tumblr visit counter
1958 FIFA WORLD CUP 1958 FIFA World Cup
  THEFIFAWORLDCUPS    
   
1958 WORLD CUP - SWEDEN  
  1958 WORLD CUP SWEDEN  
                                           
   
                                           
                                         
                           
  We play football. We love football.          
  We breathe football. We live football.        
                         
                                         
                                         
  1958 WORLD CUP  
   

The 1958 World Cup took place in Sweden from June 8 to June 29, 1958. 16 teams from 3 confederations participated in the final tournament: 12 from Europe (UEFA), 3 from South America (CONMEBOL), and 1 from North America, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF). Three teams made their first World Cup presentation (Northern Ireland, Soviet Union and Wales), and all going as far as the quarter-finals.

This championship marked a new era in the history of World Cups because it was the first to receive international television coverage. People from all corners of the globe had the opportunity to watch the World Cup on television. The World Cup in Sweden was spectacular and the best so far thanks to a marvellous Brazilian team. It was also notable for marking the debut on the world stage of an unknown 17-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento, more famously known as Pelé. Just Fontaine scored a World Cup record 13 goals, but nobody captured the attention and fantasy of fans like the young man Pelé.

The 1958 World Cup was won by the Brazilian team that defeated Sweden 5 to 2 in the final, including two goals of the incomparable Pelé, to achieve the deservedly first World Cup title.  It was the only time in the World Cup history that a World Cup held in Europe was won by a non-European team. 

 
     
 
 
 
Rasunda Stadium, Solna

The Germans

 
     
   
Quick facts  
   
  Teams
  16
 
Top Star
  When
  8 to 29 June 1958
  Matches
  35
  Venues
  12
  Attendance
  819,810 (average 23,423)
  Goals Scored
  126 (3.60 per match)
 
   
BRAZIL 5-2 SWEDEN
  Champion
  Brazil
 Golden shoe
1
13
  Runner-up
  Sweden
2
6
  Third place
  France
6
  Fourth Place
Best young player
 
 
   
     
  The world in 1958  
   
The Vietnam War (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) begins (1955).
The President of Panama, José Antonio Remón, is assassinated (1955).
Albert Einstein, the father of modern physics, dies (1955).
William Faulkner wins Pulitzer for The Fable (1955).
J. R. R. Tolkien publishes The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King (1955).
Juan Rulfo publishes Pedro Páramo (1955).
Morocco and Tunisia declare their independence (1956).
Pakistan becomes the first Islamic Republic (1956).
Israel invades the Sinai Peninsula (1956).
The United Kingdom and France attack Egypt due to Suez Canal crisis (1956).
Fidel Castro and Che Guevara parts from Mexico to Cuba aboard the Granma (1956).
     
 
Albert Einstein

Fidel CastroChe Guevara

   
Rocky Marciano announces his retirement as undefeated Heavyweight Champion (1956).
Cortina d'Ampezzo, holds the VII Winter Olympic Games (1956).
Melbourne, Australia, holds the XVI Summer Olympic Games (1956).
Elvis Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was a number one hit (1956).
Sputnik I, the first Soviet Earth-orbiting artificial satellite, is launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit (1957).
Juan Manuel Fangio, driving for Maserati, wins his record 5th Formula One World Driver's Championships (1957). 
An oral polio vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin (1957).
   
 
Elvis Presley
Albert Sabine
   
The first satellite of United States satellite is launched (1958).
European Economic Community (EU) becomes effective (1958).
Nikita Khrushchev becomes Premier of the Soviet Union (1958).
Chad, Republic of the Congo, and Gabon gains their independence (1958).
Pope Pius XII dies (1958).
 
     
   
  Antecedents  
   
Sweden was chosen to host the 1958 FIFA World Cup at the Congress held in Rio de Janeiro on 23 June 1950. Sweden was the only bid, so it was elected unopposed. The World Cup would be played in Europe twice in a row.

Before the tournament, England suffered the loss of three mainstays’ players, who died in the Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958. On the plane was the Manchester United football team, along with supporters and journalists. 23 of the 44 on the aircraft died.

On the other hand, FIFA had a new President: The English Arthur Drewry. He was the fifth President of FIFA, where he succeeded Rodolphe William Seeldrayers, serving from 1955 to 1961.

 
   
      
Qualification  
   
  Participating countries:
54
  Withdrew:
5
  Qualified automatically:
2
  Teams that played at least one qualifying match:
47
  Matches:
89
  Total goals:
341 (3.83 per match)
 
     
 

A total of 55 teams signed up to participate in the 1958 World Cup qualification rounds, passing the 50 mark for the first time. Sweden, as the hosts, and West Germany, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

This was the first and only time in World Cup history that all United Kingdom teams qualified: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Two former champions, Italy and Uruguay, failed to qualify for the finals. This World Cup graced also the entry and qualification for the first time of the Soviet Union.

The 14 available spots were distributed in continental zones as shown below:

Europe (UEFA): 27 teams competed for 9 direct places. Sweden, as host, and West Germany, as defending champion, qualified automatically.
South America (CONMEBOL): 9 teams competed for 3 spots. Venezuela withdrew.
North America, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 6 teams competed for 1 place.
Asia (AFC) and Africa (CAF): 11 teams (including Israel, Cyprus and Turkey) competed for 1 spot. Republic of China, Hong Kong, Turkey and Cyprus withdrew.
 

Israel won the African and Asian zones without playing any games because its three opponents, Indonesia, Egypt and Sudan refused to play against Israel for political reasons. For this reason, FIFA decided that Israel would have to play a playoff match with a team of Europe that initially did not qualify. After Belgium refused, Wales, the runner-up of UEFA Group 4, was the team chosen to play against Israel. Wales won both matches and qualified. The first one by 2-0 in Tel-Aviv on 15 January 1958, and the second match by the same score in Cardiff on 5 February 1958. This was the first time that FIFA imposed a rule that no team would qualify without playing at least one match. Turkey, on the other hand, withdrew from qualifying after refusing to be included in the Asian group

A total of 46 teams played at least one qualifying match. 89 qualifying matches were played and 341 goals were scored.

