After finishing tied in the group standings on points, host Brazil beat Uruguay in the playoff match to win their first title.

The playoff was the longest match in the competition's history, and under current rules, will remain so indefinitely: with the score tied 0-0 after 90 minutes had expired, both captains and the referee agreed to play an extra time period of two 15-minute halves.

If there was a tie of points at the top of the standings, a playoff match would be held to determine the champion.

As substitutions were not allowed at the time, Chery had to play the rest of the match while severely injured.

[3] Brazil and Uruguay had scheduled a friendly match ("Copa Rio Branco") for 19 June 1919, but following Chery's tragic death, the Uruguayan team declined to play.