The 1949 NAFC Championship was the second edition of the
association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
championship for the
North American Football Confederation
The North American Football Confederation (NAFC) was founded in 1946 as the governing body of association football in Northern America, Mexico, and Cuba. The first president of the NAFC was Carlos Alonso who was elected on 19 December 1946 in Hav ...
.
In 1949, the NAFC Championship served both as a regional championship as well as the regional qualification tournament for the
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup was the fourth edition of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football championship for senior men's national teams and held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July 1950. The planned 1942 and 1946 World Cups were ...
and was held in
Mexico City
Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
. Four teams were invited,
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
,
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, but Canada did not send a team.
Mexico easily topped the standings, going undefeated and outscoring the two other teams seventeen goals to two. The United States came in second and Cuba, winless in its four games, was third. As the top two teams qualified for the World Cup, Mexico and the U.S. went to the finals in
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
.
Venues
Standings
Matches
Mexico:
Raúl Córdoba
Raúl Córdoba Alcalá (13 March 1924 – 17 May 2017) was a Mexican football goalkeeper who played for Mexico in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Córdoba played for the 1951 Club Atlas squad that won the 1951
Events
January
* January 4 – Ko ...
,
Felipe Zetter
Felipe Zetter Zetter (3 July 1923 – 15 March 2013) was a Mexican football defender who played for Mexico national team in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
Career
Zetter played as a defender for Club Atlas
Atlas Fútbol Club () is a Mexican profe ...
,
Carlos Laviada
Carlos may refer to:
Places
;Canada
* Carlos, Alberta, a locality
;United States
* Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community
* Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County
* Carlos, Minnesota, a small city
* Carlos, West Virginia
;Elsewher ...
(captain),
José Antonio Roca
José Antonio Roca García (24 May 1928 – 4 May 2007) was a Mexican football player and manager.
Life and career
Born in Mexico City, Roca played football for Asturias F.C., Club Necaxa, Zacatepec and Atlante F.C.
After he retired from pl ...
,
Mario Ochoa,
Héctor Ortíz,
Antonio Flores
Antonio González Flores (14 November 1961 – 30 May 1995) was a Spanish singer-songwriter and actor.
He was Romani on his father's side and maternal grandmother side.
Antonio is known for his pop rock style of singing. His songs, which he ...
,
Luis Luna,
Horacio Casarín,
Luis de la Fuente,
Carlos Septién
Carlos Septién González (18 January 1923 – 1978) was a Mexican football forward who played for Mexico in the 1950 and 1954 FIFA World Cups. He also played for Real Club España and Jaibos Tampico Madero.
Septién played for Mexico at ...
United States:
Frank Borghi
Frank Borghi (April 9, 1925 – February 2, 2015) was an American soccer player who earned nine caps at goalkeeper for the national team. He played in the team's famous 1–0 victory against England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
Athletic career ...
,
Ben Wattman
Benjamin "Ben" Wattman is an American former soccer player who earned two caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team in 1949. Wattman earned his first caps in a 6–0 loss to Mexico on September 4, 1949. Fourteen days later, he earned ...
,
Manuel Martin,
Walter Bahr
Walter may refer to:
People
* Walter (name), both a surname and a given name
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968)
* Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...
,
Charlie Colombo
Charles Martin Colombo (July 20, 1920 – May 7, 1986) was an American soccer player who earned 11 caps as center-half for the United States men's national soccer team. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He also played for the ...
,
Bill Sheppell
William Sheppell (March 11, 1926 - August 24, 2012), also known as Billy Sheppell, was an American soccer forward who played in both the American Soccer League and German American Soccer League. He earned ten caps with the U.S. national tea ...
,
Frank Wallace,
Jack Hynes,
Pete Matevich
Pete Matevich is an American former soccer player who earned four caps, scoring two goals, as a member of the U.S. national team in 1949.
Professional career
Matevich was a member of the Chicago Maroons of the North American Soccer Football Lea ...
,
John Souza
John Souza-Benavides (July 12, 1920 – March 11, 2012) known as John "Clarkie" Souza, was an American soccer player who earned 14 caps and scored 2 goals for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's histor ...
