World Cup 1962, held in Chile, rarely receives the attention granted to other memorable tournaments. Yet, despite its obscurity, this edition remains unique alongside World Cup 1938 as the only occasions where defending champions successfully retained their title.

Brazil's victory came as no surprise. They arrived as heavy favourites and fulfilled expectations with familiar heroes. Remarkably, five of Brazil's six scorers—Garrincha, Vava, Pele, Zito, and Mario Zagallo—had been pivotal in the 1958 victory. Amarildo, who joined mid-tournament to replace the injured Pele, emerged as the exception, delivering crucial goals.

Brazil meticulously recreated their successful preparation from 1958. Paulo Machado de Carvalho, leading Brazil's delegation, even insisted on using the same pilot and airline branding—despite the airline having gone bankrupt.

Unfortunately, World Cup 1962 also gained notoriety for its violence, epitomized by the infamous 'Battle of Santiago' between Chile and Italy. World Soccer magazine extensively documented this brutality, categorizing matches from "rough" to "scandalous". Columnist Roger MacDonald captured the prevailing sentiment, "I am utterly sick of the World Cup… of the renewed burst of thuggery and brutality."

Interestingly, Brazil largely avoided this violence, focusing instead on attractive, skilful football.

Coach Vicente Feola, who guided Brazil in 1958, stepped down due to health issues, passing responsibility to Aymore Moreira. Yet, confusion reigned as Feola remained in an overseeing role, with Lula, the celebrated Santos manager, advising part-time. While this hinted at internal friction, Moreira ultimately maintained continuity, sticking closely to the successful 1958 formula.

Despite initial complaints from players about overly physical training methods, Brazil’s preparation stood out, leveraging dedicated fitness and psychological specialists.

Although Pele entered the tournament as the undisputed star, injury curtailed his involvement after a sensational goal against Mexico. His absence thrust Garrincha into prominence, resulting in arguably the most impressive individual World Cup display ever.

Garrincha transformed from a brilliant dribbler to an all-round threat. He demonstrated exceptional aerial ability and scoring prowess in crucial knockout games. Against England, he scored with a powerful header and a precise long-range strike. Against Chile, another headed goal and a fierce left-footed shot underlined his unmatched versatility.

Moreira subtly adjusted Brazil’s successful 4-2-4 from 1958 into a more conservative 4-3-3. This primarily involved Zagallo moving deeper, creating balance with Amarildo, who seamlessly filled Pele’s shoes. Defensively, Brazil continued their pioneering use of overlapping full-backs, with legendary pair Djalma Santos and Nilton Santos.

Remarkably, Garrincha narrowly avoided suspension for the final. In a semi-final marred by Chile’s aggressive tactics, Garrincha retaliated mildly against Eladio Rojas, which, under normal circumstances, warranted disciplinary action. However, key witness linesman Esteban Marino failed to appear at the hearing, conveniently leaving the country, thus allowing Garrincha’s participation in the final—a decision reportedly influenced by significant political lobbying.

The final against Czechoslovakia often fades into historical obscurity, overshadowed by previous dramatic World Cup climaxes. Yet, it featured excellent attacking football, including Czechoslovakia’s opener through Josef Masopust. Brazil responded impressively, with Amarildo equalizing before Zito powered home a crucial header. Vava sealed Brazil’s triumph, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error.

Surprisingly, Brazil’s journey lacked a singular defining moment. Their dominance meant they seldom required dramatic heroics. While Pele's spectacular goal against Mexico and Garrincha's stunning knockout-stage strikes stand out, the overall strength and skill of the team overshadowed individual moments.

Despite lacking some of the sparkle of the 1958 squad, Brazil unquestionably stood above their competition. Czechoslovakia's appearance in the final surprised many, while Chile relied heavily on home advantage. Even without Pele in the knockout stages, Brazil proved unmatched.

This victory cemented Brazil’s transformation from perennial underachievers to dominant champions. Meanwhile, traditional football powerhouses like England continued to disappoint, failing yet again to surpass the quarter-finals. For Brazil, though, World Cup 1962 solidified their status as the global football powerhouse.