In short
Italy defeated Hungary 4–2 on June 19, 1938, in Paris to win the FIFA World Cup and become the first nation to defend its title. The match capped a tournament that would be the last World Cup for 12 years, interrupted by World War II.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The 1938 FIFA World Cup final was the third edition of the football quadrennial tournament match contested by the men's national teams of FIFA to determine the 1938 FIFA World Cup champions: Italy and Hungary. It was played on 19 June. Italy defended its claim to the championship 4–2 in the last tournament before World War II.
As it was happening
11 voices, 4415 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Tournament Begins
The 1938 FIFA World Cup kicks off in France with 15 nations competing.
Voices from this moment (1)
Tournament Begins
May 24
“The 1938 FIFA World Cup kicks off in France with 15 nations…”
As it was happening
11 voices, 4415 days.
Day 0 · May 24, 1938
Tournament Begins
The 1938 FIFA World Cup kicks off in France with 15 nations competing.
“The 1938 FIFA World Cup kicks off in France with 15 nations…”
- Tournament Begins, May 24
Day 19 · June 12, 1938
Italy Reaches Final
Italy advances to the final after defeating Brazil 2–1 in the semi-final.
Day 19 · June 12, 1938
Hungary Reaches Final
Hungary secures a spot in the final by defeating Sweden 5–1 in the semi-final.
“Italy advances to the final after defeating Brazil 2–1 in…”
- Italy Reaches Final, Jun 12
“Hungary secures a spot in the final by defeating Sweden 5–1…”
- Hungary Reaches Final, Jun 12
Day 26 · June 19, 1938
Final Match
Italy defeats Hungary 4–2 at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes, Paris. Gino Colaussi and Silvio Piola each score twice for Italy.
Day 26 · June 19, 1938
Italy Wins Second Consecutive Title
Italy becomes the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup championships under coach Vittorio Pozzo.
“Our players have shown the world that Italian football is…”
- Post-match statement to international press, 19 June 1938, Jun 20
“Pozzo's system is mechanical but masterful.”
- Corriere della Sera match analysis, 20 June 1938, Jun 20
“We are disappointed, certainly, but our team's presence in…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Hungarian sports radio broadcast, 19 June 1938, Jun 19
“I have seen combat in the ring and on the field.”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Le Petit Parisien interview, 21 June 1938, Jun 21
“Though the tournament was graced by French hospitality, we…”
- L'Auto editorial column, 20 June 1938, Jun 20
“Italy defeats Hungary 4–2 at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir…”
- Final Match, Jun 19
“Italy becomes the first nation to win back-to-back World…”
- Italy Wins Second Consecutive Title, Jun 19
Day 4415 · June 25, 1950
World Cup Resumes
After a 12-year hiatus caused by World War II, the FIFA World Cup returns in Brazil.
“After a 12-year hiatus caused by World War II, the FIFA…”
- World Cup Resumes, Jun 25
The numbers.
5 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Date
0 June 1938
Attendance
0
Italy's Consecutive Titles
0 (1934, 1938)
Tournament Edition
0rd FIFA World Cup
Years Until Next World Cup
0 (1950)
Captured in time.
Captured before it changed
The web as it looked, the day it happened.
Wayback Machine snapshots of the pages people actually loaded that day. Click any card to open the archive at full size.
Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.