1950 FIFA World Cup
Brazil • June 24 - July 16, 1950
🇺🇾
Champion
13
Teams
22
Matches
88
Goals
4.00
Goals/Match
1,045,246
Attendance
Overview
The 1950 FIFA World Cup was the fourth edition of the FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from June 24 to July 16, 1950. This was the first World Cup in 12 years, as the 1942 and 1946 tournaments were cancelled due to World War II.
The tournament featured 13 teams across 6 Brazilian cities and used a unique format with a final round-robin group instead of a knockout final. This remains the only World Cupdecided by a final group stage rather than a single final match.
Uruguay defeated host nation Brazil 2-1 in the decisive final round match at the Estádio do Maracanã in front of nearly 200,000 spectators. Brazil only needed a draw to win the title, making Uruguay's victory one of the biggest upsets in sports history, known as the Maracanazo ("Maracanã blow"). Uruguay won their second World Cup title, 20 years after their first in 1930.
Final Standings
All 13 participating teams with detailed statistics
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🥇1 | 🇺🇾 Uruguay Champion | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 7 |
🥈2 | 🇧🇷 Brazil Runner-up | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 9 |
🥉3 | 🇸🇪 Sweden Third | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 5 |
4 | 🇪🇸 Spain Fourth | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 7 |
5 | 🇷🇸 Yugoslavia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 4 |
6 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
7 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 2 |
8 | 🏴 England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
9 | 🇨🇱 Chile | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 2 |
10 | 🇺🇸 United States | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 2 |
11 | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 |
12 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 0 |
13 | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 0 |
Legend: Pld = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = Lost, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, GD = Goal Difference, Pts = Points
Golden Boot
Ademir
Brazil
Óscar Míguez
Uruguay
Estanislao Basora
Spain
Chico
Brazil
Telmo Zarra
Spain
Alcides Ghiggia
Uruguay
Stig Sundqvist
Sweden
Juan Alberto Schiaffino
Uruguay
Zizinho
Brazil
George Robledo
Chile
All Matches
Tournament Structure
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Final Round
Stadiums
Estádio do Pacaembu
Estádio Independência
Estádio dos Eucaliptos
Estádio Ilha do Retiro
Estádio Vila Capanema
Key Moments
- First World Cup after 12-year hiatus due to WWII
- Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-1 in the decisive final round match
- The Maracanazo: Brazil's shocking defeat at home
- Record attendance: 199,954 at the Maracanã for the final
- Only World Cup decided by final round-robin, not knockout
- England's World Cup debut ended in shock 1-0 loss to USA
- Italy eliminated in first round as defending champions
- Ademir scored 9 goals for Brazil
Historic Firsts
- First World Cup after World War II
- Longest gap between tournaments: 12 years
- Highest attendance for a match: 199,954 (Uruguay vs Brazil)
- Only World Cup without a knockout final
- Uruguay: Second World Cup title (1930, 1950)
- Brazil: First time hosting the World Cup
- England: First World Cup participation
- USA shocked England 1-0 in biggest upset
- Ademir: Tournament top scorer with 9 goals