The first World Cup in Brazil, in 1950, after a 12-year interruption of the competition because of World War II, was marked by Brazil’s big wins (4-0 over Mexico, 7-1 over Sweden, and 6-1 over Spain) ...

Joao Luiz Albuquerque was 11 years old when he went to the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro for the final game of the 1950 World Cup. Brazil, the hosts and irresistible favourites, were playing Uruguay, ...

When everything seemed set for Brazil to celebrate a World Cup title at home, Uruguay delivered one of the greatest upsets in football history. The Maracanazo forever changed the World Cup and ...

World War II was still fresh in the memory for the 1950 finals. Europe, devastated by the fighting, was licking its wounds while Asia was enveloped in new conflicts in Indochina. After an enforced ...