# Canonical recap data for 1938 FIFA World Cup Final (1938)
# Source: https://recap.at/1938/1938-world-cup-final
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: 1938-world-cup-final
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1938/1938-world-cup-final"
title: 1938 FIFA World Cup Final
aliases:
- 1938 World Cup Final
- Italy vs Hungary
- Colombes Stadium Final
subtitle: Italy's second consecutive World Cup victory showcased Mussolini's use of sports propaganda on the international stage.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1938-06-19
datePrecision: day
year: 1938
decade: 1930
country:
name: France
slug: france
summaryShort: "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"
summaryLong: "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."
lede: 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.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Italy_v_Hungary_WC_1938_%282%29.jpg/1280px-Italy_v_Hungary_WC_1938_%282%29.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "1938 FIFA World Cup final"
importance: 79
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Final Score
  value: Italy 4, Hungary 2
- label: Date
  value: 19 June 1938
- label: Venue
  value: Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, Paris
- label: Attendance
  value: 45,000
- label: Italy's Consecutive Titles
  value: 2 (1934, 1938)
- label: Tournament Edition
  value: 3rd FIFA World Cup
- label: Years Until Next World Cup
  value: 12 (1950)
- label: Referee
  value: Georges Capdeville (France)
timeline:
- date: 1938-05-24
  title: Tournament Begins
  description: The 1938 FIFA World Cup kicks off in France with 15 nations competing.
- date: 1938-06-12
  title: Italy Reaches Final
  description: Italy advances to the final after defeating Brazil 2–1 in the semi-final.
- date: 1938-06-12
  title: Hungary Reaches Final
  description: Hungary secures a spot in the final by defeating Sweden 5–1 in the semi-final.
- date: 1938-06-19
  title: Final Match
  description: Italy defeats Hungary 4–2 at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes, Paris. Gino Colaussi and Silvio Piola each score twice for Italy.
- date: 1938-06-19
  title: Italy Wins Second Consecutive Title
  description: Italy becomes the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup championships under coach Vittorio Pozzo.
- date: 1950-06-25
  title: World Cup Resumes
  description: After a 12-year hiatus caused by World War II, the FIFA World Cup returns in Brazil.
sources:
- url: ""
  title: 1938 FIFA World Cup final
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: Italy's back-to-back championships established the nation as a dominant force in football and validated coach Vittorio Pozzo's tactical system. The tournament's conclusion marked the end of an era—no World Cup would be held again until 1950.
categories:
- sports
- festival
taxonomy:
domain: sports
eventTypes:
- world_cup
- championship
canonicalClasses:
- competition
- celebration
impactRadius: global
velocity: sudden
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: single_domain
metaDescription: Italy beats Hungary 4–2 in 1938 World Cup final in Paris. First nation to win consecutive titles.
wikidataQid: Q945575
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260509072154/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_FIFA_World_Cup_final"
  capturedAt: 2026-05-09
  label: 1938 FIFA World Cup final
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_FIFA_World_Cup_final"
peoplesVoice:
- source: Vittorio Pozzo, Italy National Team Manager
  voiceType: official
  context: Immediately after Italy's 4-2 victory over Hungary in the final at the Stade Colombes in Paris
  excerpt: Our players have shown the world that Italian football is superior. We have won this tournament twice now, and we shall win it again. This is a triumph for the Italian nation.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 88
  attribution: Post-match statement to international press, 19 June 1938
  publishedAt: 1938-06-20
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Henri Desgrange, French sports journalist and L'Auto editor
  voiceType: media
  context: Writing in the leading French sports daily the day after the final was held on French soil
  excerpt: Though the tournament was graced by French hospitality, we could not overcome the Italian machine. Their efficiency is undeniable, yet football's future surely belongs to more varied, creative nations.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 62
  attribution: L'Auto editorial column, 20 June 1938
  publishedAt: 1938-06-20
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Mihaly Pataki, Hungary Football Federation President
  voiceType: official
  context: Hungary's first World Cup final appearance ended in defeat, a significant milestone for the nation's football program
  excerpt: We are disappointed, certainly, but our team's presence in this final proves Hungarian football has arrived on the world stage. We shall return stronger.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 55
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Hungarian sports radio broadcast, 19 June 1938
  publishedAt: 1938-06-19
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Giovanni Maraini, Italian sports correspondent
  voiceType: analyst
  context: Commentary reflecting on Italy's defensive tactics and physical approach that dominated the tournament
  excerpt: Pozzo's system is mechanical but masterful. The Italians play with iron discipline - some call it ugly, but ugliness that wins trophies cannot be denied.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 71
  attribution: Corriere della Sera match analysis, 20 June 1938
  publishedAt: 1938-06-20
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Georges Carpentier, Former heavyweight boxing champion
  voiceType: expert
  context: Prominent French sporting figure witnessing the final at the Stade Colombes
  excerpt: I have seen combat in the ring and on the field. Today, Italy's aggression exceeded what fair sport should permit. Yet they prevailed, and in sport, only victory is remembered.
  sentimentLabel: mocking
  significance: 58
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Le Petit Parisien interview, 21 June 1938
  publishedAt: 1938-06-21
  originalLanguage: en
