played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, totalling 52 matches and 115 goals — an average of 2.21 goals per match across roughly 30 days.
Who finished 3rd and 4th at the 1990 World Cup?
Italy finished third and England finished fourth at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
How did the 1990 World Cup differ from the previous edition?
The previous FIFA World Cup, in 1986, was won by Argentina (132 goals across 52 matches; 2.54 goals per match). The 1990 edition produced 115 goals across 52 matches (2.21 per match) and was won by West Germany.
What is the significance of the 1990 World Cup?
A defensive, low-scoring tournament. Cameroon's run to the quarter-finals captured the world's imagination.
Can I get 1990 World Cup historical data via API?
Yes. TheStatsAPI provides historical FIFA World Cup data going back to 1930, including match results, lineups, top scorers, final standings, and team appearance records. Query historical endpoints with year=1990 to retrieve the full dataset.
Get historical World Cup data via API
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