1976 U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament

Last updated
1976 U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament
Tournament details
Host countryUnited States
Dates23 May – 31 May
Teams4 (from 3 confederations)
Venue(s)6 (in 6 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Runners-upFlag of England.svg  England
Third placeFlag of Italy.svg  Italy
Fourth place Flag of the United States.svg Team America
Tournament statistics
Matches played6
Goals scored21 (3.5 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Brazil.svg Gil
(4 goals)

The Bicentennial Cup Tournament was an international association football competition, which took place in May 1976 in the United States. The tournament featured several World Cup stars both past and future.

Contents

The tournament - which celebrated the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence - came about after England and Italy failed to qualify for the 1976 European Championship tournament. These two teams joined Brazil and Team America, a side composed of stars playing in the North American Soccer League.

The U.S. team of the time was not developed enough to compete against sides as powerful as Brazil, Italy and England, and hence Team America, consisting of players of various nationalities drawn from North American Soccer League clubs, carried the U.S. banner in the tournament. Team America included players who had performed for other national teams, among them Pelé, Ramon Mifflin, Mike England, Giorgio Chinaglia and Bobby Moore.

The day after England played Team America, the Football Association, asked about the match's status, said it was regarded as "a training game" and that caps would not be awarded to the participating players. Accordingly, the FA does not include the match in its list of full internationals. The associations of both Brazil and Italy, on the other hand, listed their national sides' matches against Team America as full internationals. Matches against Team America would not meet the new standard FIFA set down in January, 2001 for official full internationals because they were not played between the selections of two FIFA country members. FIFA has retroactively removed the official status of matches involving other multinational all-star selections, including England's matches against the Rest of Europe and the Rest of the World (although the FA continues to recognize these as official internationals).

Brazil won the cup, winning all three of their games, while England came second, winning two and losing one; 1–0 against Brazil.

Results

All times local

Team America Flag of the United States.svg 0–4Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Capello Soccerball shade.svg15'
Pulici Soccerball shade.svg22'
Graziani Soccerball shade.svg72'
Rocca Soccerball shade.svg84'
Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg1–0Flag of England.svg  England
Dinamite Soccerball shade.svg89' Report

England  Flag of England.svg3–2Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Channon Soccerball shade.svg46', 53'
Thompson Soccerball shade.svg48'
Graziani Soccerball shade.svg14', 19'
Team America Flag of the United States.svg 0–2Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Gil Soccerball shade.svg29', 89'

Team America Flag of the United States.svg 1–3Flag of England.svg  England
Scullion Soccerball shade.svg87' Keegan Soccerball shade.svg23', 29'
Francis Soccerball shade.svg54'
Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg4–1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Gil Soccerball shade.svg28', 48'
Zico Soccerball shade.svg76'
Roberto Dinamite Soccerball shade.svg78'
Capello Soccerball shade.svg2'
Yale Bowl, New Haven, Connecticut
Attendance: 36,096
Referee: Ramón Barreto (Uruguay)

Table

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 330071+66
2Flag of England.svg  England 320164+24
3Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 31027702
4 Flag of the United States.svg Team America 300319−80
 1976 U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament 
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
First title

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 21 goals scored in 6 matches, for an average of 3.5 goals per match.

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal


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