Brazil won their first World Cup in a finals that marked the arrival on the world stage of the incomparable Pele.
Despite being only 17, the Brazilian scored a hat-trick in the semi-finals and added two more goals in the final when hosts Sweden were swept aside 5-2.
France's Juste Fontaine was another star scoring 13 goals, a record for one tournament return that stills stands.
Northern Ireland and Wales eclipsed England in reaching the last eight but they could not make the semi-finals.
Some 55 teams entered and two former champions, Italy and Uruguay, failed to qualify for the finals, along with Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Spain.
This was the year for the "new" footballing nations, with Wales, Northern Ireland and the USSR taking part for the first time and all going as far as the quarter-finals.
West Germany, the defending champions, and Sweden, the hosts, topped their groups, along with the hugely impressive French team and Brazil.
To reach the play-offs, Northern Ireland beat Czechoslovakia while the USSR knocked out England.
But that was as far as either newcomer went, losing their quarter-finals to France and Sweden respectively.
Cheerleaders banned
Wales played their part in a piece of history as they went out 1-0 to Brazil, with the solitary score coming from one Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
It was the first World Cup goal for the man soon to be known throughout the world as Pele.
Once he had the taste, there was no stopping him and he went on to score a hat-trick in Brazil's semi-final victory over France.
Their opponents in the final were hosts Sweden, managed by Englishman George Raynor, who had beaten West Germany 3-1 in the other semi.
After the disappointments of 1950 and 1954, this was to be the start of Brazil's period of dominance.
Sweden took the lead in the fourth minute, but goals by Zagalo, Vava (two) and Pele (two) gave the Brazilians a deserved 5-2 victory and their first World Cup.
Before the final, Brazil had the Swedish cheerleaders banned from the pitch because they were worried they would give the hosts an added advantage.
But, when Brazil won, the entire nation showed the world just how to celebrate.
RESULTS & STATISTICS
Group A
|
N Ireland 1-0 Czechoslovakia W Germany 3-1 Argentina W Germany 2-2 Czechoslovakia |
|
Argentina 3-1 N Ireland Czechoslovakia 6-1 Argentina W Germany 2-2 N Ireland |
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| West Germany | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Northern Ireland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Czechoslovakia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
Play-off: Northern Ireland 2-1 Czechoslovakia (aet)
Group B
|
France 7-3 Paraguay Yugoslavia 1-1 Scotland Paraguay 3-2 Scotland |
|
Yugoslavia 3-2 France Paraguay 3-3 Yugoslavia France 2-1 Scotland |
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| Yugoslavia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 3 |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
Group C
|
Hungary 1-1 Wales Sweden 3-0 Mexico Mexico 1-1 Wales |
|
Sweden 2-1 Hungary Hungary 4-0 Mexico Sweden 0-0 Wales |
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Sweden | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Wales | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Hungary | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Mexico | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Play-off: Wales 2-1 Hungary
Group D
|
USSR 2-2 England Brazil 3-0 Austria USSR 2-0 Austria |
|
Brazil 0-0 England England 2-2 Austria Brazil 2-0 USSR |
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| USSR | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| England | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Austria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
Play-off: USSR 1-0 England
Quarter-finals:
Brazil 1-0 Wales
West Germany 1-0 Yugoslavia
France 4-0 Northern Ireland
Sweden 2-0 USSR
Semi-finals:
Sweden 3-1 West Germany
Brazil 5-2 France
3rd/4th place play-off:
France 6-3 West Germany
Final:
Brazil 5-2 Sweden
Leading scorer: 13 goals: Juste Fontaine (France)