Bomb every 3 hours in Buenos Aires 1976
In 1976, a bomb went off in Buenos Aires on average every 3 hours, and there was a political assassination every 5 hours.
Snapshot · Fin vs History
First Port Stanley, Now This?? (with The Upshot!) | The History of The World Cup (Part 3/4)
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Jun 15, 2026
Where this was said
Keep Your Head Above The Shit
At 5:09 · chapter starts 4:30
Switching to Argentina in 1978, the picture the hosts paint is one of almost incomprehensible chaos and violence. Inflation had exceeded 560% in 1976, a bomb was detonating somewhere in Buenos Aires every three hours, and political assassinations were occurring every five hours [1] — Horatio Gould "560% inflation in Argentina 1976: Argentine inflation exceeded 560% in 1976, making the economy effectively 'psychedelic' and ungovernable." 04:52 . Into this cauldron steps the military junta of Jorge Videla, who inherit the hosting rights from the previous government and view the World Cup as a propaganda opportunity. The junta would go on to disappear an estimated 30,000 people. Johan Cruyff refuses to travel after a kidnapping attempt on his family. The man responsible for building the stadiums is blown up in a car bomb hours before the opening match — possibly suicide, the hosts speculate, possibly just probability at work in a country detonating round the clock. Maradona is 17 and too young to play, but the foundations of his story are already being laid in a Buenos Aires shantytown where, as a child, he fell into a cesspit and almost drowned [2] — Fin Taylor "As a child in a Buenos Aires shantytown, Diego Maradona fell into a cesspit and nearly drowned, saved only by his uncle jumping in after hi…" 07:40 .
560% inflation in Argentina 1976
Argentine inflation exceeded 560% in 1976, making the economy effectively 'psychedelic' and ungovernable.
30,000 people disappeared under Videla
The Videla military junta that hosted the 1978 World Cup disappeared an estimated 30,000 people.
Maradona Nearly Drowned in a Cesspit — And It Explains Everything
As a child in a Buenos Aires shantytown, Diego Maradona fell into a cesspit and nearly drowned, saved only by his uncle jumping in after him. Fin Taylor suggests this may be Maradona's Spider-Man villain origin story — and there was probably a lot of cocaine in the shit.
Argentina's Alleged Deal: Grain, Cash, and Tortured Prisoners for a 6-0 Win
To reach the 1978 final, Argentina needed to beat Peru by at least 4 goals. They won 6-0. The alleged price: 35,000 tons of grain, $50 million in frozen assets released after the game, and a promise from the Videla regime to 'process' 13 Peruvian political dissidents — a euphemism for torture and execution.
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