Uruguay's 2–1 defeat of heavily favoured Brazil in front of nearly 200,000 spectators is widely considered the greatest upset in football history.
Key Facts
- Final score
- Uruguay 2–1 Brazil
- Official attendance
- 173,850 spectators
- Possible actual attendance
- over 200,000 spectators
- Venue
- Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
- Uruguay's winning goal scorer
- Alcides Ghiggia (79th minute)
- Colloquial name
- Maracanaço / Maracanazo
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1950 World Cup used a final round-robin group stage rather than a single final. Brazil entered the decisive match needing only a draw to claim the title, having accumulated one point more than Uruguay. The heavily favoured hosts had outscored their opponents convincingly in earlier rounds, making a Brazilian triumph widely anticipated.
Played on 16 July 1950 at the Maracanã, Brazil took the lead shortly after half-time through Friaça. Uruguay equalised via Juan Alberto Schiaffino midway through the second half, then Alcides Ghiggia scored with 11 minutes remaining to give Uruguay a 2–1 victory, eliminating Brazil and clinching the World Cup title for Uruguay.
Uruguay's unexpected victory, dubbed the Maracanazo, sent shockwaves through Brazil and is remembered as one of sport's most stunning upsets. The match left a lasting cultural scar in Brazil, with the term Maracanazo entering the lexicon as a synonym for dramatic, crushing defeat. The Maracanã crowd of up to 200,000 remains among the largest ever to witness a football match.
Result
at Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro