1938 FIFA World Cup History
World Cup 1938: A Historical Journey through Football's Grand Stage
The third World Cup in football took place in France from June 4th to June 19th, 1938, marking a significant moment in the history of this prestigious sporting event. The fact that two World Cups in a row were held in Europe was met with anger in South America, which had expected the tournament to be played in their continent every other time. This discontent led to a boycott from Argentina and Uruguay, setting the stage for a unique competition. Let's dive into the details of the World Cup 1938.
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| Official World Cup 1938 Poster |
Background
In total, 16 teams participated after a qualification process that included 37 teams. The host nation, France, and the reigning champions, Italy, were directly qualified. The World Cup in 1938 would be dominated by European nations, with 13 out of 16 teams hailing from Europe.
One of the most exotic and notable teams to participate was the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), becoming the first Asian team to take part in the World Cup. They had qualified as all other Asian teams withdrew.
However, the political climate in Europe, marked by the shadow of a looming war, was evident. Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany just before the start of the tournament, leading to its abolition from the competition. The atmosphere in games involving Germany or Italy was tense, with Italian players making fascist salutes and even changing their traditional white shirts to black during the quarter-finals against France.
Participating Nations
- Austria (nullified)
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Cuba
- Czechoslovakia
- Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia)
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Format
The format for the competition in 1938 was a knockout tournament. If a match ended in a tie after regular time, an additional 30 minutes of extra time was played. If the match still remained undecided after extra time, a rematch would be arranged the following day. The concept of a penalty shootout was not introduced until 1978.
Cities and Arenas
The matches were distributed across ten French cities and played on nine stadiums. One match, between Austria and Sweden, was canceled, meaning that Lyon did not host any games. The final took place in Paris at Stade Olympique de Colombes, which had a capacity of 60,000.
Tournament
From a sporting perspective, the 1938 World Cup marked Brazil's first significant impact on the global stage of football. Brazil's crowd-pleasing style led them far in the tournament, capturing the attention of fans worldwide.
One of the most surprising moments was the Cuban victory against Romania. However, they were unable to repeat this success in the quarter-finals due to exhaustion and a muddy pitch, where they faced a heavy defeat from Sweden.
Stats
The 1938 FIFA World Cup featured 18 matches, during which 84 goals were scored, averaging 4.66 goals per match. The tournament also saw four players being sent off during various matches.
Top Three Finishers
1. Italy
2. Hungary
3. Brazil
Leading Scorers
- Leônidas (7 goals)
- György Sárosi (5 goals)
- Gyula Zsengeller (5 goals)
- Silvio Piola (5 goals)
Host Cities and Stadiam
1. Paris (Stade Olympique de Colombes and Parc des Princes)
2. Marseille (Stade Vélodrome)
3. Lyon (Stade Gerland)
4. Toulouse (Stade Chapou)
5. Bordeaux (Parc Lescure)
6. Strasbourg (Stade de la Meinau)
7. Le Havre (Stade Municipal)
8. Reims (Vélodrome Municipal)
9. Lille (Stade Victor Boucquey)
- Average Attendance: 20,889
Results
In the first round, teams finishing 9th to 19th included Norway, Belgium, Poland, Netherlands, Dutch East Indies, Germany, Austria, and Romania.
The quarter-finals, featuring teams placed 5th to 8th, consisted of France, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, and Cuba.
The semi-finals saw Italy and Hungary emerging victorious. The match for third place witnessed Brazil defeating Sweden with a score of 4-2.
The final match was a thrilling encounter between Italy and Hungary, watched by 45,124 spectators. Italy triumphed with a score of 4-2, with Gino Colaussi and Silvio Piola each scoring two goals. This victory allowed Italy to defend their World Champion title, becoming the first team with two World Cup titles. Due to the outbreak of World War II, the next World Cup had to wait until 1950 to take place.
Conclusion
The 1938 World Cup in France was a historic event in the world of football, showcasing both the excellence and the political tensions of the time. It laid the foundation for future tournaments, leaving a lasting impact on the sport's legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the 1938 World Cup?
- Italy emerged as the champion of the 1938 World Cup, defeating Hungary in the final.
2. Why was the 1938 World Cup significant?
- The 1938 World Cup was significant as it marked Brazil's first major impact on the global football stage and was played in the shadow of looming World War II.
3. Which team was the most surprising in the tournament?
- Cuba's victory against Romania was one of the most surprising moments in the 1938 World Cup.
4. How many teams participated in the 1938 World Cup?
- A total of 16 teams participated in the 1938 World Cup.
5. When was the next World Cup held after the 1938 tournament?
- Due to World War II, the next World Cup had to wait until 1950 to take place.
