1954 FIFA World Cup qualification

A total of 37 teams entered the 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. Switzerland, as the hosts, and Uruguay, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

1954 FIFA World Cup Qualification
Tournament details
Teams37 (from 3 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played57
Goals scored208 (3.65 per match)
Top scorer(s) Max Morlock (6 goals)

37 teams were divided into 13 groups, based on geographical considerations, as follows:

  • Groups 1 to 10 – Europe: 11 places, contested by 27 teams (including Egypt and Israel).
  • Group 11 and 12 – The Americas: 2 places, contested by 7 teams.
  • Group 13 – Asia: 1 place, contested by 3 teams.

A total of 33 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 57 qualifying matches were played, and 208 goals were scored (an average of 3.65 per match).

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

Groups

The 13 groups had different rules, as follows:

  • Groups 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 had 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.
  • Groups 7 and 9 had 2 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.
  • Group 3 had 4 teams. The teams played against each other once. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
  • Group 11 had 4 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.
  • Group 12 had 3 teams. The teams played against each other twice. The group winner would qualify.
  • Group 13 had 3 teams. After Republic of China withdrew before the matches began, the remaining 2 teams played against each other twice. The group winner would qualify.

Group 1
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 1
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 West Germany 4310123+97
2 Saar 411248−43
3 Norway 402249−52
24 June 1953 Norway  2–3  Saar Oslo, Norway
Thoresen 3'
Dahlen 15'		 Report Binkert 16'
Otto 30'
Siedl 55'		 Stadium: Bislett Stadion
Referee: J. Bronkhorst (Netherlands)
19 August 1953 Norway  1–1  West Germany Oslo, Norway
Hennum 41' Report F. Walter 44' Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion
Referee: W. B. Aussum (Netherlands)
11 October 1953 West Germany  3–0  Saar Stuttgart, West Germany
Morlock 13', 50'
Schade 70'		 Report Stadium: Neckarstadion
Referee: Karel van der Meer (Netherlands)
8 November 1953 Saar  0–0  Norway Saarbrücken, Saarland
Report Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion
Referee: Leo Horn (Netherlands)
22 November 1953 West Germany  5–1  Norway Hamburg, West Germany
Morlock 27', 63'
O. Walter 69'
F. Walter 80'
Rahn 88'		 Report Nordahl 26' Stadium: Volksparkstadion
Referee: Arthur Luty (England)
28 March 1954 Saar  1–3  West Germany Saarbrücken, Saarland
Martin 68' (pen.) Report Morlock 36', 48'
Schäfer 84'		 Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion
Referee: J. Bronkhorst (Netherlands)

West Germany qualified.

Group 2
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 2
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Belgium 4310116+57
2 Sweden 411298+13
3 Finland 4022713−62
25 May 1953 Finland  2–4  Belgium Helsinki, Finland
Lehtovirta 49', 75' Report Coppens 4', 26', 83'
Anoul 9'		 Stadium: Olympiastadion
Referee: Helge (Denmark)
28 May 1953 Sweden  2–3  Belgium Stockholm, Sweden
Berndtsson 20'
Selmosson 26'		 Report Anoul 28'
Straetmans 37'
Lemberechts 40'		 Stadium: Råsunda Stadion
Referee: Mowat (Scotland)
5 August 1953 Finland  3–3  Sweden Helsinki, Finland
Lehtovirta 63'
Lahtinen 67'
Rikberg 70'		 Report Sandell 9', 71'
Persson 23'		 Stadium: Olympiastadion
Referee: Baalstad (Norway)
16 August 1953 Sweden  4–0  Finland Stockholm, Sweden
Sandberg 22'
Sandell 24', 61'
Sandin 56'		 Report Stadium: Råsunda Stadion
Referee: Asmussen (Denmark)
23 September 1953 Belgium  2–2  Finland Brussels, Belgium
Bollen 25', 75' Report Lahtinen 83'
Vaihela 90'		 Stadium: Heysel Stadion
Referee: Baumberger (Switzerland)
8 October 1953 Belgium  2–0  Sweden Brussels, Belgium
Coppens 23'
Mees 49'		 Report Stadium: Heysel Stadion
Referee: Schipper (Netherlands)

Belgium qualified. This is the first time Sweden failed to qualify.

Group 3
Main article: 1953–54 British Home Championship

This group was also the 1953–54 British Home Championship.

