The 1974 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 29th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider. Sweden's own Anders Michanek scored a 15-point maximum to claim his only Individual world title in front of a capacity crowd at the Ullevi stadium in Göteborg. Four time champion Ivan Mauger finished second on 11 points after winning a run-off with Swede Sören Sjösten who also scored 11. With the defending champion Jerzy Szczakiel not qualifying after finishing last in the 2nd Continental Semi-final, the only other World Champion in the field was Denmark's Ole Olsen who suffered a horror night, finishing second in his first ride before falling in his second and not being able to contest the rest of the meeting.

Format changes

The format of the Championship changed for the 1974 event. This time the Swedish riders were allowed five places in the World Final to be held in Sweden. All other nations had to go through the European Final route to provide the remaining 11 riders for the World Final.

First round

British/Commonwealth preliminaries

Second round

Continental qualifying

British/Commonwealth qualifying

Third round

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Norwegian qualifying

Finnish qualifying

Danish final

Continental quarter-finals

British/Commonwealth semi-finals

Fourth round

Continental semi-finals

British/Commonwealth Final

Nordic Final

Fifth round

Swedish qualification

Continental Final

British/Commonwealth/Nordic Final

Sixth round

Swedish Finals

European Final

World Final