 
The teams that qualified for the World Cup were:
 
Flag
Team
Final Appearance
Streak
Last Appearance
 Argentina
3
1
 Austria
3
2
 Brazil
6
6
 Czechoslovakia
4
2
 England
3
3
 France
5
2
 Hungary
4
2
 Mexico
4
3
 Northern Ireland
1
1
 Paraguay
3
1
 Scotland
2
2
 Soviet Union
1
1
 Sweden
4
1
 Wales
1
1
 West Germany
4
2
 Yugoslavia
4
3
 
External link:
RSSSF 1958 FIFA World Cup Qualification
 
     
      
  Format and seedings  
   

Still trying to perfect the competition, the format of the competition changed again from 1954. The sixteen teams were split in four groups of four teams each in which they would face in the round-robin format. Two points were awarded for a win and one point for a draw. The best two teams of each group would move on to the quarter-finals. Thankfully, extra-time was not was not used to settle draws. If the first two teams finished on equal points then goal average would decide who was placed first and second. On the other hand, if the second and third team were equals on points, a playoff match had to be played to decide which team would progress to the following stage. If a play-off resulted in a draw, goal average from the group games would be used to determine who will advance to the next round. If the goal averages were equal then lots would have been drawn. 

If a knockout match was tied after ninety minutes, then thirty minutes of extra time would be added. For any match other than the final, if the score were still tied after extra time, lots would have been drawn to decide which team advanced. The final would have been replayed if even after extra time. In the event, no replays or drawing of lots were necessary.

The teams were not seeded as in 1954. The teams were divided for purposes of the draw into four groups according to geographic basis. Each of the four groups would contain one team from Western Europe, one from Eastern Europe, one from the United Kingdom and one from Americas: Western European Pot (Sweden, West Germany, Austria and France), Eastern European Pot (Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia), British Pot (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), and Americas Pot (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay).
 
     
   
  Squads  
   
For a complete list of all squads that appeared in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, please, visit: 1958 World Cup squads

 
     
   
  Venues  
   
A record 12 cities hosted matches. The Host Cities for the 1958 FIFA World Cup were Gothenburg, Solna, Malmö, Helsingborg, Eskilstuna, Norrköping, Sandviken, Uddevalla, Borås, Halmstad, Örebro, and Västerås.
 
 
Overall capacity: 53,500
Overall capacity: 52,400
Overall capacity: 30,000
Overall capacity: 27,000
Overall capacity: 20,000
Overall capacity: 20,000
Overall capacity: 20,000
Overall capacity: 17,778
Overall capacity: 15,000
Overall capacity: 15,000
Overall capacity: 13,000
Overall capacity: 10,000
 
   
   
   
   
 
       
  Match officials  
   
29 match officials from 22 countries and 2 confederation were the responsible for enforcing the laws of the game during the course of the 35 World Cup matches.
   
   
Pos
Flag
Cf
Match Official
R
AR
AP
 
35
70
3
0
1
  Maurice Guigue
4
1
1
1
0
2
  Friedrich Seipelt
2
4
1
0 0
  Albert Dusch
2
4
1
0 0
  Juan Brozzi
2
3
1
0 0
  Reginald Leafe
2
3
2
0 0
  Arthur Ellis 
2
3
3
0 0
  Raymond Wyssling 
2
3
2
0 0
  Nikolai Latyshev
2
3
1
1
0
  Istvan Zsolt 
2
2
2
1
0
  Juan Garay Gardeazábal
2
2
1
0 0
  Mervyn Griffiths
2
2
3
0 0
12
  Joaquim Campos
1
4
1
0 0
  Sten Ahlner
1
3
1
0 0
  José María Codesal
1
3
1
0 0
  Lucien Van Nuffel
1
2
1
0 0
 
     
     
  TOURNAMENT SUMMARY  
   

Action from all four groups kicked off on June 8 and there were some facts worth noting. In Group A, the defending champions and still very strong West Germany and the tiny Northern Ireland progressed to the knockout stage. The Northern Irish did one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history by qualifying for the quarter-finals, beating Czechoslovakia 1-0. The Irish finished second after upsetting the Czechs again in a playoff. On the other hand, Argentina, competing for the first time since 1934, finished last in the group and with a −5 goal differential. This drew the ire of many fans who did not expect such a bad result. France and Yugoslavia topped the Group B and advanced to the quarter-finals. The amazing Just Fontaine from France scored six goals, making him the tournament's top scorer. The second group saw one of the largest number of goals scored in a single group in the World Cup history with 27 goals in total (4.5 goals per game). The Swedish hosts had no problems winning Group C ahead of Wales and the last runner-up of the World Cup, Hungary. Wales earned three draws and then defeated Hungary 2-1 in a play-off match to decide which team accompany Sweden in the knock-out stage. The Hungarian team was expected to advance from their group, but they were diminished after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 that led to the departure of three of their biggest stars: Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis and Ferenc Puskás. As expected, a talented Brazilian team topped Group D ahead of Soviet Union and England. The Soviets, the reigning Olympic champions, took second thanks to a 1-0 playoff win against England. As aforementioned, the English team was weakened by the Munich Air Disaster. Having missed the first two games due to injury, the teenage Pele played the last game against the Soviet Union marking his debut in the world cups.

The quarterfinals saw no surprises. Brazil defeated Wales 1-0 with Pele scoring his first goal. France, meanwhile, dispatched Northern Ireland 4–0, with Just Fontaine managing another two goals. West Germany disposed of Yugoslavia 1-0 thanks to Helmut Rahn's goal, while Sweden had no problems and progressed to the semi-finals at the expense of the Soviet Union.

 
   
 
 
  Brazilian team holding Ericofon's
Wales national football team
 
   

In the semi-finals, Brazil smashed to France 5-2 with a superb hat-trick of Pelé within 20 minutes. Despite being only 17, the Brazilian shone in this game. Sweden, on the other hand, continued their winning streak towards the final as they beat West Germany 3-1. Erich Juskowiak was sent off and remained in the records as the first ever German player to be sent off in an international game. The third place match saw the victory of France over West Germany 6-3. Just Fontaine added four more goals and this brought his total to 13 goals in one competition to set a new record.  

