The 1954 FIFA World Cup, which took place in Switzerland from June 16 to July 4, was the fifth iteration of the competition. 16 teams competed in the competition, and they were split up into four groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group moved on to the tournament’s knockout rounds.
Background
The 1954 World Cup was the first to be shown on television, and it marked the first appearance of World Cup Willie, the competition’s official mascot. The golden goal rule, which wasn’t applied in any of the games, was also introduced during the tournament.
Participants
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Scotland, South Korea, Switzerland, and Uruguay were the 16 teams who took part in the competition. Significantly, after previously competing as a combined squad with East Germany, West Germany competed in their first World Cup as a distinct nation.
Format
Four groups of four teams each were formed out of the sixteen teams. The top two teams from each group moved on to the tournament’s knockout rounds. The knockout stages included single-elimination matches, with the victor moving on to the following round.
Matches
There were 26 games in the tournament, and 140 goals were scored in all. On July 4, 1954, West Germany and Hungary competed in the championship game at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland. With a gold medal from the Olympics two years prior and a winning streak of 31 games, Hungary was thought to be the favourite to win the competition.
West Germany, however, pulled off a big shock by defeating Hungary 3-2 in the championship game. The game earned the moniker “Miracle of Bern” and is today regarded as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Goalscorers
The top scorer of the tournament was Sandor Kocsis of Hungary, who scored 11 goals in the tournament.
Winners
The winner of the 1954 FIFA World Cup was Germany (now known as Germany). They defeated Hungary 3-2 in the fianl held in Bern, Switzerland on july 4, 1954. This was the first time West Germany won the FIFA World Cup, and the second time the tournament was held since its inception in 1930.
Legacy
One of the most significant World Cups in FIFA history was the 1954 edition. It was the first World Cup to be shown live on television, with viewers all over the world watching the games. West Germany also became a major footballing force during the tournament, and their triumph over Hungary in the final signalled the start of a new era for football in Europe.
controversy
There were a number of contentious events during the 1954 FIFA World Cup, with one of the more noteworthy ones taking place during the match between Brazil and Yugoslavia in the group stage. Brazilian authorities objected to the 1-1 draw because they believed the Yugoslav goal came after the referee had blown the whistle for a foul. FIFA, however, dismissed the protest, and the outcome stood.