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 England 3300114+76
2 Scotland 31118803
3 Northern Ireland 310247−32
4 Wales 301259−41
3 October 1953 Northern Ireland  1–3  Scotland Belfast, Northern Ireland
Lockhart 72' (pen.) Report Fleming 47', 69'
Henderson 89'		 Stadium: Windsor Park
Referee: Arthur Edward Ellis (England)
10 October 1953 Wales  1–4  England Cardiff, Wales
Allchurch 22' Report Wilshaw 45', 49'
Lofthouse 52', 53'		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland)
4 November 1953 Scotland  3–3  Wales Glasgow, Scotland
Brown 19'
Johnstone 42'
Reilly 58'		 Report Charles 49', 88'
Allchurch 73'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland)
11 November 1953 England  3–1  Northern Ireland Liverpool, England
Hassall 10', 60'
Lofthouse 75'		 Report McMorran 54' Stadium: Goodison Park
Referee: Robert Smith (Wales)
31 March 1954 Wales  1–2  Northern Ireland Wrexham, Wales
Charles 80' Report McParland 1', 52' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland)
3 April 1954 Scotland  2–4  England Glasgow, Scotland
Brown 7'
Ormond 89'		 Report Broadis 13'
Nicholls 50'
Allen 68'
Mullen 83'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland)

England and Scotland qualified.

Group 4
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 4
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 France 4400204+168
2 Republic of Ireland 420286+24
3 Luxembourg 4004119−180
20 September 1953 Luxembourg  1–6  France Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Kohn 6' Report Piantoni 5'
Kopa 10'
Cicci 41'
Glovacki 44'
Kargu 73'
Flamion 88'		 Stadium: Stade Municipal
Referee: Dörflinger (Switzerland)
4 October 1953 Republic of Ireland  3–5  France Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Ryan 58' (pen.)
Walsh 83'
O'Farrell 88'		 Report Glovacki 23'
Penverne 40'
Ujlaki 50', 69'
Flamion 72'		 Stadium: Dalymount Park
Referee: Franken (Belgium)
28 October 1953 Republic of Ireland  4–0  Luxembourg Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Fitzsimons 14', 83'
Ryan 48' (pen.)
Eglington 59'		 Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Referee: Bond (England)
25 November 1953 France  1–0  Republic of Ireland Paris, France
Piantoni 73' Report Stadium: Parc des Princes
Referee: Van Nuffel (Belgium)
17 December 1953 France  8–0  Luxembourg Paris, France
Desgranges 2', 88'
Vincent 6', 10'
Fontaine 21', 75', 80'
Foix 57'		 Report Stadium: Parc des Princes
Referee: Roeykens (Belgium)
7 March 1954 Luxembourg  0–1  Republic of Ireland Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Report Cummins 67' Stadium: Stade Municipal
Referee: Ausum (Netherlands)

France qualified.

Group 5
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 5
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Austria 211091+83
2 Portugal 201119−81
27 September 1953 Austria  9–1  Portugal Vienna, Austria
Ocwirk 13'
Probst 14', 19', 31', 59', 70'
Happel 68' (pen.)
Wagner 83'
Dienst 87'		 Report Águas 60' Stadium: Praterstadion
Referee: Bauwens (Belgium)
29 November 1953 Portugal  0–0  Austria Lisbon, Portugal
Report Stadium: Estádio Nacional
Referee: Harzic (France)

Austria qualified.

Group 6
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 6
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Spain 210142+22
 Turkey 210124−22
6 January 1954 Spain  4–1  Turkey Madrid, Spain
Venancio 13'
Gaínza 48'
González 49'
Alsua 65'		 Report Recep 31' Stadium: Estadio Nuevo Chamartín
Referee: Vincentini (France)
14 March 1954 Turkey  1–0  Spain Istanbul, Turkey
Burhan 16' Report Stadium: Mithat Paşa Stadium
Referee: Schmetzer (Germany)

Spain and Turkey finished level on points, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify.

17 March 1954 Turkey  2–2 (a.e.t.)  Spain Rome, Italy
Burhan 25'
Suat 64'		 Report Artetxe 11'
Escudero 78'		 Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Bernardi (Italy)

Luigi Franco Gemma, a 14-year-old Italian boy whose father worked at the stadium, picked Turkey's name from the lots with his eyes blindfolded.[1][2] Since the 1970 FIFA World Cup finals, goal difference has been used as a tiebreaker for future qualifying rounds. Had those rules been in place, Spain would have qualified, and Turkey would have been eliminated. This is the first time Spain failed to qualify. Therefore, Turkey qualified. This was the only time winner of aggregate score failed to qualify.

