Uruguay 1930

Winner Uruguay
Runners-Up Argentina
Third USA
Fourth Yugoslavia

FIFA™ President Jules Rimet's dream was realized as Uruguay hosted the inaugural FIFA World Cup™ in its centenary year. Only four European teams made the long sea journey and the Final was an all-South American affair, with Uruguay beating their Argentinian neighbours just as they had done in the 1928 Olympic final. The hosts were trailing at half-time, but they triumphed 4-2 in the newly built Estadio Centenario to become football's first world champions.ns.


Italy 1934

Winner Italy
Runners-Up Czechoslovakia
Third Germany
Fourth Austria

Italy delighted their passionate home support by coming from behind to beat Czechoslovakia in the first FIFA World Cup™ Final played on European soil. Angelo Schiavio scored the winning goal for the Azzurri, who had won against the highly-rated Austrian Wunderteam in the semi-finals. It was a tournament without the holders, Uruguay, who by their refusal to take part, became the first and only champions not to defend their crown.


France 1938

Winner Italy
Runners-Up Hungary
Third Brazil
Fourth Sweden

Italy’s trainer Vittorio Pozzo made history by rebuilding his team and capturing a second successive title. With Silvio Piola's goals and Giuseppe Meazza's leadership, Italy beat Hungary in the Final. They had already won the semi-final against a Brazil side which was missing top scorer Leonidas. Three of Leonidas’s strikes came in a 6-5 victory over Poland – the best match of a tournament marked by political tensions and the absence of some leading teams.


Brazil 1950

Winner Uruguay
Runners-Up Brazil
Third Sweden
Fourth Spain

Brazil's determination to put on a show meant they built the world's biggest football stadium, the Maracana, for the 1950 FIFA World Cup™. Yet their dream of becoming the world champions died in that huge bowl: Uruguay captured their second crown by beating the hosts in front of some 200,000 stunned spectators. It was not the only shock in a tournament where England, the debutants, were humbled by the United States.

Extras Biographies 1930 | 1934 | 1938 | 1950

Cruyff (Holand) Zidane (France)