Five Memorable Matches | FIFA World Cup Mexico 1970™ |

Five memorable games from Mexico 1970

Watch The King and co sweep all before them to lift a third FIFA World Cup title.

FIFA
  • Mexico 1970 was a record-breaking tournament

  • Brazil became the first side to lift three World Cup trophies

  • The 'Game of the Century' and the final itself feature on this list

The FIFA World Cup™ is heading to North America once again, as Canada. Mexico and USA share hosting duties on what will be the biggest global finals to date.

Ahead of FIFA World Cup 26™, you can re-live five of the most memorable games from Mexico 1970.


Brazil 1-0 EnglandBrazil 1-0 England

Group stage | Estadio Jalisco, Jalisco This was the most anticipated game of the group stage. Pre-tournament favourites Brazil up against the World Cup holders England, Pele and Jairzinho against Bobby Moore and Gordon Banks.

It was Brazil who would eventually triumph thanks to a second-half Jairzinho goal, much to the delight of the local fans. England missed several opportunities to equalise, but still made it out of the group thanks to 1-0 wins over Romania Czechoslovakia.

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Brazil v England | Group Matches | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ | Extended HighlightsBrazil v England | Group Matches | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ | Extended Highlights
Watch the extended highlights from the match between Brazil and England played at Jalisco, Guadalajara on Sunday, 07 June 1970.Watch the extended highlights from the match between Brazil and England played at Jalisco, Guadalajara on Sunday, 07 June 1970.

Mexico 1-0 BelgiumMexico 1-0 Belgium

Group stage | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City Host nation Mexico had qualified for six previous World Cups but had never made it out of the group stage, with their only victory coming at Chile 1962. That all changed on home soil.

After a resounding 4-0 victory over El Salvador on Matchday 2, they faced a showdown with Belgium to determine who would advance to the quarter-finals. A first-half Gustavo Pena penalty was enough for their third-ever win at a World Cup finals, as well as a maiden knockout stage berth.


West Germany 3-2 EnglandWest Germany 3-2 England

Quarter-final | Estadio Leon, Leon When defending champions England took a 2-0 lead early in the second half, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Alf Ramsey’s team were well on their way to a second straight semi-final.

West Germany had other ideas, though. Goals from Franz Beckenbauer and Uwe Seeler sent it into extra time, before Gerd Mueller’s winner in the 108th minute confirmed revenge for their Wembley final defeat four years prior.

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Germany FR v England | Quarter-finals | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ | HighlightsGermany FR v England | Quarter-finals | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ | Highlights
Watch the highlights from the match between Germany FR and England played at Nou Camp, Leon on Sunday, 14 June 1970.Watch the highlights from the match between Germany FR and England played at Nou Camp, Leon on Sunday, 14 June 1970.

Italy 4-3 GermanyItaly 4-3 Germany

Semi-Final | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City In a World Cup dominated by images of Pele and Brazil, it was a semi-final bout that involved neither that has been dubbed by many as the 'Game of the Century'.

An early goal from Roberto Boninsegna seemed to be sending the match to a 1-0 Italian victory, only for a late equaliser scored from Karl-Heinz Schnellinger to change all of that, lighting the touch paper for a barnstorming extra period.

Remarkably, five goals were scored in just 30 minutes – a record for a World Cup. Gerd Muller netted either side of strikes from Tarcisio Burgnich and Gigi Riva, before Gianni Rivera gave Italy a decisive lead just a minute after Muller completed his brace to complete the scoring in one of the tournament's finest-ever games.

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Italy v Germany FR | Semi-finals | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ | HighlightsItaly v Germany FR | Semi-finals | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ | Highlights
Watch the highlights from the match between Italy and Germany FR played at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City on Wednesday, 17 June 1970.Watch the highlights from the match between Italy and Germany FR played at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City on Wednesday, 17 June 1970.

Brazil 4-1 ItalyBrazil 4-1 Italy

Final | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City Whichever side reigned victorious in Mexico City would become the first side to lift the World Cup aloft on three separate occasions, with Brazil emerging victorious to write their name into the record books.

Pele, who became the first, and still only player, to win the trophy three times, gave Brazil the lead with a thumping back-post header, only for Boninsegna to equalise later in the first half. Gerson reclaimed A Seleção's lead just after the hour mark with Jairzinho adding a third only five minutes later. Captain Carlos Alberto then latched on to a sweeping Brazilian move to smash home one of the tournament's most iconic goals.

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Brazil v Italy | Final | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ | HighlightsBrazil v Italy | Final | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ | Highlights
Watch the highlights from the match between Brazil and Italy played at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City on Sunday, 21 June 1970.Watch the highlights from the match between Brazil and Italy played at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City on Sunday, 21 June 1970.

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