For the first time in their history, Soviet Union walked onto the World Cup stage. Gavriil Kachalin led the squad into the unknown.
Soviet Union's tournament was a mixed affair, with promising moments offset by results that ultimately cut their journey short.
Soviet Union showed enough quality to navigate a challenging group stage, though not without the occasional stumble. In the knockout rounds, they fell to Sweden in the Quarter-finals. Sweden proved to be a step too far, and Soviet Union's campaign came to a decisive end in the the quarters.
2won1drawn2lost
5scored6conceded
Failed to score in 2 of 5 matches debut World Cup, 2 wins and a knockout-stage berth.
Anatoli Ilyin led Soviet Union's attack with 2 goals at the 1958 World Cup.
Conceded in only 3 of 5 matches
The tactical mind behind Soviet Union's 1958 campaign. Guided Soviet Union to their first World Cup leading Soviet Union at his first World Cup.
Gavriil Kachalin's team relied on a mix of attacking flair and defensive solidity, but ultimately succumbed to Sweden's home advantage.
