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.
The first time Denmark entered the tournament was for the 1958 edition in Sweden. However, they lost all four of their qualifying matches to England and the Republic of Ireland.
Denmark qualified for the first time in 1986, where they won all three of their group stage matches including a 2–0 victory against title contenders West Germany, but were eliminated by Spain in the next round. Since then, the Danish national team has regularly qualified for FIFA World Cup finals and made their sixth and most recent appearance at Qatar 2022. Their best performance was in 1998, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Record at the FIFA World Cup Overall record YearRoundPosition* 1930Did not enter 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958Did not qualify 1962Did not enter 1966Did not qualify 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986Round of 169th4301106 1990Did not qualify 1994 1998Quarter-finals8th521297 2002Round of 1610th421155 2006Did not qualify 2010Group stage24th310236 2014Did not qualify 2018Round of 1611th413032 2022Group stage28th301213 2026Did not qualify 2030 To be determined 2034TotalQuarter-finals6/23239683129 *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out
By match No.DateRoundOpponentResultDenmark scorersAttendanceRecord14 June 1986Group stage1–0Elkjær 57'18,0001–0–028 June 1986Group stage6–1Elkjær (3) 11', 67', 80', Lerby 41', M. Laudrup 52', J. Olsen 88'26,5002–0–0313 June 1986Group stage2–0J. Olsen 43' (pen.), J. Eriksen 62'36,0003–0–0418 June 1986Round of 161–5J. Olsen 33' (pen.)38,5003–0–1512 June 1998Group stage1–0Rieper 69'38,1404–0–1618 June 1998Group stage1–1Nielsen 12'33,3004–1–1724 June 1998Group stage1–2M. Laudrup 42' (pen.)39,1004–1–2828 June 1998Round of 164–1Møller 3', B. Laudrup 12', Sand 60', Helveg 76'77,1005–1–293 July 1998Quarter final2–3Mar. Jørgensen 2', B. Laudrup 50'77,1005–1–3101 June 2002Group stage (2)2–1Tomasson (2) 45', 83'30,1576–1–3116 June 2002Group stage1–1Tomasson 16' (pen.)43,5006–2–31211 June 2002Group stage (2)2–0Rommedahl 22', Tomasson 67'48,1007–2–31315 June 2002Round of 160–340,5827–2–41414 June 2010Group stage0–283,4657–2–51519 June 2010Group stage2–1Bendtner 33', Rommedahl 61'38,0748–2–51624 June 2010Group stage1–3Tomasson 81'27,9678–2–61716 June 2018Group stage1–0Poulsen 59'40,5029–2–61821 June 2018Group stage1–1C. Eriksen 7'40,7279–3–61926 June 2018Group stage (3)0–078,0119–4–6201 July 2018Round of 161–1 Mat. Jørgensen 1'40,8519–5–62122 November 2022Group stage0–042,9259–6–62226 November 2022Group stage (4)1–2A. Christensen 68'42,8609–6–72330 November 2022Group stage (2)0–141,2329–6–8
Summary
1986 FIFA World Cup
Denmark made their first World Cup appearance in the 1986 World Cup, and with the attacking duo of Michael Laudrup and Preben Elkjær. In their first match against Scotland, Denmark won 1–0 with the only goal coming from Preben Elkjær after he burst into the penalty area before shooting left-footed low into the right corner of the net. The team surprised the world, sweeping the group, including a 6–1 thrashing of Uruguay. In the second round, Denmark faced Spain losing 5–1 on the strength of four Emilio Butragueño goals; the first Spain goal was caused by a miss-timed backpass by Jesper Olsen to Butragueño, an unfortunate action subsequently coined as "a real Jesper Olsen" ("en rigtig Jesper Olsen"). The phrase would live on for 13 years and was repeated by the Danish TV commentators in 1999, when an identical backpass was carried out by Jesper Grønkjær to Filippo Inzaghi on the former's debut for Denmark.
