Men
| Sport | Competition name | Competing entities |
First held |
Current holder | Next | Held every |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine skiing | FIS Alpine World Skiing Championships | Individuals | 1931 | Winners in 5 events (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships | Individuals | 1972 | Winners in 15 events (2011) | 2013 | Two years | |
| American football | IFAF World Cup | Nations | 1999 | United States (2011) | 2015 | Four years |
| Association football (soccer) | FIFA World Cup | Nations | 1930 | Spain (2010) | 2014 | Four years |
| FIFA Club World Cup | Clubs | 2000 | Corinthians (2012) | 2012 | One year | |
| Aquatics | FINA World Aquatics Championships | Individuals | 1973 | Winners in 31 events (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) | Individuals | 1993 | Winners in 20 events (2010) | 2012 | Two years | |
| Artistic gymnastics | World Artistic Gymnastics Championships | Individuals | 1903 | Winners in 8 events (2011) | 2013 | One year |
| Athletics | IAAF World Championships in Athletics | Individuals | 1983 | Winners in 24 events (2011) | 2013 | Four years until 1991, now two years |
| IAAF World Indoor Championships | Individuals | 1985 | Winners in 13 events (2012) | 2014 | Two years | |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships | Individuals and teams | 1973 | Winners in 4 events (2011) | 2013 | Two years | |
| IAAF World Half Marathon Championships | Individuals and teams | 1992 | Winners in 2 events (2012) | 2014 | Year | |
| IAU 100 km World Championships | Individuals and teams | 1987 | Giorgio Calcaterra (2012) | 2013 | Year | |
| IAU 24 hour World Championships | Individuals and teams | 2001 | Michael Morton (2012) | 2013 | Year | |
| IPC Athletics World Championships | Individuals | 1994 | Winners in 126 events (2011) | 2013 | Two years | |
| Australian rules football | Australian Football International Cup | Team | 2002 | Ireland (2011) | 2014 | Three years |
| Auto racing see the open section below | ||||||
| Badminton | BWF World Championships | Individuals | 1977 | Winners in 3 events (2011) | 2013 | One year |
| Bandy | Bandy World Championships | Nations | 1957 | Sweden (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| Bandy World Cup | Clubs | 1974 | Zorky (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| Baseball | Baseball World Cup | Nations | 1938 | Netherlands (2011) | Defunct | Two years |
| World Baseball Classic | Nations | 2006 | Japan (2009) | 2013 | Four years after 2009 | |
| Basketball | FIBA Basketball World Cup | Nations | 1950 | United States (2010) | 2014 | Four years |
| Basketball | FIBA 3x3 World Championships | Nations | 2012 | Serbia (2012) | 2014 | Two years |
| Beach soccer | FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup | Nations | 1995 | Russia (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| Beach volleyball | Swatch FIVB World Championships | Nations | 1997 | Emanuel- Alison (2011) |
2013 | Two years |
| Billiards (Pool) | WPA World Nine-ball Championship | Individuals | 1990 | Yukio Akagariyama (2011) | 2012 | One year |
| WPA World Eight-ball Championship | Individuals | 2004 | Dennis Orcollo (2011) | 2012 | One year | |
| World three-cushion billiards championship | Individuals | 1928 | Dick Jaspers (2011) | 2012 | One year | |
| World Billiards Championship (English billiards) | Individuals | 1825 | Mike Russell (2011) | 2012 | One year | |
| IBSF World Billiards Championship | Individuals | 1926 | Mike Russell (2011) | 2012 | One year | |
| Boxing | see List of undisputed boxing champions, List of heavyweight boxing champions, etc. | Individuals | 1882 | Winners in several weight classes | At challenge | N/A |
| World Amateur Boxing Championships | Individuals | 1974 | Winners in 10 weight classes (2011) | 2013 | Two years | |
| Canoeing | ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships | Individuals and teams | 1938 | Winners in 18 events (2011) | 2013 | One year |
| ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships | Individuals and teams | 1949 | Winners in 6 events (2011) | 2013 | One year | |
| Cricket | ICC Cricket World Cup | Nations | 1975 | India (2011) | 2015 | Four years |
| ICC World Twenty20 | Nations | 2007 | West Indies (2012) | 2014 | Two Years | |
| Champions League Twenty20 | Clubs | 2009 | Sydney Sixers (2012) | 2013 | Year | |
| Cross-Country Skiing | FIS Nordic World Ski Championships | Individuals | 1925 | Winners in 6 events (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Championships | Individuals | 1974 | Winners in 19 events (2011) | 2013 | Two years | |
