1938 FIFA World Cup – France
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was hosted by France and marked the last tournament before World War II. This was the third edition of the competition, and it again used a pure knockout format, starting directly from the Round of 16. Italy successfully defended their title, becoming the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups.
Knockout Stage
Round of 16
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Italy vs Norway | 2–1 (a.e.t.) |
| France vs Belgium | 3–1 |
| Brazil vs Poland | 6–5 (a.e.t.) |
| Czechoslovakia vs Netherlands | 3–0 (Replay) |
| Cuba vs Romania | 2–1 (Replay) |
| Hungary vs Dutch East Indies | 6–0 |
| Switzerland vs Germany | 4–2 (Replay) |
| Sweden vs Austria | Walkover (Austria withdrew, Sweden advanced) |
Brazil vs Poland became legendary, finishing 6–5 after extra time, with Leônidas da Silva scoring a hat-trick in a muddy battle.
Quarter-finals
Click to expand results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Italy vs France | 3–1 |
| Brazil vs Czechoslovakia | 1–1 (Replay: Brazil 2–1) |
| Sweden vs Cuba | 8–0 |
| Hungary vs Switzerland | 2–0 |
Sweden crushed debutants Cuba 8–0, while Italy eliminated host nation France in Paris.
Semi-finals
Click to expand results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Italy vs Brazil | 2–1 |
| Hungary vs Sweden | 5–1 |
Brazil rested star striker Leônidas in the semi-final against Italy and paid the price, losing 2–1.
Third Place Playoff
Click to expand result
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Brazil vs Sweden | 4–2 |
Leônidas returned to score twice as Brazil defeated Sweden to secure third place.
Final
Final Match
Italy 4–2 Hungary
In a thrilling final in Paris, Italy overcame Hungary 4–2. Gino Colaussi and Silvio Piola both scored twice, cementing Italy’s dominance as the first team to win consecutive World Cups.
External Links