Group 1
- West GermanyQualified
- Northern IrelandQualified
- Czechoslovakia
- Argentina
West Germany topped the group while debutant Northern Ireland defeated Czechoslovakia in a playoff to advance.
Sweden · World Cup archive
1958 World Cup Teams, Knockout Stages and Results
Staged in Sweden from 8 to 29 June 1958, the sixth FIFA World Cup witnessed the birth of a football superpower and the global arrival of a 17-year-old prodigy named Pelé. Brazil captured its first world championship by defeating host Sweden 5–2 in the Solna final, introducing the innovative 4-2-4 formation to the international stage while France's Just Fontaine set an unbreakable record with 13 tournament goals.
HostSweden
Dates8 June–29 June
ChampionBrazil
Runner-upSweden
Third placeFrance
FinalBrazil 5–2 Sweden
Tournament teams16
Matches35
Goals126
Top scorerJust Fontaine · 13
Best Young PlayerPelé
1958 World Cup tournament story
The 1958 tournament featured 16 teams and marked the only time all four United Kingdom nations qualified together. Brazil progressed from Group 4 with new tactical fluidity, giving tournament debuts to Pelé and Garrincha against the Soviet Union. Pelé scored his first World Cup goal against Wales in the quarterfinal, followed by a breathtaking 23-minute hat-trick against France in a 5–2 semifinal victory. In the final at Råsunda Stadium, Sweden struck first through Nils Liedholm, but Vavá scored twice before Pelé netted two legendary goals—including his iconic sombrero flick and volley—alongside a strike from Mário Zagallo to secure Brazil's historic 5–2 triumph.
Why the 1958 World Cup still matters
Sweden 1958 transformed football forever. Pelé became the youngest World Cup winner and goalscorer in final history at 17 years and 249 days. Vicente Feola's 4-2-4 system revolutionized positional tactics, while Garrincha's unpredictable wing dribbling dazzled European crowds. Just Fontaine's 13 goals in six matches remains the all-time scoring benchmark for a single tournament.
All 16 participating nations
1958 World Cup teams by group
Which teams played in the 1958 World Cup? The field was divided into 4 groups of four. Teams below are ordered by their final group position, with the top two advancing.
Group 2
- FranceQualified
- YugoslaviaQualified
- Paraguay
- Scotland
France and Yugoslavia advanced in a free-scoring section that produced 31 goals across six matches.
Group 3
- SwedenQualified
- WalesQualified
- Hungary
- Mexico
Host Sweden topped the pool comfortably, while Wales shocked 1954 finalists Hungary 2–1 in a playoff.
Group 4
- BrazilQualified
- Soviet UnionQualified
- England
- Austria
Brazil introduced Pelé and Garrincha against the USSR to win the group, with the Soviets eliminating England.
Champions, finalists and surprise runs
The teams that defined the 1958 World Cup
Brazil: the birth of Joga Bonito and the 4-2-4 system
Vicente Feola unleashed a tactically perfect blend of defensive balance and attacking virtuosity, anchored by Didi in midfield and Nilton Santos at left-back.
Pelé scored six knockout goals in three matches, lifting the Jules Rimet trophy and establishing Brazil as football's premier powerhouse.
Explore Brazil World Cup teams →Sweden: Raynor's historic run to the Solna final
Sweden combined rugged domestic fitness with the technical polish of foreign-based stars like Liedholm, Gren and Hamrin.
A 3–1 semifinal triumph over defending champions West Germany in Gothenburg sent the hosts into their only World Cup final.
Explore Sweden World Cup teams →France: Fontaine's unbreakable 13-goal record
Albert Batteux's side played irresistible attacking football, scoring 23 goals across the tournament behind Raymond Kopa's playmaking.
Just Fontaine scored in all six matches, including four against West Germany in a 6–3 victory to capture the bronze medal.
Explore France World Cup teams →Northern Ireland: Blanchflower's debut miracle
Peter McParland scored five goals as the tiny debutant nation navigated two epic victories over Czechoslovakia to reach the quarterfinals.
Danny Blanchflower's leadership remains one of the most inspirational underdog stories in tournament history.
From the groups to the final
How the 1958 World Cup unfolded
Group Stage (16 teams)
Four groups produced fierce battles, with playoffs required in three pools to settle knockout qualifiers.
Quarterfinals & Semifinals
Featured Pelé's first goal against Wales, Sweden beating USSR, and Brazil's thrilling 5–2 semifinal victory over France.
