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) Max Morlock (6 goals)

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

The 13 groups had different rules, as follows:

  • Groups 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 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 7 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
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 1
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 West Germany 4310123+97
2 Saar 411248−43
3 Norway 402249−52
24 June 1953 Norway  2–3  Saar Oslo, Norway
Thoresen  3'
Dahlen  15'		 Report Binkert  16'
Otto  30'
Siedl  55'		 Stadium: Bislett Stadion
Referee: J. Bronkhorst (Netherlands)
19 August 1953 Norway  1–1  West Germany Oslo, Norway
Hennum  41' Report F. Walter  44' Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion
Referee: W. B. Aussum (Netherlands)
11 October 1953 West Germany  3–0  Saar Stuttgart, West Germany
Morlock  13', 50'
Schade  70'		 Report Stadium: Neckarstadion
Referee: Karel van der Meer (Netherlands)
8 November 1953 Saar  0–0  Norway Saarbrücken, Saarland
Report Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion
Referee: Leo Horn (Netherlands)
22 November 1953 West Germany  5–1  Norway Hamburg, West Germany
Morlock  27', 63'
O. Walter  69'
F. Walter  80'
Rahn  88'		 Report Nordahl  26' Stadium: Volksparkstadion
Referee: Arthur Luty (England)
28 March 1954 Saar  1–3  West Germany Saarbrücken, Saarland
Martin  68' (pen.) Report Morlock  36', 48'
Schäfer  84'		 Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion
Referee: J. Bronkhorst (Netherlands)

West Germany qualified.

Group 2
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 2
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Belgium 4310116+57
2 Sweden 411298+13
3 Finland 4022713−62
25 May 1953 Finland  2–4  Belgium Helsinki, Finland
Lehtovirta  49', 75' Report Coppens  4', 26', 83'
Anoul  9'		 Stadium: Olympic Stadion
Referee: Helge (Denmark)
28 May 1953 Sweden  2–3  Belgium Stockholm, Sweden
Berndtsson  20'
Selmosson  26'		 Report Anoul  28'
Straetmans  37'
Lemberechts  40'		 Stadium: Råsunda Stadion
Referee: Mowat (Scotland)
5 August 1953 Finland  3–3  Sweden Helsinki, Finland
Lehtovirta  63'
Lahtinen  67'
Rikberg  70'		 Report Sandell  9', 71'
Persson  23'		 Stadium: Olympic Stadion
Referee: Baalstad (Norway)
16 August 1953 Sweden  4–0  Finland Stockholm, Sweden
Sandberg  22'
Sandell  24', 61'
Sandin  56'		 Report Stadium: Råsunda Stadion
Referee: Asmussen (Denmark)
23 September 1953 Belgium  2–2  Finland Brussels, Belgium
Bollen  25', 75' Report Lahtinen  83'
Vaihela  90'		 Stadium: Heysel Stadion
Referee: Baumberger (Switzerland)
8 October 1953 Belgium  2–0  Sweden Brussels, Belgium
Coppens  23'
Mees  49'		 Report Stadium: Heysel Stadion
Referee: Schipper (Netherlands)

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

Group 3
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 England 3300114+76
2 Scotland 31118803
3 Northern Ireland 310247−32
4 Wales 301259−41
3 October 1953 Northern Ireland  1–3  Scotland Belfast, Northern Ireland
Lockhart  72' (pen.) Report Fleming  47', 69'
Henderson  89'		 Stadium: Windsor Park
Referee: Arthur Edward Ellis (England)
10 October 1953 Wales  1–4  England Cardiff, Wales
Allchurch  22' Report Wilshaw  45', 49'
Lofthouse  52', 53'		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland)
4 November 1953 Scotland  3–3  Wales Glasgow, Scotland
Brown  19'
Johnstone  42'
Reilly  58'		 Report Charles  49', 88'
Allchurch  73'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland)
11 November 1953 England  3–1  Northern Ireland Liverpool, England
Hassall  10', 60'
Lofthouse  75'		 Report McMorran  54' Stadium: Goodison Park
Referee: Robert Smith (Wales)
31 March 1954 Wales  1–2  Northern Ireland Wrexham, Wales
Charles  80' Report McParland  1', 52' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland)
3 April 1954 Scotland  2–4  England Glasgow, Scotland
Brown  7'
Ormond  89'		 Report Broadis  13'
Nicholls  50'
Allen  68'
Mullen  83'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland)

England and Scotland qualified.

