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)West Germany Max Morlock (6 goals)
1950
1958

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

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The 13 groups had different rules, as follows:

  • Groups 1, 2, 4, 7, 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 5, 6 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

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   West Germany 4 3 1 0 12 3 +9 7
2   Saar 4 1 1 2 4 8 −4 3
3   Norway 4 0 2 2 4 9 −5 2
Norway  2–3  Saar
Thoresen   3'
Dahlen   15'
Report Binkert   16'
Otto   30'
Siedl   55'
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: J. Bronkhorst (Netherlands)

Norway  1–1  West Germany
Hennum   41' Report F. Walter   44'
Attendance: 32,266
Referee: W. B. Aussum (Netherlands)

West Germany  3–0  Saar
Morlock   13', 50'
Schade   70'
Report
Attendance: 48,000
Referee: Karel van der Meer (Netherlands)

Saar  0–0  Norway
Report

West Germany  5–1  Norway
Morlock   27', 63'
O. Walter   69'
F. Walter   80'
Rahn   88'
Report Nordahl   26'

Saar  1–3  West Germany
Martin   68' (pen.) Report Morlock   36', 48'
Schäfer   84'
Attendance: 53,000
Referee: J. Bronkhorst (Netherlands)

West Germany qualified.

Group 2

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Belgium 4 3 1 0 11 6 +5 7
2   Sweden 4 1 1 2 9 8 +1 3
3   Finland 4 0 2 2 7 13 −6 2
Finland  2–4  Belgium
Lehtovirta   49', 75' Report Coppens   4', 26', 83'
Anoul   9'
Attendance: 2,377
Referee: Helge (Denmark)

Sweden  2–3  Belgium
Bengtsson   20'
Selmosson   26'
Report Anoul   28'
Straetmans   37'
Lemberechts   40'
Attendance: 34,029
Referee: Mowat (Scotland)

Finland  3–3  Sweden
Lehtovirta   63'
Lahtinen   67'
Rikberg   70'
Report Sandell   9', 71'
Persson   23'
Attendance: 13,849
Referee: Baalstad (Norway)

Sweden  4–0  Finland
Sandberg   22'
Sandell   24', 61'
Sandin   56'
Report
Attendance: 27,138
Referee: Asmussen (Denmark)

Belgium  2–2  Finland
Bollen   25', 75' Report Lahtinen   83'
Vaihela   90'
Attendance: 13,804
Referee: Baumberger (Switzerland)

Belgium  2–0  Sweden
Coppens   23'
Mees   49'
Report
Attendance: 31,563
Referee: Schipper (Netherlands)

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

Group 3

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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   England 3 3 0 0 11 4 +7 6
2   Scotland 3 1 1 1 8 8 0 3
3   Northern Ireland 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 2
4   Wales 3 0 1 2 5 9 −4 1
Northern Ireland  1–3  Scotland
Lockhart   72' (pen.) Report Fleming   47', 69'
Henderson   89'

Wales  1–4  England
Allchurch   22' Report Wilshaw   45', 49'
Lofthouse   52', 53'
Attendance: 61,000
Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland)

Scotland  3–3  Wales
Brown   19'
Johnstone   42'
Reilly   58'
Report Charles   49', 88'
Allchurch   73'
Attendance: 71,413
Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland)

England  3–1  Northern Ireland
Hassall   10', 60'
Lofthouse   75'
Report McMorran   54'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Robert Smith (Wales)

Wales  1–2  Northern Ireland
Charles   80' Report McParland   1', 52'
Attendance: 32,817
Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland)

Scotland  2–4  England
Brown   7'
Ormond   89'
Report Broadis   13'
Nicholls   50'
Allen   68'
Mullen   83'
Attendance: 134,544
Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland)

England and Scotland qualified.

