The Real Story About the 1950 U.S. World Cup Team

Since the release of the movie 'The Game of Their Lives', which delightfully portrays the United States World Cup Team and their 1-0 triumph over England at the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the Hall of Fame has fielded numerous inquiries about the history of the team, its qualification matches, World Cup match summaries and the world famous upset of England.

Hall of Fame Historian' Colin Jose gives an insight to the real story of 1950 United States World Cup Team and their historic 1-0 triumph over England.

1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, was the fourth FIFA World Cup of soccer and was staged in soccer mad Brazil.  England, where the game has its roots entered for the first time as prior to that time the English Football Association had withdrawn from the world governing body some years before.

Members of the 1950 FIFA World Cup Team in Hakoah jerseys before their match with England at Randalls Island

The first World Cup was staged in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1930, the second in Italy in 1934 and the third in France in 1938. Of course with the start of World War II most international sporting activity ended and the fourth World Cup did not take place until 1950.

Thirty two teams entered for 1950 FIFA World Cup, seeking one of the 16 places in the finals, including host nation Brazil and World Cup holders Italy. There were eleven qualifying groups with the United States placed in Group Nine with Mexico and Cuba. Qualifying started in 1949 with the United States playing a round robin with Mexico and Cuba in Mexico City by mutual agreement between the three nations. However, in the other groups teams, having entered, then withdrew, creating chaos, and in the end only 13 nations competed in the finals.

Following completion of qualifying the draw was made for the finals with the 13 teams being placed in four groups. The United States having qualified along with Mexico found itself in a group with England, Spain and Chile. The winner of each of the four groups were to advance to a final group with the winner of this group to be declared the winner of the World Cup. So in effect in 1950 there was no actual final as there is today.

England qualified from Group One which involved the four British nations, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. By virtue of its win over Scotland at Hampden Park in the final game England topped the group with Scotland finishing in second place.  Both nations qualified for Brazil. However, Scotland refused to go, leaving England to make the trip alone. Spain qualified from Group Six by beating Portugal 5-1 followed by a 2-2 tie, while Chile qualified from Group Seven because Argentina withdrew.

In the months leading up to the World Cup and, after beating Scotland the England National Team beat Portugal 5-3 in Lisbon and Belgium 4-1 in Brussels. However, in addition to the full national team England sent its "B" team to play "B" internationals against Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and another team made up of experienced players to tour Canada. Italy's "B" (second team) destroyed England in Milan 5-0, while England struggled to beat tiny Luxembourg 2-1 and then were beaten 3-0 by the Netherlands. After its tour across Canada the other team beat the United States 1-0 in New York.

The 1950 FIFA World Cup Team before the match with England in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

The England squad selected to go to Brazil left London while the Canadian touring team were still in Canada, and it was only while they were in New York that England's most famous player, Stanley Matthews was added and had to fly from New York to Rio de Janeiro.

England opened its first World Cup by playing Chile in the giant Maracana Stadium in Rio winning 2-0. However, England didn't play well and changes were expected for the game against the United States in Belo Horizonte. However, in those days, strange as it may seem today, England didn't have a coach, but a technical director. But the Technical Director didn't select the team, a selection committee did. In Brazil that was one man Arthur Drewry. Meanwhile the United States, playing in Curitiba led Spain 1-0 until ten minutes from time, when Spain equalized and then added two more to win 3-1.

So the stage was set for the game between England and the United States in Belo Horizonte, 350 miles from Rio de Janeiro. England were expected to make changes, including playing Matthews, but Matthews had not played for England in the three internationals played prior to Brazil, and Drewry stuck with the team that beat Chile. Matthews, contrary to other reports, was not left behind in Rio but was in Belo Horizonte with the rest of the team. In those days as no substitutes were allowed he sat with the reserves of both teams in the stand.  Meanwhile the United States made changes from the team that had lost to Spain, switching the left wing pair of Pariani and Wallace to the right wing, and replacing Wolanin with Eddie Souza and having the Souza's form the left wing. As we all know now the United States upset favored England 1-0 on Joe Gaetjens diving header.

