1950: the silence of maracanÃ

The 1950 FIFA World Cup was unlike any before it - and none since has echoed with such heartbreak, shock, and raw emotion. Held in Brazil after the 12-year hiatus due to World War II, the tournament marked football's triumphant return to the global stage.

Sixteen teams were invited. Thirteen arrived. The world was still healing, but the game was ready to breathe again.

What unfolded was both historic and haunting: a record-breaking crowd at the Maracanā Stadium, a Brazilian team poised for glory, and an ending no scriptwriter could have dared to pen. In one of the sport's greatest upsets - now known as the "Maracanazo" - Uruguay stunned the hosts in the final match, silencing nearly 200,000 fans and rewriting World Cup history forever.

The 1950 tournament wasn't just about football. It was about pride, pressure, and the unpredictable beauty of the game.

qualified teams

NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN SOUTH AMERICA EUROPE
Mexico Bolivia England (debut)
United States Brasil (host) Italy (1934 & 1938 champions)
Chile Spain
Paraguay Sweden
Uruguay (1930 champions) Switzerland
Yugoslavia

groups

GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3 GROUP 4
Brazil England Sweden Uruguay
Mexico Spain Italy Bolivia
Yugoslavia Chile Paraguay
Switzerland United States

group 1 stage matches

BRAZIL (4) vs. MEXICO (0)
  • DATE: June 24, 1950
  • LOCATION: Maracanā Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
  • GOALS: Ademir (2), Jair, Baltazar
  • Brazil opened with dominance in front of over 80,000 fans. 

YUGOSLAVIA (3) vs. SWITZERLAND (0)
  • DATE: June 25, 1950
  • LOCATION: Indepenê ncia Stadium, Belo Horizonte
  • GOALS: Mitic, Tomasevic, Bobek
  • Yugoslavia showed strong form right out of the gate.

BRAZIL (2) vs. SWITZERLAND (2)
  • DATE: June 28, 1950
  • LOCATION: Pacaembu Stadium, Sāo Paulo
  • GOALS: Brazil - Alfredo, Baltazar                                                             Switzerland - Fatton (2)
  • Switzerland shocked Brazil by coming from behind twice.

YUGOSLAVIA (4) vs. MEXICO (1)
  • DATE: June 28, 1950
  • LOCATION: Independência Stadium, Belo Horizonte
  • GOALS: Yugoslavia - Tomasevic (2), Bobek, Mitic                                      Mexico - Ortiz
  • Mexico struggled again, Yugoslavia made it 2 wins in 2 matches.

BRAZIL (2) vs. YUGOSLAVIA (0)
  • DATE: July 1, 1950
  • LOCATION: Maracanā Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
  • GOALS: Ademir, Zizinho
  • Crucial win in front of 142,000 fans, Brazil topped the group.

SWITZERLAND (2) vs. MEXICO (1)
  • DATE: July 2, 1950
  • LOCATION: Pacaembu Stadium, Sāo Pāulo
  • GOALS: Switzerland - Fatton, Bickel                                                         Mexico - Ortiz
  • Mexico exited winless; Switzerland earned some pride.
TEAM PLYD W D L GF GA Pts.
BRAZIL 3 2 1 0 8 2 5
YUGOSLAVIA 3 2 0 1 7 3 4
SWITZERLAND 3 1 1 1 4 6 3
MEXICO 3 0 0 3 2 10 0

GROUP 2 STAGE MATCHES

ENGLAND (2) vs. CHILE (0)
  • DATE: June 25, 1950
  • LOCATION: Maracanā Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
  • GOALS: Stan Mortensen, Wilf Mannion
  • England, in their World Cup debut, opened with a comfortable win.

SPAIN (3) vs. UNITED STATES (1)
  • DATE: June 25, 1950
  • LOCATION: Curitiba
  • GOALS: Spain - Basora (2), Zarra                                                           U.S.A - Souza
  • Spain took control wiht quick attacks and finished strongly.

SPAIN (2) vs. CHILE (0)
  • DATE: June 29, 1950
  • LOCATION: Maracanā Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
  • GOALS: Alonso, Basora
  • Spain stayed perfect and looked strong heading into their final group game.

UNITED STATES (1) vs. ENGLAND (0)
  • DATE: June 29, 1950
  • LOCATION: Independência Stadium, Belo Horizonte
  • GOALS: Joe Gaetjens
  • One of the greatest upsets in World Cup history - the U.S. stunned heavy favorites England in a match still legendary today.

SPAIN (1) vs. ENGLAND (0)
  • DATE: July 2, 1950
  • LOCATION: Maracanā Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
  • GOALS: Zarra
  • Spain's unbeaten run sent them to the final round; England was eliminated.

CHILE (5) vs. UNITED STATES (2)
  • DATE: July 2, 1950
  • LOCATION:Independência Stadium, Belo Horizonte
  • GOALS: Chile - Cremaschi (2), Lobos, Prieto, Romero                               U.S.A - Souza (2)
  • Chile secured a dominant win to close their campaign.
TEAM PLYD W D L GF GA Pts.
SPAIN 3 3 0 0 6 1 6
ENGLAND 3 1 0 2 2 3 2
CHILE 3 1 0 2 5 7 2
UNITED STATES 3 1 0 2 3 5 2

GROUP 3 STAGE MATCH

Due to the withdrawals of India and Paraguay, only two teams remained - meaning that Group 3 was decided in a single match.

SWEDEN (3) vs. ITALY (2)

  • DATE: June 25, 1950
  • LOCATION: Pacaembu Stadium, Sāo Paulo
  • GOALS: Sweden - Jeppson, Anderson, Mellberg                                                                                                                                                                      Italy - Carapellese, Muccinelli
  • Sweden shocked the 1938 champions in a thrilling match, securing their spot in the final round with just one game played.

group 4 stage match

URUGUAY (8) vs. BOLIVIA (0)

  • DATE: July 2, 1950
  • LOCATION: Estàdio Independencia, Belo Horizonte
  • GOALS: Oscar Miguez (3), Juan Schiaffino (2), Ernesto Vidal, Julio Pèrez, Alcides Ghiggia
  • Uruguay made a powerful statement in their return to World Cup action after missing 1934 and 1938.
  • Bolivia were overwhelmed by Uruguay's pace and attacking depth.