List of first association football internationals per country: 1940–1962

The following is a list of first official international association football matches for each (present or past) member of FIFA, played between 1940 and 1962. The matches are listed chronologically.

List of matches

Croatia

Croatia   v    Switzerland

2 April 1940 [1] Friendly	Croatia	4–0	Switzerland	HSK Gradjanski Stadium, Zagreb
	Matekalo 46' Cimermančić 70', 82' Lešnik 84'	RSSSF report EU-Football report		Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Giuseppe Scarpi (Italy)

Lebanon

Mandatory Palestine   v   Lebanon

27 April 1940 [2] Friendly	Mandatory Palestine	5–1	Lebanon	Maccabiah Stadium, Tel Aviv
	Meitner 2' Schneiderovitz 11' Machlis 32' Kaspi 40', 60'	Report	Cordahi 50'	Attendance: 10,000 Referee: John Blackwell (England)

Puerto Rico

Cuba   v   Puerto Rico

12 November 1940 [3] Friendly	Cuba	1–1	Puerto Rico	Havana
	Not known?'		Not known?'

Afghanistan and Iran

Afghanistan   v   Iran

25 August 1941 [4] [5] Friendly	Afghanistan	0–0	Iran	Ghazi Stadium, Kabul
		Report		Attendance: 10,000

Syria

Lebanon   v   Syria

19 April 1942 [6] Friendly	Lebanon	1–2	Syria	Beirut Municipal Stadium, Beirut
	Abou Nader 30'

Tanzania

Tanganyika   v   Uganda

1945 [7] Gossage Cup	Tanganyika	0–7	Uganda	Nakivubo Stadium, Kampala
			Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?', ?', ?'

Iceland

Iceland   v   Denmark

17 July 1946 [8] Friendly	Iceland	0–3	Denmark	Reykjavík
		Report	Christiansen ?' Hansen ?' Sørensen ?'

Albania

Albania   v   Yugoslavia

17 July 1946 [9] Balkan Cup	Albania	2–3	Yugoslavia	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana
	Mirashi 6' Teliti 8'	Report	Matošić 49' Bobek 52' Čajkovski 57'	Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Radu Istrate (Romania)

Zambia

Southern Rhodesia   v   Northern Rhodesia

1946 [10] Friendly	Southern Rhodesia	0–4	Northern Rhodesia	Salisbury
			Not known?', ?', ?', ?'

Ethiopia and Djibouti

Ethiopia   v French Somaliland

15 May 1947 [11] [12] Friendly	Ethiopia	5–0	French Somaliland	Addis Ababa Stadium, Addis Ababa
	Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?'

Madagascar and Mauritius

Madagascar v   Mauritius

1947 [13] [14] Triangular Tournament	Madagascar	1–2	Mauritius	Mahamasina Municipal Stadium, Antananarivo
	Not known?'		Not known?', ?'

China PR

Turkey   v   China

2 August 1948 [15] Olympic Games	Turkey	4–0	China	Green Pond Road, Walthamstow, England
	Kılıç 18'61' Saygun 72' Küçükandonyadis 87'	Report		Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Johann Beck (Austria)

South Korea

South Korea   v   Mexico

2 August 1948 [16] Olympic Games	South Korea	5–3	Mexico	Champion Hill, Dulwich, England
	Choi Song-Gon 13' Bai Chon-Go 30' Chung Kook-Chin 63'66' Chung Nam-Sik 87'	Report	Cárdenas 23' Figueroa 85' Ruiz 89'	Attendance: 6,500 Referee: Leo Lemesic (Yugoslavia)

Israel

USA Olympic Team v   Israel

26 September 1948 [17] Friendly	USA Olympic Team	3–1	Israel	Giants Stadium, New York City, United States
	Souza 14', 57' McLaughlin 44'		Ben-Dror 20'	Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Coggin

Hong Kong

Hong Kong   v   South Korea

1 January 1949 [18] Friendly	Hong Kong	2–5	South Korea	Hong Kong
	Not known?', ?'		Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?'

Vietnam

Vietnam   v   South Korea

16 January 1949 [19] [20] Friendly	Vietnam	3–3	South Korea	Saigon
	Not known?', ?', ?'		Not known?', ?', ?'

Macau

Macau   v   South Korea

25 January 1949 [21] Friendly	Macau	1–5	South Korea	Macau
	Not known?'		Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?'

