O constitui a mais importante competição internacional de corridas de corta-mato. Organizados pela Associação Internacional de Federações de Atletismo (IAAF), foram inaugurados em 1973, ano em que substituíram os "Campeonatos Internacionais de Corta-Mato".
Tradicionalmente, os Campeonatos Mundiais de Corta-Mato consistem em quatro corridas: uma masculina (12 km) e uma feminina (8 km); e uma para juniores masculinos (8 km) e para juniores femininos (6 km). Em cada corrida há uma classificação individual e outra para equipas nacionais. Nesta última, a classificação resulta da soma das posições finais dos seis melhores classificados de cada país e a equipa com um resultado mais baixo é a vencedora. Nas corridas de juniores, o resultado é obtido pelas classificações dos três melhores de cada equipa.
No ano de 1998 foram introduzidos dois novos eventos nos Campeonatos Mundiais de Corta-Mato: uma prova em distância curta (4 km) para homens e outra para mulheres. A última vez que estas corridas curtas foram realizadas foi em 2006.
Nas últimas duas décadas tem-se assistido a um domínio quase completo por parte dos atletas do Quénia e da Etiópia que têm repartido entre si quase todos os títulos.
Foi uma competição anual até 2011, ano em que a IAAF a alterou para bienal.
Eventos Ano Cidade País1973Waregem1974Monza1975Rabat1976Chepstow1977Düsseldorf1978Glasgow1979Limerick1980Paris1981Madrid1982Roma1983Gateshead1984East Rutherford1985Lisboa1986Colombier, Neuchâtel1987Varsóvia1988Auckland1989Stavanger1990Aix-les-Bains1991Antuérpia1992Boston1993Amorebieta-Etxano1994Budapeste1995Durham1996Stellenbosch1997Turim1998Marrakesh1999Belfast2000Vilamoura2001Ostende2002Dublin2003Lausanne2004Bruxelas2005Saint-Galmier2006Fukuoka2007Mombasa2008Edimburgo2009Amã2010Bydgoszcz2011Punta Umbría2013Bydgoszcz2015Guiyang2017Kampala2019Aarhus2023Bathurst
Medalhas Masculinos-Classificação inividual Ano Ouro Prata Bronze1973(11.98 km)Pekka Päivärinta 35:46.4Mariano Haro 35:46.5Rod Dixon 36:001974(12 km)Eric de Beck 35:23.8Mariano Haro 35:24.6Karel Lismont 35:26.61975(12 km)Ian Stewart 35:20Mariano Haro 35:21Bill Rodgers 35:27.41976(12 km)Carlos Lopes 34:47.8Tony Simmons 35:04Bernie Ford 35:071977(12.3 km)Léon Schots 37:43Carlos Lopes 37:48.2Detlef Uhlemann 37:52.21978(12.3 km)John Treacy 39:25Aleksandr Antipov 39:28Karel Lismont 39:321979(12 km)John Treacy 37:20Bronisław Malinowski 37:29Aleksandr Antipov 37:301980(12.58 km)Craig Virgin 37:01Hans-Jürgen Orthmann 37:02Nick Rose 37:051981(12 km)Craig Virgin 35:05Mohammed Kedir 35:07Fernando Mamede 35:091982(11.978 km)Mohammed Kedir 33:40.5Alberto Salazar 33:44.8Rod Dixon 34:01.81983(11.994 km)Bekele Debele 36:52Carlos Lopes 36:52Some Muge 36:521984(12.086 km)Carlos Lopes 33:25Tim Hutchings 33:30Steve Jones 33:321985(12.19 km)Carlos Lopes 33:33Paul Kipkoech 33:37Wodajo Bulti 33:381986(12 km)John Ngugi 35:32.9Abebe Mekonnen 35:34.8Joseph Kiptum 