At the 1938 World Cup, a snapped waistband, a quick-thinking captain and Brazil’s overconfidence helped shape one of the tournament’s most memorable moments
The 1938 World Cup in France is often remembered as the saddest and least loved tournament in football history.
Europe was moving inexorably toward World War II, and the political climate overshadowed the game. The traditional rotation between Europe and South America was abandoned, infuriating Uruguay, which chose to boycott the tournament in protest after hosting the inaugural World Cup eight years earlier.
Austria, one of the strongest teams in the world and a semifinalist in 1934, was also absent. Despite having qualified, the country had been annexed by Nazi Germany through the Anschluss earlier that year. Many of Austria’s best players would end up wearing the German jersey instead.
The political tension was impossible to ignore. When Italy reached the final, the Azzurri took the field wearing an all-black kit at the request of the House of Savoy. French fans interpreted the gesture as a fascist symbol and relentlessly booed the Italians throughout the match.
Yet the most fascinating story of that World Cup happened before the final.
It happened on June 16, 1938, at Marseille’s Velodrome Stadium, where Italy faced Brazil in the semifinals.
Brazil arrived full of confidence. So confident, in fact, that the Seleção decided to leave its biggest star, Leônidas da Silva, on the bench to preserve him for the final they expected to reach.
It was a decision that would become one of the greatest examples of premature celebration in World Cup history.
The match remained balanced until the second half. In the 50th minute, Gino Colaussi gave Italy the lead. Eleven minutes later, the Azzurri were awarded a penalty.
The responsibility fell on Italy’s captain and superstar, Giuseppe Meazza.
As Meazza began his run-up, something unexpected happened.
The elastic waistband of his shorts snapped.
Today it would be a minor inconvenience. In 1938, however, players could not stop once they had started their run-up. Thinking quickly, Meazza grabbed his falling shorts with one hand and continued toward the ball.
The unusual movement distracted Brazilian goalkeeper Walter. For a split second, the keeper reacted to Meazza’s awkward gesture.
That was all the Italian legend needed.
Still holding up his shorts, Meazza calmly sent the ball into the opposite corner.
Italy led 2-0.
Brazil managed to pull one back late through Romeu, but it was not enough. The Azzurri advanced to the final while the stunned Brazilians were left to wonder what might have happened had they not rested their best player.
A few days later, Italy defeated Hungary 4-2 to lift its second consecutive World Cup trophy. Despite the whistles from the French crowd and the controversies surrounding the tournament, even the highly regarded Hungarians acknowledged Italy’s superiority.
History remembers the 1938 World Cup for politics, tension and the shadow of war.
But it also remembers a captain who scored one of the most famous penalties ever taken—while holding up his shorts.
And in the end, Italy’s road to a second world title may have been helped by something as simple as a broken waistband.
World Stories is a series that uncovers the most incredible, forgotten, and controversial stories from the history of the FIFA World Cup.
