1950 FIFA World Cup qualification

A total of 34 teams entered the qualification rounds of the 1950 FIFA World Cup, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. Brazil, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

1950 FIFA World Cup Qualification
Tournament details
Dates2 June 1949 - 15 April 1950
Teams34 (from 3 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played26
Goals scored121 (4.65 per match)
Top scorer(s)England Jack Rowley
Mexico Horacio Casarín
Mexico Luis de la Fuente
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Čajkovski
(4 goals each)

The remaining 32 teams were divided into 10 groups, based on geographical considerations, as follows:

  • Groups 1 to 6 – Europe: 7 places, contested by 18 teams (including Israel and Syria).
  • Groups 7 to 9 – The Americas: 6 places, contested by 10 teams.
  • Group 10 – Asia: 1 place, contested by 4 teams.

However, due to the withdrawals of India, Scotland and Turkey after qualifying, only 13 teams actually competed in the final tournament.

A total of 19 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 26 qualifying matches were played, and 121 goals were scored (an average of 4.65 per match).

Listed below are the dates and results of the qualification rounds.

Groups

The 10 groups had different rules, as follows:

  • Group 1 had 4 teams. The teams played against each other once. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
  • Groups 2, 3 and 4 had 3 teams each. The strongest team of each group was seeded. There would be two rounds of play:
    • First Round: The seeded team received a bye and advanced to final round directly. The 2 unseeded teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would advance to final round.
    • Final Round: The seeded team played against the winner of the First Round on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.
  • Group 5 had 3 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.
  • Group 6 had 2 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.
  • Group 7 had 3 teams. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
  • Group 8 had 4 teams. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
  • Group 9 had 3 teams. The teams played against each other twice. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
  • Group 10 had 4 teams. The group winner would qualify.

Group 1
See also: 1949–50 British Home Championship
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  England 3 3 0 0 14 3 +11 6
2  Scotland 3 2 0 1 10 3 +7 4
3=  Wales 3 0 1 2 1 6 −5 1
3=  Ireland (IFA) 3 0 1 2 4 17 −13 1
Source:
Ireland (IFA) 2–8 Scotland
Smyth 50', 59' Report Morris 2', 70', 88'
Waddell 5', 31' (pen.)
Steel 23'
Reilly 24'
Mason 80'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Reginald Mortimer (England)
Wales 1–4 England
Griffiths 80' Report Mortensen 22'
Milburn 29', 34', 66'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Jack Mowat (Scotland)
Scotland 2–0 Wales
McPhail 25'
Linwood 78'		 Report
Attendance: 73,782
Referee: S.K. Law (England)
England 9–2 Ireland (IFA)
Rowley 6', 47', 56', 58'
Froggatt 25'
Mortensen 35', 50'
Pearson 33', 68'		 Report Smyth 55'
Brennan 75'
Attendance: 57,000
Wales 0–0 Ireland (IFA)
Report
Attendance: 60,000
Scotland 0–1 England
Report Bentley 64'
Attendance: 138,000

England qualified. Scotland also qualified, but declined to participate.

First round
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Turkey 1 1 0 0 7 0 +7 2
2  Syria 1 0 0 1 0 7 −7 0
Source:
Turkey 7–0 Syria
Cansever 12', 16', 87'
Eken 44'
Kücükandonyadis 66'
Keskin 67'
Kilic 72'		 Report
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Antonio Gamba (Italy)

Syria withdrew, and remaining match was not played.

Turkey advanced to the Final Round.

Final round
Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
—  Turkey 0 0 Qualified, later withdrew
—  Austria 0 0 Withdrew
Source:

Austria withdrew, so Turkey qualified automatically. But Turkey later also withdrew, and FIFA offered the place to Portugal, the runner-up of Group 6, but they declined. FIFA decided not to allow anyone else to qualify, leaving the World Cup two teams short.

First round
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Yugoslavia 2 2 0 0 11 2 +9 4
2  Israel 2 0 0 2 2 11 −9 0
Source:
Yugoslavia 6–0 Israel
Pajević 12', 19', 26'
Senčar 44'
Že. Čajkovski 63'
Bobek 83' (pen.)		 Report
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Giovanni Galeati (Italy)
Israel 2–5 Yugoslavia
Glazer 65', 76' Report Valok 19', 64'
Bobek 20'
Zl. Čajkovski 41'
Že. Čajkovski 82'
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Yosef Kinstlich (Cyprus)

Yugoslavia advanced to the Final Round.

