The 1974 FIFA Rimet Cup was the inagural edition of the tournament. The tournament was created as a secondary international association football tournament for teams that did not qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. The tournament was held in West Germany two weeks prior to the World Cup.

Qualification

For the inaugural competition, eight teams qualified: 1 from Asia/Oceania, 1 from North America, 2 from South America, 1 from Africa and three from Europe.

List of qualified teams

The following eight teams qualified for the final tournament.

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Soviet Union 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6 9 Advance to knockout round
2  Belgium 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 4
3  Colombia 3 0 2 1 1 2 −1 2
4  South Korea 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
Source: FIFA.com
Soviet Union 3–1 Belgium
Colombia 0–0 South Korea
Soviet Union 1–0 Colombia
South Korea 1–2 Belgium
South Korea 0–3 Soviet Union
Belgium 1–1 Colombia

Group B

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Romania 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 Advance to knockout round
2  Paraguay 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 6
3  Zambia 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 3
4  Trinidad and Tobago 3 0 0 3 2 12 −10 0
Source: FIFA.com
Romania 1–0 Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago 1–2 Zambia
Romania 6–1 Trinidad and Tobago
Zambia 2–3 Paraguay
Zambia 0–2 Romania
Paraguay 4–0 Trinidad and Tobago

Knockout stage

Bracket

Semifinals Final
      
A1  Soviet Union 2
B2  Paraguay 0
A1  Soviet Union 2
B1  Romania 0
B1  Romania 3
A2  Belgium 2 Consolation
B2  Paraguay 1
A2  Belgium 2

Semifinals

Final

Category