Group 4

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   France 4 4 0 0 20 4 +16 8
2   Republic of Ireland 4 2 0 2 8 6 +2 4
3   Luxembourg 4 0 0 4 1 19 −18 0
Luxembourg  1–6  France
Kohn   6' Report Piantoni   5'
Kopa   10'
Cicci   41'
Glovacki   44'
Kargu   73'
Flamion   88'

Republic of Ireland  3–5  France
Ryan   58' (pen.)
Walsh   83'
O'Farrell   88'
Report Glovacki   23'
Penverne   40'
Ujlaki   50', 69'
Flamion   72'

Republic of Ireland  4–0  Luxembourg
Fitzsimons   14', 83'
Ryan   48' (pen.)
Eglington   59'
Report

France  1–0  Republic of Ireland
Piantoni   73' Report
Referee: Van Nuffel (Belgium)

France  8–0  Luxembourg
Desgranges   2', 88'
Vincent   6', 10'
Fontaine   21', 75', 80'
Foix   57'
Report
Referee: Roeykens (Belgium)

France qualified.

Group 5

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Austria 2 1 1 0 9 1 +8 3
2   Portugal 2 0 1 1 1 9 −8 1
Austria  9–1  Portugal
Ocwirk   13'
Probst   14', 19', 31', 59', 70'
Happel   68' (pen.)
Wagner   83'
Dienst   87'
Report Águas   60'
Referee: Bauwens (Belgium)

Portugal  0–0  Austria
Report

Austria qualified.

Group 6

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Spain 2 1 0 1 4 2 +2 2
  Turkey 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 2
Spain  4–1  Turkey
Venancio   13'
Gaínza   48'
González   49'
Alsua   65'
Report Recep   31'

Turkey  1–0  Spain
Burhan   16' Report

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

Turkey  2–2 (a.e.t.)  Spain
Burhan   25'
Suat   64'
Report Artetxe   11'
Escudero   78'
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] Therefore, Turkey qualified. This is the first time Spain failed to qualify.

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 was the only time winner of aggregate score failed to qualify.

Group 7

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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

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Czechoslovakia 4 3 1 0 5 1 +4 7
2   Romania 4 2 0 2 5 5 0 4
3   Bulgaria 4 0 1 3 3 7 −4 1
Czechoslovakia  2–0  Romania
Pažický   54'
Vlk   63'
Report
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Pósa (Hungary)

Romania  3–1  Bulgaria
Pecsovszky   20', 30'
Ene   82'
Report Tashkov   53'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Schulz (East Germany)

Bulgaria  1–2  Czechoslovakia
Bozhkov   55' (pen.) Report Vlk   5', 40'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Aleksandrowicz (Poland)

Bulgaria  1–2  Romania
Kolev   28' Report Serfözö   27'
Călinoiu   52'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Dorogi (Hungary)

Romania  0–1  Czechoslovakia
Report Šafránek   38' (pen.)
23 August, Bucharest, Romania
Attendance: 90,000
Referee: Schulz (East Germany)

Czechoslovakia  0–0  Bulgaria
Report
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Chkhatarashvili (Soviet Union)

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

Group 9

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Italy 2 2 0 0 7 2 +5 4
2   Egypt 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 0
Egypt  1–2  Italy
Ad-Diba   33' Frignani   62'
Muccinelli   79'
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Steiner (Austria)

Italy  5–1  Egypt
Pandolfini   1'
Frignani   62'
Boniperti   65', 86'
Ricagni   84'
El-Hamouly   32'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Horn (Netherlands)

Italy qualified.

Group 10

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Yugoslavia 4 4 0 0 4 0 +4 8
2   Greece 4 2 0 2 3 2 +1 4
3   Israel 4 0 0 4 0 5 −5 0
Yugoslavia  1–0  Greece
Matošić   71' Report
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Steiner (Austria)

Greece  1–0  Israel
Bembis   52' Report
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Massai (Italy)

Yugoslavia  1–0  Israel
Milutinović   3' Report
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Alsteen (Belgium)

Israel  0–2  Greece
Report Kokkinakis   61'
Kamaras   83'
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Buchmüller (Switzerland)

Israel  0–1  Yugoslavia
Report Zebec   80'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Leafe (England)

Greece  0–1  Yugoslavia
Report Veselinović   50'
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Rufli (Switzerland)

Yugoslavia qualified.

