Tournament details | |
---|---|
Teams | 37 (from 3 confederations) |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 57 |
Goals scored | 208 (3.65 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | ![]() |
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.
37 teams were divided into 13 groups, based on geographical considerations, as follows:
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.
The 13 groups had different rules, as follows:
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 1 |
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 7 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 3 |
3 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | −5 | 2 |
24 June 1953 | Norway ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() | Oslo, Norway |
Thoresen ![]() Dahlen ![]() |
Report | Binkert ![]() Otto ![]() Siedl ![]() |
Stadium: Bislett Stadion Referee: J. Bronkhorst (Netherlands) |
19 August 1953 | Norway ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Oslo, Norway |
Hennum ![]() |
Report | F. Walter ![]() |
Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion Referee: W. B. Aussum (Netherlands) |
11 October 1953 | West Germany ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Stuttgart, West Germany |
Morlock ![]() Schade ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Neckarstadion Referee: Karel van der Meer (Netherlands) |
8 November 1953 | Saar ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Saarbrücken, Saarland |
Report | Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion Referee: Leo Horn (Netherlands) |
22 November 1953 | West Germany ![]() | 5–1 | ![]() | Hamburg, West Germany |
Morlock ![]() O. Walter ![]() F. Walter ![]() Rahn ![]() |
Report | Nordahl ![]() |
Stadium: Volksparkstadion Referee: Arthur Luty (England) |
28 March 1954 | Saar ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() | Saarbrücken, Saarland |
Martin ![]() |
Report | Morlock ![]() Schäfer ![]() |
Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion Referee: J. Bronkhorst (Netherlands) |
West Germany qualified.
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 2 |
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 7 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 3 |
3 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | −6 | 2 |
25 May 1953 | Finland ![]() | 2–4 | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
Lehtovirta ![]() |
Report | Coppens ![]() Anoul ![]() |
Stadium: Olympiastadion Referee: Helge (Denmark) |
28 May 1953 | Sweden ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() | Stockholm, Sweden |
Berndtsson ![]() Selmosson ![]() |
Report | Anoul ![]() Straetmans ![]() Lemberechts ![]() |
Stadium: Råsunda Stadion Referee: Mowat (Scotland) |
5 August 1953 | Finland ![]() | 3–3 | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
Lehtovirta ![]() Lahtinen ![]() Rikberg ![]() |
Report | Sandell ![]() Persson ![]() |
Stadium: Olympiastadion Referee: Baalstad (Norway) |
16 August 1953 | Sweden ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Stockholm, Sweden |
Sandberg ![]() Sandell ![]() Sandin ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Råsunda Stadion Referee: Asmussen (Denmark) |
23 September 1953 | Belgium ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() | Brussels, Belgium |
Bollen ![]() |
Report | Lahtinen ![]() Vaihela ![]() |
Stadium: Heysel Stadion Referee: Baumberger (Switzerland) |
8 October 1953 | Belgium ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Brussels, Belgium |
Coppens ![]() Mees ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Heysel Stadion Referee: Schipper (Netherlands) |
Belgium qualified. This is the first time Sweden failed to qualify.
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 | ![]() |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 6 |
2 | ![]() |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
3 | ![]() |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 2 |
4 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 1 |
3 October 1953 | Northern Ireland ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Lockhart ![]() |
Report | Fleming ![]() Henderson ![]() |
Stadium: Windsor Park Referee: Arthur Edward Ellis (England) |
10 October 1953 | Wales ![]() | 1–4 | ![]() | Cardiff, Wales |
Allchurch ![]() |
Report | Wilshaw ![]() Lofthouse ![]() |
Stadium: Ninian Park Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland) |
4 November 1953 | Scotland ![]() | 3–3 | ![]() | Glasgow, Scotland |
Brown ![]() Johnstone ![]() Reilly ![]() |
Report | Charles ![]() Allchurch ![]() |
Stadium: Hampden Park Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland) |
11 November 1953 | England ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Liverpool, England |
Hassall ![]() Lofthouse ![]() |
Report | McMorran ![]() |
Stadium: Goodison Park Referee: Robert Smith (Wales) |
31 March 1954 | Wales ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Wrexham, Wales |
Charles ![]() |
Report | McParland ![]() |
Stadium: Racecourse Ground Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland) |
3 April 1954 | Scotland ![]() | 2–4 | ![]() | Glasgow, Scotland |
Brown ![]() Ormond ![]() |
Report | Broadis ![]() Nicholls ![]() Allen ![]() Mullen ![]() |
Stadium: Hampden Park Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland) |
England and Scotland qualified.
