Brazil's third World Cup title in Mexico, achieved with a perfect record, is widely regarded as the greatest team performance in football history.
Key Facts
- Tournament edition
- 9th FIFA World Cup
- Dates
- 31 May – 21 June 1970
- Final score
- Brazil 4–1 Italy
- Brazil's record in finals
- 6 wins from 6 games
- Nations entered qualification
- 75 nations
- Teams in final tournament
- 16 teams
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The FIFA World Cup was allocated to Mexico as the first host outside Europe and South America. Seventy-five nations entered qualifying rounds beginning in May 1968, with fourteen qualifying alongside host Mexico and defending champions England to form a 16-team final tournament.
Held from 31 May to 21 June 1970 in Mexico, the tournament saw Brazil defeat Italy 4–1 in the final, having also beaten Uruguay 3–1 in the semi-final and England 1–0 in the group stage. The competition was notable for high-altitude venues, attacking football, and the first globally broadcast live colour television coverage of a World Cup.
Brazil's third title allowed them to permanently retain the Jules Rimet Trophy, prompting the introduction of a new FIFA World Cup trophy in 1974. The tournament set an average goals-per-game record unmatched by later World Cups and reached a record television audience through satellite broadcasts, transforming the global reach of the competition.
Result
at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City