35:39.81987(11.95 km)John Ngugi 36:07Paul Kipkoech 36:07Paul Arpin 36:511988(12 km)John Ngugi 34:32Paul Kipkoech 34:54Kipsubai Koskei 35:071989(12 km)John Ngugi 39:42Tim Hutchings 40:10Wilfred Kirochi 40:211990(12.2 km)Khalid Skah 34:21Moses Tanui 34:21Julius M. Korir 34:221991(11.764 km)Khalid Skah 33:53Moses Tanui 33:54Simon Karori 33:541992(12.53 km)John Ngugi 37:05William Mutwol 37:17Fita Bayissa 37:181993(11.75 km)William Sigei 32:51Dominic Kirui 32:56Ismael Kirui 32:591994(12.06 km)William Sigei 34:29Simon Chemoiywo 34:30Haile Gebrselassie 34:321995(12.02 km)Paul Tergat 34:05Ismael Kirui 34:13Salah Hissou 34:141996(12.15 km)Paul Tergat 33:44Salah Hissou 33:56Ismael Kirui 33:571997(12.333 km)Paul Tergat 35:11Salah Hissou 35:13Tom Nyariki 35:201998(12 km)Paul Tergat 34:01Paul Koech 34:06Assefa Mezegebu 34:281999(12 km)Paul Tergat 38:28Patrick Ivuti 38:32Paulo Guerra 38:462000(12.3 km)Mohammed Mourhit 35:00Assefa Mezegebu 35:01Paul Tergat 35:022001(12.3 km)Mohammed Mourhit 39:53Sergiy Lebid 40:03Charles Kamathi 40:052002(11.998 km)Kenenisa Bekele 34:52John Yuda 34:58Wilberforce Talel 35:202003(12.355 km)Kenenisa Bekele 35:56Patrick Ivuti 36:09Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam 36:172004(12 km)Kenenisa Bekele 35:52Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam 36:10Sileshi Sihine 36:112005(12.02 km)Kenenisa Bekele 35:06Zersenay Tadesse 35:20Abdullah Ahmed Hassan 35:342006(12 km)Kenenisa Bekele 35:40Sileshi Sihine 35:43Martin Mathathi 35:442007(12 km)Zersenay Tadese 35:50Moses Mosop 36:13Bernard Kiprop Kipyego 36:372008(12 km)Kenenisa Bekele 34:38Leonard Patrick Komon 34:41Zersenay Tadese 34:432009(12 km)Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam 35:02Moses Ndiema Kipsiro 35:04Zersenay Tadese 35:042010(11.611 km)Joseph Ebuya 33:00Teklemariam Medhin 33:06Moses Ndiema Kipsiro 33:102011(12 km)Imane Merga 33:50Paul Kipngetich Tanui 33:52Vincent Kiprop Chepkok 33:532013(12 km)Japhet Kipyegon Korir 32:45Imane Merga 32:51Teklemariam Medhin 32:542015(12 km)Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor 34:52Bedan Karoki Muchiri 35:00Muktar Edris 35:062017(9.858 km)Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor 28:24Leonard Barsoton 28:36Abadi Hadis 28:432019(10 km)Joshua Cheptegei 31:40Jacob Kiplimo 31:44Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor 31:55
Masculinos-Classificação por equipas Ano Ouro Prata Bronze1973 109 119 1361974 103 109 2151975 127 198 2111976 90 118 1871977 126 129 1441978 151 156 1591979 119 198 2101980 100 163 1751981 81 114 2201982 98 114 2571983 104 170 1911984 134 161 2231985 129 141 1531986 45 119 2041987 53 146 1611988 23 103 1341989 44 147 1621990 42 96 1761991 38 104 1981992 46 145 1471993 25 82 1671994 34 83 1331995 62 111 1201996 33 99 1071997 51 70 1251998 12 57 601999 12 57 762000 18 68 692001 33 72 872002 18 43 582003 17 23 512004 14 30 662005 24 35 422006 24 28 422007 29 152 1912008 39 104 1432009 28 28 502010 20 46 692011 14 38 492013 38 52 542015 20 20 542017 21 22 722019 20 43 46