Group 11

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Brazil 4 4 0 0 8 1 +7 8
2   Paraguay 4 2 0 2 8 6 +2 4
3   Chile 4 0 0 4 1 10 −9 0
  Peru Withdrew
  Bolivia Entry rejected


Paraguay  4–0  Chile
Lugo   30'
J. Parodi   52'
Hermosilla   70'
S. Parodi   79'
Referee: Steiner (Austria)

Chile  1–3  Paraguay
Robledo   16' Lugo   17', 63'
J. Parodi   84'
Referee: Vincentini (France)

Chile  0–2  Brazil
Baltazar   38', 63'
Referee: Vincentini (France)

Paraguay  0–1  Brazil
Baltazar   52'
Referee: Steiner (Austria)

Brazil  1–0  Chile
Baltazar   35'
Referee: Steiner (Austria)

Brazil  4–1  Paraguay
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

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   Mexico 4 4 0 0 19 1 +18 8
2   United States 4 2 0 2 7 9 −2 4
3   Haiti 4 0 0 4 2 18 −16 0
4   Costa Rica Entry rejected
5   Cuba Entry rejected


Mexico  8–0  Haiti
Balcázar   23', 26', 76'
Gómez   27'
Tellez   34'
Arnauda   38', 69', 85'
Referee: Crawford (England)

Haiti  0–4  Mexico
Ávalos   6'
Lamadrid   15', 59'
Balcázar   65'
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)

Mexico  4–0  United States
Balcázar   5'
Scheppel   16' (o.g.)
Lamadrid   47'
Naranjo   63'
Referee: Sunderland (England)

Mexico  3–1  United States
A. Torres   60', 89'
Lamadrid   82'
Looby   6'
Referee: Best (United States)

Haiti  2–3  United States
Ellie   60' (pen.), 89' Casey   20'
Chacurian   42'
Looby   83'
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)

Haiti  0–3  United States
Looby   22', 65'
Mendoza   31'
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)

Mexico qualified.

Group 13

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Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1   South Korea 2 1 1 0 7 3 +4 3
2   Japan 2 0 1 1 3 7 −4 1
3   Republic of China Withdrew
4   India Entry rejected
5   Vietnam Entry rejected


Japan  1–5  South Korea
Naganuma   16' Chung Nam-sik   22', 83'
Choi Kwang-suk   34'
Choi Chung-min   68', 87'
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Haran (Hong Kong)

South Korea  2–2  Japan
Chung Nam-sik   20'
Choi Chung-min   43'
Iwatani   17', 61'
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Haran (Hong Kong)

South Korea qualified.

Qualified teams

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FIFA World Cup qualification 1954
 
Qualifying countries
Team Date of qualification Finals appearance Streak Last appearance
  Austria 29 November 1953 3rd 1 1938
  Belgium 8 October 1953 4th 1 1938
  Brazil 21 March 1954 5th 5 1950
  Czechoslovakia 25 October 1953 3rd 1 1938
  England 11 November 1953 2nd 2 1950
  France 25 November 1953 4th 1 1938
  Hungary (w) 3rd 1 1938
  Italy 24 January 1954 4th 4 1950
  South Korea 14 March 1954 1st 1
  Mexico 14 January 1954 3rd 2 1950
  Scotland 31 March 1954 1st 1
   Switzerland (h) 22 July 1946 4th 4 1950
  Turkey 17 March 1954 1st 1
  Uruguay (c) 16 July 1950 3rd 2 1950
  West Germany 28 March 1954 3rd 1 1938
  Yugoslavia 28 March 1954 3rd 2 1950

(h) – qualified automatically as hosts

(c) – qualified automatically as defending champions

(w) – qualified automatically because Poland withdrew

Goalscorers

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

Notes

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  • 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

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  1. ^ "Play-off history provides no clues for Spain". FIFA. 20 Oct 2005. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  2. ^ Rogers, Iain (27 March 2009). "Don't mention the draw!". Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  3. ^ "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
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