Sweden played its only World Cup final when it hosted the competition in 1958.

It was the first World Cup, and also the first sports event, with television coverage for more than 60 countries. It was also the first and only World Cup with the four national teams from Great Britain participating in the final phase.

The Scandinavian team overcame the group stage after a draw and two games won. At that time the points for a winning match were only two.

In the quarterfinals Sweden won the Soviet Union with two goals in the second half.
Then in the semifinal, the Scandinavian team eliminated the reigning world champion of West Germany with a comeback from 0-1 to 3-1 by Sweden.

In the final, the hosts found the best selection of the World Cup: the Brazil of a young Pele.
Vavá, Didí, Bellini and Garrincha were the other great players of a Brazil national football team that, after a masterful World Cup performance, delighted the football fans in the final.
Sweden went ahead with a goal from Liedholm, but then Vavá's double, and goals from Pelé and Zagallo led the result to 4-1 for Brazil.
Simonsson, Sweden's best player in that World Cup, scored the goal for the 4-2, but in the 90th minute Pele was going to decree the end of the match.

A star was born. The Brazilian forward at his debut in a major international tournament led the Brazilian team to win their first World Cup, and began to write the legend of "O'Rey".

This is still the best result in a World Cup for Sweden, which in 1994 will reach the final for the third place: winning against Bulgaria.

Seventy years later, Retrofootball® launches the retro shirt of the Sweden national football team at the 1958 World Cup.

Buy the Sweden retro shirt at 1958 World Cup