Chilean player Carlos Caszely was the first player to be shown a red card at the World Cup finals, receiving one 67 minutes into a first round match with West Germany in 1974. Prior to this tournament, players dismissed from the field during World Cup matches were merely ordered off by the referee, without the brandishing of a red card.

Chile qualified for the 1974 World Cup final thanks to a walkover. They were due to face the Soviet Union in a qualifying play-off, but the Soviets refused to play in Chile's Estadio Nacional because it had been used as a detention camp for 'political prisoners' by Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Chile's players kicked off the match in an empty stadium, scored a goal in the unprotected net and were immediately awarded a victory by the referee.

Chile were banned from the 1990 and 1994 World Cup finals after their goalkeeper, Roberto Rojas, feigned injury during 1990 qualification, in attempt to get a match with Brazil abandoned. Rojas used a concealed razor blade to pretend a flare had hit him.