GK 1 Jim LeightonDF 2 Richard GoughDF 3 Maurice MalpasDF 5 Alex McLeishDF 6 Willie MillerDF 13 Steve NicolMF 8 Roy AitkenMF 4 Graeme Souness (c)MF 7 Gordon Strachan FW 19 Charlie NicholasFW 20 Paul Sturrock Substitutions:MF 16 Frank McAvennie FW 9 Eamonn Bannon Manager: Alex Ferguson
GK 1 Troels RasmussenDF 3 Søren BuskDF 4 Morten Olsen (c)DF 5 Ivan NielsenDF 13 Jens Jørn BertelsenMF 6 Søren LerbyMF 8 Jesper Olsen MF 15 Frank Arnesen MF 11 Michael LaudrupFW 9 Klaus Berggreen FW 10 Preben ElkjærSubstitutions:DF 2 John Sivebæk MF 7 Jan Mølby Manager: Sepp Piontek
GK 1 Troels RasmussenDF 3 Søren BuskDF 4 Morten Olsen (c)DF 5 Ivan Nielsen DF 21 Henrik AndersenDF 12 Jens Jørn Bertelsen MF 6 Søren LerbyMF 15 Frank ArnesenMF 11 Michael Laudrup FW 9 Klaus BerggreenFW 10 Preben ElkjærSubstitutions:MF 7 Jan Mølby MF 8 Jesper Olsen Manager: Sepp Piontek
GK 12 Fernando ÁlvezDF 2 Nelson GutiérrezDF 3 Eduardo Acevedo (c)DF 4 Víctor DiogoDF 6 José BatistaMF 5 Miguel Bossio MF 16 Mario SaraleguiMF 11 Sergio Santín MF 10 Enzo FrancescoliFW 9 Jorge da Silva FW 7 Antonio Alzamendi Substitutions:MF 17 José Zalazar FW 19 Venancio Ramos Manager: Omar Borrás
GK 22 Lars HøghDF 2 John SivebækDF 3 Søren BuskDF 4 Morten Olsen (c)DF 21 Henrik AndersenMF 15 Frank Arnesen MF 7 Jan MølbyMF 8 Jesper Olsen MF 6 Søren LerbyMF 11 Michael LaudrupFW 10 Preben Elkjær Substitutions:FW 19 John Eriksen FW 14 Allan Simonsen Manager: Sepp Piontek
GK 1 Harald Schumacher (c)DF 4 Karlheinz Förster DF 5 Matthias HergetDF 6 Norbert Eder DF 14 Thomas BertholdDF 17 Ditmar Jakobs DF 3 Andreas BrehmeMF 21 Wolfgang Rolff MF 8 Lothar MatthäusFW 19 Klaus AllofsFW 9 Rudi VöllerSubstitutions:MF 7 Pierre Littbarski FW 11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Manager: Franz Beckenbauer
GK 22 Lars HøghDF 3 Søren BuskDF 4 Morten Olsen (c)DF 5 Ivan NielsenDF 21 Henrik Andersen DF 12 Jens Jørn BertelsenMF 8 Jesper Olsen MF 6 Søren LerbyMF 11 Michael LaudrupFW 9 Klaus BerggreenFW 10 Preben ElkjærSubstitutions:FW 19 John Eriksen MF 7 Jan Mølby Manager: Sepp Piontek
GK 1 Andoni ZubizarretaDF 2 TomásDF 3 José Antonio Camacho (c) DF 5 VíctorDF 8 Andoni Goikoetxea MF 14 Ricardo GallegoMF 11 Julio AlbertoMF 18 Ramón CalderéMF 21 Míchel FW 19 Julio Salinas FW 9 Emilio ButragueñoSubstitutions:FW 20 Eloy MF 17 Francisco Manager: Miguel Muñoz
1998 FIFA World Cup Under coach Bo "Bosse" Johansson, the 1998 FIFA World Cup saw the revival of the Danish team, starring both Laudrup brothers in their last international campaign. After beating Saudi Arabia 1–0, drawing with South Africa and losing 2–1 to later champions France in mediocre games, the Danish team qualified to the knockout stages as second in the group. In the next game however, Denmark played some of the best football of the entire tournament, beating Nigeria 4–1 in a fantastic game. In the quarter-final against Brazil, the Danes went out with a beautiful 2–3 defeat to the later silver medalists, in a very close and emotional game.
