Brazil hoisted the World Cup trophy for the first time in history with a 5-2 victory over hosts Sweden. The tournament was highlighted by the debut of the 17-year-old future legend Pele. The Brazilians became the first nation to win the World Cup on a different continent.
No Italy, All Four British Nations
For the fourth time the World Cup took place in Europe. And for the first time, the spectacle received international television coverage. Missing among the 16 teams was Italy, who failed to qualify over Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland joined Soviet Union and Wales as teams making their World Cup debut. And with Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England all making the event, it was the first time all four British nations were involved. The tournament ran from June 8-29, 1958.
Brazil Wait On Pele And Garrincha
Brazilian coach Vicente Feola brought with him a new 4-2-4 system and started the tournament with a 3-0 win over Austria and the first scoreless draw in World Cup history against England. Strikers Pele and Garrincha finally played for the first time in the Group 4 final game - a 2-0 victory over Soviet Union thanks to two Vava goals to grab top honors in the group.
Europeans Join Brazil Into Quarters
Joining the Brazilians into quarter-finals were seven European nations. The reigning champions Germany beat Argentina on two goals by Helmut Rahn, who scored two more goals as the Germans drew against Czechoslovakia and Northern Ireland, the latter of which advanced thanks to two goals by Peter McParland in a 2-1 win over Czechoslovakia. Just Fontaine lit up Paraguay with a hat-trick in France's 7-3 win as Les Bleus won Group 2 despite a 3-2 loss over fellow quarter-finalists Yugoslavia. Hosts Sweden and Wales moved on from Group 3 while the Soviet Union was the last team in the final eight after a 1-0 victory over England.
Pele Scores First World Cup Goal, Fontaine Doubles Up
In the quarters, Brazil struggled to beat Wales 1-0 as the 17-year-old Pele struck his first World Cup goal in the 66th minute. Fontaine continued his amazing World Cup as a replacement for the injured top choice Rene Bliard with two more goals in France's 4-0 win over Northern Ireland. Rahn hit in the 12th minute in West Germany's 1-0 win over Yugoslavia while Sweden scored twice in the second half in a 2-0 victory against Soviet Union.
Pele Scores Hat-Trick Against France, Swedes Come Back
In the semi-finals between France and Brazil, Fontaine equalized an early goal but Didi made it 2-1 before the break and then Pele dropped a hat-trick on the French in a 5-2 Brazil victory to reach the final. The hosts Sweden fell behind reigning champions West Germany but scored twice in the final nine minutes to win 3-1.
Four Fontaine Goals Give French Third
Fontaine finished off his historic World Cup with four goals in France's 6-3 win over West Germany to take third place. His 13 goals scored gave Fontaine the Golden Shoe and a record that still stands for one tournament.
Brazil Fall Behind Early, Stampede Sweden
In the final in Solna, Nils Liedholm gave Sweden the lead after just four minutes. But Vava equalized five minutes later and made it 2-1 in the 32nd. Pele scored twice in the second half to finish off a 5-2 final victory. And the future World Cup champion coach Mario Zagallo also scored in the second half.
Brazil First Foreign Winners
Feola's South American team became the first nation to win the World Cup on a different continent.