| Curling | World Curling Championships | Nations | 1959 | Canada (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| Cycling | UCI Road World Championships | Road race | 1927 | Philippe Gilbert (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| Time trial | 1994 | Tony Martin (2012) | ||||
| Team time trial | 1962 | Omega Pharma-Quick Step (2012) | ||||
| UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships | Individuals | 1950 | Niels Albert (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships | Individuals | 1990 | Winners in 5 events (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| UCI Track Cycling World Championships | Individuals and nations | 1893 | Winners in 10 events (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships | Individuals and nations | 2007 | Winners in 14 events (2011) | 2013 | ||
| Darts | BDO World Darts Championship | Individuals | 1978 | Christian Kist (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| PDC World Darts Championship | Individuals | 1994 | Adrian Lewis (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| Equestrian see the mixed section below | ||||||
| Floorball | World Floorball Championships | Nations | 1996 | Finland (2010) | 2012 | Two years |
| Figure skating | World Figure Skating Championships | Individuals | 1896 | Patrick Chan (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| Futsal | FIFA Futsal World Cup | Nations | 1989 | Brazil (2008) | 2012 | Four years |
| AMF Futsal World Cup | Nations | 1982 | Colombia (2011) | 2015 | Originally three years, four years after 2003 |
|
| Gliding see the mixed section below | ||||||
| Handball | World Men's Handball Championship | Nations | 1938 | France (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| IHF Super Globe | Clubs | 1997 | THW Kiel (2011) | 2012 | One year | |
| Fencing | World Fencing Championships | Individual and Team | 1923 | Winners in 6 events | 2013 | Annual |
| Hockey | Hockey World Cup | Nations | 1971 | Australia (2010) | 2014 | Four years |
| Ice hockey | Ice Hockey World Championships | Nations | 1920 | Russia (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| Inline hockey | IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship | Nations | 1996 | Czech Republic (2011) | 2011 | One year |
| Inline speed skating | World Inline speed skating Championships | Nations | 1937 | Colombia (2010) | 2010 | One year |
| Lacrosse | World Lacrosse Championship | Nations | 1967 | United States (2010) | 2014 | Four years |
| World Indoor Lacrosse Championship | Nations | 2003 | Canada (2011) | 2015 | Four years | |
| Motorcycling see the mixed section below | ||||||
| Nordic Combined | FIS Nordic World Ski Championships | 10 km individual normal hill | 1925 | Eric Frenzel (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| 10 km individual large hill | 1999 | Jason Lamy Chappuis (2011) | 2013 | Two years | ||
| 10 km mass start | 2009 | Todd Lodwick (2009) | Only held in 2009 | N/A | ||
| National Team Normal Hill 4 x 5 km | 2011 | Austria (2011) | 2013 | Two years | ||
| National Team Large Hill 4 x 5 km | 1982 | Austria (2011) | 2013 | Two years | ||
| Orienteering | World Orienteering Championships | Sprint | 2001 | Daniel Hubmann (2011) | 2012 | One year |
| Short distance | 1991 | Pasi Ikonen (2001) | defunct | Two years | ||
| Middle distance | 2003 | Thierry Gueorgiou (2011) | 2012 | One year | ||
| Long distance | 1966 | Thierry Gueorgiou (2011) | 2012 | Originally two years, one year since 2003 | ||
| Relay | 1966 | France (2011) | 2012 | |||
| Paddle Tennis | Paddle Tennis World Championship | Nations | 1992 | Spain (2010) | 2012 | Two years |
| Pea Shooting | World Pea Shooting Championships | Individuals | 1971 | Jim Collins (2009) | 2010 | Annually |
| Pitch and putt | Pitch and Putt World Cup | Nations | 2004 | Ireland (2012) | 2016 | Four years |
| World Strokeplay Championship | Individuals | 2009 | Fernando Cano (2009) | 2013 | Four years | |
| Polo | World Polo Championship | Nations | 1987 | Argentina (2011) | 2011 | Three years |
| Real tennis | Real Tennis World Championship | Individuals | 1740 | Winners in 3 events (2012) | 2014 | Two years |
| Roller hockey | Roller Hockey World Championship | Nations | 1936 | Spain (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| Rowing | World Rowing Championships | Nations | 1962 | Winners in 5 events (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| Rugby league | Rugby League World Cup | Nations | 1954 | New Zealand (2008) | 2013 | Four years after 2013 |
| World Club Challenge | Clubs | 1976 | Leeds Rhinos (2012) | 2013 | One year after 2000 | |
| Rugby union | Rugby World Cup | Nations | 1987 | New Zealand (2011) | 2015 | Four years |
| Rugby union sevens | Rugby World Cup Sevens | Nations | 1993 | Wales (2009) | 2013 | Four years |
| Sculling | World Sculling Championship | Individuals | 1831 | Evans Fischer (1957) | 2008 | Annually until 1957; revived in 2008 |
