Tournament details | |
---|---|
Dates | 16 June 1937 – 1 May 1938 |
Teams | 37 (from 3 confederations) |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 22 |
Goals scored | 96 (4.36 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | ![]() ![]() (5 goals each) |
A total of 37 teams entered the 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. For the first time the title holders and the host country were given automatic qualification. Therefore, France, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.
Due to the Spanish Civil War, Spain withdrew from the competition. The remaining 34 teams were divided into 12 groups, based on geographical considerations, as follows:
However, due to the withdrawal of Austria after qualifying (they had been annexed by Germany), only 15 teams actually competed in the final tournament. FIFA did not offer participation to the runner-up of the group that Austria had played in, Latvia.
A total of 21 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 22 qualifying matches were played, and 96 goals were scored (an average of 4.36 per match).
The 12 groups had different rules, as follows:
Key:
Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 1 |
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 11.0 | 6 |
2 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 1.57 | 4 |
3 | ![]() |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 0.36 | 2 |
4 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0.00 | 0 |
16 June 1937 | Sweden ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Stockholm, Sweden |
Bunke ![]() Persson ![]() Svanström ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Solna Råsunda Stadion Attendance: 19,544 Referee: Kolbjørn Daehlen (Norway) |
20 June 1937 | Sweden ![]() | 7–2 | ![]() | Stockholm, Sweden |
Josefsson ![]() Bunke ![]() Jonasson ![]() Wetterström ![]() |
Report | Siimenson ![]() Uukkivi ![]() |
Stadium: Solna Råsunda Stadion Attendance: 18,270 Referee: Otto Remke (Denmark) |
29 June 1937 | Finland ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
Report | Lehner ![]() Urban ![]() |
Stadium: Pallokenttä Attendance: 6,619 Referee: Otto Remke (Denmark) |
19 August 1937 | Finland ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Turku, Finland |
Report | Kuremaa ![]() |
Stadium: Urheilupuisto Attendance: 4,797 Referee: Ivan Eklind (Sweden) |
29 August 1937 | Germany ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() | Königsberg, Germany |
Lehner ![]() Gauchel ![]() |
Report | Siimenson ![]() |
Stadium: Horst-Wessel Stadion Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Bruno Pfützner (Czechoslovakia) |
21 November 1937 | Germany ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() | Hamburg, Germany |
Siffling ![]() Szepan ![]() Schön ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Altonaer Stadion Attendance: 51,000 Referee: Bruno Pfützner (Czechoslovakia) |
Germany and Sweden qualified.
Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 2 |
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1.20 | 3 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0.83 | 1 |
10 October 1937 | Norway ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() | Oslo, Norway |
Kvammen ![]() Martinsen ![]() |
Report | Geoghegan ![]() Dunne ![]() |
Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion Attendance: 19,000 Referee: Peco Bauwens (Germany) |
7 November 1937 | Irish Free State ![]() | 3–3 | ![]() | Dublin, Irish Free State |
Dunne ![]() O'Flanagan ![]() Duggan ![]() |
Report | Kvammen ![]() Martinsen ![]() |
Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 27,000 Referee: Thomas Gibbs (England) |
Norway qualified.
Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 3 |
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4.00 | 2 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.25 | 2 |
10 October 1937 | Poland ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Warsaw, Poland |
Piątek ![]() Wostal ![]() Wilimowski ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Stadion Wojska Polskiego Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Lucien Leclercq (France) |
3 April 1938 | Yugoslavia ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
Marjanović ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Stadion BSK Attendance: 26,000 Referee: Rinadlo Barlassina (Italy) |
Poland finished above Yugoslavia on goal average, and thus qualified.
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | ![]() |
qualified | |||||||
— | ![]() |
withdrew |
Egypt were to play Romania on 17 December 1937. However, Egypt withdrew from the competition after Egyptian officials objected to playing on this date since it was in the holy month of Ramadan. Therefore, Romania qualified after Egypt invited Austrian club side First Vienna to play the friendly match against the national team.[1]
Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 5 |
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2.00 | 2 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 |
1 May 1938 | Switzerland ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Milan, Italy |
Aeby ![]() Amado ![]() |
Report | Peyroteo ![]() |
Stadium: Stadio Civico Arena Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Francesco Mattea (Italy) |
Switzerland qualified.
Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 6 |
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4.00 | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.25 | 0 |
22 January 1938 | Mandatory Palestine ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() | Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine/Land of Israel |
Neufeld ![]() |
Report | Vikelidis ![]() Migiakis ![]() |
Stadium: Maccabi Ground Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Mohammed Youssef (Egypt) |
20 February 1938 | Greece ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Athens, Greece |
Vikelidis ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Stadio Leoforos Alexandras Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Mika Popovic (Yugoslavia) |
Greece qualified for the final round.
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 11.0 | 2 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0.09 | 0 |
25 March 1938 | Hungary ![]() | 11–1 | ![]() | Budapest, Hungary |
Zsengellér ![]() Titkos ![]() Vincze ![]() Nemes ![]() |
Report | Makris ![]() |
Stadium: Hungária Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Denis Xifando (Romania) |
Hungary qualified.
Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 7 |
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7.00 | 3 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0.14 | 1 |
7 November 1937 | Bulgaria ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Sofia, Bulgaria |
Panchediev ![]() |
Report | Ríha ![]() |
Stadium: Junak Stadion Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Rinaldo Barlassina (Italy) |
24 April 1938 | Czechoslovakia ![]() | 6–0 | ![]() | Prague, Czechoslovakia |
Šimůnek ![]() Nejedlý ![]() Ludl ![]() |
Report | Stadium: AC Sparta Stadion Attendance: 28,000 Referee: Pál von Hertzka (Hungary) |
Czechoslovakia qualified.
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 3.00 | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 0.33 | 0 |
29 July 1937 | Latvia ![]() | 4–2 | ![]() | Riga, Latvia |
Kaņeps ![]() Vestermans ![]() |
Report | Gudelis ![]() Paulionis ![]() |
Stadium: ASK stadions Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Gustav Krist (Czechoslovakia) |
3 September 1937 | Lithuania ![]() | 1–5 | ![]() | Kaunas, Lithuania |
Paulionis ![]() |
Report | Kaņeps ![]() Borduško ![]() Vestermans ![]() |
Stadium: Valstybinis stadionas Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Hans Frankenstein (Austria) |
Latvia qualified for the final round.
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2.00 | 2 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 |
5 October 1937 | Austria ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Vienna, Austria |
Jerusalem ![]() Binder ![]() |
Report | Vestermans ![]() |
Stadium: Stadion Prater Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Pál von Hercka (Hungary) |
Austria qualified, but was later incorporated by Germany during the Anschluss. FIFA offered the place to England (winner of the 1937–38 British Home Championship), who had opted not to enter the competition, but they declined the offer; FIFA decided not to allow anyone else to qualify, leaving the World Cup one team short.
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5.00 | 3 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 3 |
3 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0.29 | 0 |
28 November 1937 | Netherlands ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
Smit ![]() de Boer ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Stadion Feyenoord Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Karl Weingarter (Austria) |
13 March 1938 | Luxembourg ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() | Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
Libar ![]() Kemp ![]() |
Report | Voorhoof ![]() Braine ![]() de Vries ![]() |
Stadium: Stade Municipal Attendance: 11,200 Referee: Georges Capdeville (France) |
3 April 1938 | Belgium ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Antwerp, Belgium |
Isemborghs ![]() |
Report | van Spaandonck ![]() |
Stadium: Bosuil Stadion Attendance: 47,660 Referee: Arthur Jewell (England) |
Netherlands and Belgium qualified.
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Bye | |||||||
2 | ![]() |
Withdrew |
Argentina withdrew, so Brazil qualified automatically.
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Bye | |||||||
2 | ![]() |
Withdrew | |||||||
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Costa Rica, Dutch Guiana, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia and the United States all withdrew, so Cuba qualified automatically for the second round.
All other teams than Cuba had withdrawn from competition, so thus qualified automatically for the finals.
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Bye | |||||||
2 | ![]() |
Withdrew |
Japan withdrew, so Dutch East Indies qualified automatically.
Team | Finals Appearance | Streak | Last Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
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2nd | 2 | 1934 |
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3rd | 3 | 1934 |
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3rd | 3 | 1934 |
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1st | 1 | – |
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2nd | 2 | 1934 |
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1st | 1 | – |
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3rd | 3 | 1934 |
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2nd | 2 | 1934 |
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2nd | 2 | 1934 |
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2nd | 2 | 1934 |
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2nd | 2 | 1934 |
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1st | 1 | – |
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1st | 1 | – |
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3rd | 3 | 1934 |
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2nd | 2 | 1934 |
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2nd | 2 | 1934 |