The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, due to World War II.
The tournament consists of two parts, the qualification phase and the final phase (officially called the World Cup Finals). The qualification phase, which currently take place over the three years preceding the Finals, is used to determine which teams qualify for the Finals. The current format of the Finals involves 48 teams competing for the title, at venues within the host nation (or nations) over a period of about a month. The World Cup final is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 tournament final.
Cameroon have appeared in the Finals of the FIFA World Cup on eight occasions, the first being in 1982, where they drew all three group games and finished in 17th place. In 1990, Cameroon reached the quarter-finals before being defeated 3–2 by England. Roger Milla, at the age of 42, became the oldest player ever to appear in a World Cup Finals match at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where he also managed to score. The record for oldest player was broken in 2014 by Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón, but Milla is still the oldest goalscorer at FIFA World Cup Finals.
Cameroon made their most recent tournament appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Record at the FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup recordYearRoundPosition* 1930 Part of 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 as 1962 Not a FIFA member 1966 Withdrew 1970 Did not qualify 1974 1978 1982 Group stage 17th 3 0 3 0 1 1 1986 Did not qualify 1990 Quarter-finals 7th 5 3 0 2 7 9 1994 Group stage 22nd 3 0 1 2 3 11 1998 25th 3 0 2 1 2 5 2002 20th 3 1 1 1 2 3 2006 Did not qualify 2010 Group stage 31st 3 0 0 3 2 5 2014 32nd 3 0 0 3 1 9 2018 Did not qualify 2022 Group stage 19th 3 1 1 1 4 4 2026Did not qualify 2030To be determined 2034Total Quarter-finals 8/23 26 5 8 13 22 47 *Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
By match YearRoundOpponentScoreResultVenueCameroon scorers 1982Group 10–0DA Coruña0–0DA Coruña1–1DVigoG. M'Bida 1990Group B1–0WMilanF. Omam-Biyik2–1WBariR. Milla (2)0–4LBariRound of 162–1 WNaplesR. Milla (2)Quarter-finals2–3 LNaplesE. Kundé, E. Ekéké 1994Group B2–2DPasadenaD. Embé, F. Omam-Biyik0–3LStanford1–6LStanfordR. Milla 1998Group B1–1DToulouseP. Njanka0–3LMontpellier1–1DNantesP. M'Boma2002Group E1–1DNiigataP. M'Boma1–0WSaitamaS. Eto'o0–2LShizuoka 2010Group E0–1LBloemfontein1–2LPretoriaS. Eto'o1–2LCape TownS. Eto'o 2014Group A0–1LNatal0–4LManaus1–4LBrasíliaJ. Matip2022Group G0–1LAl Wakrah—3–3DAl WakrahJ. Castelletto, V. Aboubakar, E. Choupo-Moting1–0WLusailV. Aboubakar
Record by opponent FIFA World Cup matches (by team)OpponentWinsDrawsLossesTotalGoals scoredGoals conceded100110010111102327010111100121001104001112001123001102011214001101001101001112010100010100010111100121001116100110010133001104010122001101
Participations Spain 1982
Squad Head coach: Jean Vincent
Matches
Grégoire M'Bida scored the first ever goal for Cameroon in the World Cup Finals when he hooked the ball home with his right foot past the advancing goalkeeper from inside the six yard box after the ball had been headed on to him from a high ball inside the penalty area. The goal came one minute after Italy had taken the lead in the game after missing several chances to score in the first half.
Italy 1990
Squad Head coach: Valery Nepomnyashchy
Argentina vs Cameroon
Omam-Biyik scored with a downward header from six yards out the after the ball had been looped into the air. Nery Pumpido allowed the weak header to go under his body and into the net.