| Shooting | ISSF World Shooting Championships | Individuals and nations | 1897 | Winners in 18 events (2010) | 2014 | Four years |
| ISSF World Shotgun Championships | Individuals and nations | 1934 | Winners in 12 events (2009) | 2011 | Two years | |
| Ski Jumping | FIS Nordic World Ski Championships | Individuals normal hill | 1962 | Thomas Morgenstern (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| Individuals large hill | 1925 | Gregor Schlierenzauer (2011) | 2013 | Two years | ||
| National Team normal hill | 2001 | Austria (2011) | 2013 | Two years; not held in 2007 or 2009 | ||
| National Team large hill | 1962 | Austria (2011) | 2013 | Two years | ||
| FIS Ski-Flying World Championships | Individuals | 1972 | Simon Ammann (2010) | 2012 | Two years | |
| National Team | 2004 | Austria (2010) | 2012 | Two years | ||
| Ski mountaineering | World Championships of Ski Mountaineering | Nations, individuals, teams, relays (since 2004), long distances (since 2008) | 2002 | Italy (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| Snooker | World Snooker Championship | Individuals | 1927 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| IBSF World Snooker Championship | Individuals | 1963 | Hossein Vafaei (2011) | 2012 | One year | |
| Snowboarding | FIS Snowboard World Championships | Big air | 2003 | Petja Piiroinen (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| Slopestyle | 2011 | Seppe Smits (2011) | ||||
| Halfpipe | 1996 | Nathan Johnston (2011) | ||||
| Snowboard cross | 1997 | Alex Pullin (2011) | ||||
| Parallel slalom | 1996 | Benjamin Karl (2011) | ||||
| Parallel giant slalom | 1999 | Benjamin Karl (2011) | ||||
| Speed skating | World Allround Speed Skating Championships | Individuals | 1889 | Ivan Skobrev (2011) | 2012 | One year |
| World Sprint Speed Skating Championships | Individuals | 1970 | Stefan Groothuis (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| World Single Distance Championships | Individuals and Nations | 1995 | Winners in 6 events (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| World Short Track Speed Skating Championships | Individuals | 1976 | Kwak Yoon-Gy (Overall) Winners in 5 events (2012) |
2013 | One year | |
| World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships | Nations | 1991 | South Korea (2011) | Discontinued after 2011 | One Year | |
| Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship | Individuals | 2010 | Arttu Pihlainen | 2012 | One Year | |
| Squash | World Open | Individuals | 1976 | Nick Matthew (2011) | 2012 | One year |
| World International Doubles Squash Championships | Doubles teams | 1997 | Stewart Boswell & Anthony Ricketts (2006) | Last held in 2006 | Intermittent | |
| World Team Squash Championships | Nations | 1967 | Egypt (2011) | 2013 | Two years | |
| Table tennis | World Table Tennis Championships | Individuals | 1926 | Winners in 3 events (2011) | 2013 | Two years |
| World Team Table Tennis Championships | Nations | 1926 | China (2012) | 2014 | Two years | |
| Ten-Pin Bowling | WTBA World Championships | Nations | 1954 | Winners in 6 events (2010) | 2014 | Four years (two years until 2010) |
| Tennis | Davis Cup | Nations | 1900 | Czech Republic (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| ITF World Champion | Individuals | 1978 | Novak Djokovic (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| ITF World Champions | Doubles teams | 1996 | Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| World Team Cup | Nations | 1978 | Serbia (2012) | 2013 | One year | |
| Triathlon | ITU Triathlon World Championships | Individuals | 1989 | Jonathan Brownlee (2012) | 2013 | One year |
| Tug of war | TWIF Indoor World Championships | Nations | 1976 | Winners in various weight classes | 2014 | Two years |
| TWIF Outdoor World Championships | Nations | 1976 | Winners in various weight classes | 2014 | Two years | |
| Volleyball | Volleyball World Championship | Nations | 1949 | Brazil (2010) | 2014 | Four years |
| Volleyball World Cup | Nations | 1965 | Russia (2011) | 2015 | Four years | |
| FIVB Volleyball World League | Nations | 1990 | Poland (2012) | 2013 | Year | |
| FIVB Club World Championship | Clubs | 1989 | Trentino Volley (2012) | 2013 | Year | |
| Water polo | FINA Water Polo World Cup | Nations | 1979 | Serbia (2010) | 2014 | Four years (two years until 2002) |
| FINA Water Polo World Championship | Nations | 1973 | Italy (2011) | 2013 | Two years since 2001 | |
Read more about this topic: List Of World Championships
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—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
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—Samuel Pepys (1633–1703)