Femininos-Classificação individual Ano Ouro Prata Bronze1973(3.99 km)Paola Pigni 13:45.2Joyce Smith 13:58Josee van Santberghe 14:011974(4 km)Paola Pigni 12:42Nina Holmén 12:47.6Rita Ridley 12:541975(3.9 km)Julie Brown 13:42Bronislawa Ludwichowska 13:47Carmen Valero 13:481976(4.8 km)Carmen Valero 16:19.4Tatyana Kazankina 16:39Gabriella Dorio 16:561977(5.1 km)Carmen Valero 17:26Lyudmila Bragina 17:28Giana Romanova 17:351978(4.728 km)Grete Waitz 16:19Natalia Mărăşescu 16:49Maricica Puică 16:591979(5.04 km)Grete Waitz 16:48Raisa Smekhnova 17:14Ellison Goodall 17:181980(4.82 km)Grete Waitz 15:05Irina Bondarchuk 15:49Yelena Chernysheva 15:521981(4.41 km)Grete Waitz 14:07Jan Merrill 14:22Yelena Sipatova 14:221982(4.663 km)Maricica Puică 14:38.9Fiţa Lovin 14:40.5Grete Waitz 14:43.91983(4.072 km)Grete Waitz 13:29Alison Wiley 13:37Tatyana Pozdnyakova 13:371984(5 km)Maricica Puică 15:56Galina Zakharova 15:58Grete Waitz 15:581985(4.99 km)Zola Budd 15:01Cathy Branta 15:24Ingrid Kristiansen 15:271986(4.65 km)Zola Budd 14:49.6Lynn Jennings 15:07.8Annette Sergent 15:12.21987(5.05 km)Annette Sergent 16:46Liz Lynch 16:48Ingrid Kristiansen 16:511988(5.962 km)Ingrid Kristiansen 19:04Angela Tooby 19:23Annette Sergent 19:291989(6 km)Annette Sergent 22:27Nadezhda Stepanova 22:34Lynn Williams 22:411990(6 km)Lynn Jennings 19:21Albertina Dias 19:33Yelena Romanova 19:331991(6.425 km)Lynn Jennings 20:24Derartu Tulu 20:27Liz McColgan 20:281992(6.37 km)Lynn Jennings 21:16Catherina McKiernan 21:18Albertina Dias 21:191993(6.35 km)Albertina Dias 20:00Catherina McKiernan 20:09Lynn Jennings 20:091994(6.22 km)Hellen Chepngeno 20:45Catherina McKiernan 20:52Conceição Ferreira 20:521995(6.47 km)Derartu Tulu 20:21Catherina McKiernan 20:29Sally Barsosio 20:391996(6.3 km)Gete Wami 20:12Rose Cheruiyot 20:18Naomi Mugo 20:211997(6.6 km)Derartu Tulu 20:53Paula Radcliffe 20:55Gete Wami 21:001998(8 km)Sonia O'Sullivan 25:39Paula Radcliffe 25:42Gete Wami 25:491999(8.012 km)Gete Wami 28:00Merima Denboba 28:12Paula Radcliffe 28:122000(8.08 km)Derartu Tulu 25:42Gete Wami 25:48Susan Chepkemei 25:502001(7.7 km)Paula Radcliffe 27:49Gete Wami 27:52Lydia Cheromei 28:072002(7.974 km)Paula Radcliffe 26:55Deena Drossin 27:04Colleen de Reuck 27:172003(7.92 km)Worknesh Kidane 25:53Deena Drossin 26:02Merima Denboba 26:282004(8 km)Benita Johnson 27:17Ejagayehu Dibaba 27:29Worknesh Kidane 27:342005(8.108 km)Tirunesh Dibaba 26:34Alice Timbilil 26:37Worknesh Kidane 26:372006(8 km)Tirunesh Dibaba 25:21Lornah Kiplagat 25:26Meselech Melkamu 25:382007(8 km)Lornah Kiplagat 26:23Tirunesh Dibaba 26:47Meselech Melkamu 26:482008(7.905 km)Tirunesh Dibaba 25:10Mestawet Tufa 25:15Linet Chepkwemoi Masai 25:182009(8 km)Florence Jebet Kiplagat 26:13Linet Chepkwemoi Masai 26:16Meselech Melkamu 26:192010(7.759 km)Emily