,
Benny McLaughlin
Bernard "Benny" McLaughlin, Jr. (April 10, 1928 – December 27, 2012) was an American soccer forward who starred in the American Soccer League in the 1940s and 1950s. He earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team, was a member of the 194 ...
----
Mexico:
Raúl Córdoba
Raúl Córdoba Alcalá (13 March 1924 – 17 May 2017) was a Mexican football goalkeeper who played for Mexico in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Córdoba played for the 1951 Club Atlas squad that won the 1951
Events
January
* January 4 – Ko ...
,
Jorge Romo
Jorge Romo Fuentes (20 April 1923 – 17 June 2014) was a Mexican football midfielder who played for Mexico in the 1954 and 1958 FIFA World Cups. He also played for Club Deportivo Marte and Deportivo Toluca
Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club S ...
,
Carlos Laviada
Carlos may refer to:
Places
;Canada
* Carlos, Alberta, a locality
;United States
* Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community
* Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County
* Carlos, Minnesota, a small city
* Carlos, West Virginia
;Elsewher ...
(captain),
José Antonio Roca
José Antonio Roca García (24 May 1928 – 4 May 2007) was a Mexican football player and manager.
Life and career
Born in Mexico City, Roca played football for Asturias F.C., Club Necaxa, Zacatepec and Atlante F.C.
After he retired from pl ...
,
Mario Ochoa,
Héctor Ortíz,
Antonio Flores
Antonio González Flores (14 November 1961 – 30 May 1995) was a Spanish singer-songwriter and actor.
He was Romani on his father's side and maternal grandmother side.
Antonio is known for his pop rock style of singing. His songs, which he ...
,
Luis Luna,
Horacio Casarín,
Luis de la Fuente,
Carlos Septién
Carlos Septién González (18 January 1923 – 1978) was a Mexican football forward who played for Mexico in the 1950 and 1954 FIFA World Cups. He also played for Real Club España and Jaibos Tampico Madero.
Septién played for Mexico at ...
Cuba: Arozamena, Barquín, Llerandi, Ovide, J.Minsal, Torrent, Veiga, Fano, Gómez, Torres, Brios, Granado
----
Cuba: Rolando Aguilar, Jacinto Barquin, Bernardo Llerandi, José Minsal, Marcelino Minsal, Francisco Torrent, Clerch, José Gómez, Ricardo Torres, Vicente Pérez, Manuel Briso, A. Granado
United States:
Frank Borghi
Frank Borghi (April 9, 1925 – February 2, 2015) was an American soccer player who earned nine caps at goalkeeper for the national team. He played in the team's famous 1–0 victory against England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
Athletic career ...
,
Harry Keough
Harry Joseph Keough (November 15, 1927 – February 7, 2012) was an American soccer defender who played on the United States national team in their 1–0 upset of England at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He spent most of his club career in his ...
,
Manuel Martin,
Bill Sheppell
William Sheppell (March 11, 1926 - August 24, 2012), also known as Billy Sheppell, was an American soccer forward who played in both the American Soccer League and German American Soccer League. He earned ten caps with the U.S. national tea ...
,
Charlie Colombo
Charles Martin Colombo (July 20, 1920 – May 7, 1986) was an American soccer player who earned 11 caps as center-half for the United States men's national soccer team. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He also played for the ...
,
Walter Bahr
Walter may refer to:
People
* Walter (name), both a surname and a given name
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968)
* Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...
,
Frank Wallace,
Jack Hynes,
Pete Matevich
Pete Matevich is an American former soccer player who earned four caps, scoring two goals, as a member of the U.S. national team in 1949.
Professional career
Matevich was a member of the Chicago Maroons of the North American Soccer Football Lea ...
,
John Souza
John Souza-Benavides (July 12, 1920 – March 11, 2012) known as John "Clarkie" Souza, was an American soccer player who earned 14 caps and scored 2 goals for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's histor ...
,
Benny McLaughlin
Bernard "Benny" McLaughlin, Jr. (April 10, 1928 – December 27, 2012) was an American soccer forward who starred in the American Soccer League in the 1940s and 1950s. He earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team, was a member of the 194 ...