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 4 |
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 4 | +16 | 8 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 4 |
3 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 19 | −18 | 0 |
20 September 1953 | Luxembourg ![]() | 1–6 | ![]() | Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
Kohn ![]() |
Report | Piantoni ![]() Kopa ![]() Cicci ![]() Glovacki ![]() Kargu ![]() Flamion ![]() |
Stadium: Stade Municipal Referee: Dörflinger (Switzerland) |
4 October 1953 | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 3–5 | ![]() | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
Ryan ![]() Walsh ![]() O'Farrell ![]() |
Report | Glovacki ![]() Penverne ![]() Ujlaki ![]() Flamion ![]() |
Stadium: Dalymount Park Referee: Franken (Belgium) |
28 October 1953 | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
Fitzsimons ![]() Ryan ![]() Eglington ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Dalymount Park Referee: Bond (England) |
25 November 1953 | France ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Paris, France |
Piantoni ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Parc des Princes Referee: Van Nuffel (Belgium) |
17 December 1953 | France ![]() | 8–0 | ![]() | Paris, France |
Desgranges ![]() Vincent ![]() Fontaine ![]() Foix ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Parc des Princes Referee: Roeykens (Belgium) |
7 March 1954 | Luxembourg ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
Report | Cummins ![]() |
Stadium: Stade Municipal Referee: Ausum (Netherlands) |
France qualified.
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 5 |
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 3 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 1 |
27 September 1953 | Austria ![]() | 9–1 | ![]() | Vienna, Austria |
Ocwirk ![]() Probst ![]() Happel ![]() Wagner ![]() Dienst ![]() |
Report | Águas ![]() |
Stadium: Praterstadion Referee: Bauwens (Belgium) |
29 November 1953 | Portugal ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Lisbon, Portugal |
Report | Stadium: Estádio Nacional Referee: Harzic (France) |
Austria qualified.
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 6 |
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 2 |
![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 |
6 January 1954 | Spain ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() | Madrid, Spain |
Venancio ![]() Gaínza ![]() González ![]() Alsua ![]() |
Report | Recep ![]() |
Stadium: Estadio Nuevo Chamartín Referee: Vincentini (France) |
14 March 1954 | Turkey ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Istanbul, Turkey |
Burhan ![]() |
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.) | ![]() | Rome, Italy |
Burhan ![]() Suat ![]() |
Report | Artetxe ![]() Escudero ![]() |
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.
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Qualified | |||||||
— | ![]() |
Withdrew | |||||||
— | ![]() |
Entry rejected |
Poland withdrew and Iceland had their entry rejected so Hungary qualified automatically.
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
3 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 1 |
14 June 1953 | Czechoslovakia ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Prague, Czechoslovakia |
Pažický ![]() Vlk ![]() |
Report | Referee: Pósa (Hungary) |
28 June 1953 | Romania ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Bucharest, Romania |
Pecsovszky ![]() Ene ![]() |
Report | Tashkov ![]() |
Stadium: 23 August Stadium Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Schulz (East Germany) |
6 September 1953 | Bulgaria ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Sofia, Bulgaria |
Bozhkov ![]() |
Report | Vlk ![]() |
Stadium: Vasil Levski National Stadium Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Aleksandrowicz (Poland) |
11 October 1953 | Bulgaria ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Sofia, Bulgaria |
Kolev ![]() |
Report | Serfözö ![]() Călinoiu ![]() |
Stadium: Vasil Levski National Stadium Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Dorogi (Hungary) |
25 October 1953 | Romania ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Bucharest, Romania |
Report | Šafránek ![]() |
Referee: Schulz (East Germany) |
8 November 1953 | Czechoslovakia ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Bratislava, Czechoslovakia |
Report | Stadium: Tehelne Pole Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Chkhatarashvili (Soviet Union) |
Czechoslovakia qualified. This was the first time Romania failed to qualify.
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 9 |
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 0 |
13 November 1953 | Egypt ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Cairo, Egypt |
Ad-Diba ![]() |
Frignani ![]() Muccinelli ![]() |
Stadium: Al Ahly Stadium Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Steiner (Austria) |
24 January 1954 | Italy ![]() | 5–1 | ![]() | Milan, Italy |
Pandolfini ![]() Frignani ![]() Boniperti ![]() Ricagni ![]() |
El-Hamouly ![]() |
Stadium: Milan Municipality Stadium Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Horn (Netherlands) |
Italy qualified.
