1934 FIFA World Cup
Campionato Mondiale di Calcio |
 |
| Tournament details |
| Host country |
 Italy |
| Dates |
May 27 – June 10 |
| Teams |
16 (from 4 confederations) |
| Venue(s) |
8 (in 8 host cities) |
| Final positions |
Champions  |
Italy (1st title) |
Runners-up  |
 Czechoslovakia |
Third place  |
 Germany |
| Fourth place |
 Austria |
| Tournament statistics |
| Matches played |
17 |
| Goals scored |
70 (4.12 per match) |
| Attendance |
358,000 (21,059 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |
Oldřich Nejedlý (5 goals) |
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second World Cup staged, and was hosted in Italy from May 27 to June 10. Italy was chosen as hosts by FIFA in October 1932. It was the first World Cup for which teams would have to qualify in order to take part. 32 nations entered the competition, and after qualification, 16 teams participated in the finals tournament. Italy became the second World Cup champions, beating Czechoslovakia in the final, 2-1.
Qualification
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This World Cup was unique in that the reigning World Cup holders Uruguay declined an invitation to participate as a mark of defiance against the European snub from the previous World Cup in 1930, becoming the only holders not to compete in the following tournament. Another somewhat unique fact is that the hosts, Italy, had to qualify. Since 1938, the hosts have been given an automatic spot in the tournament. The next host to compete in World Cup qualifiers will be South Africa in 2010; although they are assured of a World Cup place as the hosts, they must compete because the African confederation is using its 2010 World Cup qualifiers as the qualifying for the 2010 African Cup of Nations.
Only ten of the 32 entrants, and four of the 16 qualified teams (Brazil, Argentina, United States and Egypt, the first African team to qualify to a World Cup final), were from outside Europe. The last spot in the finals was contested between the United States and Mexico only three days before the start of the tournament in a one-off match in Rome, which the United States won.
Summary
The tournament was held in knockout format. Eight European teams—Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland—advanced to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, the first replayed match in the World Cup history took place, after Italy and Spain drew 1-1 after extra time. Italy won the replay 1-0, and then went on to beat Austria in the semifinals by the same score. Meanwhile, Czechoslovakia secured their place in the final by beating Germany 3-1.
The Stadium of the National Fascist Party was the venue for the final. With 70 minutes played, the Czechoslovakians were ahead 1-0. The Italians managed to score before the final whistle, and then added another goal in extra time to be crowned World Cup Winners.
Venues
Eight cities hosted the tournament:
Squads
For a list of all squads that appeared in the final tournament, see 1934 FIFA World Cup squads.
Results
First round
Quarter-finals
Replay:
Semi-finals
Third place match
Final
Winner
| 1934 FIFA World Cup Winners |
Italy
First title |
Scorers
- 5 goals
- 4 goals
- 3 goals
- 2 goals
|
- 1 goal
|
- 1 goal (cont.)
| |
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