GK 1 Nery PumpidoDF 19Oscar Ruggeri DF 20Juan SimónDF 11Néstor FabbriMF 4 José BasualdoMF 13Néstor LorenzoMF 2 Sergio BatistaMF 17Roberto Sensini MF 7 Jorge BurruchagaFW 3 Abel BalboFW 10Diego Maradona (c)Substitutions:GK 12Sergio GoycocheaDF 18José SerrizuelaMF 16Julio OlarticoecheaMF 6 Gabriel Calderón FW 8 Claudio Caniggia Manager: Carlos Bilardo GK 16Thomas N'Kono (c)SW 17Victor N'Dip DF 14Stephen TatawDF 6 Emmanuel KundéDF 4 Benjamin Massing DF 5 Bertin EbwelléMF 8 Émile Mbouh MF 2 André Kana-Biyik MF 10Louis-Paul Mfédé FW 7 François Omam-BiyikFW 20Cyril Makanaky Substitutions:GK 22 Jacques Songo'oDF 15Thomas Libiih MF 13Jean-Claude PagalMF 21Emmanuel MaboangFW 9 Roger Milla Manager: Valery Nepomnyashchy Assistant referees: Vincent Mauro (United States) Michał Listkiewicz (Poland)
Cameroon vs Romania
GK 16Thomas N'Kono SW 17Victor N'DipDF 14Stephen Tataw (c)DF 6 Emmanuel Kundé DF 3 Jules Onana DF 5 Bertin EbwelléMF 8 Émile MbouhMF 21Emmanuel Maboang MF 10Louis-Paul MfédéFW 7 François Omam-BiyikFW 20Cyril MakanakySubstitutions:FW 9 Roger Milla DF 13Jean-Claude Pagal Manager: Valery Nepomnyashchy GK 1 Silviu Lung (c)DF 2 Mircea RednicDF 4 Ioan AndoneDF 6 Gheorghe PopescuDF 3 Michael Klein MF 8 Ioan SabăuMF 5 Iosif RotariuMF 10Gheorghe Hagi MF 16Daniel TimofteFW 7 Marius LăcătușFW 14Florin Răducioiu Substitutions:FW 17Ilie Dumitrescu FW 18Gavril Balint Manager: Emerich Jenei Assistant referees: Carlos Silva Valente (Portugal) Armando Pérez-Hoyos (Colombia)
Cameroon vs Soviet Union
GK 16Thomas N'KonoSW 17Victor N'DipDF 14Stephen Tataw (c)DF 6 Emmanuel Kundé DF 3 Jules OnanaDF 5 Bertin EbwelléMF 8 Émile MbouhMF 2 André Kana-Biyik MF 10Louis-Paul MfédéFW 7 François Omam-BiyikFW 20Cyril Makanaky Substitutions:FW 9 Roger Milla DF 13Jean-Claude Pagal Manager: Valery Nepomnyashchy GK 22Aleksandr UvarovDF 5 Anatoliy Demyanenko (c)DF 3 Vagiz KhidiyatullinDF 4 Oleh KuznetsovDF 20Sergei GorlukovichMF 7 Sergei AleinikovMF 17Andrei ZygmantovichMF 18Igor Shalimov MF 10Oleh Protasov FW 8 Hennadiy Lytovchenko FW 11Igor DobrovolskiSubstitutions:DF 6 Vasyl RatsMF 9 Aleksandr Zavarov MF 15Ivan Yaremchuk GK 16Viktor ChanovMF 21Valeri BroshinManager: Valeriy Lobanovskyi Assistant referees: Kurt Röthlisberger (Switzerland) Pietro d'Elia (Italy)
Cameroon vs Colombia
