Sweden 1958
The 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden is hailed for introducing the world to a 17-year-old Brazilian phenomenon named Pelé, marking the beginning of a new era in international football. Brazil captured their first World Cup title, dazzling the world with their skillful and attacking style of play, a refreshing contrast to the defensive tactics prevalent at the time. The final in Stockholm's Råsunda Stadium saw Brazil triumph over Sweden 5-2, with Pelé scoring twice, announcing his arrival on the global stage. The tournament also featured the exceptional performance of Just Fontaine of France, who scored a record 13 goals in a single World Cup—a record that still stands. The '58 World Cup was the first to be televised internationally, allowing audiences around the globe to witness the birth of a football legend and the rise of Brazil as a footballing superpower, themes that would dominate the sport for years to come.
Knockout stage
group stage
| Group 1 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1  West Germany | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
2  Northern Ireland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
3  Czechoslovakia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
4  Argentina | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
| Group 2 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1  France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
2  Yugoslavia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
3  Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 3 |
4  Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| Group 4 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1  Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
2  Soviet Union | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
3  England | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
4  Austria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
Top scorers
Just Fontaine (13) Pelé (6)Helmut Rahn (6)Peter McParland (5) Vavá (5)
Lajos Tichy (4)
Agne Simonsson (4)Zdeněk Zikán (4)Kurt Hamrin (4)Raymond Kopa (3)