World Cup 1958

Lore & Background

Brazil defeated France in the semi-final and Wales in the quarter-final. French striker Just Fontaine scored 13 goals, the record for most goals in a single tournament. This was the first appearance of Wales at the FIFA World Cup; they did not qualify again until 2022. The tournament also marked the debuts of Northern Ireland and the Soviet Union. Defending champions West Germany were eliminated by runners-up and host Sweden in the semi-final.

Reader's Guide

The format changed from 1954: 16 teams competed in four groups of four, each team playing each other at least once, with two points for a win and one for a draw. Goal average was used to separate teams on equal points. Playoffs were used if second and third were tied. In Group 4, Pelé and Garrincha did not play until the last group game against the Soviet Union; Brazil won 2–0. Playoffs were needed in Group 1 (Northern Ireland beat Czechoslovakia) and Group 3 (Wales topped Hungary). In the quarter-finals, Pelé scored the only goal for Brazil against Wales. In the semi-finals, Brazil beat France 5–2 with a Pelé hat-trick after French captain Robert Jonquet suffered a broken leg.

Did You Know?

• This was the first World Cup to feature all four of the United Kingdom’s Home Nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• The official ball was the 'Top-Star VM-bollen 1958' made by Sydsvenska Läder & Remfabriks AB in Ängelholm.
• Sweden remains the only Nordic country to have hosted a FIFA World Cup.
• Italy failed to qualify for the first time; they did not take part in the 1930 tournament but there was no qualification for that competition.