Cyprus

Israel   v Cyprus

30 July 1949 [22] Friendly	Israel	3–1	Cyprus	Tel Aviv
	Not known?', ?', ?'		Not known?'

Sierra Leone and Nigeria

Sierra Leone v   Nigeria

10 August 1949 [23] Friendly	Sierra Leone	0–2	Nigeria	Freetown
			Not known?', ?'

Pakistan

Iran   v   Pakistan

6 January 1950 [24] Friendly	Iran	5–1	Pakistan	Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran
	Boromand ?', ?', ?' Shakibi ?' Khatami ?'	Report	Not known?'	Attendance: 17,000

Ghana

Gold Coast   v   Nigeria

28 May 1950 [25] Friendly	Gold Coast	1–0	Nigeria	Accra
	Not known?'

Saarland

Saar   v    Switzerland "B"

22 November 1950 [26] Friendly	Saar	5–3	Switzerland "B"	Ludwigparkstadion, Saarbrücken
	Berg 3' Leibenguth 11', 75' Martin 14', 65'		Albert Stoll 51', 57' Hügi 69'	Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Léon Boes (France)

Myanmar

Iran   v   Burma

5 March 1951 [27] Asian Games	Iran	2–0	Burma	National Stadium, New Delhi
	Afshar 17' Kouzehkanani 60'	Report		Attendance: 17,000

New Caledonia

New Caledonia   v   New Zealand

19 September 1951 [28] Friendly	New Caledonia	2–0	New Zealand	Nouméa
	Not known?', ?'

Vanuatu

New Hebrides   v   New Zealand

4 October 1951 [29] Friendly	New Hebrides	0–9	New Zealand	Nouméa, New Caledonia
			Coxon ?', ?', ?' Walsh ?', ?', ?' Newall ?', ?' Fleet ?'

Fiji

Fiji   v   New Zealand

7 October 1951 [30] Friendly	Fiji	4–6	New Zealand	Suva
	Not known?', ?', ?', ?'		Newall ?', ?', ?' Coxon ?' McKissock ?' Mutimer ?'

Sri Lanka

Ceylon   v   Pakistan

1 January 1952 [31] Friendly	Ceylon	0–2	Pakistan	Colombo
			Not known?', ?'

East Germany

Poland   v   East Germany

21 September 1952 [32] Friendly	Poland	3–0	East Germany	Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw
	Trampisz 70' Anioła 80', 84'			Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Sándor Harangozó (Hungary)

Tahiti

French Polynesia   v   New Zealand

21 September 1952 [33] Friendly	French Polynesia	2–2	New Zealand	Papeete
	Not known?', ?'		Coxon ?' Newall ?'

Singapore

Singapore   v   South Korea

11 April 1953 [34] Friendly	Singapore	2–3	South Korea	Singapore
	Not known?', ?'		Choi Chung-min ?' Park Il-kap ?' Not known?'

Malaysia

Malaya   v   South Korea

13 April 1953 [35] Friendly	Malaya	2–3	South Korea	Singapore
	Not known?', ?'		Not known?', ?', ?'

Palestine

Egypt   v   Palestine

26 July 1953 [36] Pan Arab Games	Egypt	8–1	Palestine	Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria
	Qadoura 10' Shareef El-Far 25' Ad-Diba 34', 37', 42', 60' El-Dhizui 50', 80'		17' Farah

Libya

Egypt   v   Libya

29 July 1953 [37] Pan Arab Games	Egypt	10–2	Libya	Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria
	Rous 4' El-Dhizui 19', 56', 69', 77' Ad-Diba 46', 79', 88' Qadoura 65' ? ?' (o.g.)		35' Zantouni 60' (pen.) Al-Houni

Jordan

Syria   v   Jordan

1 August 1953 [38] Pan Arab Games	Syria	3–1	Jordan	Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt
	Al-Aqqad 28', 75' Yaqoub 35'		15' ?

