1982 FIFA World Cup
Hosted by Spain. Paolo Rossi's comeback story. Tournament expanded to 24 teams.
The 1982 FIFA World Cup at a glance
The 1982 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Spain and contested by 24 teams over 52 matches, producing 146 goals (2.81 per match). Paolo Rossi's comeback story. Tournament expanded to 24 teams. The final, Italy 3-1 West Germany, was played at Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid.
Paolo Rossi of Italy won the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Scoring rate of 2.81 goals per match was 0.13 higher than the previous edition's 2.68. Final standings: 1st Italy, 2nd West Germany, 3rd Poland, 4th France.
Final
Tournament
1982 FIFA World Cup records
| Champion | Italy |
| Runner-up | West Germany |
| Third place | Poland |
| Fourth place | France |
| Final score | Italy 3-1 West Germany |
| Final venue | Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
| Host country | Spain |
| Teams | 24 |
| Matches | 52 |
| Goals | 146 |
| Goals per match | 2.81 |
| Top scorer | Paolo Rossi (6 goals) |
| Top scorer nationality | Italy |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1982 FIFA World Cup?
Italy won the 1982 FIFA World Cup, beating West Germany 3-1 West Germany in the final at Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid.
Where was the 1982 World Cup held?
The 1982 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Spain. The final was played at Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid.
Who was the top scorer at the 1982 World Cup?
Paolo Rossi of Italy was the top scorer at the 1982 FIFA World Cup with 6 goals.
How many teams and matches were at the 1982 World Cup?
24 teams played at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, totalling 52 matches and 146 goals — an average of 2.81 goals per match across roughly 30 days.
Who finished 3rd and 4th at the 1982 World Cup?
Poland finished third and France finished fourth at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
How did the 1982 World Cup differ from the previous edition?
The previous FIFA World Cup, in 1978, was won by Argentina (102 goals across 38 matches; 2.68 goals per match). The 1982 edition produced 146 goals across 52 matches (2.81 per match) and was won by Italy.
What is the significance of the 1982 World Cup?
Paolo Rossi's comeback story. Tournament expanded to 24 teams.
Can I get 1982 World Cup historical data via API?
Yes. TheStatsAPI provides historical FIFA World Cup data going back to 1930, including match results, lineups, top scorers, final standings, and team appearance records. Query historical endpoints with year=1982 to retrieve the full dataset.
Get historical World Cup data via API
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