The 1958 FIFA World Cup Final was contested onto a slippery field at the Råsunda Stadium in Solnabefore a crowd of over 50,000 and millions more watching in television, for the South American team, Brazil, and the host Sweden managed by Englishman George Raynor. Brazil with two supreme talented forwards, Pele and Garrincha, defeated Sweden 5-2 to win the first of many titles. Sweden took the lead in the first minutes of the game, but goals by Zagalo, Vava (two) and Pele (two) gave the Brazilians a deserved victory. Pelé enjoyed an outstanding competition and remains to this day the youngest ever winner of the World Cup. A legend was born. The Brazilians received the congratulations of King Gustav IV. This was the only time in the World Cup history that a World Cup held in Europe was won by a non-European team. This final had the highest number of goals scored by a winning team (5), the highest number of total goals scored (7); together with the World Cup finals in 1970 and 1998, it also had the greatest victory margin (3).

 
   
 
Sweden national football team
The young Pelé
 
     
     
First Round - Group 1
   
Pos
Flag
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
 West Germany
3
1
2
0
7
5
2
4
2
 Northern Ireland
3
1
1
1
4
5
-1
3
3
 Czechoslovakia
3
1
1
1
8
4
4
3
4
 Argentina
3
1
0
2
5
10
-5
2
   
  Report  
Date: 8 June 1958
West Germany
3-1
Argentina  
Stadium: Malmö Stadion
H. Rahn 32', 79'
O. Corbatta 2'
Venue: Malmö  
Attendance: 31,156    
Referee: Reginald Leafe (England)  
  Report  
Date: 8 June 1958
Northern Ireland
1-0
Czechoslovakia  
Stadium: Örjans Vall  
Venue: Halmstad    
Attendance: 10,647    
Referee: Friedrich Seipelt (Austria)    
  Report  
Date: 11 June 1958
Argentina
3-1
Northern Ireland  
Stadium: Örjans Vall
O. Corbatta 37' (pen.)
P. McParland 3'
Venue: Halmstad  
Attendance: 14,174  
Referee: Sten Ahlner (Sweden)  
  Report    
Date: 11 June 1958
West Germany
2-2
Czechoslovakia    
Stadium: Olympiastadion M. Dvořák 24' (pen.)
Venue: Helsingborg Z. Zikán 43'
Attendance: 25,000    
Referee: Arthur Edward Ellis (England)    
  Report  
Date: 15 June 1958
West Germany
2-2
Northern Ireland  
Stadium: Malmö Stadion P. McParland 19', 60'
Venue: Malmö  
Attendance: 21,990    
Referee: Joaquim Fernandes Campos (Portugal)  
  Report  
Date: 15 June 1958
Czechoslovakia
6-1
Argentina  
Stadium: Olympiastadion O. Corbatta 65' (pen.)
Venue: Helsingborg
Z. Zikán 17', 82'
 
Attendance: 16,418
V. Hovorka 40', 89'
 
Referee: Arthur Edward Ellis (England)  
Play-off
  Report  
  a.e.t.  
Date: 17 June 1958
Northern Ireland
2-1
Czechoslovakia  
Stadium: Malmö Stadion
P. McParland 44', 99'
  Z. Zikán 19'
Venue: Malmö    
Attendance: 6,196    
Referee: Maurice Guigue (France)      
     
 
First Round - Group 2  
   
Pos
Flag
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
 France
3
2
0
1
11
7
4
4
2
 Yugoslavia
3
1
2
0
7
6
1
4
3
 Paraguay
3
1
1
1
9
12
-3
3
4
 Scotland
3
0
1
2
4
6
-4
1
 
   
  Report  
Date: 8 June 1958
France
7-3
Paraguay  
Stadium: Idrottsparken
J. Fontaine 24', 30', 67'
F. Amarilla 20', 44' (pen.)
Venue: Norrköping J. Romero 50'
Attendance: 16,518  
Referee: Juan Gardeazábal Garay (Spain)  
     
   
  Report  
Date: 8 June 1958
Yugoslavia
1-1
Scotland  
Stadium: Arosvallen J. Murray 49'
Venue: Västerås    
Attendance: 9,591    
Referee: Paul Raymond Wyssling (Switzerland)  
  Report  
Date: 11 June 1958
Yugoslavia
3-2
France  
Stadium: Arosvallen   J. Fontaine 4', 85'
Venue: Västerås  
Attendance: 12,217    
Referee: Benjamin Griffiths (Wales)  
  Report  
Date: 11 June 1958
Paraguay
3-2
Scotland  
Stadium: Idrottsparken J. Mudie 24'
Venue: Norrköping
C. Ré 45'
B. Collins 76'  
Attendance: 11,665    
Referee: Vincenzo Orlandini (Italy)    
  Report  
Date: 15 June 1958
France
2-1
Scotland  
Stadium: Eyravallen S. Baird 66'
Venue: Örebro  
Attendance: 13,554    
Referee: Juan Brozzi (Argentina)    
  Report  
Date: 15 June 1958  
Paraguay
3-3
Yugoslavia
 
Stadium: Tunavallen   R. Ognjanović 12'
Venue: Eskilstuna T. Veselinović 29'
Attendance: 13,103 Z. Rajkov 73'
Referee: Martin Macko (Czechoslovakia)  
     
 
First Round - Group 3
   
Pos
Flag
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
 Sweden
3
2
1
0
5
1
4
5
2
 Wales
3
0
3
0
2
2
0
3
3
 Hungary
3
1
1
1
6
3
3
3
4
 Mexico
3
0
1
2
1
8
-7
1
   
  Report  
Date: 8 June 1958
Sweden
3-0
Mexico  
Stadium: Råsunda Stadium
A. Simonsson 17', 64'
 
Venue: Solna
N. Liedholm 57' (pen.)
 
Attendance: 34,107      
Referee: Nikolay Latychev (Soviet Union)    
  Report  
Date: 8 June 1958
Hungary
1-1
Wales  
Stadium: Jernvallen J. Charles 27'
Venue: Sandviken
 
Attendance: 15,343    
Referee: José María Codesal (Uruguay)  
  Report  
Date: 11 June 1958
Mexico
1-1
Wales  
Stadium: Råsunda Stadium I. Allchurch 32'
Venue: Solna
 
Attendance: 15,150    
Referee: Leo Lemesic (Yugoslavia)  
  Report  
Stadium: 12 June 1058
Sweden
2-1
Hungary  
Stadium: Råsunda Stadium
K. Hamrin 34', 55'
L. Tichy 77'
Venue: Solna
 
Attendance: 38,850    
Referee: John Mowat (Scotland)  
  Report  
Stadium: 15 June 1958
Sweden
0-0
Wales  
Venue: Råsunda Stadium    
Venue: Solna    
Attendance: 30,287    
Referee: Lucien Van Nuffel (Belgium)  
 