Chinese Taipei

Republic of China   v   Vietnam

1 May 1954 [39] Asian Games	Republic of China	3–2	Vietnam	Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila
	Lee Tai-fai 17' Chu Wing-keung 37' (pen.) Yiu Cheuk-yin 50'		Nguyễn Văn Tư 41' Trần Văn Ứng 65'

Cambodia

Cambodia   v   Malaya

17 March 1956 [40] Asian Cup qualifier	Cambodia	2–3	Malaya	Phnom-Penh
	Not known?', ?'		Not known?', ?', ?'

North Vietnam

China   v   North Vietnam

4 October 1956 [41] Three Nations Tournament	China	5–3	North Vietnam	Beijing
	Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?'		Not known?', ?', ?'

North Korea

China   v   North Korea

7 October 1956 [42] Three Nations Tournament	China	0–1	North Korea	Beijing
			Not known?'

Togo

French Togoland v   Gold Coast

13 October 1956 [43] [44] Friendly	French Togoland	1–1	Gold Coast	Stade Agoè-Nyivé, Lomé
	Not known?'		Not known?'

Sudan

Ethiopia   v   Sudan

16 November 1956 [45] Friendly	Ethiopia	2–1	Sudan	Addis Ababa Stadium, Addis Ababa
	Not known?', ?'		Not known?'

Thailand

South Vietnam   v   Thailand

1956 [46] Friendly	South Vietnam	3–1	Thailand	South Vietnam
	Not known?', ?', ?'		Not known?'

Malta

Malta   v   Austria "B"

24 February 1957 [47] Friendly	Malta	2–3	Austria "B"	Ta' Qali National Stadium, Gżira
	Cauchi 86' Nicholl 89'	Report	Bonnici 16' (o.g.) Wagner 72' Haummer 78'	Attendance: 17,421 Referee: Vincenzo Orlandini (Italy)

Algeria

Tunisia   v   Algeria

1 June 1957 [48] [49] Friendly	Tunisia	1–2	Algeria	Tunisia
	Not known?'		Not known?', ?'

Saudi Arabia

Lebanon   v   Saudi Arabia

18 October 1957 [50] Pan Arab Games	Lebanon	1–1	Saudi Arabia	Camille Chamoun Stadium, Beirut
	Kayyal 30'	Report	Altonian 22'

Morocco and Iraq

Morocco   v   Iraq

19 October 1957 [51] [52] Pan Arab Games	Morocco	3–3	Iraq	Beirut, Lebanon
	El-Madani ?' Benchekroun ?', ?' (pen.)	Report	Ammo Baba 48' Eshaya 50' Salman 63'

Benin

Dahomey   v   Nigeria

8 November 1959 [53] Nkrumah Cup	Dahomey	0–1	Nigeria	Cotonou
			Onyeanwuna ?'

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast   v   Dahomey

13 April 1960 [54] French Community Games	Ivory Coast	3–2	Dahomey	Antananarivo, Madagascar
	Not known?', ?', ?'		Not known?', ?'

Burkina Faso and Gabon

Upper Volta   v   Gabon

13 April 1960 [55] [56] French Community Games	Upper Volta	5–4	Gabon	Antananarivo, Madagascar
	Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?'		Not known?', ?', ?', ?'

Cameroon

Cameroon   v Djibouti

13 April 1960 [57] French Community Games	Cameroon	9–2	Djibouti	Antananarivo, Madagascar
	Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?' Not known?', ?', ?', ?'		Not known?', ?'

Mali and Central African Republic

Mali   v   Central African Republic

13 April 1960 [58] [59] French Community Games	Mali	4–3	Central African Republic	Antananarivo, Madagascar
	Not known?', ?', ?', ?'		Not known?', ?', ?'

Congo

Congo   v   Réunion

13 April 1960 [60] French Community Games	Congo	4–1	Réunion	Antananarivo, Madagascar
	Not known?', ?', ?', ?'		Not known?'

Guinea

Nigeria   v   Guinea

2 October 1960 [61] Friendly	Nigeria	4–1	Guinea	Onikan Stadium, Lagos
	Ekpe ?' Emenako ?' Amusa ?' Fayemi ?'	Report	Not known?'