With England and the United States each having won one game and lost one, and with Spain having won its game against Chile 2-0, both England and the United States had to win their final games in order to have a chance of making it to the final four.  As it turned out both teams lost and Spain reached the final four undefeated. England, with Matthews in the line up, lost 1-0 to Spain, while the United States two down at half time against Chile rallied at the start of the second half to tie the score. But as the game wore on the American players tired in the heat of Recife, near the Equator and lost 5-2. The United States was out and wouldn't return to the finals of the World Cup for another 50 years.

The final four was made up of Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and Sweden who played a round robin to decide who would win the World Cup. As it worked out the deciding game was the final one with Brazil only needing to tie to win the World Cup.  Brazil took the lead in the Maracana Stadium before close to 200,000 fans, but Uruguay equalized and then  scored to winner top capture its second World Cup, Uruguay also won in 1930.

Results, Line-Ups and Goalscorers:
Match 1
Spain 3, United States 1
June 25, 1950 - Curitiba, Brazil
Scoring Summary
SPA -Basora 2
SPA - Zarra
USA - (Pariani)
U.S: Borghi, Keough, Maca, McIlvenny, Colombo, Bahr, Wolanin, J. Souza, Gaetjens, Pariani, Wallace

Match 2
England 0, United States 1
Date: June 29, 1950     Site: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Scoring Summary
USA -  Gaetjens
U.S: Borghi, Keough, Maca, McIlvenny, Colombo, Bahr, Wallace, Pariani, Gaetjens, J. Souza, E. Souza

Match 3
Chile  5, United States  2
Date: July 2, 1950
Scoring Summary
CHI - Robledo
CHI - Cremaschi 3
CHI - Prieto
USA - Maca (PK)
USA - Wallace
United States: Borghi - Keough, Maca, McIlvenny, Colombo, Bahr, Wallace, Pariani, Gaetjens, J. Souza, E. Souza

1949 World Cup Qualifying
Just as the United States is required to qualify for the World Cup today, so it was required to qualify for the 1950 FIFA World Cup. In order to reach the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the United States was required to play qualifying games against Mexico and Cuba, with all the games, by agreement, being played in Mexico City.

In the 1949 qualifying tournament, the United States lost to Mexico twice by scores of 6-0 and 6-2. However, with two places in Mexico up for grabs from this area, the United States managed to qualify behind Mexico as the result of a 1-1 tie with Cuba in the first game and a 5-2 win in the last game of the tournament.

The United States squad in Mexico included seven players who would make the team for the finals a year later. They were Borghi, Bahr, Colombo, Keough, J. Souza, Wallace and DiOrio.

Goalkeepers
Frank Borghi (St. Louis Simpkins)
Joe Silovski (Chicago Sparta)

Fullbacks
Manual Martin (Ponta Delgada)
William Bello (Ludlow Lusitano)
Ben Watman (New York Hakoah)

Halfbacks
William Sheppell (Seton Hall)
Walter Bahr (Philadelphia Nationals)
Charlie Colombo (St. Louis Simpkins)
Harry Keough (St. Louis Schulties)

Forwards
Benny McLaughlin (Philadelphia Nationals)
Johnny Souza (Ponta Delgada)
Anthony Almeida (Ponta Delgada)
Pete Matevich (Chicago Slovaks)
Frank Wallace (St. Louis Simpkins)
Jackie Hynes (New York Americans)
Nicholas DiOrio (Morgan S.C.)

The USSFA Officials
Walter Giesler (USSFA President)
Fred Netto (Vice President)
Joe Barriskill (Executive Secretary)
Dr. Randolph Manning (Past President)
Erno Schwartz

The following year  in order to help select the squad to represent the United States in Brazil a trial game was played in St. Louis on April 2, between a squad representing the Eastern United States and one representing the Western United States The game ended in a 3-3 tie. Following the game the squad was selected, but between then and when the team left, some players dropped out and others were added.

Before the team left it played the well known Turkish first division club Besiktas, then touring the United States, in St. Louis, and lost 0-5. The starting United States eleven on this night was the same one that beat England one month later with one exception, Benny McLaughlin played instead of Joe Gaetjens.