----
Mexico:
Melesio Osnaya,
Jorge Romo
Jorge Romo Fuentes (20 April 1923 – 17 June 2014) was a Mexican football midfielder who played for Mexico in the 1954 and 1958 FIFA World Cups. He also played for Club Deportivo Marte and Deportivo Toluca
Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club S ...
,
Carlos Laviada
Carlos may refer to:
Places
;Canada
* Carlos, Alberta, a locality
;United States
* Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community
* Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County
* Carlos, Minnesota, a small city
* Carlos, West Virginia
;Elsewher ...
(captain),
Héctor Ortíz,
Mario Ochoa,
José Antonio Roca
José Antonio Roca García (24 May 1928 – 4 May 2007) was a Mexican football player and manager.
Life and career
Born in Mexico City, Roca played football for Asturias F.C., Club Necaxa, Zacatepec and Atlante F.C.
After he retired from pl ...
,
Antonio Flores
Antonio González Flores (14 November 1961 – 30 May 1995) was a Spanish singer-songwriter and actor.
He was Romani on his father's side and maternal grandmother side.
Antonio is known for his pop rock style of singing. His songs, which he ...
,
Francisco Hernández,
Horacio Casarín,
Luis de la Fuente,
Carlos Septién
Carlos Septién González (18 January 1923 – 1978) was a Mexican football forward who played for Mexico in the 1950 and 1954 FIFA World Cups. He also played for Real Club España and Jaibos Tampico Madero.
Septién played for Mexico at ...
United States:
Frank Borghi
Frank Borghi (April 9, 1925 – February 2, 2015) was an American soccer player who earned nine caps at goalkeeper for the national team. He played in the team's famous 1–0 victory against England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
Athletic career ...
,
Harry Keough
Harry Joseph Keough (November 15, 1927 – February 7, 2012) was an American soccer defender who played on the United States national team in their 1–0 upset of England at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He spent most of his club career in his ...
,
Manuel Martin,
Bill Sheppell
William Sheppell (March 11, 1926 - August 24, 2012), also known as Billy Sheppell, was an American soccer forward who played in both the American Soccer League and German American Soccer League. He earned ten caps with the U.S. national tea ...
,
Charlie Colombo
Charles Martin Colombo (July 20, 1920 – May 7, 1986) was an American soccer player who earned 11 caps as center-half for the United States men's national soccer team. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He also played for the ...
,
Walter Bahr
Walter may refer to:
People
* Walter (name), both a surname and a given name
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968)
* Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...
,
Frank Wallace,
Jack Hynes,
Ben Wattman
Benjamin "Ben" Wattman is an American former soccer player who earned two caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team in 1949. Wattman earned his first caps in a 6–0 loss to Mexico on September 4, 1949. Fourteen days later, he earned ...
,
John Souza
John Souza-Benavides (July 12, 1920 – March 11, 2012) known as John "Clarkie" Souza, was an American soccer player who earned 14 caps and scored 2 goals for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's histor ...
,
Benny McLaughlin
Bernard "Benny" McLaughlin, Jr. (April 10, 1928 – December 27, 2012) was an American soccer forward who starred in the American Soccer League in the 1940s and 1950s. He earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team, was a member of the 194 ...
----
United States:
Frank Borghi
Frank Borghi (April 9, 1925 – February 2, 2015) was an American soccer player who earned nine caps at goalkeeper for the national team. He played in the team's famous 1–0 victory against England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
Athletic career ...
,
Harry Keough
Harry Joseph Keough (November 15, 1927 – February 7, 2012) was an American soccer defender who played on the United States national team in their 1–0 upset of England at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He spent most of his club career in his ...
,
Manuel Martin,
Bill Sheppell
William Sheppell (March 11, 1926 - August 24, 2012), also known as Billy Sheppell, was an American soccer forward who played in both the American Soccer League and German American Soccer League. He earned ten caps with the U.S. national tea ...
,
Charlie Colombo
Charles Martin Colombo (July 20, 1920 – May 7, 1986) was an American soccer player who earned 11 caps as center-half for the United States men's national soccer team. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He also played for the ...