  Report    
Date: 15 June 1958
Hungary
4-0
Mexico  
Stadium: Jernvallen
L. Tichy 19', 46'
 
Venue: Sandviken  
Attendance: 13,300  
Referee: Arne Eriksson (Finland)  
Play-off
  Report    
Date: 17 June 1958
Wales
2-1
Hungary
 
Stadium: Råsunda Stadium L. Tichy 33'
Venue: Solna  
Attendance: 2,823    
Referee: Nikolay Latychev (Soviet Union)    
   
First Round - Group 4
   
Pos
Flag
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
 Brazil
3
2
1
0
5
0
5
5
2
 Soviet Union
3
1
1
1
4
4
0
3
3
 England
3
0
3
0
4
4
0
3
4
 Austria
3
0
1
2
2
7
-5
1
 
   
  Report  
Date: 8 June 1958
Brazil
3-0
Austria  
Stadium: Rimnersvallen
Mazzola 38', 89'
 
Venue: Uddevalla  
Attendance: 17,788    
Referee: Maurice Guigue (France)  
 
  Report    
Date: 8 June 1958
Soviet Union
2-2
England  
Stadium: Ullevi D. Kevan 66'
Venue: Gothenburg T. Finney 85' (pen.)
Attendance: 49,348    
Referee: István Zsolt (Hungary)  
  Report  
Date: 11 June 1958
Brazil
0-0
England  
Stadium: Ullevi    
Venue: Gothenburg    
Attendance: 40,895    
Referee: Albert Dusch (West Germany)  
  Report  
Date: 11 June 1958
Soviet Union
2-0
Austria  
Stadium: Ryavallen  
Venue: Borås  
Attendance: 21,239    
Referee: Carl Jorgensen (Denmark)  
Date: 15 June 1958 Report  
Stadium: Ryavallen
England
2-2
Austria  
Venue: Borås K. Koller 16'
Attendance: 15,872 A. Körner 70'
Referee: Jan Bronkhorst (Netherlands)    
  Report  
Date: 15 June 1958
Brazil
2-0
Soviet Union  
Stadium: Ullevi
Vavá 3', 77'
   
Venue: Gothenburg
   
Attendance: 50,928    
Referee: Maurice Guigue (France)  
Play-off
  Report  
Date: 17 June 1958
Soviet Union
1-0
England
 
Stadium: Ullevi  
Venue: Gothenburg    
Attendance: 23,182    
Referee: Albert Dusch (West Germany)    
     
     
Quarter-finals
   
  Report  
Date: 19 June 1958
France
4-0
Northern Ireland  
Stadium: Idrottsparken  
Venue: Norrköping
J. Fontaine 55', 63'
 
Attendance: 11,800  
Referee: Juan Gardeazábal (Spain)  
  Report    
Date: 19 June 1958
Sweden
2-0
Soviet Union  
Stadium: Råsunda Stadium  
Venue: Solna  
Attendance: 31,900    
Referee: Reginald Leafe (England)  
  Report    
Date: 19 June 1958
Brazil
1-0
Wales  
Stadium: Ullevi
Pelé 66'
 
Venue: Gothenburg
 
Attendance: 25,923      
Referee: Friedrich Seipelt (Austria)  
  Report    
Date: 19 June 1958
West Germany
1-0
Yugoslavia  
Stadium: Malmö Stadion  
Venue: Malmö    
Attendance: 20,055    
Referee: Paul Raymond Wyssling (Switzerland)  
     
     
Semi-finals
   
    Report      
Date: 24 June 1958
Brazil
5-2
France    
Stadium: Råsunda Stadium J. Fontaine 9'
Venue: Solna
Didi 39'
R. Piantoni 83'
Attendance: 27,100
Pelé 52', 64', 75'
 
Referee: Benjamin Griffiths (Wales)    
  Report  
Date: 24 June 1958
Sweden
3-1
West Germany  
Stadium: Ullevi H. Schäfer 24'
Venue: Gothenburg  
Attendance: 49,471  
Referee: István Zsolt (Hungary)    
       
     
Third-place Match
   
  Report  
Date: 28 June 1958
France
6-3
West Germany  
Stadium: Ullevi
J. Fontaine 16', 36', 78', 89'
H. Cieslarczyk 18'
Venue: Gothenburg
R. Kopa 27' (pen.)
H. Rahn 52'
Attendance: 32,483 H. Schäfer 84'
Referee: Juan Brozzi (Argentina)    
       
     
Final
   
  Report  
Date: 29 June 1958
Brazil
5-2
Sweden  
Stadium: Råsunda Stadium
Vavá 9', 32'
  N. Liedholm 4'
Venue: Solna
Pelé 55', 90'
A. Simonsson 80'
Attendance: 49,737  
Referee: Maurice Guigue (France)  
         
   
 
The young Pelé after winning the World Cup
Brazil: World Cup winners
 
   
 
"When I passed to Didi, I made as if I was going to run forward but turned back instead. That confused the defender a little and he let the ball come through to me. When I controlled it on my chest he thought I was going to shoot. I got my foot on it and flicked it over his head, which was something the Europeans weren’t used to. They always tried to close you down because they were used to people shooting straightaway. I hit the ball before it touched the ground and in it went. It was one of the most beautiful goals of my career": Pele relives his side’s third goal
 
"After the fifth goal I didn’t want to mark Pele any more. I just wanted to applaud him ": Swedish defender Sigge Parling
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Standings
     
     
 
Pos
Flag
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Ap.
Cs
1
 Brazil
6
5
1
0
16
4
12
11
6
6
2
 Sweden
6
4
1
1
12
7
5
9
4
1
3
 France
6
4
0
2
23
15
8
8
5
2
4
 West Germany
6
2
2
2
12
14
-2
6
4
2
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
5
 Wales
5
1
3
1
4
4
0
5
1
1
6
 Soviet Union
5
2
1
2
5
6
-1
5
1
1
7
 Northern Ireland
5
2
1
2
6
10
-4
5
1
1
8
 Yugoslavia
4
1
2
1
7
7
0
4
4
3
Eliminated in the group stage
9
 Czechoslovakia
4
1
1
2
9
6
3
3
4
2
10
 Hungary
4
1
1
2
7
5
2
3
4
2
11
 England
4
0
3
1
4
5
-1
3
3
3
12
 Paraguay
3
1
1
1
9
12
-3
3
3
1
13
 Argentina
3
1
0
2
5
10
-5
2
3
1
14
 Scotland
3
0
1
2
4
6
-2
1
2
2
15
 Austria
3
0
1
2
2
7
-5
1
3
2
16
 Mexico
3
0
1
2
1
8
-7
1
4
3
 
   
   
   
   
  STATISTICS
     
     
Top scorers
   
 

In total, 126 goals were scored by 60 players, with none of them credited as own goal.

