It is contested by the men's national teams of the members of the FIFA, the sport's global governing body.
The tournament has taken place organised every four years, except in 1942 and 1946, when the competition was cancelled due to World War II.
A hat-trick occurs when a player scores three or more goals in a single match and it is considered an achievement, especially while playing at the largest international football tournament in the world.
Two were playing in their first ever World Cup match, Edmund Conen and Angelo Schiavio, both in 1934, a tournament without a group stage.
Two players have scored a hat-trick in the second group stage of the World Cup, Paolo Rossi and Zbigniew Boniek, both in 1982.