Chebet 24:19Linet Chepkwemoi Masai 24:20Meselech Melkamu 24:262011(8 km)Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot 24:58Linet Chepkwemoi Masai 25:07Shalane Flanagan 25:102013(8 km)Emily Chebet 24:24Hiwot Ayalew 24:27Belaynesh Oljira 24:332015(8 km)Agnes Jebet Tirop 26:01Senbere Teferi 26:06Netsanet Gudeta 26:112017(9,858 km)Irene Cheptai 31:57Alice Aprot Nawowuna 32:01Lilian Rengeruk 32:112019(10 km)Hellen Obiri 36:14Dera Dida 36:16Letesenbet Gidey 36:24
Femininos-Classificação por equipas Ano Ouro Prata Bronze1973 40 73 901974 28 50 611975 44 50 611976 33 59 641977 15 48 761978 30 37 551979 29 48 681980 15 49 491981 24 36 891982 44 57 671983 31 41 531984 52 65 911985 42 77 961986 65 67 761987 46 50 551988 51 61 721989 58 60 681990 37 75 801991 36 36 481992 47 77 961993 52 93 1001994 55 65 751995 26 38 841996 24 44 701997 24 34 641998 30 37 741999 18 27 942000 20 23 982001 18 70 772002 28 38 412003 17 30 362004 26 30 742005 16 22 862006 16 39 802007 19 26 992008 18 22 842009 14 28 722010 14 22 762011 15 29 572013 19 48 732015 17 19 1012017 10 45 592019 21 25 36
Masculinos-Distância curta (individual) Ano Ouro Prata Bronze1998(4 km)John Kibowen 10:43Daniel Komen 10:46Paul Kosgei 10:501999(4.236 km)Benjamin Limo 12:28Paul Kosgei 12:31Haylu Mekonnen 12:352000(4.18 km)John Kibowen 11:11Sammy Kipketer 11:12Paul Kosgei 11:152001(4.1 km)Enock Koech 12:40Kenenisa Bekele 12:42Benjamin Limo 12:432002(4.208 km)Kenenisa Bekele 12:11Luke Kipkosgei 12:18Haylu Mekonnen 12:202003(4.03 km)Kenenisa Bekele 11:01John Kibowen 11:04Benjamin Limo 11:062004(4 km)Kenenisa Bekele 11:31Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam 11:36Maregu Zewdie 11:422005(4.196 km)Kenenisa Bekele 11:33Abraham Chebii 11:38Isaac Songok 11:392006(4 km)Kenenisa Bekele 10:54Isaac Songok 10:55Adil Kaouch 10:57
Masculinos-Distância curta (equipas) Ano Ouro Prata Bronze1998 10 42 601999 14 45 552000 10 46 682001 13 48 512002 20 32 572003 14 31 442004 17 39 522005 23 31 322006 21 48 53
Femininos-Distância curta (individual) Ano Ouro Prata Bronze1998(4 km)Sonia O'Sullivan 12:20Zahra Ouaziz 12:34Kutre Dulecha 12:371999(4.236 km)Jackline Maranga 15:09Yamna Belkacem 15:16Annemari Sandell 15:172000(4.18 km)Kutre Dulecha 13:00Zahra Ouaziz 13:00Margaret Ngotho 13:002001(4.1 km)Gete Wami 14:46Paula Radcliffe 14:47Edith Masai 14:572002(4.208 km)Edith Masai 13:30Worknesh Kidane 13:36Isabella Ochichi 13:392003(4.03 km)Edith Masai 12:43Worknesh Kidane 12:44Jane Wanjiku 12:462004(4 km)Edith Masai 13:07Tirunesh Dibaba 13:09Teyiba Erkesso 13:112005(4.196 km)Tirunesh Dibaba 13:15Worknesh Kidane 13:16Isabella Ochichi 13:212006(4 km)Gelete Burka 12:51Prisca Ngetich 12:53Meselech Melkamu 12:54
Femininos-Distância curta (equipas) Ano Ouro Prata Bronze1998 57 58 681999 40 48 692000 46 55 572001 26 32 782002 32 34 852003 18 24 762004 19 21 872005 18 19 672006 25 26 69
Juniores masculinos (individual)