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.
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.
Brazil's dominance
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.
Group 1 results:
Northern Ireland 1-0 Czechoslovakia
West Germany 3-1 Argentina
West Germany 2-2 Czechoslovakia
Argentina 3-1 Northern Ireland
Czechoslovakia 6-1 Argentina
West Germany 2-2 Northern Ireland
Group 1 play-off:
Northern Ireland 2-1 Czechoslovakia (aet)
Group 2 results:
France 7-3 Paraguay
Yugoslavia 1-1 Scotland
Paraguay 3-2 Scotland
Yugoslavia 3-2 France
Paraguay 3-3 Yugoslavia
France 2-1 Scotland
Group 3 results:
Hungary 1-1 Wales
Sweden 3-0 Mexico
Mexico 1-1 Wales
Sweden 2-1 Hungary
Hungary 4-0 Mexico
Sweden 0-0 Wales
Group 3 play-off:
Wales 2-1 Hungary
Group 4 results:
USSR 2-2 England
Brazil 3-0 Austria
USSR 2-0 Austria
Brazil 0-0 England
England 2-2 Austria
Brazil 2-0 USSR
Group 4 play-off:
USSR 1-0 England
Quarter-finals results:
Brazil 1-0 Wales
West Germany 1-0 Yugoslavia
France 4-0 Northern Ireland
Sweden 2-0 USSR
Semi-finals results:
Sweden 3-1 West Germany
Brazil 5-2 France
3rd/4th place play-off:
France 6-3 West Germany
World Cup Final:
Brazil 5-2 Sweden
