1950 FIFA World Cup qualification
Tournament details | |
---|---|
Teams | 36 (from 3 confederations) |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 27 |
Goals scored | 130 (4.81 per match) |
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.
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 27 qualifying matches were played, and 130 goals were scored (an average of 4.81 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:
- 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
Rank | 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 |
1 October 1949 | Ireland (IFA) | 2–8 | Scotland | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
---|---|---|---|---|
Smyth 50', 59' | Report | Morris 2', 70', 88' Waddell 5', 31' (pen.) Steel 23' Reilly 24' Mason 80' |
Stadium: Windsor Park Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Reginald Mortimer (England) |
15 October 1949 | Wales | 1–4 | England | Cardiff, Wales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Griffiths 80' | Report | Mortensen 22' Milburn 29', 34', 66' |
Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 61,079 Referee: Jack Mowatt (Scotland) |
9 November 1949 | Scotland | 2–0 | Wales | Glasgow, Scotland |
---|---|---|---|---|
McPhail 25' Linwood 78' |
Report | Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 73,782 Referee: S.K. Law (England) |
16 November 1949 | England | 9–2 | Ireland (IFA) | Manchester, England |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rowley 6', 47', 56', 58' Froggatt 25' Mortensen 35', 50' Pearson 33', 68' |
Report | Smyth 55' Brennan 75' |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 69,742 Referee: Mervyn Griffiths (Wales) |
8 March 1950 | Wales | 0–0 | Ireland (IFA) | Wrexham, Wales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Reginald Leafe (England) |
15 April 1950 | Scotland | 0–1 | England | Glasgow, Scotland |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Bentley 64' | Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 133,300 Referee: Reginald Leafe (England) |
England qualified. Scotland also qualified, but declined to travel.
Group 2
First round
Rank | 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 |
20 November 1949 | Turkey | 7–0 | Syria | Ankara, Turkey |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cansever 12', 16', 87' Eken 44' Kücükandonyadis 66' Keskin 67' Kilic 72' |
Stadium: 19 Mayıs Stadium Referee: Antonio Gamba (Italy) |
Syria withdrew, and remaining match was not played.
Turkey advanced to the Final Round.
Final round
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | Turkey | qualified, later withdrew | |||||||
— | Austria | withdrew |
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.
Group 3
First round
Rank | 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 |
21 August 1949 | Yugoslavia | 6–0 | Israel | Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pajević 12', 19', 26' Senčar 44' Ž. Čajkovski 63' Bobek 83' (pen.) |
Report | Stadium: JNA Stadion Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Giovanni Galeati (Italy) |
18 September 1949 | Israel | 2–5 | Yugoslavia | Tel-Aviv, Israel |
---|---|---|---|---|
Glazer 65', 76' | Report | Valok 19', 64' Bobek 20' Z. Čajkovski 41' Ž. Čajkovski 82' |
Stadium: Maccabiah Stadium Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Yosef Kinstlich (Cyprus) |
Yugoslavia advanced to the Final Round.
Final round
Rank | 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 |
9 October 1949 | Yugoslavia | 1–1 | France | Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ž. Čajkovski 36' | Report | Baillot 55' | Stadium: JNA Stadion Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Karel van der Meer (Netherlands) |
30 October 1949 | France | 1–1 | Yugoslavia | Paris, France |
---|---|---|---|---|
Baillot 8' | Report | Bobek 44' | Stadium: Stade Olympique de Colombes 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.
11 December 1949 | Yugoslavia | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | France | Florence, Italy |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mihajlović 12', 84' (pen.) Ž. Čajkovski 114' |
Report | Walter 13' Luciano 83' |
Stadium: Stadio Giovanni Berta Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Giovanni Galeati (Italy) |
Yugoslavia qualified while France were also offered a place by FIFA. France initially accepted, but later declined.
Group 4
First round
Rank | 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 |
26 June 1949 | Switzerland | 5–2 | Luxembourg | Zürich, Switzerland |
---|---|---|---|---|
Maillard 20' Fatton 30' 41' Ballaman 48' Antenen 59' |
Report | Wagner 3' Reuter 88' |
Stadium: Hardturm Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Charles Delasalle (France) |
18 September 1949 | Luxembourg | 2–3 | Switzerland | Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Muller 3' Kremer 38' |
Report | Maillard 1' Friedländer 59' Fatton 75' |
Stadium: Stade Municipal Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Pierre Theunen (Belgium) |
Switzerland advanced to the Final Round.
Final round
Belgium withdrew, so Switzerland qualified automatically.
