The
Italian national football team represents
Italy in
association football and is controlled by the
Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the governing body for
football in Italy. Italy is one of the most successful national teams in the history of the
World Cup, having won four titles (
1934,
1938,
1982,
2006) and appearing in two finals (
1970,
1994), reaching a third place (
1990) and a fourth place (
1978). In 1938 they became the only team to successfully defended their previous World Cup tournament victory and due to the outbreak of
World War II retained the title for a record 16 years. They have also won a
European championship (
1968), as well as appearing in two other finals (
2000,
2012), one
Olympic football tournament (
1936) and two
Central European International Cups. Italy's highest finish at the
Confederations Cup was in
2013, when the squad achieved a third-place finish.