Group 7
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hungary Qualified
— Poland Withdrew
— Iceland Entry rejected

Poland withdrew and Iceland had their entry rejected so Hungary qualified automatically.

Group 8
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Czechoslovakia 431051+47
2 Romania 42025504
3 Bulgaria 401337−41
14 June 1953 Czechoslovakia  2–0  Romania Prague, Czechoslovakia
Pažický 54'
Vlk 63'		 Report Referee: Pósa (Hungary)
28 June 1953 Romania  3–1  Bulgaria Bucharest, Romania
Pecsovszky 20', 30'
Ene 82'		 Report Tashkov 53' Stadium: 23 August Stadium
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Schulz (East Germany)
6 September 1953 Bulgaria  1–2  Czechoslovakia Sofia, Bulgaria
Bozhkov 55' (pen.) Report Vlk 5', 40' Stadium: Vasil Levski National Stadium
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Aleksandrowicz (Poland)
11 October 1953 Bulgaria  1–2  Romania Sofia, Bulgaria
Kolev 28' Report Serfözö 27'
Călinoiu 52'		 Stadium: Vasil Levski National Stadium
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Dorogi (Hungary)
25 October 1953 Romania  0–1  Czechoslovakia Bucharest, Romania
Report Šafránek 38' (pen.) Referee: Schulz (East Germany)
8 November 1953 Czechoslovakia  0–0  Bulgaria Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Report Stadium: Tehelne Pole
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Chkhatarashvili (Soviet Union)

Czechoslovakia qualified. This was the first time Romania failed to qualify.

Group 9
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 9
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Italy 220072+54
2 Egypt 200227−50
13 November 1953 Egypt  1–2  Italy Cairo, Egypt
Ad-Diba 33' Frignani 62'
Muccinelli 79'		 Stadium: Al Ahly Stadium
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Steiner (Austria)
24 January 1954 Italy  5–1  Egypt Milan, Italy
Pandolfini 1'
Frignani 62'
Boniperti 65', 86'
Ricagni 84'		 El-Hamouly 32' Stadium: Milan Municipality Stadium
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Horn (Netherlands)

Italy qualified.

Group 10
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 10
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Yugoslavia 440040+48
2 Greece 420232+14
3 Israel 400405−50
9 May 1953 Yugoslavia  1–0  Greece Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Matošić 71' Report Referee: Steiner (Austria)
1 November 1953 Greece  1–0  Israel Athens, Greece
Bembis 52' Report Referee: Massai (Italy)
8 November 1953 Yugoslavia  1–0  Israel Skopje, Yugoslavia
Milutinović 3' Report Referee: Alsteen (Belgium)
8 March 1954 Israel  0–2  Greece Tel-Aviv, Israel
Report Kokkinakis 61'
Kamaras 83'		 Referee: Buchmüller (Switzerland)
21 March 1954 Israel  0–1  Yugoslavia Tel-Aviv, Israel
Report Zebec 80' Referee: Leafe (England)
28 March 1954 Greece  0–1  Yugoslavia Athens, Greece
Report Veselinović 50' Referee: Rufli (Switzerland)

Yugoslavia qualified.

Group 11
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Brazil 440081+78
2 Paraguay 420286+24
3 Chile 4004110−90
— Peru Withdrew
— Bolivia Entry rejected


14 February 1954 Paraguay  4–0  Chile Asunción, Paraguay
Lugo 30'
J. Parodi 52'
Hermosilla 70'
S. Parodi 79'		 Referee: Steiner (Austria)
21 February 1954 Chile  1–3  Paraguay Santiago, Chile
Robledo 16' Lugo 17', 63'
J. Parodi 84'		 Referee: Vincentini (France)
28 February 1954 Chile  0–2  Brazil Santiago, Chile
Baltazar 38', 63' Referee: Vincentini (France)
7 March 1954 Paraguay  0–1  Brazil Asunción, Paraguay
Baltazar 52' Referee: Steiner (Austria)
14 March 1954 Brazil  1–0  Chile Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Baltazar 35' Referee: Steiner (Austria)
21 March 1954 Brazil  4–1  Paraguay Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Botelho 60', 85'
Baltazar 62'
Maurinho 90'		 Martínez 75' Referee: Vincentini (France)

Brazil qualified. Despite having participated in every World Cup, this was the first time they played qualifying matches.