   
 
   
   
 
   
   
        
Overall top goalscorers
   
   
Pos
Flag
Player
G
30
34
38
50
54
58
1
 Just Fontaine
13
13
2
 Sándor Kocsis
11
11
3
 Helmut Rahn
10
4
6
4
 Guillermo Stábile
8
8
 Leônidas
8
1
7
 Ademir
8
8
 Oscar Míguez
8
5
3
8
 Oldřich Nejedlý
7
5
2
 Hans Schäfer
7
4
3
10
 Erich Probst
6
6
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
Number of players who scored at least one goal till 1958
   
   
Pos
Team
Flag
Td
Tot
30
34
38
50
54
58
Ch
 
273
294
37
45
42
48
63
59
1
  Brazil
24
27
2
1
4
9
5
6
0
2
  West Germany
20
22
6
3
9
4
0
3
  Hungary
19
21
4
6
7
4
+2
4
  Sweden
17
18
3
5
5
5
+2
5
  Italy
16
18
5
4
3
6
-2
16
19
6
6
7
-2
7
  Yugoslavia
15
15
4
5
2
4
+1
8
  Austria
14
14
6
6
2
-2
  France
14
17
3
2
3
3
6
+1
10
12
12
7
2
3
+1
11
  Czechoslovakia
11
12
4
4
4
+2
12
  Switzerland
10
12
3
3
3
3
-3
13
  England
9
10
2
5
3
0
9
9
4
1
4
-2
15
  Mexico
8
8
3
2
2
1
-2
  Paraguay
8
8
1
2
5
+6
17
  Chile
7
7
3
4
-4
18
  Spain
6
6
3
3
-1
  Romania
6
7
3
1
3
-1
20
  Belgium
5
5
1
1
3
-1
  Turkey
5
5
5
-1
22
  Scotland
4
4
4
23
  Cuba
3
3
3
-2
  Soviet Union
3
3
3
  Wales
3
3
3
26
  Netherlands
2
2
2
-3
  Northern Ireland
2
2
2
  Poland
2
2
2
-3
29
  Egypt
1
1
1
-4
  Norway
1
1
1
-4
  Peru
1
1
1
-4
 
   
   
   
Scoring frequency by team
   
Absolute frequency is a statistical term describing the number of times a particular piece of data, or value, appears during a trial or set of trials. Essentially, it is the number of times a particular thing happens. For example, in this World Cup one player from France scored thirteen goals, two scored three goals, one scored two goals, a two more players scored one goal. The sum of the absolute frequency represents the number of players that scored at least one goal (6 players in the case of France: 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6). The sum of the product between the number of times per value results in the number of goals for a team (23 goals in the case of France: 1*13 + 2*3 + 1*2 + 2*1 = 23)
 
   
   
Pos
Flag
Team
NG
NP
13
6
5
4
3
2
1
 
126
59
1
2
2
4
5
15
30
1
  France
23
6
1
2
1
2
2
  Brazil
16
6
1
1
1
3
3
  Sweden
12
5
2
1
2
  West Germany
12
4
1
1
1
1
5
  Paraguay
9
5
4
1
  Czechoslovakia
9
4
1
2
1
7
  Yugoslavia
7
4
1
1
2
  Hungary
7
4
1
3
9
  Northern Ireland
6
2
1
1
10
  Argentina
5
3
1
2
  Soviet Union
5
3
2
1
12
  Scotland
4
4
4
  England
4
3
1
2
  Wales
4
3
1
2
15
  Austria
2
2
2
16
  Mexico
1
1
1
 
   
   
   
Scoring frequency by team till 1958
   
   
Pos
Flag
Team
NG
NP
NDP
13
11
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Ch
 
578
294
273
1
1
2
1
5
8
20
31
63
162
1
  Brazil
66
27
24
1
1
1
1
1
3
8
11
0
2
  Hungary
54
21
19
1
2
3
1
4
10
0
3
  West Germany
51
22
20
2
4
2
3
11
+1
4
  Uruguay
46
19
16
2
2
4
5
6
-1
5
  Sweden
38
18
17
2
5
4
7
+1
6
  France
36
17
14
1
2
3
11
+7
7
  Italy
33
18
16
1
2
1
3
11
-2
8
  Austria
26
14
14
1
2
3
8
0
9
  Argentina
25
12
12
1
2
2
7
0
  Switzerland
25
12
10
1
1
2
1
7
-2
 
   
   
Interesting facts
   
 
Milestone goals. The goal number 500 in the World Cups history was scored by Bobby Collins of Scotland in Norrköping on 11 June 1958. Collins scored the 2-3. Paraguay defeated Scotland 3-2.
This was the first time that all United Kingdom's Home Nations qualified for the World Cup finals: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
This was the only occasion on which Italy failed to qualify to World Cup finals. It was also the first and only time that Wales qualified for World Cup finals.
Brazil's 1958 victory is still the only time a South American country has won the World Cup in Europe.
The 1–1 draw between Wales and Mexico was the first point scored by Mexico in a World Cup.
England and Brazil drew 0–0 in Gothenburg on 11 June 1958. This was the first ever goalless draw in a World Cup match.
Erich Juskowiak was sent off in the semi-finals and remained in the records as the first ever German player to be sent off in an international game.
The Final holds many records in World Cup history. Pelé became the youngest player to play a World Cup Finals, the youngest scorer in a World Cup Final and the youngest player to win a World Cup Winner's Medal. 
Nils Liedholm became the oldest player to score in a World Cup Final (35 years, 263 Days).
Didí, Garrincha, Pelé and Zagallo from Brazil were one of the deadliest attacks in the history of the World Cups.
Just Fontaine became the second player after Alcides Ghiggia to score in every match of a World Cup. Fontaine scored 13 goals in 6 matches.
There were 27 goals in the last four games of the tournament (Semi-finals: Brazil 5-2 France, Sweden 3-1 West Germany; Third place: France 6-3 West Germany; Final: Brazil 5-2 Sweden).
Three playoffs game were needed to decide which team would advance to the following stage. In Group 1, Northern Ireland beat Czechoslovakia 2-1. In Group 3, Wales won the game to Hungary, 2-1. Finally, in Group 4, Soviet Union beat England, 1-0. 
The 1958 World Cup Final established three new records: This final had the highest number of goals scored by a winning team (5), the highest number of total goals scored (7), and the greatest victory margin (3).
Hat-tricks: Pelé (Brazil), Just Fontaine (France)
Poker: Just Fontaine (France)
The youngest player was Pelé from Brazil: 17y (23 October 1940). The youngest goalkeeper was Ramón Mayereggerfrom Paraguay: 24y (19 February 1934). The youngest scorer was Pelé from Brazil. The youngest champion was again Pelé from Brazil. The youngest captain was Juan Bautista Agüero from Paraguay: 22y (24 June 1935).
The oldest player was Ángel Labruna from Argentina: 39y (28 September 1918). The oldest goalkeeper was Kalle Svensson from Sweden: 32y (11 November 1925). The oldest scorer was Gunnar Gren from Sweden: 37y (31 October 1920). The oldest champion was Nílton Santos from Brazil: 33y (16 May 1925). The oldest captain was also Nándor Hidegkuti from Hungary: 36y (3 March 1922).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Clubs and players
   
