1962 FIFA World Cup

• 1. Host Selection And Politics

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  The 1962 FIFA World Cup began its journey in a room filled with tension during the FIFA Congress held in Helsinki. Ernesto Alvear, chairman of Magallanes, sat among delegates while Finland hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics nearby. He believed Chile could organize the tournament better than Argentina, which had previously failed to host. Several sources indicate that FIFA did not want Argentina to run alone and requested Chile's participation as almost symbolic. Chile registered its candidacy in 1954 alongside Argentina and West Germany, though the latter withdrew at FIFA's request.

  Carlos Dittborn led Chile's football federation committee on a tour of many countries to convince various associations about their ability to organize. Juan Pinto Durán joined him in these efforts. The FIFA Congress met in Lisbon, Portugal on the 10th of June 1956. Raul Colombo, representing Argentina's candidacy, ended his speech with the phrase "We can start the World Cup tomorrow. We have it all." The next day, Dittborn presented four arguments supporting Chile's candidacy: continued participations at FIFA-organized conferences, sports climate, tolerance of race and creed, and political stability. Dittborn invoked Article 2 of the FIFA statutes addressing the tournament's role in promoting sport in underdeveloped countries. In counterpoint to Colombo's claim, Dittborn coined the phrase "Because we have nothing, we want to do it all" around the fifteenth minute of his speech. Chile won 32 votes to Argentina's 10, with fourteen members abstaining from voting.

• 2. Earthquake And Infrastructure

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  In May 1960, as preparations were well underway, Chile suffered the largest earthquake ever recorded measuring 9.5 magnitude. Over 50,000 casualties and more than 2 million people affected forced the organizing committee to completely modify the World Cup's calendar. Talca, Concepción, Talcahuano and Valdivia were severely damaged and discarded as venues. Antofagasta and Valparaíso declined to host matches because their venues were not financially self-sustainable.

  Viña del Mar and Arica managed to rebuild their stadiums while Braden Copper Company allowed use of its stadium in Rancagua. This became the World Cup edition with the smallest number of venues spread across the country. The most used stadium was the Estadio Nacional in Santiago with 10 matches; the Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar hosted 8 matches. Stadiums in Rancagua and far-away Arica both hosted 7 matches. Being that Estadio Nacional was the only large venue of the tournament, it also saw the largest attendance average by far. Government support for the tournament was minimal due to concerns about rebuilding after the 1960 earthquake. Dittborn died one month before the start of the tournament, but the World Cup venue at Arica was named Estadio Carlos Dittborn in his honor.

• 3. Qualification And Format Changes

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  Fifty-seven teams entered the 1962 World Cup though fifty-two eventually participated in qualifying stages due to rejected entries and withdrawals. Chile as host nation and Brazil as reigning champions received automatic qualification. Eight places were contested by UEFA teams from Europe and three by CONMEBOL teams from South America. CAF teams from Africa, AFC teams from Asia, NAFC teams from North America, and CCCF teams from Central America and Caribbean contested three play-off slots.

  Two teams qualified for the first time ever: Colombia and Bulgaria. Austria withdrew during the qualification tournament due to financial problems. Italy, Switzerland and Uruguay all qualified for the first time since 1954, while Spain returned for the first time since 1950. The format divided sixteen teams into four groups of four with top two advancing to quarter-finals. Two points were awarded for a win and one for a draw. In a change from 1958, goal average separated any teams equal on points. Argentina became the first team eliminated on goal average when England advanced from Group 4 in second place. For knockout games, if teams remained level after ninety minutes, thirty minutes of extra time played.

• 4. The Battle Of Santiago

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  The competition was marred by constant violence on the pitch culminating in the first-round match between host Chile and Italy ending 2, 0. Two Italian journalists had written unflattering articles describing Santiago as "a proudly backwards and poverty-stricken dump full of prostitution and crime." Although only two players both Italians were sent off by English referee Ken Aston, repeated attempts occurred from players on both sides to harm opponents. The Italian team needed police protection to leave field in safety.

  Articles in Italian papers La Nazione and Corriere della Sera said allowing Chile to host was "pure madness," magnified by local newspapers to inflame population. British newspaper Daily Express wrote "The tournament shows every sign of developing into a violent bloodbath." Reports read like battlefront dispatches; the Italy versus West Germany match described as "wrestling and warfare." Defensive strategies began taking hold as average goals per match dropped to 2.78 under three for first time in competition history. This has never been above three since then.

• 5. Pelé Injury And Squad Shifts

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  Pelé was injured in second group match against Czechoslovakia during the tournament. Soviet Union goalkeeper Lev Yashin arguably best in world at time went out to Chile losing 1, 2 in quarter-finals. Bright spots included emergence of young Brazilians Amarildo standing in for Pelé and Garrincha. Heroics of Czechoslovakia goalkeeper Viliam Schrojf against Hungary and Yugoslavia stood out alongside performance of host nation Chile who took third place with relatively unknown players squad.

  Garrincha scored two goals in 3, 1 win against England while Brazil beat hosts 4, 2 in semi-final. Garrincha sent off for Brazil and Honorino Landa sent off for Chile. Chile eventually took third place in 1, 0 victory over Yugoslavia with last play of match. Same player Eladio Rojas had also scored winning goal in Chile's game against USSR. This represented best performance of South American team without considering historical ones from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

• 6. Final Match And Legacy

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  Santiago's Estadio Nacional served as venue for final where after fifteen minutes Brazil found themselves a goal behind. Long ball from Adolf Scherer latched onto by Josef Masopust made score 1, 0 Czechoslovakia. As in previous final in 1958, Brazil soon hit back equalizing two minutes later through Amarildo after error by Czechoslovak goalkeeper Schroijf. Brazilians scored goals from Zito and Vavá another Schrojf error midway through second half. Match ended 3, 1 to Brazil successful defense title only second time in competition history despite absence of star player Pelé replaced by Amarildo.

  With four goals each Flórián Albert, Garrincha, Valentin Ivanov, Dražan Jerković, Leonel Sánchez and Vavá were top scorers tournament. Total eighty-nine goals scored by fifty-four players none credited as own goal. In 1986 FIFA published report ranking all teams up to including 1986 based on progress overall results quality opposition. Rankings placed Brazil first followed by Czechoslovakia third and Chile fifth. This remains the best performance of South American team without considering historical ones from Brazil Argentina and Uruguay.