1947 NAFC Championship

1947 NAFC Championship
Tournament details
Host countryCuba Cuba
Dates13–20 July
Teams3
Venue(s)Estadio La Tropical, Havana
Final positions
Champions Mexico (1st title)
Runners-up Cuba
Third place United States
Tournament statistics
Matches played3
Goals scored16 (5.33 per match)
Attendance39,400 (13,133 per match)
Top scorerMexico Adalberto López (4 goals)
1949 →

The 1947 NAFC Championship was the inaugural international association football championship for members of the North American Football Confederation (NAFC). Hosted by Cuba, the competition ran from 13–20 July 1947 and was contested by the national teams of Cuba and Mexico as well as the United States who were represented by an amateur team, Ponta Delgada.

After the three teams had all played each other, Mexico were declared champions on 22 July when the competition was curtailed. Originally scheduled as a double round-robin, the NAFC decided to finish the championships early after a single round-robin was completed.

Background

The North American Football Confederation (NAFC) was founded in 1946. Along with the Confederación Centroamericana y del Caribe de Fútbol (CCCF), it was a precursor organisation to the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Within a year of its founding, the NAFC organised a contest for its member associations.[1][2]

Both Cuba and Mexico sent their national teams to the tournament. However, rather than forming a team for the competition, the United States Football Soccer Federation chose to send Ponta Delgada, an amateur team from Fall River, Massachusetts.[3] Ponta Delgada were one of the best teams in the United States as they had won both the 1947 National Challenge Cup and 1947 National Amateur Cup.[4]

Format

The tournament was originally scheduled as a double round-robin where each team would play all of the others twice. The winner would be decided by the total number of points obtained across all matches played.[3]

However, the tournament would only be played as a single round-robin after the NAFC decided to curtail the championship following the completion of half the scheduled matches.[3]

Participants

Squads

Venue

All matches were held at La Tropical Stadium in Havana.[2]

Havana
Estadio La Tropical
Capacity: 30,000

Summary

The competition began on 13 July 1947 when Mexico faced the United States. A hat-trick from Adalberto López helped Mexico to a 5–0 win in the opening match. Four days later, Mexico recorded their second win of the competition as they defeated hosts Cuba 3–1. On 20 July, Cuba recorded their first win of the competition as a brace from Antonio Villalón helped them to a 5–2 win over the United States.[2][3]

On 22 July, the NAFC decided to curtail the tournament and awarded the inaugural title to Mexico.[3]

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Mexico (C) 2 2 0 0 8 1 +7 4
2  Cuba 2 1 0 1 6 5 +1 2
3  United States 2 0 0 2 2 10 −8 0
Source: [3]
(C) Champions

Results

Mexico 5–0 United States
 [2][3]
Attendance: 5,400
Referee: José Tapia (Cuba)
Cuba 1–3 Mexico
José Minsal 42' [2][3]
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Sam Gabin (USA)
Cuba 5–2 United States
  • Antonio Villalón 22', 28'
  • Luis Gironella 61'
  • Antonio Mederos 68'
  • Santiago Veiga 70'
 [2][3]
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Carlos Esteva Tejada (Mexico)
Cuba Cancelled Mexico
[3]
Cuba Cancelled United States
[3]

Goalscorers

There were 16 goals scored in 3 matches, for an average of 5.33 goals per match.

4 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Notes

  1. ↑ Represented by Ponta Delgada S.C.

References

  1. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel (July 7, 2025). "CCCF and Concacaf Championships". RSSSF. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mexico wins 1947 NAFC title". CONCACAF Retro. CONCACAF. July 14, 2012. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Lugo, Erik Francisco; Mendoza, Eduardo; Neil, Morrison; Torres, Steve (July 17, 2023). "North American Championship 1947 (Cuba)". RSSSF. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  4. ↑ Litterer, Dave (December 6, 2024). "USA - List of Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
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