Final round
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  France 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
1  Yugoslavia 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
Source:
Yugoslavia 1–1 France
Že. Čajkovski 36' Report Baillot 55'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Karel van der Meer (Netherlands)
France 1–1 Yugoslavia
Baillot 8' Report Bobek 44'
Attendance: 53,569
Referee: Giovanni Galeati (Italy)

France 2–2 Yugoslavia on aggregate, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify.

Yugoslavia 3–2 (a.e.t.) France
Mihajlović 12', 84' (pen.)
Že. Čajkovski 114'		 Report Walter 13'
Luciano 83'
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Giovanni Galeati (Italy)

Yugoslavia qualified while France were also offered a place by FIFA. France initially accepted, but later declined.

First round
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Switzerland 2 2 0 0 8 4 +4 4
2  Luxembourg 2 0 0 2 4 8 −4 0
Source:
Switzerland 5–2 Luxembourg
Maillard 20'
Fatton 30', 41'
Ballaman 48'
Antenen 59'		 Report Wagner 3'
Reuter 88'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Charles Delasalle (France)
Luxembourg 2–3  Switzerland
Muller 3'
Kremer 38'		 Report Maillard 1'
Friedländer 59'
Fatton 75'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Pierre Theunen (Belgium)

Switzerland advanced to the Final Round.

Final round
Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
—   Switzerland 0 0 Qualified
—  Belgium 0 0 Withdrew
Source:

Belgium withdrew, so Switzerland qualified automatically.

Group 5
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Sweden 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 4
2  Ireland (FAI) 4 1 1 2 6 7 −1 3
3  Finland 2 0 1 1 1 4 −3 1
Source:
Sweden 3–1 Ireland (FAI)
Andersson 17' (pen.)
Jeppson 37'
Liedholm 69'		 Report Walsh 9'
Attendance: 36,200
Referee: Louis Baert (Belgium)
Ireland (FAI) 3–0 Finland
Gavin 35'
Martin 44' (pen.), 68'		 Report
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: W.H.E. Evan (England)
Finland 1–1 Ireland (FAI)
Vaihela 89' Report Farrell 65'
Attendance: 13,437
Referee: Johan Bronkhorst (Netherlands)
Ireland (FAI) Republic of Ireland1–3 Sweden
Martin 61' (pen.) Report Palmér 4', 40', 68'
Attendance: 43,000

Sweden qualified. Finland withdrew before the group was completed. Ireland (FAI) were subsequently invited to enter competition but declined the opportunity because of travelling costs.[1]

Sweden beat Finland 8–1 on 2 October 1949 in Malmö.[2] However, FIFA's website does not include this match in the list of matches or in the group standings.[3] RSSSF's website lists the match with the note "Sweden played B-team", and does not provide group standings.[4]

Group 6
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Spain 2 1 1 0 7 3 +4 3
2  Portugal 2 0 1 1 3 7 −4 1
Source:
Spain 5–1 Portugal
Zarra 11', 58'
Basora 13'
Panizo 15'
Molowny 65'		 Report Cabrita 36'
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Reg Leafe (England)
Portugal 2–2 Spain
Travassos 51'
Correia 53'		 Report Zarra 24'
Gaínza 82'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Jack Mowat (Scotland)

Spain qualified. Portugal were also invited to take part but they declined.

Group 7
Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
1  Bolivia 0 0 Qualified
1  Chile 0 0
3  Argentina 0 0 Withdrew
Source:

Argentina withdrew, so Bolivia and Chile qualified automatically.

Group 8
Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
1  Uruguay 0 0 Qualified
1  Paraguay 0 0
3  Ecuador 0 0 Withdrew
3  Peru 0 0
Source:

Ecuador and Peru withdrew, so Uruguay and Paraguay qualified automatically.

