1938 FIFA World Cup qualification

Last updated
1938 FIFA World Cup Qualification
Tournament details
Dates16 June 1937 – 1 May 1938
Teams37 (from 3 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played22
Goals scored96 (4.36 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Latvia.svg Fricis Kaņeps
Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg Gyula Zsengellér
(5 goals each)
1934
1950

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.

Contents

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).

Format

The 12 groups had different rules, as follows:

Key:

Groups

Group 1

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany 330011111.06
2Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 32011171.574
3Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 31024110.362
4Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 3003070.000
Sweden  Flag of Sweden.svg40Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Bunke Soccerball shade.svg60', 82'
Persson Soccerball shade.svg65'
Svanström Soccerball shade.svg68'
Report
Solna Råsunda Stadion , Stockholm, Sweden
Attendance: 19,554
Referee: Kolbjørn Daehlen (Norway)

Sweden  Flag of Sweden.svg72Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
Josefsson Soccerball shade.svg7', 41'
Bunke Soccerball shade.svg40'
Jonasson Soccerball shade.svg49' (pen.)
Wetterström Soccerball shade.svg73', 77', 84'
Report Siimenson Soccerball shade.svg2'
Uukkivi Soccerball shade.svg3'
Solna Råsunda Stadion , Stockholm, Sweden
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Otto Remke (Denmark)

Finland  Flag of Finland.svg02Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany
Report Lehner Soccerball shade.svg26'
Urban Soccerball shade.svg38'
Pallokenttä , Helsinki, Finland
Attendance: 6,519
Referee: Otto Remke (Denmark)

Finland  Flag of Finland.svg01Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
Report Kuremaa Soccerball shade.svg56'
Urheilupuisto , Turku, Finland
Attendance: 4,797
Referee: Ivan Eklind (Sweden)

Germany  Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg41Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
Lehner Soccerball shade.svg50', 65'
Gauchel Soccerball shade.svg53', 86'
Report Siimenson Soccerball shade.svg34'
Horst-Wessel Stadion , Königsberg, Germany
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Bruno Pfützner (Czechoslovakia)

Germany  Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg50Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Siffling Soccerball shade.svg2', 57'
Szepan Soccerball shade.svg8'
Schön Soccerball shade.svg48', 63'
Report
Altonaer Stadion , Hamburg, Germany
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Bruno Pfützner (Czechoslovakia)

Germany and Sweden qualified.

Group 2

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2110651.203
2Flag of Ireland.svg  Irish Free State 2011560.831
Norway  Flag of Norway.svg32Flag of Ireland.svg  Irish Free State
Kvammen Soccerball shade.svg30', 64'
Martinsen Soccerball shade.svg78'
Report Geoghegan Soccerball shade.svg37'
Dunne Soccerball shade.svg49'
Ullevaal Stadion , Oslo, Norway
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Peco Bauwens (Germany)

Irish Free State  Flag of Ireland.svg33Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Dunne Soccerball shade.svg10'
O'Flanagan Soccerball shade.svg62'
Duggan Soccerball shade.svg88'
Report Kvammen Soccerball shade.svg16', 33'
Martinsen Soccerball shade.svg49'
Dalymount Park , Dublin, Irish Free State
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Thomas Gibbs (England)

Norway qualified.

Group 3

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 2101414.002
2Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia 2101140.252
Poland  Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg40Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia
Piątek Soccerball shade.svg3', 20'
Wostal Soccerball shade.svg59'
Wilimowski Soccerball shade.svg78'
Report
Stadion Wojska Polskiego , Warsaw, Poland
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Lucien Leclercq (France)

Yugoslavia  Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg10Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland
Marjanović Soccerball shade.svg61' Report
Stadion BSK , Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Rinaldo Barlassina (Italy)

Poland finished above Yugoslavia on goal average, and thus qualified.

Group 4

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania qualified
Flag of Egypt (1922-1958).svg  Egypt 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]

Group 5

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 1100212.002
2Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 1001120.500
Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg21Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Aeby Soccerball shade.svg24'
Amado Soccerball shade.svg29'
Report Peyroteo Soccerball shade.svg72' (pen.)
Stadio Civico Arena , Milan, Italy
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Francesco Mattea (Italy)

Switzerland qualified.

Group 6

First round

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 2200414.004
2Ensign of the Palestine Mandate (1927-1948).svg  Mandatory Palestine 2002140.250

Greece  Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg10Ensign of the Palestine Mandate (1927-1948).svg  Mandatory Palestine
Vikelidis Soccerball shade.svg88' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 12,000

Greece qualified for the final round.

