The 3rd edition of the World Cup was held in the year 1938. This was the last edition of the World Cup before World War II which disrupt the continuity of the competition. The next edition was held after 12 years in 1950.
Hosts of the 1938 World Cup?
France were select as the Host of the 1938 World Cup.
37 teams enter the qualification round out of which 14 teams made it to the final competition.
Reigning champions Italy had automatically qualified for this edition of the tournament while hosts France too were guaranteed a berth in the main competition.
Before the main tournament kicked off, Austria withdrew from the World Cup which meant only 15 teams compete in the final round.
South American countries Uruguay and Argentina boycot the World Cup as a mark of protest against the decision to hold a second consecutive World Cup in Europe.
Spain did not enter the qualification round due to the Spanish Civil War.
Winner of 1938 World Cup?
Italy won their second consecutive title beating Hungary 4-2 in the final.
Teams Participated in the Qualifying Round?
With defending champions Uruguay, the British nations too did not participate as they were on a self-imposed exile from FIFA.
The teams who took part in the qualifying round were :
- Germany,
- Sweden,
- Finland,
- Norway,
- Irish Free State,
- Poland,
- Yugoslavia,
- Romania,
- Egypt,
- Switzerland,
- Portugal,
- Greece,
- Mandatory Palestine,
- Hungary,
- Greece,
- Czech Republic,
- Bulgaria,
- Latvia,
- Lithuania,
- Netherlands,
- Belgium,
- Luxembourg,
- Cuba,
- Costa Rica,
- Dutch Guiana,
- El Salvador,
- Colombia,
- Mexico,
- USA,
- Dutch East Indies,
- Japan.
The teams who eventually qualified were :
- Belgium,
- Brazil,
- Cuba,
- Czech Republic,
- Dutch East Indies,
- France,
- Germany,
- Hungary,
- Italy,
- Netherlands,
- Norway,
- Poland,
- Romania,
- Sweden,
- Switzerland.
Format of the 1938 World Cup?
The knockout format from the last World Cup was maintain in the 1938 edition.
- If a match was tied after ninety minutes, then thirty minutes of extra time was played.
- If the score was still tied after extra time, the match was replay the next day.
Sweden receive a bye into the quarter-finals since they were pitted against Austria, who withdrew, in the Round of 16.
1938 World Cup-Winning Italy Squad
| PLAYER | POSITION | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| Carlo Ceresoli | Goalkeeper | Bologna |
| Guido Masetti | Goalkeeper | Roma |
| Aldo Olivieri | Goalkeeper | Lucchese |
| Alfredo Foni | Defender | Juventus |
| Eraldo Monzeglio | Defender | Roma |
| Pietro Rava | Defender | Juventus |
| Michele Andreolo | Midfielder | Bologna |
| Bruno Chizzo | Midfielder | Triestina |
| Aldo Donati | Midfielder | Roma |
| Mario Genta | Midfielder | Genoa |
| Ugo Locatelli | Midfielder | Inter Milan |
| Giuseppe Meazza (C) | Midfielder | Inter Milan |
| Renato Olmi | Midfielder | Inter Milan |
| Mario Perazzolo | Midfielder | Genoa |
| Pietro Serantoni | Midfielder | Roma |
| Sergio Bertoni | Striker | Pisa |
| Amedeo Biavati | Striker | Bologna |
| Gino Colaussi | Striker | Triestina |
| Giovanni Ferrari | Striker | Inter Milan |
| Pietro Ferraris | Striker | Inter Milan |
| Piero Pasinati | Striker | Triestina |
| Silvio Piola | Striker | Lazio |