Group 5
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sweden | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | +11 | 6 |
2 | Ireland (FAI) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 3 |
3 | Finland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 | −10 | 1 |
2 June 1949 | Sweden | 3–1 | Ireland (FAI) | Stockholm, Sweden |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anderson 17' (pen.) Jeppson 37' Liedholm 69' |
Report | Walsh 9' | Stadium: Råsunda Stadion Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Louis Baert (Belgium) |
8 September 1949 | Ireland (FAI) | 3–0 | Finland | Dublin, Ireland |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gavin 35' Martin 44' (pen.), 68' |
Report | Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 22,479 Referee: W.H.E. Evan (England) |
2 October 1949 | Sweden | 8–1 | Finland | Malmö, Sweden |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rydell 7' (9), 17' Jonsson 24' (75), 83' Palmér 41' Jakobsson 89' |
Valhela 4' | Stadium: Malmö |
9 October 1949 | Finland | 1–1 | Ireland (FAI) | Helsinki, Finland |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vaihela 89' | Report | Farrell 65' | Stadium: Olympiastadion Attendance: 13,000 Referee: Johan Bronkhorst (Netherlands) |
13 November 1949 | Ireland (FAI) | 1–3 | Sweden | Dublin, Ireland |
---|---|---|---|---|
Martin 61' (pen.) | Report | Palmér 4', 40', 68' | Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 41,031 Referee: William Ling (England) |
Sweden qualified. Finland withdrew before the group was completed. Ireland (FAI) were subsequently invited to enter competition but declined the opportunity because of traveling costs.[1]
Group 6
Rank | 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 |
2 April 1950 | Spain | 5–1 | Portugal | Madrid, Spain |
---|---|---|---|---|
Zarra 11', 58' Basora 13' Panizo 15' Molowny 65' |
Report | Cabrita 36' | Stadium: Estadio Nuevo Chamartín Attendance: 80,000 Referee: Reg Leafe (England) |
9 April 1950 | Portugal | 2–2 | Spain | Lisbon, Portugal |
---|---|---|---|---|
Travassos 51' Correia 53' |
Report | Zarra 24' Gaínza 82' |
Stadium: Jamor Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Jack Mowat (Scotland) |
Spain qualified. Portugal were also invited to take part but they declined.
Group 7
Argentina withdrew, so Bolivia and Chile qualified automatically.
Group 8
Ecuador and Peru withdrew, so Uruguay and Paraguay qualified automatically..
Group 9
Rank | 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 |
4 September 1949 | United States | 0–6 | Mexico | Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Flores 20' Luna 30' de la Fuente 37', 55', 58' Septién 85' |
Stadium: Estadio de los Deportes Attendance: 60,000 Referee: José Tapia (Cuba) |
11 September 1949 | Mexico | 2–0 | Cuba | Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Luna 26' Casarín 57' |
Stadium: Estadio de los Deportes Referee: Prudencio García (United States) |
14 September 1949 | Cuba | 1–1 | United States | Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gómez 28' | Wallace 23' | Stadium: Estadio de los Deportes Attendance: 8,000 |
18 September 1949 | Mexico | 6–2 | United States | Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ortiz 14' Casarín 23', 41', 76' de la Fuente 47' Ochoa 89' |
Souza 52' Wattman 90' |
Stadium: Estadio de los Deportes Attendance: 54,500 Referee: José Tapia (Cuba) |
21 September 1949 | United States | 5–2 | Cuba | Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bahr 16' Souza 23' Matevich 30', 35' Wallace 48' |
Barquín 42' Veiga 50' |
Stadium: Estadio de los Deportes Attendance: 60,000 Referee: José Tapia (Cuba) |
25 September 1949 | Mexico | 3–0 | Cuba | Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Naranjo 44', 88' Flores 58' |
Stadium: Estadio de los Deportes Referee: Prudencio García (United States) |
Mexico and the United States qualified.
Group 10
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"[2] (or, according to some reports, after a FIFA ruling that players were not allowed to play barefoot[3]), and FIFA decided not to invite anyone else, leaving the World Cup three teams short.
However, another opinion about this was reported in an article of The Los Angeles Times in 2011. AIFF (the All India Football Federation) could not send their team from South Asia to South America due to financial problems, and wanted to concentrate its resources to attend the Olympics, which was regarded as more important.[4]
Qualified teams
Team | Finals appearance | Streak | Last appearance |
---|---|---|---|
Bolivia | 2nd | 1 | 1930 |
Brazil (H) | 4th | 4 | 1938 |
Chile | 2nd | 1 | 1930 |
England | 1st | 1 | – |
India | 1st | 1 | – |
Italy (c) | 3rd | 3 | 1938 |
Mexico | 2nd | 1 | 1930 |
Paraguay | 2nd | 1 | 1930 |
Spain | 2nd | 1 | 1934 |
Scotland | 1st | 1 | – |
Sweden | 3rd | 3 | 1938 |
Switzerland | 3rd | 3 | 1938 |
Turkey | 1st | 1 | – |
United States | 3rd | 1 | 1934 |
Uruguay | 2nd | 1 | 1930 |
Yugoslavia | 2nd | 1 | 1930 |
- India, Scotland and Turkey withdrew after qualifying.
- (H) – qualified automatically as hosts
- (c) – qualified automatically as defending champions
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,[5] 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 following a FIFA ruling that players were not allowed to play barefoot. 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.
References
- ↑ Invitation to World Cup turned down www.independent.ie, February 22, 2004
- ↑ "World Cup: US v England match recalls 1950 upset", BBC, June 2, 2010
- ↑
- ↑ "Did India withdraw from the 1950 World Cup because they were not allowed to play barefoot?", LA times, July 19, 2011, now in web archives.
- ↑ Ryan, Sean (1997). The Boys in Green: the FAI international story. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1-85158-939-2. pp. 50.
External links
- FIFA World Cup Official Site – 1950 World Cup Qualification
- RSSSF – 1950 World Cup Qualification
- All World Cup – 1950 World Cup Qualification