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 10 |
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 8 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
3 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0 |
9 May 1953 | Yugoslavia ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
Matošić ![]() |
Report | Referee: Steiner (Austria) |
8 November 1953 | Yugoslavia ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Skopje, Yugoslavia |
Milutinović ![]() |
Report | Referee: Alsteen (Belgium) |
8 March 1954 | Israel ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Ramat Gan, Israel |
Report | Kokkinakis ![]() Kamaras ![]() |
Referee: Buchmüller (Switzerland) |
28 March 1954 | Greece ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Athens, Greece |
Report | Veselinović ![]() |
Referee: Rufli (Switzerland) |
Yugoslavia qualified.
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 8 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 4 |
3 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | −9 | 0 |
— | ![]() |
Withdrew | |||||||
— | ![]() |
Entry rejected |
14 February 1954 | Paraguay ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Asunción, Paraguay |
Lugo ![]() J. Parodi ![]() Hermosilla ![]() S. Parodi ![]() |
Referee: Steiner (Austria) |
21 February 1954 | Chile ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() | Santiago, Chile |
Robledo ![]() |
Lugo ![]() J. Parodi ![]() |
Referee: Vincentini (France) |
21 March 1954 | Brazil ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
Botelho ![]() Baltazar ![]() Maurinho ![]() |
Martínez ![]() |
Referee: Vincentini (France) |
Brazil qualified. Despite having participated in every World Cup, this was the first time they played qualifying matches.
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | +18 | 8 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 4 |
3 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 18 | −16 | 0 |
4 | ![]() |
Entry rejected | |||||||
5 | ![]() |
Entry rejected |
19 July 1953 | Mexico ![]() | 8–0 | ![]() | Mexico City, Mexico |
Balcázar ![]() Gómez ![]() Tellez ![]() Arnauda ![]() |
Referee: Crawford (England) |
27 December 1953 | Haiti ![]() | 0–4 | ![]() | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
Ávalos ![]() Lamadrid ![]() Balcázar ![]() |
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles) |
10 January 1954 | Mexico ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Mexico City, Mexico |
Balcázar ![]() Scheppel ![]() Lamadrid ![]() Naranjo ![]() |
Referee: Sunderland (England) |
14 January 1954 | Mexico ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Mexico City, Mexico |
A. Torres ![]() Lamadrid ![]() |
Looby ![]() |
Referee: Best (United States) |
3 April 1954 | Haiti ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
Ellie ![]() |
Casey ![]() Chacurian ![]() Looby ![]() |
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles) |
4 April 1954 | Haiti ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
Looby ![]() Mendoza ![]() |
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles) |
Mexico qualified.
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC – Group 13) |
Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 3 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 1 |
3 | ![]() |
Withdrew | |||||||
4 | ![]() |
Entry rejected | |||||||
5 | ![]() |
Entry rejected |
7 March 1954 | Japan ![]() | 1–5 | ![]() | Tokyo, Japan |
Naganuma ![]() |
Chung Nam-sik ![]() Choi Kwang-suk ![]() Sung Nak-woon ![]() Choi Chung-min ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium Referee: Haran (Hong Kong) |
14 March 1954 | South Korea ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() | Tokyo, Japan |
Chung Nam-sik ![]() Choi Kwang-suk ![]() |
Iwatani ![]() |
Stadium: Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium Referee: Haran (Hong Kong) |
South Korea qualified.
Team | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Streak | Last appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
29 November 1953 | 3rd | 1 | 1938 |
![]() |
8 October 1953 | 4th | 1 | 1938 |
![]() |
21 March 1954 | 5th | 5 | 1950 |
![]() |
25 October 1953 | 3rd | 1 | 1938 |
![]() |
11 November 1953 | 2nd | 2 | 1950 |
![]() |
25 November 1953 | 4th | 1 | 1938 |
![]() |
3rd | 1 | 1938 | |
![]() |
24 January 1954 | 4th | 4 | 1950 |
![]() |
14 March 1954 | 1st | 1 | — |
![]() |
14 January 1954 | 3rd | 2 | 1950 |
![]() |
31 March 1954 | 1st | 1 | — |
![]() |
22 July 1946 | 4th | 4 | 1950 |
![]() |
17 March 1954 | 1st | 1 | — |
![]() |
16 July 1950 | 3rd | 2 | 1950 |
![]() |
28 March 1954 | 3rd | 1 | 1938 |
![]() |
28 March 1954 | 3rd | 2 | 1950 |
(h) – qualified automatically as hosts
(c) – qualified automatically as defending champions
(w) – qualified automatically because Poland withdrew