- 지역예선에 아시아와 아프리카가 참석한 세계적인 대회로 승격되었다. 아시아에서는 한국, 일본, 이스라엘이 참여하여 이스라엘은 유럽의 유고, 그리스와 함께 지역예선을 치러 3위(4패)로 탈락하였고, 한국은 일본 동경에서 가진 2차전에서 1승1무(3월7일 5:1, 3월14일 2:2)로 아시아 대표(아시아 최초 참가국은 38년 네델란드령 동인도)로 본선에 참여하게 된다. 아프리카의 이짚트는 유럽의 이탈리아와 지역예선에서 2패를 당하여 예선탈락의 고배를 마신다. 이렇게 하여 모두 16개국이 본선에 참여하게 되는데 이 숫자는 82년 스페인대회에서 24개국이 참여할때까지 계속되었다. 
 
- 우루과이는 한번만 더 우승하면 줄리메컵을 영원히 가져가게 되었으나 4강전에서 52년 올림픽 우승국 헝가리에 4:2로 패해 꿈을 접고만다. 50년5월 이후 31전27승4무 무패의 헝가리는 16강전에서 한국을 9:0, 서독을 8:3, 8강전에서 브라질을 4:2, 4강전에서 우루과이를 4:2로 꺽고 같은 조 2위의 서독과 결승전에서 맞붙게 된다. 

- 모든 관중은 헝가리가 우승할 것으로 보았으며, 또한 헝가리도 이에 보답하듯이 2점을 먼저 선취하였다. 그러나, 독일의 반격은 곧장 일어나 전반을 2:2 동점으로 끝냈으며 후반에서도 서로 일진일퇴를 거듭하면서 헝가리가 골포스트를 맞고 나오는 불운을 겪는다. 경기종료 6분을 남기고 독일의 결승골로 54년 월드컵은 서독의 승리로 막을 내린다. 

- 스위스는 16강전에서 이탈리아를 4:1로 이기며 돌풍을 일으킨다. 그러나 8강전에서 오스트리아에 7:5로 지고만다.

A deciding match against Italy became necessary once more with the 0:2 defeat against England (above, Fatton against goalie Merrick).

In the final, after leading 2-0 against West Germany, whom they had beaten 8-3 in the opening round, they went down 3-2. 

A global dimension 
 
The World Cup, staged in Switzerland at the foot of the Alps, was to soar to new heights in 1954. The qualifying rounds featured a higher number of nations than ever before, with the AFC founded in 1954 also including several teams from Asia (Japan and Korea) and Africa (Egypt), giving the event a truly global dimension. Sixteen teams took part in the finals, three more than in Brazil four years earlier . South America was represented by Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico; the Asian qualifier was Korea (the first Asian team having been the Dutch East Indies in 1938), and the Europeans were Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Scotland, Switzerland, Turkey, West Germany and Yugoslavia. This figure remained constant until the 1982 World Cup in Spain, when it rose to 24. 
  
 

Following their wins in 1930 and 1950, Uruguay are back for their third appearance and still unbeaten. Playing in the "old" continent for the first time they have the chance of carrying off the trophy permanently with a third win. But that would not come to pass: the spectators watching their semifinal against Hungary could well believe they were seeing the old champions in action against the new ones. Puskas, Hidegkuti, Kocsis and Co. had won the Olympic title in 1952 and beaten England 6:3 at Wembley in 1953, and now overcome the world champions in extra time. But the rest is history; it is Germany who win their first World Cup. On 26 June 1954, the quarter-final match in Lausanne produced more goals than any match before or since, Austria beating Switzerland 7:5, despite the Swiss being 3:0 ahead at one stage. But the extreme heat took its toll of the home team.

 The magical Magyars 

The quality of football in the games at Basle, Berne, Lausanne, Zurich and Geneva, the five host cities, reached dizzying heights in 1954. In 26 matches, an incredible total of 140 goals was scored, making an average of 5.38 goals per game. Needless to say, this is still the record for the number of goals scored in a World Cup final competition. 
 
The Hungarians, Olympic gold medal winners two years earlier, and unbeaten since May 1950 (31 games: 27 wins and 4 draws), were the incontestable favourites. From the outset of this fifth World Cup, the "magical Magyars", who included in their ranks Ferenc Puskas, Jozsef Boszik and Sandor Kocsis, showed their class by thrashing Korea (9-0) and an admittedly under-strength German side, 8-3. 

In the quarter-finals, Hungary, still on a roll, beat Brazil (4-2) in a high-tension match that ended in the dressing rooms when players, managers and the two delegations came to blows! 

Surprises came with two other European teams. 

Firstly, Switzerland, who beat Italy and provoked the latter's "humiliating" first-round exit from the competition, but who were eventually eliminated by Austria in an epic struggle (5-7, another record!). 

Secondly, the Germans, who confidently pursued their way through to the final and another meeting with their first-round conquerors, the Hungarians. The spectators were expecting the Hungarian magic to work again; and indeed, Hungary rapidly went two goals ahead. In ten memorable minutes the Germans had fought back to equalise, and more was yet to come. After the Hungarians hit the post, Helmut Rahn scored the winner for Germany with only six minutes remaining, when the Hungarian goalkeeper, Gyula Grosics, slid on the wet grass as he was about to go for the ball. The Wankdorf stadium in Berne was thus the scene for one of the biggest ever World Cup surprises on that Sunday, 4 July 1954. For the Germans, as we now know, this first World Cup trophy was to pave the way to continued success. 

Sources: FIFA Archives; CFO France 98; Ian Morrison: The World Cup - A Complete Record 1930-1990. Breedon Books, Derby (UK) 1990.; John Robinson: Soccer - The World Cup 1930-1998. Soccer Books Limited, Lincolnshire (UK) 1998