1938 World Cup Final - Italy vs Hungary
Four-time World Cup champions and two-time European champions.
The Italy national football team has represented Italy in men's international football since its first match in 1910. The team is controlled by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), a founding member of UEFA. Italy plays its home matches at various stadiums across the country, while its training center and technical headquarters, the Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano, is located in Florence.
- Date
- June 19, 1938
- Venue
- Stade Olympique de Colombes, Paris
- Referee
- Georges Capdeville (France)
- Scoreline
- Italy 4 - 2 Hungary
- Tournament
- 1938 FIFA World Cup
- Manager
- Vittorio Pozzo
Lore & Background
Italy achieved their second World Cup title in 1938 in a 4–2 defeat of Hungary, with two goals by Gino Colaussi and two goals by Silvio Piola. The sequence of goals is not specified in the source, but it is known that Colaussi scored two goals and Piola scored two goals in the match.
In Their Own Story
The Parisian rain had turned the Stade Olympique de Colombes into a cauldron of mud and anticipation. Giuseppe Meazza, the heart of the Azzurri, wiped sweat from his brow, his eyes fixed on the Hungarian goal. The crowd roared as Silvio Piola surged forward, the ball skidding through the wet grass. In that moment, history hung in the balance between two footballing philosophies: the raw, technical explosion of Hungary and the cold, calculated discipline of Italy. As the final whistle blew, the Italian players collapsed not just from exhaustion, but from the sheer relief of having conquered the world once more.
Reader's Guide
Italy is one of the most successful national teams in international football. It has won the FIFA World Cup four times (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006), becoming the first team to successfully defend the title, and has also finished as runners-up in 1970 and 1994. Italy has won the UEFA European Championship twice (1968 and 2020), reached the final in 2000 and 2012, and won the Olympic football tournament in 1936. Italy also finished third in the FIFA Confederations Cup (2013) and the UEFA Nations League (2021 and 2023).
Did You Know?
- Italy set a record unbeaten run of 37 competitive men's international matches between 2018 and 2021, which was surpassed by Spain in 2026.
- Italy failed to qualify for the 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions of the World Cup, marking its longest absence from the competition.
- The team is known as the Blues, after Savoy blue, the traditional colour of the House of Savoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1938 World Cup Final against Hungary?
Italy secured a 4-2 victory over Hungary on June 19, 1938, at the Stade Olympique de Colombes in Paris.
Why is this match historically significant for the Azzurri?
This game made Italy the first nation to retain the Jules Rimet Trophy by winning consecutive World Cup titles.
How did Vittorio Pozzo’s team defeat György Orth’s Magyars?
Pozzo’s disciplined side outplayed Hungary’s technically gifted players to secure back-to-back titles for the national squad.
What happened to the Jules Rimet Trophy after this final?
The Azzurri held off the opposition to keep possession of the trophy in Paris following their decisive win.
More in Iconic Matches & Finals
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