1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland

Also called: Miracle of Bern, Das Wunder von Bern

West Germany beat the seemingly invincible Hungarians 3–2 in the final — the “Miracle of Bern”. South Korea made its first appearance, losing 0–9 to Hungary and 0–7 to Turkey.

Held in Switzerland, home of FIFA, from 16 June to 4 July 1954 to mark the federation’s fiftieth anniversary, this was the first World Cup shown on television, and it averaged more than five goals a game. Puskás’s Hungary, the “Golden Team”, had gone more than four years unbeaten and crushed West Germany 8–3 in the group stage. In the final at Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium on 4 July Hungary led 2–0 after eight minutes, but Sepp Herberger’s West Germany fought back, and Helmut Rahn’s goal six minutes from time won it 3–2. For a defeated postwar nation the victory, the “Miracle of Bern”, was a powerful lift.

South Korea played in its first World Cup the year after the Korean War ended. Drawn against Japan in qualifying, it played both games in Tokyo because President Syngman Rhee refused to let the Japanese team enter Korea, and went through with a win and a draw. Reaching Switzerland after a string of flights only the day before its first match, the team lost 0–9 to Hungary in Zurich on 17 June and 0–7 to Turkey in Geneva on 20 June. It was the second Asian nation to play at a World Cup, after the Dutch East Indies.