Volta
Culture27 May – 10 June 1934

1934 FIFA World Cup Italy

The second World Cup was staged by Mussolini’s Fascist regime. Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2–1 after extra time in the final.

The National Fascist Party Stadium in Rome an hour before the final, 10 June 1934
The National Fascist Party Stadium in Rome an hour before the final, 10 June 1934

Unknown author · Public domain · Source

The second World Cup was played in eight Italian cities from 27 May to 10 June 1934. For the first time there were qualifying rounds, sending sixteen nations to the finals; even the hosts had to qualify. The holders Uruguay stayed away, resentful that European nations had snubbed the first tournament. Egypt became the first African country to take part. The finals were knockout from the first round.

Mussolini treated the tournament as a showcase for Fascism, promoting it with posters and stamps and watching from the stands. Italy’s matches were dogged by claims that refereeing favoured the hosts. In the final, at the National Fascist Party Stadium in Rome on 10 June, Vittorio Pozzo’s Italy fell behind to Czechoslovakia, equalized, and won 2–1 in extra time.

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The map in 1934

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States at the time
Italy · host

People

  • Benito Mussolini1883 – 1945

    related figure · Founder of Italian Fascism who became prime minister (1922–1943) after the March on Rome; dictator who invaded Ethiopia and allied with Hitler

Before and after

Earlier
1925 Locarno Treaties
Later
1935 Italian Invasion of Ethiopia

Themes that include this event

  • FIFA World Cup1904 – 2026

    From the founding of FIFA to the 48-team tournament in North America — the football championship that has gathered the world every four years since Uruguay 1930