Sixteen teams – 12 from Europe, three South Americans (though not the holders Uruguay) and one from Africa, Egypt – lined up for the finals, which were this time conducted purely on a knockout basis. Host nation Italy, under the approving gaze of Mussolini, beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the final after extra-time.

The Czechs silenced the partisan 50,000 crowd when Antonin Puc scored with just 20 minutes of the match remaining. They almost added a second when the ball struck a post before Argentine-born Raimundo Orsi scored a late equaliser for Italy. Italy clinched their first World Cup title when Angelo Schiavio scored the winner in extra time.