Final round

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg  Hungary 110011111.02
2Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 10011110.090
Hungary  Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg111Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece
Zsengellér Soccerball shade.svg15', 23' (pen.), 25', 65', 81'
Titkos Soccerball shade.svg18', 75'
Vincze Soccerball shade.svg26'
Nemes Soccerball shade.svg34', 40', 52'
Report Makris Soccerball shade.svg89'
Hungária , Budapest, Hungary
Attendance: 14,000

Hungary qualified.

Group 7

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 2110717.003
2Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 2011170.141
Bulgaria  Flag of Bulgaria.svg11Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Pachedzhiev Soccerball shade.svg89' (pen.) Report Ríha Soccerball shade.svg44'
Junak Stadion , Sofia, Bulgaria
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Rinaldo Barlassina (Italy)

Czechoslovakia  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg60Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
Šimůnek Soccerball shade.svg21', 79', 89'
Nejedlý Soccerball shade.svg57', 77'
Ludl Soccerball shade.svg73'
Report

Czechoslovakia qualified.

Group 8

First round

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 2200933.004
2Flag of Lithuania 1918-1940.svg  Lithuania 2002390.330
Latvia  Flag of Latvia.svg42Flag of Lithuania 1918-1940.svg  Lithuania
Kaņeps Soccerball shade.svg19', 52', 83'
Vestermans Soccerball shade.svg50'
Report Gudelis Soccerball shade.svg79'
Paulionis Soccerball shade.svg90'
Attendance: 10,000

Lithuania  Flag of Lithuania 1918-1940.svg15Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
Paulionis Soccerball shade.svg72' Report Kaņeps Soccerball shade.svg4', 45' (pen.)
Borduško Soccerball shade.svg11', 30'
Vestermans Soccerball shade.svg67'

Latvia qualified for the final round.

Final round

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 1100212.002
2Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 1001120.500
Austria  Flag of Austria.svg21Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
Jerusalem Soccerball shade.svg15'
Binder Soccerball shade.svg33'
Report Vestermans Soccerball shade.svg6'
Attendance: 16,000

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.

Group 9

Pos.TeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2110515.003
2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2110431.333
3Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 2002270.290
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg40Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
Smit Soccerball shade.svg29'
de Boer Soccerball shade.svg68', 78', 82'
Report
Stadion Feyenoord , Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Karl Weingarter (Austria)

Luxembourg  Flag of Luxembourg.svg23Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Libar Soccerball shade.svg4'
Kemp Soccerball shade.svg33'
Report Voorhoof Soccerball shade.svg19'
Braine Soccerball shade.svg55'
de Vries Soccerball shade.svg59'

Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg11Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Isemborghs Soccerball shade.svg53' Report van Spaandonck Soccerball shade.svg37'
Bosuil Stadion , Antwerp, Belgium
Attendance: 47,660
Referee: Arthur Jewell (England)

Netherlands and Belgium qualified.

Group 10

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil Bye
2Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Withdrew

Argentina withdrew, so Brazil qualified automatically.

Group 11

First round

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of Cuba (sky blue).svg  Cuba Bye
2Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica Withdrew
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Dutch Guiana
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg  Mexico
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States

Costa Rica, Dutch Guiana, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia and the United States all withdrew, so Cuba qualified automatically for the second round.

Second round

All other teams than Cuba had withdrawn from competition, so thus qualified automatically for the finals.

Group 12

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPts
1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Dutch East Indies Qualified
2Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan Withdrew

Japan withdrew, so the Dutch East Indies qualified automatically.

Qualified teams

FIFA World Cup qualification 1938 Qualification for the 1938 FIFA World Cup.png
FIFA World Cup qualification 1938
Qualifying countries 1938 world cup.png
Qualifying countries
TeamFinals AppearanceStreakLast Appearance
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 2nd2 1934
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 3rd3 1934
Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil 3rd3 1934
Flag of Cuba (sky blue).svg  Cuba 1st1
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 2nd2 1934
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Dutch East Indies 1st1
Flag of France.svg  France (h)3rd3 1934
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany 2nd2 1934
Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg  Hungary 2nd2 1934
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy (c)2nd2 1934
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2nd2 1934
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1st1
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 1st1
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 3rd3 1934
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2nd2 1934
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 2nd2 1934

Goalscorers

5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

Notes

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References

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