Grenadines of St. Vincent year 1986 stamps FIFA Football World Cup Mexico
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, commonly referred to as the World Cup Mexico 1970, was the ninth edition of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international men’s football championship contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament took place in Mexico from May 31 to June 21, 1970.
- Host Country: Mexico was chosen as the host nation for the 1970 World Cup, marking the first time the tournament was held in North America and the first time it was held outside of Europe and South America.
- Format: The tournament featured 16 teams divided into four groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and the final.
- Champions: The tournament was won by Brazil, who defeated Italy 4-1 in the final to claim their third FIFA World Cup title. Brazil’s team, featuring legendary players like Pelé, Jairzinho, and Carlos Alberto, is often regarded as one of the greatest football teams of all time.
- Golden Boot: The tournament’s top goalscorer was Gerd Müller of West Germany, who scored 10 goals during the competition.
- Matches and Venues: Matches were played in various cities across Mexico, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Puebla. The final match was held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which had a capacity of over 100,000 spectators.
- Innovations: The 1970 World Cup introduced several innovations, including substitutions for the first time in World Cup history (previously, no substitutions were allowed), and the introduction of yellow and red cards for disciplinary purposes.
- Legacy: The 1970 World Cup is remembered for its entertaining and attacking style of football, as well as for showcasing the talents of legendary players such as Pelé, Gerd Müller, Bobby Charlton, and Franz Beckenbauer. It is often regarded as one of the greatest World Cup tournaments in history.
