1950 World Cup

The Maracanaço: Uruguay's upset in Brazil's first World Cup hosting.

The 1950 FIFA World Cup was the fourth edition of the FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July 1950. It was the first World Cup in 12 years, as the 1942 and 1946 tournaments were cancelled due to World War II. Uruguay defeated host nation Brazil in the deciding match of the final round, causing an upset known as the Maracanaço. This was the only tournament not decided by a one-match final, and the first where the trophy was called the Jules Rimet Cup.

Quick Facts

Host nation: Brazil
Final match result: Uruguay 2-1 Brazil
Tournament format: Final Round-Robin Group (No Official Final)
Top scorer (brazil): Ademir Menezes
Defining moment: The Maracanazo
Status: Historical Defeat; Cultural Turning Point

Lore & Background

The tournament was nearly cancelled due to lack of interest after World War II, but Brazil bid at the 1946 FIFA Congress to host in 1950. Italy, the two-time defending champions, were eliminated in the first round. Only 13 teams competed after several withdrawals, including Scotland, Turkey, India, and France. The format used two rounds of group stages instead of a knockout tournament, proposed by Brazil to maximize matches and ticket sales.

Reader's Guide

The 13 teams were divided into four first-round groups. Group winners advanced to a final round-robin group to determine the champion. Teams received 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. A playoff would break ties for first place in a group. The tournament had no geographical basis for group allocation.