Uruguay Defeats Brazil to Win the 1950 FIFA World Cup

The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup, and the first staged in 12 years due to World War II. Brazil was chosen as the host country by FIFA in July 1946.

It was also the first tournament that the trophy itself would be referred to as the Jules Rimet Cup, to mark the 25th anniversary of Rimet's presidency of FIFA. It was won by Uruguay, who had won the inaugural competition in 1930, clinching the cup by beating the hosts Brazil 2–1 in the deciding match of the four-team final group (this was the only tournament not decided by a one-match final).

The first World Cup after the war was played in Brazil in 1950. European teams from countries most affected by World War II (among others the Polish team) didn't enter the qualifiers. The silver medallists of the previous championships, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Argentina didn't participate either. For the first time teams from England and Scotland entered the competition and Uruguay, the world champion of 1930, entered after 20 years of absence. Eventually 13 out of 16 entered teams played in the tournament, after India, Scotland and Turkey had withdrawn from the competition after the draw. Under these circumstances, FIFA invited France and Portugal to play, but both countries rejected the offer.