The World Cup's Most Violent Match Ever

The World Cup's Most Violent Match Ever

June 15, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

This episode recounts the violent match between Chile and Italy during the 1962 World Cup, known as 'The Battle of Santiago.'

In 1962, World Cup host Chile was set to play Italy in their final group stage match. Both sides needed a win to advance to the knockout stage. What ensued, thanks to a pair of Italian newspaper articles calling host nation Chile "backwards," "illiterate," and "full of prostitutes," was less of a soccer match and more of a blood feud. This is the story of "The Battle of Santiago." Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Softcore History Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for hundreds of hours of extra history content including episodes like this, listener voicemails, movie watch-alongs, and weekly bonus episodes. Get 10% off ZIppix Toothpicks with code SOFTCORE at ⁠⁠⁠https://zippixtoothpicks.com/discount/SOFTCORE⁠⁠⁠ Rob Fox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/robfoxthree/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/RobFoxThree ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@robfoxthree ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dan Regester ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/danregester/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hosts: Rob Fox, Dan Regester

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Places: Chile, Italy

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