Authoritarian regimes often used sports, especially football, for propaganda. For example, Mussolini did it in the 1934 World Cup, and was “copied” by Brazil in 1950 – except they lost the final match. Other times the kermesse is created out of nothing. This is the case of the Gold Cup played in Uruguay between 1980 and 1981. A basically useless competition, wanted by the deviated Masonic Lodge P2 and the Uruguayan dictatorship…
Against all odds
Football (or soccer for those who live in the U.S.) is loved and treated like a religion by many fans because is not an exact science. So, even if it’s not likely, sometimes happens that the underdog takes the trophy home, against all odds. There are many Cinderella stories, like Denmark 1992, Greece 2004, Iraq 2007…
Maracanaço, the birth of legendary Brazil
In Brazil soccer is way more than just a sport. It’s unconditional partecipation, faith and sometimes a reason for living. And, as sometimes happens all around the world, a reason for dying. What happened in the World Cup played in their homeland in 1950, luckily, is unparalleled in the history of this competition. 90 certified deaths between suicides and heart attacks, due to the emotional charge of the final against Uruguay…