Eighteen days later, just before the United States team headed to Brazil they played the English F.A. team that had been touring across Canada. This English team contained many well known names, and might well have been considered to be an English second team. The famous Sir Stanley Matthews was a part of this squad, but he didn't play in New York, because he was injured.

Manager
Walter J. Giesler - St. Louis, MO
Assistant Manager
William "Chubby" Lyons - St. Louis, MO
Coach
William Jeffrey - Scotland

Surviving members of the 1950 FIFA World Cup Team:
Walter Bahr, Frank Borghi, Gino Gardassanich, Harry Keough, Gino Pariani, Johnny Souza

1950 United States World Cup Team Short Biographies
The United States team that played in the 1950 FIFA World Cup contained many experienced players, players who had distinguished themselves playing in the local St. Louis League, the American Soccer League and in the United States national championship, the Open Cup long before the 1950 FIFA World Cup.  In fact Walter Bahr, Charlie Colombo, Gino Pariani, Eddie Souza, Johnny Souza all played for the United States in the Olympic Games of 1948 in London, England. The players who played in the famous game against England were as follows.

Goalkeeper
Frank Borghi - A field medic during World War II in the United States Army while still a teenager, he was stationed in Basingstoke, England, and crossed the English Channel the day after D-Day and remained with the Army until the end of the war.  He played for numerous teams in the St. Louis League including the Schumakers, Simpkins and Strambose.  Before playing in the World Cup he won United States Open Cup winners medals with Simpkins in 1948 and 1950.

Fullbacks
Harry Keough - His outstanding career began in 1946 when he was a member of the St. Louis Schumachers team that won the United States Junior Cup. Shortly after that he found himself in the United States Navy operating on a destroyer out of San Francisco, and while on the west coast played soccer for the San Francisco Barbarians. Later he won numerous honors in United States soccer with St. Louis Kutis and Raiders, and also played in the finals of the Olympic Games in 1952 and 1956. He worked for the United States Post Office for many years. He was also a highly successful coach with St. Louis University.

Joe Maca - Played in the Belgian Third Divison for La Forestoise in Brussels before coming to the United States Played his club soccer for Brooklyn Hispano in the American Soccer League.

Halfbacks
Ed McIlvenny - Just before coming to the United States was playing professionally in England's Football League for the Welsh club Wrexham. In the United States he played in the American Soccer League for Philadelphia Nationals. When the World Cup was over played for Manchester United and Waterford in the Republic of Ireland.

Charlie Colombo - Born and raised on the famous "Hill" in St. Louis he won United States Open Cup medals with the Simpkins team in 1948 and 1950, and played in the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

Walter Bahr - His long career in soccer began with the famous Lighthouse Boys Club in Philadelphia. He went on to play for the Philadelphia Nationals and Uhrik Truckers in the American Soccer League and was a member of the United States Olympic team in London in 1948. Later coached Penn State University.

Forwards
Frank Wallace - Played the early years of his career with the St. Louis Wildcats before serving in the United States Army in World War II as a member of the 191st Tank Battalion. He was involved in the Salerno landings in Italy and later took part in the famous Anzio beachhead, where his tank was set on fire by a German shell, and he was captured and spent 15 months in a prison camp. When the war ended he returned to playing soccer in St. Louis with the Rafertys and Simpkins where he won United States Open Cup medals in 1948 and 1950.

Gino Pariani - He was a member of the United States Olympic team in London in 1948 and won United States Open Cup medals with St. Louis Simpkins in 1948 and 1950. His playing career began at the age of 13 in the St. Louis Municipal League with Schumackers.

Joe Gaetjens - Came to the United States on a Haitian government scholarship to attend Columbia University. In his spare time worked as a dishwasher, and played for New York Brookhattan in the American Soccer League, and was the league's leading scorer in the 1950 season, before leaving the United States to play in Europe.

Johnny Souza - As a member of the Ponta Delgada team of Fall River he won a United States Open Cup medals in 1947 and United States Amateur Cup medals in 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1950. He was a member of the United States Olympic team in London in 1948.