Mongolia

North Vietnam   v   Mongolia

3 October 1960 [62] Communist Tournament	North Vietnam	3–1	Mongolia	Hanoi, North Vietnam
		Report		Stadium: Hàng Đẫy Stadium

Kuwait

Kuwait   v   Libya

3 September 1961 [63] Pan Arab Games	Kuwait	2–2	Libya	Casablanca, Morocco
		Report

Laos

South Vietnam   v   Laos

12 December 1961 [64] Southeast Asian Peninsular Games	South Vietnam	7–0	Laos	Rangoon, Burma
		Report

Senegal

Dahomey   v   Senegal

31 December 1961 [65] Friendly tournament	Dahomey	4–3	Senegal	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
	Not known?', ?', ?', ?'		Not known?', ?', ?'

Malawi

Malawi v   Ghana

15 October 1962 [66] Friendly	Malawi	0–12	Ghana	Blantyre
			Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?', ?' Not known?', ?', ?', ?', ?', ?'

Gambia

Gambia   v   Senegal

5 December 1962 [67] Friendly	Gambia	3–2	Senegal	Banjul
	Not known?', ?', ?'		Not known?', ?'

See also

• List of first association football internationals per country: before 1940
• List of first association football internationals per country: since 1962

Notes

A. ^ RSSSF ^[68] list three matches played in Hong Kong in 1949, 1950 and 1953 between "China" and South Korea whose status is not officially recognized by FIFA.

B. ^ Prior to Algerian independence in 1962, matches were organised under the auspices of the Front de Libération Nationale. ^{[48] [69]}

C. ^ There is some confusion as to the order and results of the two matches played between Cambodia and Malaya in the 1956 Asian Cup Qualification tournament. The RFFFS page for Cambodia ^[40] shows Cambodia losing 2–3 to Malaya on 17 March and losing 2–9 to Malaya on 24 April, with both matches played in Malaya. The Elo site for Cambodia ^[70] shows the same results, but with the match on 17 March being played in Cambodia. The RFFFS page for the Asian Cup shows the matches as 9–2 to Malaya on 17 March (played in Malaya) and 3–2 to Cambodia on 24 April (played in Cambodia). ^[71] As the Elo rankings are based on Cambodia losing both matches, this is assumed to be correct

D. ^ The RSSSF page for Saudi Arabia ^[72] lists the first match as being played on 20 October 1957 against Syria in the 1957 Pan Arab Games, whereas the RSSSF article on these games lists the first match as being played against the hosts, Lebanon, on 18 October. ^[73] This is supported by the Elo page for Saudi Arabia. ^[50]