The most important teams that contributed players to the national teams are shown in the table below.
   
   
 
   
   
        
Clubs and players up to 1958
   
   
Pos
Logo
Flag
Cf
Club
NP
30
34
38
50
54
58
1
  SK Rapid Wien
24
5 4
10
5
  Peñarol
24
5 1
9
9
3
  Botafogo
23
4
9
5 1 1 3
  Nacional
23
9
1 5
8
5
  Juventus
22
10
2 4 5 1
6
  Vasco da Gama
21
4 2 1
8
3 3
  SK Slavia Praha
21
10
9
2
  Internazionale
21
4 5 5 6 1
9
  MTK Budapest FC
19
3
7
6 3
 
  Club Olimpia
19
5 6
8
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
        
Leagues and players
   
 
The leagues that contributed players to the national teams are shown in the table below.
   
   
Pos
Flag
League NP
1
  England 55
2
22
  Austria
22
  Brazil
22
  Czechoslovakia
22
  Hungary 22
  Mexico
22
  Paraguay
22
  Soviet Union
22
  Yugoslavia
22
 
   
   
   
Leagues and players up to 1958
   
   
Pos
Flag
Team
NP
30 34 38
50
54
58
Ch
1
 Brazil
127
24
15 22 22 22 22 0
2
 France
110
19 23 25 22 21 0
3
 England
106
22
29
55
+12
4
 Italy
94
22 22 22 22
6
-1
5
 Hungary
87
22 21 22 22 +2
6
 Switzerland
84
23 20 19 22
-2
7
 Belgium
83
16 22 23 22
-2
 Czechoslovakia
83
17 22 22 22 +1
 Mexico
83
17 22 22 22 +1
10
 Yugoslavia
79
13
22 22 22 0
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
H-index, i-10 index and ne
   
 
Pos
Flag
League
H-index
I-10 index
NT
Ch
1
 Brazil 6
5
18 0
2
 France 6
4
31
0
3
 Switzerland 6 3 19 0
4
 Yugoslavia 6 3 10
+4
5
 Belgium 6 2 20
-1
6
 Mexico 6 2
17
+3
7
 Italy 6 2
15
0
8
 England 6 1
33
+7
9
 Hungary 5
4
13
-4
10
 Austria 5
4
10
-4
 
 
 
 
 
 
        
Head coaches
   
 
Vicente Feola (Brazil, 1909-1975) was the head coach that led the Brazilians to their first FIFA World Cup title in 1958.
   
   
 
Pos
Flag
Tm
Head coach
Pld
W
AP
Perf.
1
  Vicente Feola
6
5
1
83%
2
  George Raynor
6
4
2
67%
3
    Albert Batteux
6
4
1
67%
4
    Peter Doherty
5
2
1
40%
    Gavril Kachalin
5
2
1
40%
    Sepp Herberger
6
2
3
33%
7
    Guillermo Stábile
3
1
1
33%
    Aurelio González
3
1
1
33%
  Lajos Baróti
4
1
1
25%
  Karel Kolský
4
1
1
25%
    Jimmy Murphy
5
1
1
20%
    Aleksandar Tirnanić
4
1
2
25%
13
  Karl Argauer
3
0
1
0%
    Dawson Walker
3
0
1
0%
  Antonio López Herranz 
3
0
2
0%
  Walter Winterbottom
4
0
3
0%
   
Vicente Feola (1909-1975), Brazil
   
   
   
Brazilian head coach Vicente Feola kisses the World Cup trophy
   
   
   
   
  Head coaches and statistics through 1958
   
   
 
Pos
Flag
Tm
Head coach
Pld
W
AP
Perf.
WC1
WC2
WC3
1
  Vittorio Pozzo
9
8
2
89%
34
38
2
14
7
3
50%
38
54
58
3
    Juan López Fontana
9
6
2
67%
50
54
  George Raynor
11
6
2
54%
50
58
5
  Vicente Feola
6
5
1
83%
58
6
  Alberto Suppici
4
4
1
100%
30
  Francisco Olazar
5
4
1
80%
30
  Juan José Tramutola
5
4
1
80%
30
  Gusztáv Sebes
5
4
1
80%
54
  Flávio Costa
6
4
1
67%
50
   
   
   
Head coaches' home country & statistics
   
   
Pos
Flag
Home country
Pld
W
Nhc
Perf.
1
  Brazil
6
5
1
83%
2
  England
10
4
2
40%
  France
6
4
1
67%
4
  Northern Ireland
5
2
1
40%
  Soviet Union
5
2
1
40%
  West Germany
6
2
1
33%
7
3
1
1
33%
  Czechoslovakia
4
1
1
25%
  Hungary
4
1
1
25%
  Paraguay
3
1
1
33%
  Wales
5
1
1
20%
  Yugoslavia
4
1
1
25%
13
  Austria
3
0
1
0%
  Scotland
3
0
1
0%
  Spain
3
0
1
0%
 
   
     
     
Head coaches' home country & statistics through 1958
   
   
Pos
Flag
Home country
Pld
W
Nhc
Perf.
1
  Hungary
30
17
9
57%
2
  Brazil
23
14
7
61%
3
  Italy
20
12
5
60%
4
13
10
3
77%
16
10
5
62%
  West Germany
18
10
4
56%
7
  Austria
20
9
6
45%
8
  France
13
7
4
54%
9
  Yugoslavia
13
6
4
46%
  England
20
6
9
30%
 
   
   
   
   
 
        
 
Match officials, countries and confederations
 
 
 
29 match officials from 22 countries and 2 confederation were the responsible for enforcing the laws of the game during the course of the 35 World Cup matches.
 
