In our third file, we travel to France, 1938 — where the World Cup returned to a Europe on the edge of war.

Four years after Italy’s controversial triumph, football came back with tension in the air and politics pressing in from every side. Some nations stayed away. Others arrived under pressure. And on the pitch, the tournament delivered fierce battles, brilliant goals, unexpected stories, and a defending champion determined to prove its victory was no accident.

In Episode 3: France 1938, we uncover how world events shaped the tournament, why several teams were missing, and how Italy fought its way to a second straight World Cup title.

Strap in. History never played it safe.