1938 World Cup Statistics

The third world finals were hosted by France, the birthplace of Jules Rimet - the founder of the World Cup tournament. However the French would have to wait sixty years to experience winning the trophy on home soil. Current champions Italy proved to have enough quality under legendary Italian manager Vittorio Pozzo.

The Italian only played four games in the tournament, winning them all and scoring nine goals in the process. However, it wasn't an Italian who finished as top scorer of the tournament; Brazilian Leônidas da Silva would take this honour.

The fifteen teams involved scored an impressive 84 goals - with Brazil beating Poland 6-5 in the 1st round of the tournament. Due to the World War that started the year after, Italy would have to wait twelve years to defend their title - the longest ever period in World Cup history, which is likely to remain forever.

1938 World Cup Results


DateStageHome TeamScoreAway TeamAttendance
04-06-1938Group Stage/1st RoundGermany1–1Switzerland27,000
05-06-1938Group Stage/1st RoundBrazil6–5Poland13,000
05-06-1938Group Stage/1st RoundFrance3–1Belgium30,000
05-06-1938Group Stage/1st RoundItaly2–1Mexico19,000
05-06-1938Group Stage/1st RoundCzechoslovakia3–0Netherlands11,000
05-06-1938Group Stage/1st RoundHungary6–0Indonesia9,000
05-06-1938Group Stage/1st RoundCuba3–3Romania7,000
09-06-19381st Round ReplayCuba2–1Romania8,000
09-06-19381st Round ReplayGermany2–4Switzerland20,000
12-06-1938Quarter FinalSwitzerland0–2Hungary15,000
12-06-1938Quarter FinalBrazil1–1Czechoslovakia19,000
12-06-1938Quarter FinalFrance1–3Italy59,000
12-06-1938Quarter FinalSweden8–0Cuba7,000
14-06-1938Quarter Final ReplayBrazil2–1Czechoslovakia22,000
16-06-1938Semi FinalItaly2–1Brazil33,000
16-06-1938Semi FinalHungary5–1Sweden20,000
19-06-19383rd Place PlayoffSweden2–4Brazil12,000
19-06-1938FinalHungary2–4Italy45,000