 
The order of the table is based on the matches as referee.
   
 
Pos
Flag
Cf
Home country
TOT
R
AR
 
105
35
70
1
  England
10
4
6
  France
5
4
1
3
  Austria
6
2
4
  West Germany
6
2
4
5
2
3
  Soviet Union
5
2
3
  Switzerland
5
2
3
  Hungary
4
2
2
  Spain
4
2
2
  Wales
4
2
2
11
  Sweden
9
1
8
  Denmark
7
1
6
  Portugal
5
1
4
4
1
3
  Belgium
3
1
2
 
   
 
Pos
Logo
Confederation
R
Per.
AR
Per.
1
  UEFA
32
91%
64
91%
2
  CONMEBOL
3
9%
6
9%
 
      
 
Match officials, countries, confederations through 1958
 
 
Pos
Flag
Cf
Home country
TOT
R
AR
Ch
 
408
136
272
1
  Italy
37
15
22
0
  England
28
15
13
+1
3
  France
47
13
34
+1
4
  Belgium
23
11
12
-1
5
  Switzerland
37
9
28
0
6
23
7
16
+1
  Sweden
20
7
13
+1
  Austria
19
7
12
+3
  Brazil
12
7
5
-1
  Wales
12
7
5
+3
     
     
 
Pos
Logo
Confederation
R
Per.
AR
Per.
 
136
272
1
  UEFA
116
85%
222
82%
2
  CONMEBOL
20
15%
42
15%
3
0
0%
7
3%
4
  CAF
0
0%
1
0%
 
   
 
 
Match officials through 1958
 
 
Pos
Flag
Cf
Match Official
TOT
R
AR
AP
WC1
WC2
WC3
 
408
136
272
12
1
 
1
  Benjamin Griffiths
12
7
5 3 0 0 50
54
58
  Jan Langenus
9
7
2 3
2
0 30 34 38
3
  Arthur Ellis
13
6
7
3
3
0 50
54
58
  Ivan Eklind
8
6
2 3 0 0 34 38 50
5
  Raymon Wyssling
9
4 5 2 0 0 54 58
  István Zsolt 
8
4 4 2
1
0 54 58
  Reginald Leafe
7
4 3 2 0
1
50 58
  Maurice Guigue 5 4 1 1
1
0 58
  Rinaldo Barlassina 4 4 0 2 0 0 34 38
10
  Vincenzo Orlandini
8
3 5 2 0 0 54 58
   
   
      
   
   
  

 
Discipline
 
 
This section presents the statistics of all dissmissals and cautions since the first 1930 FIFA World Cup held in Uruguay. However, the use of red and yellow cards to indicate sent-off and cautions were officially introduced at the 1970 World Cup.
 
 
 
Teams' discipline
   
 
Red cards are one of the most remarkable event that can impact the outcome of a game after goals and penalties. The team receiving the red card is in a vulnerable position and faces a significant disadvantage, mainly if it occurs in the first half. The opposing side on the other hand, receives the advantage and the score is more likely to be in their favor.
   
 
 
Pos
Flag
Penalized Team
TC
1
 Czechoslovakia
1
1
0
 Hungary
1
1
0
1
1
0
Pos
Flag
Benefited Team
TC
1
 Northern Ireland
1
1
0
 Sweden
1
1
0
 Wales
1
1
0
   
 
   
Teams' discipline up to 1958
   
 
 
Pos
Flag
Penalized Team
TC
1
5
4
1
2
  Hungary
3
3
0
3
 Czechoslovakia
2
2
0
2
2
0
5
  Peru
1
1
0
Pos
Flag
Benefited Team
TC
1
2
2
0
 Czechoslovakia
2
2
0
 Hungary
2
2
0
4
 Austria
1
1
0
 Northern Ireland
1
1
0
 Romania
1
1
0
 Sweden
1
1
0
 Switzerland
1
1
0
 Wales
1
1
0
10
1
0
1
   
   
   
Matches' discipline
   
 
 
Pos
WC
CI
Date
TC
Match
1
1958
FR-G1
17 Jun 58
1
1 0
Northern Ireland
2-1
Czechoslovakia
1958
FR-G3
17 Jun 58
1
1 0
Wales
2-1
Hungary
1958
SF
24 Jun 58
1
1 0
Sweden
4-2
West Germany
   
   
   
Matches' discipline up to 1958
   
 
 
Pos
WC
CI
Date
TC
Match
1
1938
QF
12 Jun 38
3
3
0
Brazil
1-1
Czechoslovakia
1954
QF
27 Jun 54
3
3
0
Hungary
4-2
Brazil
3
1930
FR-G3
14 Jul 30
1
1 0
Romania
3-1
Peru
1934
QF
31 May 34
1
1 0
Austria
3-1
Hungary
1938
R16
4 Jun 38
1
1 0
Switzerland
1-1
Germany
1958
FR-G1
17 Jun 58
1
1 0
Northern Ireland
2-1
Czechoslovakia
1958
FR_G3
17 Jun 58
1
1 0
Wales
2-1
Hungary
1958
SF
24 Jun 58
1
1 0
Sweden
4-2
West Germany
9
1950
FR
13 Jul 50
1
0
1
Brazil
6-1
Spain
   
   
   
World Cup's discipline
   
 
 
Pos
WC
TC
1
1958
3
3 0
   
   
   
World Cups' discipline up to 1958
   
 
 
Pos
WC
TC
1
1938
4
4 0
2
1954
3
3 0
1958
3
3 0
4
1930
1
1 0
1934
1
1 0
6
1950
1
0
1
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
Attendance
   
 
The total attendance at the World Cup as well as both the total and average attendance for each of the national teams is shown in the table below.

