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JULY 2018 -
SEXY GLAM
MAGAZINE -
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FIFA chose Italy ahead of rival can-
didates Sweden to host the second
FIFAWorld Cup and this time it took
qualifying matches to arrive at the 16
finalists. Unlike in 1930 there were
no groups and only knockout rounds,
meaning Brazil and Argentina went
home after playing just one match
each. Once again, the home team pre-
vailed, Italy winning the Final against
Czechoslovakia in extra time. For the
first time, the Final was transmitted
on the radio.
Four years later, Rimet saw his wish
fulfilled when the third FIFA World
Cup took place in France, his home
country. Again not everything ran
according to plan: Austria had disap-
peared from the scene and so Sweden
did not have an opponent in the first
round. Uruguay still did not wish to
participate and Argentina withdrew.
This is why the national teams from
Cuba and the Dutch East Indies came
to France. This time, there was no
home victory and Italy successfully
defended their title.
The FIFA World Cup should have
taken place for the fourth time in
1942 but the outbreak of World War
Two meant otherwise. Although FIFA
maintained its Zurich offices through-
out the conflict, it was not until 1 July
1946 in Luxembourg that the Con-
gress met again. Thirty-four associa-
tions were represented and they gave
Rimet, who had been President for a
quarter of a century already, a special
Jubilee gift. From now on, the FIFA
World Cup trophy would be called
the Jules Rimet Cup.
As the only candidate, Brazil was
chosen unanimously to host the next
FIFAWorld Cup, to be staged in 1949
(and postponed to 1950 for time rea-
sons). At the same time, Switzerland
was given the option for 1954.