Highlights
The 1938 World Cup, held in France, was the last before a twelve-year break caused by the Second World War. Austria had qualified but could not take part after being annexed by Germany, leaving only fifteen teams in the draw. Argentina and Uruguay stayed away, while Cuba and the Dutch East Indies, the first Asian side in the tournament's history, made their debuts.
The first round produced a famous match: Brazil beat Poland 6-5 after extra time in a duel between Leônidas, who scored a hat-trick, and Poland's Ernest Wilimowski, who scored four. Leônidas finished as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals.
Holders Italy knocked out France in the quarter-finals and Brazil in the semi-finals. In the final at Colombes they beat Hungary 4-2, with Gino Colaussi and Silvio Piola each scoring twice. Vittorio Pozzo remains the only coach to have won two World Cups.
Statistics
- Total goals
- 84
- Matches played
- 18
- Goals/match
- 4.67
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Top Scorers
| Rank | Player | Goals | Penalties | Goals/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leonidas | 7 | 0 | 1.75 |
| 2 | György Sárosi | 5 | 0 | 1.25 |
| 2 | Gyula Zsengellér | 5 | 0 | 1.25 |
| 2 | Silvio Piola | 5 | 0 | 1.25 |
| 5 | Ernest Wilimowski | 4 | 0 | 4.00 |
| 5 | Gino Colaussi | 4 | 0 | 1.33 |
| 7 | Gustav Wetterstrom | 3 | 0 | 1.50 |
| 7 | Harry Andersson | 3 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 7 | Arne Nyberg | 3 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 7 | Héctor Socorro | 3 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 7 | André Abegglen | 3 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 7 | Romeu | 3 | 0 | 0.75 |
| 7 | José Perácio | 3 | 0 | 0.75 |
| 14 | Jean Nicolas | 2 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 14 | Pál Titkos | 2 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 14 | Stefan Dobay | 2 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 14 | Oldrich Nejedly | 2 | 1 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Henri Isemborghs | 1 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Josef Gauchel | 1 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Pietro Ferraris | 1 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Silviu Bindea | 1 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Arne Brustad | 1 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Josef Zeman | 1 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Fryedryk Szerfke | 1 | 1 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Géza Toldi | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Emile Veinante | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Oscar Heisserer | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Tore Keller | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Vilmos Kohut | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Roberto | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Iuliu Baratky | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Willhelm Hahnemann | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | José Magriñá | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Sven Jonasson | 1 | 0 | 0.33 |
| 18 | Tomás Fernández | 1 | 0 | 0.33 |
| 18 | Fredy Bickel | 1 | 0 | 0.33 |
| 18 | Eugen Walaschek | 1 | 0 | 0.33 |
| 18 | Vlastimil Kopecky | 1 | 0 | 0.33 |
| 18 | Josef Kostálek | 1 | 0 | 0.33 |
| 18 | Giuseppe Meazza | 1 | 1 | 0.25 |