GK 16Thomas N'KonoSW 17Victor N'Dip DF 14Stephen Tataw (c)DF 3 Jules Onana DF 5 Bertin EbwelléMF 8 Émile Mbouh MF 2 André Kana-Biyik MF 21Emmanuel MaboangMF 10Louis-Paul Mfédé FW 7 François Omam-BiyikFW 20Cyril Makanaky Substitutes:DF 4 Benjamin Massing DF 6 Emmanuel Kundé FW 9 Roger Milla FW 18Bonaventure Djonkep GK 22Jacques Songo'o Manager: Valery Nepomnyashchy GK 1 René HiguitaDF 4 Luis HerreraDF 15Luis Perea DF 2 Andrés EscobarDF 3 Gildardo GómezMF 8 Gabriel Gómez MF 14Leonel ÁlvarezMF 20Luis Fajardo MF 10Carlos Valderrama (c)FW 19Freddy RincónFW 7 Carlos EstradaSubstitutes:FW 9 Miguel GuerreroMF 11Bernardo Redín GK 12Eduardo NiñoFW 16Arnoldo Iguarán DF 21Alexis MendozaManager:Francisco Maturana Assistant referees: Jamal Al Sharif (Syria) Berny Ulloa Morera (Costa Rica)
England vs Cameroon
GK 1 Peter ShiltonSW 14Mark WrightRB 12Paul ParkerCB 5 Des WalkerCB 6 Terry Butcher (c) LB 3 Stuart Pearce RW 8 Chris WaddleCM 17David PlattCM 19Paul GascoigneLW 11John Barnes FW 10Gary LinekerSubstitutes:FW 9 Peter Beardsley GK 13Chris WoodsMF 16Steve McMahonMF 20Trevor Steven FW 21Steve BullManager:Bobby Robson GK 16Thomas N'Kono SW 6 Emmanuel KundéDF 14Stephen Tataw (c)DF 4 Benjamin Massing DF 5 Bertin EbwelléMF 15Thomas LibiihMF 21Emmanuel Maboang MF 13Jean-Claude PagalMF 10Louis-Paul Mfédé FW 7 François Omam-BiyikFW 20Cyril MakanakySubstitutes:FW 9 Roger Milla FW 11Eugène Ekéké DF 12Alphonse YombiMF 19Roger FeutmbaGK 22Jacques Songo'oManager: Valery Nepomnyashchy Assistant referees: Vincent Mauro (United States) Jassim Mandi (Bahrain)
United States 1994
Squad Head coach: Henri Michel
Matches Embé got the equalizing goal for Cameroon in the 31st minute when he side-footed into an empty net from close range after a pass from the left. Omam-Biyik then scored to put Cameroon in front in the 47th minute when he ran onto a long ball into the box before flicking the ball right footed past the advancing goalkeeper from eight yards out.
GK 1Joseph-Antoine BellDF 3 Rigobert SongMF 6 Thomas LibiihFW 7 François Omam-BiyikMF 8 Emile Mbouh FW 10 Louis-Paul Mfédé DF 13 Raymond KallaDF 14 Stephen Tataw (c)DF 15Hans AgboMF 17Marc-Vivien FoéFW 19David Embé Substitutions:MF 11Emmanuel Maboang FW 20Georges Mouyémé Manager: Henri Michel GK 1 Thomas RavelliDF 2 Roland NilssonDF 3 Patrik AnderssonDF 4 Joachim BjörklundDF 5 Roger LjungMF 6 Stefan SchwarzMF 8 Klas Ingesson MF 9Jonas Thern(c)FW 10Martin Dahlin FW 11Tomas BrolinMF 21Jesper Blomqvist Substitutions:FW 7 Henrik Larsson FW 19Kennet Andersson Manager:Tommy Svensson
Assistant referees: Douglas James (Trinidad and Tobago) Abdulla Al Ghattan (Bahrain) Fourth official: Jamal Al Sharif (Syria)
GK 1Cláudio TaffarelDF 2 JorginhoDF 13AldairDF 15Márcio SantosDM 5 Mauro Silva DM 8 DungaMF 10 Raí (c) MF 16LeonardoRW 9 Zinho LW 7 BebetoFW 11 RomárioSubstitutions:MF 18Paulo Sérgio FW 19Müller Manager:Carlos Alberto Parreira GK 1 Joseph-Antoine BellDF 3 Rigobert Song MF 6 Thomas LibiihFW 7 François Omam-BiyikMF 8 Emile MbouhFW 10 Louis-Paul Mfédé DF 13 Raymond Kalla DF 14Stephen Tataw(c) DF 15Hans AgboMF 17Marc-Vivien FoéFW 19David Embé Substitutions:FW 9 Roger Milla MF 11Emmanuel Maboang Manager: Henri Michel
