Beginning in 1934, and continuing into today, host nations have had the honor of issuing World Cup themed stamps. The 1930 inaugural competition in Uruguay was the first and only World Cup where the host country did not issue a stamp. This First Day Cover from Chile marks the release of four postage stamps to celebrate their turn as hosts of the 1962 World Cup.
The World Cup is an international soccer competition occurring every four years. It involves the national teams of member countries of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). FIFA serves as the governing body and organizer of the competition. Thirty-two countries compete at the finals for the chance to be named champion. Since its inception, it has become one of the most popular sporting events in the world.
One of the highest distinctions for a FIFA member country is to be chosen as the host nation for the finals. Chile was awarded this privilege for the 1962 World Cup. At that time, the finals featured only sixteen teams divided into four groups for the group stage. Brazil, Chile, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia made it to the semi-finals of the knockout stage. Brazil defeated the host country and went on to win in the final 3-1 over Czechoslovakia. Chile went on to a surprising third place finish. However, the 1962 World Cup is best remembered for the “Battle of Santiago,” a physically violent group stage clash between Italy and the host nation.
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Hello. Once referred to the football as
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the beautiful game Chili against Italy
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from 1962 wasn't his David Coleman good
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evening
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the game you're about to see is the most
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stupid appalling disgusting and it's
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graceful exhibition of football possibly
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in the history of the game Chile vs.
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Italy this is the first time the two
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countries have met we hope it will be
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the last the national motto actually
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reads by reason or by force
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today the Chileans were prepared to be
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reasonable the Italians only use force
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and the result was a disaster for the
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World Cup
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now if the World Cup is going to survive
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in its present form something's got to
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be done about teams that play like this
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indeed after seeing the film tonight you
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at home may well think the teams that
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play in this manner or to be expelled
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immediately from the competition
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just see what you think
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and his trouble already to the fight
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going on in the middle
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well this looks like turning into a real
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Boekel as two Chileans down on the field
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what a steena to just play that it's
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play the lady could be kicking the crowd
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remaining to the no ticket alone nobody
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at of all the police to be called off on
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the army the police in fact
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Forrest was stupid
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incredible practical love ever seen
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anywhere in the world
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Darrell Sanchez
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they're gonna need this left hooks out
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of the seat
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well David is absolutely out cold
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letting a Tennessee Sanchez pulled it
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right in the face that was David and
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he's off the field
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that was one of the
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more valid and lethal cackles I think
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I've ever seen
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Santa's remember was a man who took a
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swing at David a few minutes ago well
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nervous got em for revenge and the worst
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possible way so we go now into the
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second half of what is sure to be known
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as the Battle of San Diago Navarro
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ah Ramirez
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James erupting every man in the crowd on
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his feet
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tough for us to water by getting a rugby
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back and a fight everything guy in there
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how can Aston could possibly keep this
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game going
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a variation of the Italians is now
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completed can he just go get the ball
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during the game over
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on his way to the dressing room
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ever been a football match played like
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this in Kenny or indeed anywhere else in
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the world
For Chile, the success of the 1962 World Cup, both for the team and the nation, was immense. Just two years prior, the country had suffered a major natural disaster with the Valdivia earthquake. Considered the most powerful earthquake on record, it devastated the country and much of its infrastructure. The resulting tsunamis wreaked havoc as far away as Hawaii and Australia. World Cup organizers worked closely with government officials to quickly rebuild and repair stadiums, roads, and other amenities in preparation for the games.
The 1962 Chilean First Day Cover features two regular issue and two airmail issue stamps in three denominations. These stamps marked the first time Chilean postal authorities developed stamps with sports imagery. The 2c and 10c stamp designs highlight two soccer players and the map of South America indicating the location of Chile. The two 5c stamp designs depict the Chilean national stadium with a soccer goalkeeper. Postmarking the envelope are three circular cancels. The center cancel is a special World Cup themed postmark with the official logo for the 1962 final. It illustrates the national stadium laid over a subtly mixed half soccer ball, half globe. The Chilean flag appears on the playing field. The text surrounding the image reads: CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL DE FUTBOL / COPA JULES RIMET (World Football Championship / Jules Rimet Cup). The other cancels indicate the issue date of May 30, 1962 and are from the town of Viña del Mar, one of the four cities that hosted soccer matches.
The cover also includes an elaborate bifold insert card. The front of the card shows an image of the Jules Rimet cup trophy, a soccer field, and the Chilean World Cup logo. The soccer field is actually a tactile surface of green velvet. The logo is applied in the center of the field and also depicted in color at the top right. The World Cup trophy is prominently illustrated on the left with a gold, sandy texture. The cup was named in 1946 to honor Rimet, the FIFA president and driving force behind the development of the soccer competition. It features Nike, the Greek goddess of Victory. The trophy passes on to each subsequent winner; however in 1970 after Brazil won the World Cup for the third time in history they were allowed to keep the Rimet cup permanently. The modern day FIFA trophy was inaugurated after that event. The inside of the card features the four soccer stamps with their first day cancels.
The tradition of host nation stamps and first day covers continues to this day. The 2010 World Cup takes place in South Africa beginning on June 11th. Be sure to collect your favorite stamp from among the issues released so far.
Learn more
- 2010 FIFA World Cup Stamps
- Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
- Soccer Philately
- Journal of Sports Philately
Written by Rebecca Johnson and Elizabeth Heydt
