The biggest sporting event on earth today, the World Cup, was first held in Uruguay in 1930. The games increased in popularity when the next Cup was held in Italy four years later, setting the stage for an even bigger event in 1938. Originally, the plan was to alternate between Europe and South America every four years, but France was chosen to host the ’38 Cup. As a result, Uruguay and Argentina refused to send a team, a controversy soon overshadowed when Germany annexed Austria after each team had qualified for the Cup. Austria, no longer a nation, was dropped, with some of its players joining the German squad. Once the games began, defending champions Italy emerged as the favored team, easily defeating Norway, France and Brazil to reach the finals. At the same time, Hungary was blowing past their competition, outscoring the Dutch East Indies, Switzerland and Sweden by an astounding 13 goals to 1. The final game, held on June 19 in the Stade Olympique de Colombes in Paris, saw the Hungarians succumb to the Italians, 4-2.
Ultimately, the success of the 1938 World Cup established the global soccer tournament as one of the most popular sporting events in the world, second only to the Olympic Games. Held a little more than a year before many of the participants would be fighting against one another on the WWII battlefield, the 1938 Cup was the last one held until 1950. Due to war and the ravages of time, not many pieces attributed to pre-war World Cup participants remain. Fortunately, this elegant Runner’s Up Silver medal awarded to a member of the Hungarian squad has survived. The silver medal measures 22mm x 35mm and features “WORLD’S CUP” above the Gaulic rooster, symbol of host country France. The rooster is encircled by “F.F.F.A. JUIN FRANCE 1938” above olive and oak branches. The reverse has an Art Deco winged goddess Nike below “F.I.F.A.” in raised letters. The medal has a loop and ring fastening device at the top. It shows light wear with appropriate tarnishing and aging. A tremendously rare medal from just the third time the World Cup was held.