1963 Small Club World Cup

1963 Small Club World Cup

Tournament details
Host country	Venezuela
Dates	18–30 August
Teams	3 (from 3 associations)
Venue(s)	1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions	São Paulo (2nd title)
Tournament statistics
Matches played	5
Goals scored	12 (2.4 per match)
Top scorer(s)	11 players scored 1 goal each (and 1 own goal)
← 1957 1965 →

The 1963 Small Club World Cup was the seventh edition of the Small Club World Cup, a tournament held in Venezuela between 1952 and 1957, in certain years between 1963 and 1970, and in 1975. It was played by three participants in double round robin format, and featured players like Evaristo, Hilderaldo Bellini, Cecilio Martinez, Custódio Pinto, Francisco Gento and Ferenc Puskás. ^[1]

Controversies

Di Stefano kidnapping

On the night of 24 August 1963, the Venezuelan revolutionary group Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), kidnapped the player Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid) at gunpoint from the Potomac Hotel, located in Caracas. ^[2] The kidnapping received the codenamed "Julián Grimau", after the Spanish communist Julián Grimau García, was executed by firing squad in Spain, in April 1963, during Francisco Franco's dictatorship. ^[2] At 27 August, three days later, Di Stéfano was released unharmed close to the Spanish embassy without a ransom being paid, ^[3] and Di Stéfano stressed that his kidnappers had not mistreated him. ^[2] Di Stéfano played in a match against São Paulo the day after he was released and received a standing ovation. ^{[4] [2]}

A Spanish movie entitled Real, La Película (Real, The Movie), which recounted these events, was released on 25 August 2005. In a bizarre publicity stunt at the premiere, kidnapper Paul del Rio, now a famous artist, and Di Stéfano were brought together for the first time since the abduction, 42 years before. ^[2] Paul del Rio died on Caracas at the age of 72. ^[5]

Bursts of gunfire during Sao Paulo vs Real Madrid

During the interval of August 28 match between São Paulo and Real Madrid, terrified fans invaded the pitch, after the Caracas police shot at protesters pro-FALN outside the stadium. Smoke bombs were used to disperse the public, one of them almost hitting defender De Sordi (São Paulo). The start of the second half was delayed by about 30 minutes. ^[6]

Participants

Team	Domestic league results
Porto	1962–63 Primeira Divisão runners-up
Real Madrid	1962–63 La Liga winners
São Paulo	1963 Campeonato Paulista runners-up

Matches

Aug 18

Porto	1–2	São Paulo
Jorge 35'	Report	Martinez 2' Pagão 7'

Estadio Olímpico , Caracas

Referee: Isidro Trapole (Venezuela)

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Aug 20

Real Madrid	2–1	Porto
Amancio 26' Muller 76'	Report	Pinto 41'

Estadio Olímpico , Caracas

Referee: Osorio (Portugal)

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Aug 23

São Paulo	2–1	Real Madrid
Pachín 12' (o.g.) Nondas 59'	Report	Evaristo 20'

Estadio Olímpico , Caracas

Referee: Benito Jackson (Venezuela)

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Aug 25

Porto	1–2	Real Madrid
Hernâni 67'	Report	Félix Ruiz 27' Gento 35'

Estadio Olímpico , Caracas

Referee: Yañez (Venezuela)

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Aug 28

Real Madrid	0–0	São Paulo
	Report

Estadio Olímpico , Caracas

Referee: Isidro Trapote (Venezuela)

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Sep 1

São Paulo	v	Porto

Estadio Olímpico , Caracas

The final match not played as São Paulo had secured the title due to the head-to-head results with Real Madrid

Final standings

Team [7]	Pts	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
São Paulo	5	3	2	1	0	4	2	2
Real Madrid	5	4	2	1	1	5	4	1
Porto	0	3	0	0	3	3	6	-3

Topscorers

1 goal

• Evaristo
• Nondas
• Pagão
• Lucien Muller
• Cecilio Martinez
• Custódio Pinto
• Hernâni
• Joaquim Jorge
• Amancio
• Félix Ruiz
• Francisco Gento

Own goal

• Pachín

Champion

1963 Small Club World Cup
São Paulo 2nd. title

References

1. São Paulo FC. "Enciclopédia do SPFC – 2020" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
2. "The kidnap of Di Stefano". ESPN.co.uk. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
3. "A priceless bird in a different kind of cage". World Soccer. May 1964. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
4. "Alfredo Di Stéfano, Soccer Great, Dies at 88". NY Times. 7 July 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
5. "Guerrilla who kidnapped Real Madrid star Di Stéfano dies in Venezuela". El País. 7 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
6. "Rajadas de metralhadora no jogo do São Paulo?" (in Portuguese). Jogos SPFC. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2002.
7. Pequeña Copa del Mundo 1963 on the RSSSF