Fifa World Cup 1962 - Host Nation Chile

Despite major earthquakes in the years preceding the World Cup in 1962 Chile hosted the World Cup. At the 1956 FIFA congress in Lisbon, three nations formally applied to host.

Not regarded as the best World cup in history especially the terrible scenes in the Chile, Italy match where there were a lot of bad tempers and Italy had 2 men sent off. The hosts won the football match 2-0.

It was an uneasy looking Brazil team that turned up in Chile and with Pelé injured in their second match of the tournament against Czechoslovakia the Brazilians found it very difficult to hit their usual World Cup stride, however like all thorough Champions they guts it out and beat the Czechoslovakia in the final.

Of the outsiders Czechoslovakia and Chile both excelled themselves with Czechoslovakia getting a draw against Brazil in the group stages and they went on to get a 1-0 victory over Hungary in the quarter-finals helped by the fact that Hungary contrived to hit the post four times. They then overcame Yugoslavia 3-1 to reach the final.

Chile sent the home supporters wild which caused mass celebrations in the streets of the host nation by beating the Soviet Union 2-1. They then faced Brazil, who'd reached the semi-final stage by seeing off England 3-1 and the world champions proved too strong for the hosts, Brazil, winning 4-2.

In the final even though Czechoslovakia took the lead early on, Brazil looked like the better team and came back and won the final 3-1. Even without Pelé for most of the tournament, Brazil managed to defend their title.