SEASON
1938 FIFA World Cup
Overview
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was hosted by France. Italy won the tournament, Hungary finished runners-up, Brazil placed third and Sweden fourth. Footballopedia links this edition to its decisive matches, leading scorer, champion manager and the wider World Cup knowledge graph.
Key facts
- Host
- France
- Champion
- Italy
- Runner-up
- Hungary
- Third place
- Brazil
- Fourth place
- Sweden
- Format
- Straight knockout with replays after drawn matches
- Top scorer
- Leônidas (Brazil) - 7 goals
- Winning manager
- Vittorio Pozzo
- Matches
- 18
- Goals
- 84
- Current season
- 1938
- Teams
- 15
Records
ChampionValue: Italy
Runner-upValue: Hungary
Third placeValue: Brazil
Top scorerValue: Leônidas (Brazil) - 7 goals
TeamsValue: 15
MatchesValue: 18
GoalsValue: 84
Matches
Germany 1-1 SwitzerlandDate: 1938-06-04 · City: Paris · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: Germany
Germany 2-4 SwitzerlandDate: 1938-06-09 · City: Paris · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: Germany
Hungary 6-0 Dutch East IndiesDate: 1938-06-05 · City: Reims · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: Hungary
France 3-1 BelgiumDate: 1938-06-05 · City: Paris · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: France
Cuba 3-3 RomaniaDate: 1938-06-05 · City: Toulouse · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: Cuba
Cuba 2-1 RomaniaDate: 1938-06-09 · City: Toulouse · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: Cuba
Czechoslovakia 3-0 NetherlandsDate: 1938-06-05 · City: Le Havre · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: Czechoslovakia
Brazil 6-5 PolandDate: 1938-06-05 · City: Strasbourg · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: Brazil
Italy 2-1 NorwayDate: 1938-06-05 · City: Marseille · Stage: Round of 16 · Home Team: Italy
Sweden 8-0 CubaDate: 1938-06-12 · City: Antibes · Stage: Quarter-finals · Home Team: Sweden
Switzerland 0-2 HungaryDate: 1938-06-12 · City: Lille · Stage: Quarter-finals · Home Team: Switzerland
France 1-3 ItalyDate: 1938-06-12 · City: Paris · Stage: Quarter-finals · Home Team: France
Brazil 1-1 CzechoslovakiaDate: 1938-06-12 · City: Bordeaux · Stage: Quarter-finals · Home Team: Brazil
Brazil 2-1 CzechoslovakiaDate: 1938-06-14 · City: Bordeaux · Stage: Quarter-finals · Home Team: Brazil
Hungary 5-1 SwedenDate: 1938-06-16 · City: Paris · Stage: Semi-finals · Home Team: Hungary
Italy 2-1 BrazilDate: 1938-06-16 · City: Marseille · Stage: Semi-finals · Home Team: Italy
Brazil 4-2 SwedenDate: 1938-06-19 · City: Bordeaux · Stage: Third-place match · Home Team: Brazil
Italy 4-2 HungaryDate: 1938-06-19 · City: Paris · Stage: Final · Home Team: Italy
Tournament story
Italy became the first nation to retain the World Cup.
The tournament used a straight knockout format and included replayed drawn ties.
Brazil's Leônidas finished as leading scorer with seven goals.
Final / decisive match
- Home
- Italy
- Away
- Hungary
- Home Score
- 4
- Away Score
- 2
- Venue
- Stade Olympique de Colombes
- City
- Colombes / Paris
- Date
- 1938-06-19
- Extra Time
Third-place match
- Home
- Brazil
- Away
- Sweden
- Home Score
- 4
- Away Score
- 2
- Venue
- Parc Lescure
- City
- Bordeaux
- Date
- 1938-06-19