Assistant referees: Douglas James (Trinidad and Tobago) Carl-Johan Meyer Christensen (Denmark) Fourth official: Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)
GK 1Stanislav CherchesovDF 5 Yuriy Nikiforov DF 6 Vladislav TernavskyFW 9 Oleg SalenkoMF 10 Valeri Karpin DF 12 Omari TetradzeFW 14 Igor Korneev MF 17 Ilya TsymbalarDF 18Viktor Onopko(c)MF 20Igor Lediakhov DF 21Dmitri Khlestov Substitutions:FW 11Vladimir Beschastnykh FW 15Dmitri Radchenko Manager:Pavel Sadyrin GK 22 Jacques Songo'o MF 2 André Kana-Biyik DF 5 Victor NdipMF 6 Thomas LibiihFW 7 François Omam-BiyikFW 10 Louis-Paul Mfédé DF 13 Raymond KallaDF 14Stephen Tataw(c)DF 15Hans AgboMF 17Marc-Vivien FoéFW 19David Embé Substitutions:FW 9 Roger Milla FW 16Alphonse Tchami Manager: Henri Michel
Assistant referees: Gordon Dunster (Australia) Jan Dolstra (Netherlands) Fourth official: Mario van der Ende (Netherlands)
France 1998
Squad Head coach: Claude Le Roy
Matches
GK 1 Jacques Songo'oDF 3 Pierre WoméDF 4 Rigobert SongDF 5 Raymond KallaDF 6 Pierre NjankaFW 7 François Omam-Biyik (c) MF 8 Didier AngibeaudFW 10Patrick M'BomaMF 14Augustine Simo MF 15Joseph N'DoMF 18Samuel Ipoua Substitutions:MF 20Salomon Olembé FW 21Joseph-Désiré Job FW 9 Alphonse Tchami Manager: Claude Le Roy GK 1 Michael KonselDF 3 Peter SchöttelDF 4 Anton Pfeffer DF 5 Wolfgang FeiersingerMF 8 Heimo Pfeifenberger MF 10Andreas Herzog MF 13Harald Cerny MF 15Arnold WetlMF 17Roman MählichFW 19Toni Polster (c)MF 22Dietmar KühbauerSubstitutions:FW 7 Mario Haas FW 9 Ivica Vastić MF 18Peter Stöger Manager:Herbert Prohaska Assistant referees: Celestino Galván (Paraguay) Reynaldo Salinas (Honduras) Fourth official: Arturo Brizio Carter (Mexico)
GK 12Gianluca PagliucaDF 3 Paolo Maldini (c)DF 4 Fabio CannavaroDF 5 Alessandro Costacurta DF 6 Alessandro NestaMF 9 Demetrio Albertini MF 11Dino BaggioMF 14Luigi Di Biagio MF 17Francesco Moriero FW 18Roberto Baggio FW 21Christian VieriSubstitutions:MF 16Roberto Di Matteo FW 10Alessandro Del Piero MF 15Angelo Di Livio Manager:Cesare Maldini GK 1 Jacques Songo'oDF 3 Pierre Womé DF 4 Rigobert Song DF 5 Raymond Kalla DF 6 Pierre Njanka FW 7 François Omam-Biyik (c) MF 8 Didier Angibeaud FW 10Patrick M'Boma MF 15Joseph N'DoMF 18Samuel Ipoua MF 20Salomon OlembéSubstitutions:FW 21Joseph-Désiré Job FW 9 Alphonse Tchami FW 11Samuel Eto'o Manager: Claude Le Roy Assistant referees: Lencie Fred (Vanuatu) Claudio Rossi (Argentina) Fourth official: Pirom Un-Prasert (Thailand)