For the first time both France (hosts) and Italy (holders) were exempted from qualifying rounds.

• Out of 25 entries, 15 nations contested the finals, with eight again being seeded and one, Sweden, receiving a bye into the quarters.

• Brazil’s quarter-final clash with Czechoslovakia in Bordeaux degenerated into violence, with two Brazilians and one Czech sent off.

• France became the first hosts to lose a match when Italy beat them 3-1 in the quarter-finals.

• Italy’s fascist dictator Benito Mussolini sent a telegram to coach Vittorio Pozzo saying: “Win or die.” Italy won, and Pozzo became the first coach to win the trophy twice following the 1934 success.