Group 9
See also: 1949 NAFC Championship
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Mexico 4 4 0 0 17 2 +15 8
2  United States 4 1 1 2 8 15 −7 3
3  Cuba 4 0 1 3 3 11 −8 1
Source:
United States 0–6 Mexico
Report Flores 20'
Luna 30'
de la Fuente 37', 55', 58'
Septién 85'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: José Tapia (Cuba)
Mexico 2–0 Cuba
Luna 26'
Casarín 57'		 Report
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Prudencio García (United States)
Cuba 1–1 United States
Gómez 28' Report Wallace 23'
Attendance: 8,000
Mexico 6–2 United States
Ortiz 14'
Casarín 23', 41', 76'
de la Fuente 47'
Ochoa 89'		 Report Souza 52'
Wattman 90'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: José Tapia (Cuba)
United States 5–2 Cuba
Bahr 16'
Souza 23'
Matevich 30', 35'
Wallace 48'		 Report Barquín 42'
Veiga 50'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: José Tapia (Cuba)
Mexico 3–0 Cuba
Naranjo 44', 88'
Flores 58'		 Report
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Prudencio García (United States)

Mexico and the United States qualified.

Group 10
Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
1  India 0 0 Qualified
3  Burma 0 0 Withdrew
3  Indonesia 0 0
3  Philippines 0 0
Source: rsssf.com

Burma, Indonesia and the Philippines all withdrew before the draw, so India qualified automatically. But India later also withdrew "because of the expense of travelling such a long way to play,"[5] and the AIFF wanted to concentrate on the 1952 Olympics.[6] Although according to some reports, it was caused by a FIFA ruling that players were not allowed to play barefoot.[7] FIFA decided not to invite anyone else, leaving the World Cup three teams short.

Qualified teams
FIFA World Cup qualification 1950
Participating countries after 3 of the 16 qualifying countries withdrew.
Team Finals appearance Streak Last appearance
 Bolivia 2nd11930
 Brazil (H) 4th41938
 Chile 2nd11930
 England 1st1–
 India 1st1–
 Italy (c) 3rd31938
 Mexico 2nd11930
 Paraguay 2nd11930
 Spain 2nd11934
 Scotland 1st1–
 Sweden 3rd31938
  Switzerland 3rd31938
 Turkey 1st1–
 United States 3rd11934
 Uruguay 2nd11930
 Yugoslavia 2nd11930
  •  India,  Scotland and  Turkey withdrew after qualifying.
  • (H) – qualified automatically as hosts
  • (c) – qualified automatically as defending champions

Goalscorers
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

Notes
  • At the start of 1950 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland-based IFA and the Republic of Ireland-based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. As a result, several notable Irish players from this era played for both teams. Four players – Tom Aherne, Reg Ryan, Davy Walsh and Con Martin – actually played for both the FAI XI and the IFA XI in these qualifying rounds. FIFA intervened, after complaints from the FAI,[8] and subsequently restricted players' eligibility based on the political border. In 1953 FIFA ruled neither team could be referred to as Ireland, decreeing that the FAI team be officially designated as the Republic of Ireland, while the IFA team was to become Northern Ireland.
  • For the third qualifying tournament in a row, the South American teams qualified automatically after withdrawals. In Group 7, Bolivia and Chile did play two matches between them, but they were not classified as official World Cup qualifiers by FIFA.
  • Burma, the Philippines and Indonesia all withdrew, so India qualified automatically. However, India withdrew later because of "disagreements over team selection and insufficient practice time.". India had never been able to qualify for the World Cup before and have never been able to do since then, which means they are the only team to have qualified for the World Cup and that never played a World Cup match.
  • Germany and Japan were both banned because of their actions during World War II, Italy, despite originally being a member of the Axis powers, was allowed to participate because its government was overthrown in 1943 and the new government sided with the Allies.

References
  1. Invitation to World Cup turned down Archived 30 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine www.independent.ie, February 22, 2004
  2. "WORLD CUP 1950". allworldcup.narod.ru. Archived from the original on 10 October 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  3. "1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil - Groups". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  4. "World Cup 1950 Qualifying". RSSSF. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  5. "World Cup: US v England match recalls 1950 upset". BBC. 2 June 2010. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013.
  6. Cronin, Brian (19 July 2011). "Did India withdraw from the 1950 World Cup because they were not allowed to play barefoot?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
  7. WM 1950 | Brasilien | sportschau.de Archived 10 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Ryan, Sean (1997). The Boys in Green: the FAI international story. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1-85158-939-2. pp. 50.
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