GK 1 Mohamed Al-DeayeaDF 2 Mohammed Al-JahaniDF 3 Mohammed Al-KhilaiwiDF 4 Abdullah ZubromawiDF 13Hussein SulaimaniMF 6 Fuad Amin (c) MF 7 Ibrahim Al-ShahraniMF 14Khalid Al-Muwallid MF 16Khamis Al-OwairanFW 9 Sami Al-Jaber FW 10Saeed Al-Owairan Substitutions:MF 20Hamzah Saleh FW 8 Obeid Al-Dosari FW 15Yousuf Al-Thunayan Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira
GK 1 Peter SchmeichelDF 2 Michael SchjønbergDF 3 Marc Rieper DF 4 Jes HøghDF 6 Thomas HelvegDF 12Søren ColdingMF 10Michael Laudrup (c)MF 14Morten Wieghorst MF 21Martin Jørgensen FW 11Brian Laudrup FW 19Ebbe SandSubstitutions:MF 7 Allan Nielsen MF 8 Per Frandsen DF 5 Jan Heintze Manager: Bo Johansson
Assistant referees: Claudio Rossi (Argentina) Jorge Diaz Garcia (Chile) Fourth official: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)
GK 1 Hans VonkDF 3 David Nyathi DF 5 Mark FishDF 19Lucas Radebe (c) DF 21Pierre Issa MF 7 Quinton FortuneMF 10John MoshoeuMF 11Helman MkhaleleFW 9 Shaun Bartlett FW 12Brendan Augustine FW 17Benni McCarthySubstitutions:MF 8 Alfred Phiri FW 6 Phil Masinga FW 13Delron Buckley Manager: Philippe Troussier
GK 1 Peter Schmeichel DF 2 Michael Schjønberg DF 3 Marc RieperDF 4 Jes Høgh DF 6 Thomas HelvegDF 12Søren ColdingMF 7 Allan NielsenMF 10Michael Laudrup (c) MF 21Martin JørgensenFW 11Brian LaudrupFW 19Ebbe Sand Substitutions:DF 5 Jan Heintze FW 9 Miklos Molnar MF 14Morten Wieghorst Manager: Bo Johansson
Assistant referees: Jorge Luis Arango (Colombia) Celestino Galván (Paraguay) Fourth official: Epifanio González (Paraguay)
GK 16Fabien BarthezDF 2 Vincent CandelaDF 8 Marcel Desailly (c)DF 18Franck LeboeufMF 4 Patrick Vieira MF 6 Youri DjorkaeffMF 11Robert Pires MF 13Bernard Diomède MF 17Emmanuel Petit MF 19Christian KarembeuFW 20David Trezeguet Substitutions:MF 14Alain Boghossian FW 12Thierry Henry FW 9 Stéphane Guivarc'h Manager:Aimé Jacquet
GK 1 Peter Schmeichel DF 2 Michael Schjønberg DF 3 Marc RieperDF 4 Jes HøghDF 5 Jan HeintzeDF 6 Thomas HelvegDF 13Jacob Laursen MF 7 Allan NielsenMF 10Michael Laudrup (c)MF 21Martin Jørgensen FW 11Brian Laudrup Substitutions:DF 12Søren Colding FW 19Ebbe Sand MF 15Stig Tøfting Manager: Bo Johansson
Assistant referees: Nimal Wickeramatunge (Belgium) Emanuel Zammit (Malta) Fourth official: Vítor Melo Pereira (Portugal)
GK 1 Peter RufaiRB 8 Mutiu AdepojuCB 5 Uche Okechukwu (c)CB 6 Taribo WestLB 3 Celestine BabayaroDM 15Sunday OlisehRM 7 Finidi GeorgeLM 11Garba Lawal AM 10Jay-Jay Okocha SS 4 Nwankwo Kanu CF 20Victor IkpebaSubstitutes:FW 9 Rashidi Yekini DF 13Tijani Babangida Manager: Bora Milutinović
GK 1 Peter SchmeichelRB 12Søren ColdingCB 3 Marc Rieper CB 4 Jes HøghLB 5 Jan HeintzeCM 6 Thomas HelvegCM 7 Allan NielsenRW 21Martin JørgensenLW 10Michael Laudrup (c) SS 11Brian Laudrup CF 18Peter Møller Substitutes:FW 19Ebbe Sand MF 14Morten Wieghorst MF 8 Per Frandsen Manager: Bo Johansson
Assistant referees: Hussain Ghadanfari (Kuwait) Fernando Tresaco Gracia (Spain) Fourth official: Rahman Al Zaid (Saudi Arabia)
GK 1 Cláudio TaffarelRB 2 Cafu CB 3 Aldair CB 4 Junior BaianoLB 6 Roberto Carlos CM 5 César SampaioCM 8 Dunga (c)AM 10Rivaldo AM 18Leonardo CF 20Bebeto CF 9 RonaldoSubstitutes:FW 19Denílson MF 11Emerson MF 16Zé Roberto Manager:Mário Zagallo
GK 1 Peter SchmeichelRB 12Søren Colding CB 3 Marc RieperCB 4 Jes HøghLB 5 Jan HeintzeCM 6 Thomas Helveg CM 7 Allan Nielsen RW 21Martin JørgensenLW 10Michael Laudrup (c)SS 11Brian LaudrupCF 18Peter Møller Substitutes:MF 15Stig Tøfting FW 19Ebbe Sand DF 2 Michael Schjønberg Manager: Bo Johansson
Assistant referees: Mohamed Mansri (Tunisia) Dramane Danté (Mali) Fourth official: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)
2002 FIFA World Cup Denmark qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but despite impressive results in the group stage, especially the 2–0 win against reigning World Cup winners France, Denmark didn't manage to advance any further as they were defeated with a 0–3 score in the round of 16 against England.
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