Third-Place Match
France defeated 1954 champions West Germany 6–3 in Gothenburg as Just Fontaine netted four goals to secure bronze.
The Solna Final
Brazil defeated host Sweden 5–2 at Råsunda Stadium in the highest-scoring World Cup final ever played.
Golden Boot, Golden Ball and decisive performers
Key players from the 1958 World Cup
Pelé
The 17-year-old prodigy scored six knockout goals, including two in the final, to launch the most celebrated career in football history.
Just Fontaine
Set an all-time tournament record with 13 goals in just six matches, wearing borrowed boots throughout the tournament.
Garrincha
The Joy of the People dazzled full-backs with unplayable right-wing dribbling, setting up both of Vavá's goals in the final.
Raymond Kopa
The Real Madrid maestro pulled the strings for France's attack, winning the 1958 Ballon d'Or for his majestic playmaking.
Didi
Named the tournament's best player, Didi orchestrated Brazil's midfield with calm authority and invented the Folha Seca falling-leaf free kick.
Selected historic line-ups in the game data
1958 World Cup teams in the 7a0 archive
The tournament had 16 participants. The current 7a0 data set contains 12 selected squads, each with real player names, shirt numbers, positions, ratings and legend markers.
- Argentina
- Brazil
- England
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Northern Ireland
- Paraguay
- Sweden
- Soviet Union
- Wales
- Yugoslavia
The list above describes current game coverage, not the complete tournament field shown in the group section.
Published squad guides
1958 World Cup squads in 7a0
🇧🇷 Brazil 1958
Champion
Vicente Feola's revolutionary 4-2-4 champions featuring 17-year-old Pelé, Garrincha, Didi and Vavá.
View players, ratings and squad analysis → 🇸🇪 Sweden 1958 Runner-upGeorge Raynor's disciplined finalists driven by Serie A stars Nils Liedholm, Gunnar Gren and Kurt Hamrin.
View players, ratings and squad analysis → 🇫🇷 France 1958 Third placeThe free-scoring sensation powered by Raymond Kopa and record-breaker Just Fontaine with 13 goals.
View players, ratings and squad analysis → 🇩🇪 West Germany 1958 Fourth placeThe defending champions led by Fritz Walter and Helmut Rahn reaching another World Cup final four.
View players, ratings and squad analysis →What made the 1958 tournament distinctive?
The edition remains part of World Cup history for several connected reasons:
- Pelé becoming the youngest World Cup champion in history at 17 years old
- Just Fontaine setting the unbreakable single-tournament record of 13 goals
- Brazil winning their first of five men's World Cup titles
- Global adoption of the fluid 4-2-4 tactical formation
1958 World Cup FAQ
Who won the 1958 World Cup?
Brazil won the 1958 World Cup, defeating host nation Sweden 5–2 in the final on 29 June 1958 in Solna.
How old was Pelé when he won the 1958 World Cup?
Pelé was 17 years and 249 days old, making him the youngest player to score in and win a World Cup final.
Who holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup?
Just Fontaine of France holds the all-time record with 13 goals scored in six matches during the 1958 tournament in Sweden.
How many goals did Pelé score at the 1958 World Cup?
Pelé scored six goals across four matches at Sweden 1958, including a hat-trick against France and two in the final.
How many 1958 World Cup squads are in the 7a0 archive?
The 7a0 archive contains 12 playable squads from 1958, including champions Brazil, finalists Sweden, France and West Germany.
What formation did Brazil introduce at the 1958 World Cup?
Brazil popularized the 4-2-4 formation under coach Vicente Feola, revolutionizing tactical balance and positional interchange.
What was the score of the 1958 World Cup final?
Brazil defeated Sweden 5–2 in the 1958 final, which remains the highest-scoring final in World Cup history.
Which team finished third at the 1958 World Cup?
France finished third after defeating reigning champions West Germany 6–3 in a high-scoring playoff in Gothenburg.
Can I draft Pelé and Garrincha together in 7a0?
Yes, 7a0 allows you to pair 1958 Pelé and Garrincha in custom Dream XI tournament simulations.
Who won the Golden Ball as the best player of the 1958 World Cup?
Didi of Brazil was awarded the tournament's best player honor for his masterclass midfield orchestration.
Sources and editorial review
Editorial review: 7a0.online
Last reviewed: 2026-07-26
Tournament facts are checked against the cited records. Game ratings, position eligibility and tactical descriptions remain independent 7a0 editorial values.
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