   
   
 
Pos
Flag
Team
Total
#M
Avg.
819,800
35
23,423
1
 Sweden
234,352
6
39,059
2
 Brazil
212,361
6
35,394
3
 West Germany
180,155
6
30,026
4
 Soviet Union
176,597
5
35,319
5
 England
129,297
4
32,324
6
 France
113,672
6
18,945
7
 Wales
89,526
5
17,905
8
 Hungary
70,316
4
17,579
9
 Northern Ireland
64,807
5
12,961
10
 Mexico
62,557
3
20,852
11
 Argentina
61,748
3
20,583
12
 Czechoslovakia
58,261
4
14,565
13
 Yugoslavia
54,966
4
13,742
14
 Austria
54,889
3
18,296
15
 Paraguay
41,286
3
13,762
16
 Scotland
34,810
3
11,603
   
   
   
Cumulative attendance till 1958
   
   
Pos
Flag
Team
Total
#M
Avg.
Ch
  
3,962,902
136
29,139
1
  Brazil
1,191,225
23
51,792
0
2
  Uruguay
667,393
13
51,338
0
3
  Italy
507,768
14
36,269
0
4
  West Germany
498,832
18
27,713
+3
5
  Sweden
492,857
16
30,804
+5
6
  Spain
411,564
9
45,729
-2
7
  Hungary
407,816
15
27,188
-1
8
  Yugoslavia
395,678
13
30,437
-3
9
  England
329,113
10
32,911
+3
10
  Argentina
323,948
9
35,994
-1
 
 
   
   
 
Total and average attendance at the world cups
   
   
Pos
World Cup
Total
  
3,962,902
1
  1950 World Cup
1,045,246
2
  1958 World Cup
819,800
3
  1954 World Cup
768,607
4
  1930 World Cup
590,549
5
  1938 World Cup
375,700
6
  1934 World Cup
363,000
Pos
World Cup
Avg.
 
29,139
1
  1950 World Cup
47,511
2
  1930 World Cup
32,808
3
  1954 World Cup
29,562
4
  1958 World Cup
23,423
5
  1934 World Cup
21,353
6
  1938 World Cup
20,872
 
        
      

  Awards and best players
   
 
The top scorer (Golden Shoe) of the tournament was Just Fontaine from France, who would go on to score thirteen goals. The names that people probably remember from those times are:

    
 
   
Garrincha (1933-1983)
Gunnar Gren (1920-1991)
John Charles (1931-2004)
     
    
  All-star team
   
 
The All-Star Team is a team of the best performers at the respective World Cup finals
   
 
 
 
  Cumulative participation by country
 
Pos
Team
Flag
Tot
30
34
38
50
54
58
Ch
1
  Brazil
13
2
4
1
6
+3
13
7
5
1
0
3
  Italy
12
6
6
-1
4
  Hungary
8
2
6
-1
5
  Spain
4
3
1
0
6
2
2
0
  Austria
2
1
1
0
  Czechoslovakia
2
1
1
0
  France
2
       
2
  Northern Ireland
2
       
2
  Sweden
2
1
1
+4
  West Germany
2
       
2
0
13
1
1
-3
  Yugoslavia
1
1
-3
       
    

  DID YOU KNOW?
   
 
England suffered the loss of three mainstays players before the tournament, who died in the Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958, when the British European Airways flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off at Munich-Riem Airport. On the plane was the Manchester United football team, along with supporters and journalists. Manchester United had become one of the most successful teams in Europe. They had won consecutive Championships in 1955/6 and 1956/7 and had reached successive European Cup semi-finals in 1956/7 and 1957/8. The football team was returning from a European Cup match in BelgradeYugoslavia against Red Star Belgrade, and had stopped to refuel in Munich. After two earlier unsuccessful take-offs due to technical problems, it looked unlikely that the plane would be making the return journey that day since it had started to snow heavily. So much so that Duncan Edwards, the star of Manchester United, sent a telegram to his landlady telling he would arrive tomorrow. It read: "All flights cancelled, flying tomorrow. Duncan”. However, the decision was made to have a third attempt. In the final attempt to take-off, the plane skidded off the end of the runway, crashed into the fence surrounding the airport and crossed a road before finishing in a house, home of a family of six. Twenty passengers died on board, and three people died later.
Hungary attended the World Cup without their top stars, as Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor and Sándor Kocsis had been in exile in Western Europe.
Guillermo Stábile from Argentina, who was runner up in the 1930 World Cup and top scorer of the tournament, was coach of Argentina in the 1958 World Cup. Argentina finished as the last place in Group 1, winning one match (Northern Ireland) and losing two others (Germany and Czechoslovakia). Stábile received 6 goals as Argentina coach against Czechoslovakia.
Only 2,823 spectators watched the playoff game between Hungary and Wales. People boycotted the match to show sympathy with Imre Nagy, the Prime Minister of Hungary, who had been executed the previous day.
The case of Just Fontaine, born in Marrakech, Morocco, is similar to that of Guillermo Stábile from Argentina in the 1930 World Cup. Fontaine was not a part of France´s first team, but an injury in the ankle of the first-choice Rene Bliard that was forced to return France before the tournament even started, let him play and be the top scorer of the tournament. Fontaine set the record for most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup finals tournament (13), scoring one quadruple, one hat-trick and two braces. He has also scored the fourth most goals of any player in the World Cup history, beaten only by Ronaldo (15 goals in 3 WC), Gerd Müller (14 goals in 2 WC), and Miroslav Klose (14 goals in 3 WC).
This was the first event televised to over 60 countries, albeit not in Eastern Europe because the system there was incompatible.
Brazil introduced its innovative 4-2-4 system at the 1958 World Cup, a completely different schema from that used in football at the time. Shortly after Brazil’s triumph in Sweden, most teams in all around the globe switched over to 4-2-4 formation.
One of the best players of all time appeared in the World Cup in Sweden: a 17 year old known as Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé. Pelé was born on 23 October 1940, almost at the same time his rival in the final, Gunnar Gren, made his Sweden debut. Additional data, Pelé was the youngest scorer of the tournament, and Gren the oldest scorer of the 1958 World Cup.
   
 

World Cup 1958 poster

Pelé with the first World Cup
World Cup 1958 logo
 
 
   
  
           Last updated: 1 February 2021
Copyright © 2012-2021 THEFIFAWORLDCUPS. All rights reserved.
This is an unofficial website no connected or associated in any way with FIFA.