Ed Souza - Began his career at Slade School in Fall River and eventually graduated to the Ponta Delgada team. He won United States Open Cup winners medal in 1947 and played in the United States Amateur Cup finals in 1947 and 1950. He was also a member of the United States Olympic team in London in 1948.

1950  FIFA World Cup: Fact & Fiction
The United States was not invited to take part in the 1950 FIFA World Cup as has sometimes been stated, it entered in the same way as any other nation, by applying to FIFA, and was then required to qualify from the North American and Caribbean region just as it does today. In this case it was in a qualifying round against Mexico and Cuba played in Mexico City. The United States also entered for the 1930 FIFA World Cup and 1934 FIFA World Cup in the same way, by applying through the proper channels.

Reports in numerous books and publications that the United States team had not played together prior to the World Cup are not true. The United States of course played four games in qualifying the previous year, and after a trial game, when the team for the 1950 finals in Brazil was selected, played the Turkish club Besiktas in St. Louis and lost 5-0, and a strong English all-star team in New York and lost 1-0.

In addition, in the game against England, five members of the United States team hailed from St. Louis, so that goalkeeper Frank Borghi had playing right in front of him Harry Keough and Charlie Colombo from his home town, while up front the right wing pair of Frank Wallace and Gino Pariani were team mates. On top of that wing halves Ed McIlvenny and Walter Bahr played for the same team in Philadelphia and the left wing pair of Johnny and Eddie Souza played for the Ponta Delgada team in Fall River.

Oddly enough the United States used a different captain in each of the three games. Harry Keough, against Spain, "because he spoke Spanish", Ed McIlvenny against England, "because he was British" and Walter Bahr, against Chile, "because he was the real captain."

Johnny Souza and Ed Souza, who formed the United States left wing in the games against England and Chile, have often been referred to as brothers. In fact they were not even related, Souza being a common name in southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island where they were born.

For many years afterwards the game between the United States and England was ignored in the United States, but starting in the 1970's numerous articles appeared in United States soccer publications.  Many of these articles claim that English newspapers, the day after the game, were "edged in black." A check of the Daily Mirror, Daily Worker, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Daily Herald and The Times and News Chronicle, published in London, failed to turn up any paper edged in black. In fact England's shocking defeat in Belo Horizonte took second place to England's first ever defeat by the West Indies at cricket, which happened the same day. In addition English papers of the day, not long after the end of World War II were quite small and only the back page, or part of the back page was devoted to sport.

There was only one American reporter present in Belo Horizonte for the game between the United States and England.  This was Dent McSkimming of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. A soccer fan, McSkimming was on vacation and while the Post-Dispatch carried a report on the game it was not under McSkimming's by-line.

When the World Cup ended and the players returned to the United States Ed McIlvenny, Joe Maca and Joe Gaetjens left the United States and moved to Europe and were promptly suspended by the USSFA for failing to obtain a release from their United States clubs. McIlvenny went to Manchester United, Maca to Racing White in Belgium and Gaetjens to the Racing Club of Paris. Later Gaetjens returned to his native Haiti, and played for the Haitian National Team in a World Cup game against Mexico.

Many years later various books and newspapers published in England suggested that the United States team had arrived "through Ellis Island," or were a "United Nations, ignoring the fact that eight of the squad of 17 were born in St. Louis.  However, at the time the World Cup was played neither McIlvenny, Maca and Gaetjens were United States citizens, but they had declared their intentions of becoming United States citizens, and under the rules of the United States Soccer Football Association at that time were allowed to play. The matter was brought up before FIFA at a meeting in Zurich on December 2, 1950 and the United States was cleared of any violation of the World Cup rules. Neither McIlvenny or Gaetjens ever became United States citizens, however, Maca did.

Brazil's leading sports paper of the time "Mundo Esportivo" selected a World Cup all-star team after the first round of games was over. It included American Johnny Souza at inside right.  Johnny Souza is one of the only American players ever selected to a World Cup all-star team. However, in 2002, Claudio Reyna was also a World Cup all-star.

History by Colin
Colin Jose, who is North America's preeminent soccer historian gives you an insight of soccer history that is not known by the average soccer fan. Colin has been researching soccer for over 40 years and has a real passion for the history of ' The Beautiful Game'.