,
Walter Bahr
Walter may refer to:
People
* Walter (name), both a surname and a given name
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968)
* Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...
,
Frank Wallace,
Jack Hynes,
Pete Matevich
Pete Matevich is an American former soccer player who earned four caps, scoring two goals, as a member of the U.S. national team in 1949.
Professional career
Matevich was a member of the Chicago Maroons of the North American Soccer Football Lea ...
,
John Souza
John Souza-Benavides (July 12, 1920 – March 11, 2012) known as John "Clarkie" Souza, was an American soccer player who earned 14 caps and scored 2 goals for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's histor ...
,
Benny McLaughlin
Bernard "Benny" McLaughlin, Jr. (April 10, 1928 – December 27, 2012) was an American soccer forward who starred in the American Soccer League in the 1940s and 1950s. He earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team, was a member of the 194 ...
Cuba: Pedro Arosemana (Rolando Aguilar 40'), Jacinto Barquin, Bernardo Llerandi, José Ovide, José Minsal, Francisco Torrent, Santiago Veiga, José Gómez, Ricardo Torres, Angel Valdes, Manuel Brioso, Armando Granado
----
Mexico:
Melesio Osnaya,
Felipe Zetter
Felipe Zetter Zetter (3 July 1923 – 15 March 2013) was a Mexican football defender who played for Mexico national team in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
Career
Zetter played as a defender for Club Atlas
Atlas Fútbol Club () is a Mexican profe ...
,
Gregorio "Tepa" Gómez,
Alfonso Montemayor (captain),
Samuel Cuburu,
Raúl Varela,
Antonio Flores
Antonio González Flores (14 November 1961 – 30 May 1995) was a Spanish singer-songwriter and actor.
He was Romani on his father's side and maternal grandmother side.
Antonio is known for his pop rock style of singing. His songs, which he ...
,
José Naranjo,
Mario "Flaco" Pérez,
Luis Vázquez,
Enrique Sesma
Cuba: Aguilar, Barquín, Llerandi, Ovide, J.Minsal, Torrent, Veiga, Pérez, Gómez, Torres, Valdés, Granado, Fano
Scorers
Four goals
*
Horacio Casarín
*
Luis de la Fuente
Two goals
*
Antonio Flores
Antonio González Flores (14 November 1961 – 30 May 1995) was a Spanish singer-songwriter and actor.
He was Romani on his father's side and maternal grandmother side.
Antonio is known for his pop rock style of singing. His songs, which he ...
*
Luis Luna
*
José Naranjo
*
Pete Matevich
Pete Matevich is an American former soccer player who earned four caps, scoring two goals, as a member of the U.S. national team in 1949.
Professional career
Matevich was a member of the Chicago Maroons of the North American Soccer Football Lea ...
*
John Souza
John Souza-Benavides (July 12, 1920 – March 11, 2012) known as John "Clarkie" Souza, was an American soccer player who earned 14 caps and scored 2 goals for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's histor ...
*
Frank Wallace
One goal
*
Jacinto Barquín
*
José Gómez
*
Santiago Veiga
*
Mario Ochoa
*
Héctor Ortíz
*
Carlos Septién
Carlos Septién González (18 January 1923 – 1978) was a Mexican football forward who played for Mexico in the 1950 and 1954 FIFA World Cups. He also played for Real Club España and Jaibos Tampico Madero.
Septién played for Mexico at ...
*
Walter Bahr
Walter may refer to:
People
* Walter (name), both a surname and a given name
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968)
* Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...
*
Ben Wattman
Benjamin "Ben" Wattman is an American former soccer player who earned two caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team in 1949. Wattman earned his first caps in a 6–0 loss to Mexico on September 4, 1949. Fourteen days later, he earned ...
External links
Tournament results
{{1950 FIFA World Cup qualification
NAFC Championship
1949
Events
January
* January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022.
* January 2 – Luis ...
1950 FIFA World Cup qualification
1949–50 in American soccer
1949–50 in Mexican football
1949 in Cuban sport
NAFC
NAFC