Group 12
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Mexico 4400191+188
2 United States 420279−24
3 Haiti 4004218−160
4 Costa Rica Entry rejected
5 Cuba Entry rejected


19 July 1953 Mexico  8–0  Haiti Mexico City, Mexico
Balcázar 23', 26', 76'
Gómez 27'
Tellez 34'
Arnauda 38', 69', 85'		 Referee: Crawford (England)
27 December 1953 Haiti  0–4  Mexico Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Ávalos 6'
Lamadrid 15', 59'
Balcázar 65'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)
10 January 1954 Mexico  4–0  United States Mexico City, Mexico
Balcázar 5'
Scheppel 16' (o.g.)
Lamadrid 47'
Naranjo 63'		 Referee: Sunderland (England)
14 January 1954 Mexico  3–1  United States Mexico City, Mexico
A. Torres 60', 89'
Lamadrid 82'		 Looby 6' Referee: Best (United States)
3 March 1954 Haiti  2–3  United States Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Ellie 60' (pen.), 89' Casey 20'
Chacurian 42'
Looby 83'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)
4 March 1954 Haiti  0–3  United States Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Looby 22', 65'
Mendoza 31'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)

Mexico qualified.

Group 13
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC – Group 13)
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 South Korea 211073+43
2 Japan 201137−41
3 Republic of China Withdrew
4 India Entry rejected
5 Vietnam Entry rejected


7 March 1954 Japan  1–5  South Korea Tokyo, Japan
Naganuma 16' Chung Nam-sik 22'
Choi Kwang-suk 34'
Sung Nak-woon 65'
Choi Chung-min 82' 85'		 Stadium: Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium
Referee: Haran (Hong Kong)
14 March 1954 South Korea  2–2  Japan Tokyo, Japan
Chung Nam-sik 20'
Choi Kwang-suk 43'		 Iwatani 17', 61' Stadium: Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium
Referee: Haran (Hong Kong)

South Korea qualified.

Qualified teams
FIFA World Cup qualification 1954
Qualifying countries
Team Date of qualification Finals appearance Streak Last appearance
 Austria 29 November 1953 3rd11938
 Belgium 8 October 1953 4th11938
 Brazil 21 March 1954 5th51950
 Czechoslovakia 25 October 1953 3rd11938
 England 11 November 1953 2nd21950
 France 25 November 1953 4th11938
 Hungary (w) 3rd11938
 Italy 24 January 1954 4th41950
 South Korea 14 March 1954 1st1—
 Mexico 14 January 1954 3rd21950
 Scotland 31 March 1954 1st1—
  Switzerland (h) 22 July 1946 4th41950
 Turkey 17 March 1954 1st1—
 Uruguay (c) 16 July 1950 3rd21950
 West Germany 28 March 1954 1st1—
 Yugoslavia 28 March 1954 3rd21950

(h) – qualified automatically as hosts

(c) – qualified automatically as defending champions

(w) – qualified automatically because Poland withdrew

6 of the 16 teams subsequently failed to qualify for the 1958 finals: Belgium, Italy, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and Uruguay.

Goalscorers
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

Notes
  • Turkey qualified via the drawing of lots, after they and Spain finished level on points in Group 6 and a drawn play-off match in Rome.
  • For the first time, qualification matches were actually played in South America; in the four previous World Cups, the South American teams qualified automatically due to withdrawals (in the case of 1934) or through the South American Football Championship (for the 1938 and 1950 tournaments), while there was no qualifying process in 1930. Argentina did not take part in the qualification process.
  • As the French-occupied Saarland protectorate did not become part of Germany until 1957, the Saarland national team entered their only World Cup competition and actually had to play Germany in the qualifiers.
  • The entries of Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Iceland, India and South Vietnam were rejected by FIFA.[3]
  • After being banned from the 1950 tournament following the Second World War, Germany and Japan were both allowed to play again. West Germany qualified and became champions after defeating Hungary with a score of 3–2 in the final that became known as the Miracle of Bern.

References
  1. "Play-off history provides no clues for Spain". FIFA. 20 Oct 2005.
  2. Rogers, Iain (27 March 2009). "Don't mention the draw!". Reuters.
  3. "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.