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)
1938
1954

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

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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

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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: [citation needed]
Ireland (IFA)  2–8  Scotland
Smyth   50', 59' Report Morris   2', 70', 88'
Waddell   5', 31' (pen.)
Steel   23'
Reilly   24'
Mason   80'

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.

Group 2

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First round

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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: [citation needed]
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

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Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
  Turkey 0 0 Qualified, later withdrew
  Austria 0 0 Withdrew
Source: [citation needed]

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

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First round

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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: [citation needed]
Yugoslavia  6–0  Israel
Pajević   12', 19', 26'
Senčar   44'
Že. Čajkovski   63'
Bobek   83' (pen.)
Report
Attendance: 35,000

Israel  2–5  Yugoslavia
Glazer   65', 76' Report Valok   19', 64'
Bobek   20'
Zl. Čajkovski   41'
Že. Čajkovski   82'

Yugoslavia advanced to the Final Round.

Final round

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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: [citation needed]
Yugoslavia  1–1  France
Že. Čajkovski   36' Report Baillot   55'

France  1–1  Yugoslavia
Baillot   8' Report Bobek   44'

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'

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

Group 4

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First round

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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: [citation needed]
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

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Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
   Switzerland 0 0 Qualified
  Belgium 0 0 Withdrew
Source: [citation needed]

Belgium withdrew, so Switzerland qualified automatically.

Group 5

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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: [citation needed]
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'

Ireland (FAI)  1–3  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

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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: [citation needed]
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

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Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
1   Bolivia 0 0 Qualified
1   Chile 0 0
3   Argentina 0 0 Withdrew
Source: [citation needed]

Argentina withdrew, so Bolivia and Chile qualified automatically.

Group 8

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Pos Team Pld Pts Qualification
1   Uruguay 0 0 Qualified
1   Paraguay 0 0
3   Ecuador 0 0 Withdrew
3   Peru 0 0
Source: [citation needed]

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

Group 9

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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: [citation needed]
United States  0–6  Mexico
Report Flores   20'
Luna   30'
de la Fuente   37', 55', 58'
Septién   85'

Mexico  2–0  Cuba
Luna   26'
Casarín   57'
Report

Cuba  1–1  United States
Gómez   28' Report Wallace   23'

Mexico  6–2  United States
Ortiz   14'
Casarín   23', 41', 76'
de la Fuente   47'
Ochoa   89'
Report Souza   52'
Wattman   90'

United States  5–2  Cuba
Bahr   16'
Souza   23'
Matevich   30', 35'
Wallace   48'
Report Barquín   42'
Veiga   50'

Mexico  3–0  Cuba
Naranjo   44', 88'
Flores   58'
Report

Mexico and the United States qualified.

Group 10

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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

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FIFA World Cup qualification 1950
 
Participating countries after 3 of the 16 qualifying countries withdrew.
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

Goalscorers

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4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

Notes

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  • 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

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  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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