The seventh World Cup took place in Chile in 1962, with many new facilities having been built despite a major earthquake hitting the country two years earlier. Again sixteen teams would qualify, but once more there as a slight adjustment to the format. Play-off matches to determine group placings were scrapped, and goal difference would be used to decide which team reached the quarter-finals.
Group A saw South American sides Colombia and Uruguay struggle against European opposition. Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union moved comfortably through, the only hiccup for the Soviets being a remarkable draw with Colombia after they had led 3-0 and 4-1. Uruguay were in decline, and a late winner for the Soviet Union sealed their fate in their last match. Hosts Chile started out in impressive form in Group B. Comfortable wins over Switzerland and Italy sealed their quarter-final place with a match to spare, leaving West Germany needing a results against the host nation to join them in the last eight. Italy's win over the Swiss was made irrelevant by an early penalty and a late headed goal as West Germany beat Chile to take top spot in the group.
Group C featured the holders Brazil, and their passage through to the next stage was very easy as Czechoslovakia, Spain and Mexico all beat each other and so none of them could mount a real challenge. Czechoslovakia accompanied Brazil through after holding them to a 0-0 draw earlier in the group. Hungary were impressive in Group D, thrashing Bulgaria 6-1 and also beating England to top the group. A draw with Bulgaria took England through in second place after Argentina were unable to beat the Hungarians.
In the quarter-finals, Chile edged out the Soviet Union 2-1 after a match featuring three early goals, and Yugoslavia scored three minutes from time to see off the challenge of West Germany. After a tight first half, Brazil took control of their match with England in the second period, scoring twice and missing a penalty to secure a 3-1 win, and an early goal took Czechoslovakia past Hungary in the last of the matches.
The most eagerly awaited match of the tournament saw hosts Chile face holders Brazil in the semi-finals. Two early goals from Garrincha put Brazil in command, and although Chile fought back twice to come within a single goal, the holders won 4-2 to reach their second final in a row. They would face group opponents Czechoslovakia, who scored twice in the last ten minutes to beat Yugoslavia 3-1. In the third place match, Chile eased their disappointment with a last minute winner to beat Yugoslavia.
After the goalless group match between Brazil and Czechoslovakia, the final could have been expected to be another tight, tense match, but it got off to an exciting start when Josef Masopust gave the European underdogs a shock lead in the fifteenth minute. Brazil however hit back quickly, and within two minutes they were level when Amarildo shot home. The score remained locked at 1-1 until deep into the second half, but with just over twenty minutes remaining Zito headed the holders into the lead for the first time. Czechoslovakia tried to fight back, but with twelve minutes to go Vavá scored the crucial third goal for Brazil, and they became the second team after Italy in 1938 to retain the trophy.
Brazil
Czechoslovakia
Chile
Yugoslavia
