Abstract
ABSTRACT The memory of the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is inextricably bound up with Brazil’s defeat against Uruguay in the tournament’s deciding game. Known afterwards as the Maracanazo, it was a source of national collective grief. Literature on the topic has mainly adopted an internal perspective, highlighting the significance of the Maracanazo and this sporting event in terms of nation building. However, drawing on archives (FIFA, Brazil’s ministry of foreign affairs) and European newspapers, this article addresses the visibility and prestige that the 1950 World Cup brought to Brazilian football. An analysis of the tournament’s organization in the postwar context reveals its dimensions and international impact and raises two questions: Did the Brazilian organizers and authorities, particularly the diplomatic service, envision this World Cup as an opportunity to promote their country? And what representations of Brazil and Brazilian football were conveyed by the European journalists dispatched to South America to cover the competition?
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