References

1. Kramarsic, Igor (16 May 2008). "Croatia - International Results". RSSSF . Retrieved 1 November 2010.
2. Courtney, Barrie (7 January 2008). "Lebanon - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 7 November 2010.
3. Courtney, Barrie (31 January 2007). "Puerto Rico - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 17 November 2010.
4. Courtney, Barrie (21 December 2005). "Afghanistan - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 7 November 2010.
5. Panahi, Majeed (21 January 2006). "Iran - International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 7 November 2010.
6. "Lebanon vs Syria". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
7. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Tanzania (Tanganyika) - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
8. Nygård, Jostein (16 May 2008). "International matches of Iceland". RSSSF . Retrieved 3 November 2010.
9. "Albania national team results". eu-football.info. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
10. Kalumiana, Kalumiana (15 January 2005). "Northern Rhodesia - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
11. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Ethiopia - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
12. Courtney, Barrie (31 January 2008). "Djibouti - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
13. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Madagascar - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
14. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Mauritius - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
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16. Hyung-Jin, Yoon (2 September 2009). "South Korea International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 7 November 2010.
17. Cazal, Jean-Michel; Bleicher, Yaniv (14 February 2011). "Israel Official Games 1948-1959". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2013.
18. Courtney, Barrie (12 December 2004). "Hongkong - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 20 November 2010.
19. Courtney, Barrie (28 November 2002). "South Vietnam - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 17 November 2010.
20. "South Korea international games 1949".
21. Courtney, Barrie (28 November 2002). "Macao - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 17 November 2010.
22. Mastrogiannopoulos, Alexander (16 June 2004). "Cyprus - International Matches - Overview". RSSSF . Retrieved 13 November 2010.
23. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Sierra Leone - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 4 November 2010.
24. Courtney, Barrie (15 January 2010). "Pakistan - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 8 November 2010.
25. Courtney, Barrie (26 June 2008). "Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 4 November 2010.
26. Courtney, Barrie (20 May 2004). "Saar - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 25 November 2010.
27. Courtney, Barrie (8 April 2004). "Myanmar (Burma) - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 8 November 2010.
28. Courtney, Barrie (30 October 2005). "New Caledonia - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 17 November 2010.
29. Courtney, Barrie (30 October 2005). "Vanuatu (New Hebrides) - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 17 November 2010.
30. Courtney, Barrie (30 October 2005). "Fiji - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 17 November 2010.
31. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Sri Lanka - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 17 November 2010.
32. Arnhold, Matthias (18 December 2008). "East Germany - International Results". RSSSF . Retrieved 13 November 2010.
33. Courtney, Barrie (30 October 2005). "Tahiti International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 14 December 2012.
34. Morrison, Neil (3 April 2009). "Singapore International Matches 1928-2001". RSSSF . Retrieved 18 November 2010.
35. Morrison, Neil (3 April 2009). "Malaysia International Matches 1953-2000". RSSSF . Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
36. Courtney, Barrie (30 October 2005). "Palestine - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 18 November 2010.
37. Courtney, Barrie (17 January 2008). "Libya - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
38. Courtney, Barrie (17 January 2008). "Jordan - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 18 November 2010.
39. "Elo Ratings -Taiwan". www.eloratings.net/. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
40. Courtney, Barrie (21 December 2005). "Cambodia - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 20 November 2010.
41. Courtney, Barrie (12 December 2004). "North Vietnam - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 20 November 2010.
42. "World Football Elo Ratings: North Korea". Elo. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
43. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Togo - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
44. "World Football Elo Ratings: Togo". Elo. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
45. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Sudan - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
46. Morrison, Neil (3 April 2009). "Thailand International Results". RSSSF . Retrieved 8 November 2010.
47. Kramarsic, Igor; Zlotkowski, Andre (16 May 2008). "Malta National Team List of Results". RSSSF . Retrieved 13 November 2010.
48. Courtney, Barrie (23 April 2010). "Algeria - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 10 November 2010.
49. "World Football Elo Ratings: Algeria". Elo. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
50. "World Football Elo Ratings: Saudi Arabia". Elo. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
51. Courtney, Barrie (17 January 2008). "Morocco - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 3 November 2010.
52. Courtney, Barrie (15 January 2010). "Iraq - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 3 November 2010.
53. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Benin (formerly Dahomey) - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
54. Courtney, Barrie (17 January 2008). "Ivory Coast - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 3 November 2010.
55. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
56. Courtney, Barrie (31 January 2008). "Gabon - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
57. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Cameroon - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
58. Courtney, Barrie (19 August 2010). "Mali - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
59. Courtney, Barrie (5 June 2006). "Central African Republic - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
60. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Congo(Brazzaville) - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 9 November 2010.
61. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Guinea - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 8 November 2010.
62. Courtney, Barrie (21 December 2005). "Mongolia - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 20 November 2010.
63. Courtney, Barrie (17 January 2008). "Kuwait - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 20 November 2010.
64. Morrison, Neil (31 January 2001). "Laos International Matches 1961-2000". RSSSF . Retrieved 20 November 2010.
65. Courtney, Barrie (21 February 2007). "Senegal - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 10 November 2010.
66. Courtney, Barrie (31 January 2008). "Malawi - List of International Matches". FRSSF. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
67. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Gambia - List of International Matches". FRSSF. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
68. Courtney, Barrie (3 September 2005). "Taiwan - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 7 November 2010.
69. Mubarak, Hassanin (17 January 2008). "Algeria–Equipe FLN–History and Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 10 November 2010.
70. "World Football Elo Ratings: Cambodia". Elo. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
71. Jovanovic, Bojan; Panahi, Majeed (1 November 2000). "Asian Nations Cup 1956". RSSSF . Retrieved 20 November 2010.
72. Courtney, Barrie (3 April 2009). "Saudi Arabia - List of International Matches". RSSSF . Retrieved 20 November 2010.
73. Hashim, Refel; Mubarak, Hassanin (29 May 2007). "2nd Pan Arab Games, 1957 (Beirut, Lebanon)". RSSSF .

External links

• Index of European national team matches up to the end of 1989
• The RSSSF Archive - International Country Results
• The Association of Football Statisticians: National football team sites
• World Football Elo Ratings