1976 U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament
Encyclopedia
The Bicentennial Cup Tournament was an international association football competition, which took place in May 1976 in the USA
. The tournament featured several World Cup stars both past and future.
The tournament - which celebrated the 200th anniversary of the USA'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, in a hugely entertaining tournament.
The U.S.A.
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.A. 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 recognise 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.
----
- 4 goals
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The tournament featured several World Cup stars both past and future.
The tournament - which celebrated the 200th anniversary of the USA's Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
- came about after England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
failed to qualify for the 1976 European Championship
1976 UEFA European Football Championship
-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Top scorers:19 goals were scored in 4 games for an average of 4.75 goals per game.4 goals Dieter Müller2 goals Dragan Džajić Ruud Geels...
tournament. These two teams joined Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
and Team America, a side composed of stars playing in the North American Soccer League, in a hugely entertaining tournament.
The U.S.A.
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
team of the time was not developed enough to compete against sides as powerful as Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, and hence Team America, consisting of players of various nationalities drawn from North American Soccer League clubs, carried the U.S.A. banner in the tournament. Team America included players who had performed for other national teams, among them Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, Ramon Mifflin
Ramón Mifflin
Ramón Antonio Mifflin Páez is a former Peruvian football player.- Career :He started his career in Centro Iqueño in 1963, by 1965 he played in Defensor Arica, and signed with Peruvian team Sporting Cristal in 1968 after being named player of the year...
, Mike England
Mike England
Harold Michael "Mike" England, MBE was a popular Welsh footballer and manager.-Playing career:Born Holywell, Wales, Mike England was a tall commanding centre-half, who could also play effectively as a centre-forward. He played for Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspur, Cardiff, and for the Wales...
, Giorgio Chinaglia
Giorgio Chinaglia
Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969...
and Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
.
The day after England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
played Team America, the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national 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
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
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 recognise 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
--------
Table
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2 | |
| 4 |  Team America |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 0 |
Top scorer
GilGilberto Alves
Gilberto Alves, nicknamed Gil , was a footballer from Brazil. He played as a forward, in particular with Fluminense Football Club and the Brazilian national team.-Playing career:...
- 4 goals
| 1976 U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament Winners |
|---|
 Brazil Brazil national football team The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the... |