Group 4
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 4
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 France 4400204+168
2 Republic of Ireland 420286+24
3 Luxembourg 4004119−180
20 September 1953 Luxembourg  1–6  France Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Kohn  6' Report Piantoni  5'
Kopa  10'
Cicci  41'
Glovacki  44'
Kargu  73'
Flamion  88'		 Stadium: Stade Municipal
Referee: Dörflinger (Switzerland)
4 October 1953 Republic of Ireland  3–5  France Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Ryan  58' (pen.)
Walsh  83'
O'Farrell  88'		 Report Glovacki  23'
Penverne  40'
Ujlaki  50', 69'
Flamion  72'		 Stadium: Dalymount Park
Referee: Franken (Belgium)
28 October 1953 Republic of Ireland  4–0  Luxembourg Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Fitzsimons  14', 83'
Ryan  48' (pen.)
Eglington  59'		 Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Referee: Bond (England)
25 November 1953 France  1–0  Republic of Ireland Paris, France
Piantoni  73' Report Stadium: Parc des Princes
Referee: Van Nuffel (Belgium)
17 December 1953 France  8–0  Luxembourg Paris, France
Desgranges  2', 88'
Vincent  6', 10'
Fontaine  21', 75', 80'
Foix  57'		 Report Stadium: Parc des Princes
Referee: Roeykens (Belgium)
7 March 1954 Luxembourg  0–1  Republic of Ireland Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Report Cummins  67' Stadium: Stade Municipal
Referee: Ausum (Netherlands)

France qualified.

Group 5
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 5
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Austria 211091+83
2 Portugal 201119−81
27 September 1953 Austria  9–1  Portugal Vienna, Austria
Ocwirk  13'
Probst  14', 19', 31', 59', 70'
Happel  68' (pen.)
Wagner  83'
Dienst  87'		 Report Águas  60' Stadium: Praterstadion
Referee: Bauwens (Belgium)
29 November 1953 Portugal  0–0  Austria Lisbon, Portugal
Report Stadium: Estádio Nacional
Referee: Harzic (France)

Austria qualified.

Group 6
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 6
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Spain 210142+22
 Turkey 210124−22
6 January 1954 Spain  4–1  Turkey Madrid, Spain
Venancio  13'
Gaínza  48'
González  49'
Alsua  65'		 Report Recep  31' Stadium: Estadio Nuevo Chamartín
Referee: Vincentini (France)
14 March 1954 Turkey  1–0  Spain Istanbul, Turkey
Burhan  16' 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.)  Spain Rome, Italy
Burhan  25'
Suat  64'		 Report Artetxe  11'
Escudero  78'		 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 the loser of agreggate score qualified.

Group 7
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hungary Qualified
— Iceland Withdrew
— Netherlands Withdrew
— Poland Withdrew

Iceland, Netherlands and Poland all withdrew, so Hungary qualified automatically.

Group 8
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 8
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Czechoslovakia 431051+47
2 Romania 42025504
3 Bulgaria 401337−41
14 June 1953 Czechoslovakia  2–0  Romania Prague, Czechoslovakia
Pažický  54'
Vlk  63'		 Report Referee: Pósa (Hungary)
28 June 1953 Romania  3–1  Bulgaria Bucharest, Romania
Pecsovszky  20', 30'
Ene  82'		 Report Tashkov  53' Stadium: 23 August Stadium
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Schulz (East Germany)
6 September 1953 Bulgaria  1–2  Czechoslovakia Sofia, Bulgaria
Bozhkov  55' (pen.) Report Vlk  5', 40' Stadium: Vasil Levski
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Aleksandrowicz (Poland)
11 October 1953 Bulgaria  1–2  Romania Sofia, Bulgaria
Kolev  28' Report Serfözö  27'
Călinoiu  52'		 Stadium: Vasil Levski
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Dorogi (Hungary)
25 October 1953 Romania  0–1  Czechoslovakia Bucharest, Romania
Report Šafránek  38' (pen.) Referee: Schulz (East Germany)
8 November 1953 Czechoslovakia  0–0  Bulgaria Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Report Stadium: Tehelne Pole
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Chkhatarashvili (Soviet Union)

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

Group 9
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 9
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Italy 220072+54
2 Egypt 200227−50
13 November 1953 Egypt  1–2  Italy Cairo, Egypt
Ad-Diba  33' Frignani  62'
Muccinelli  79'		 Stadium: Al Ahly Stadium
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Steiner (Austria)
24 January 1954 Italy  5–1  Egypt Milan, Italy
Pandolfini  1'
Frignani  62'
Boniperti  65', 86'
Ricagni  84'		 El-Hamouly  32' Stadium: Milan Municipality Stadium
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Horn (Netherlands)

Italy qualified.

Group 10
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 10
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Yugoslavia 440040+48
2 Greece 420232+14
3 Israel 400405−50
9 May 1953 Yugoslavia  1–0  Greece Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Matošić  71' Report Referee: Steiner (Austria)
1 November 1953 Greece  1–0  Israel Athens, Greece
Bembis  52' Report Referee: Massai (Italy)
8 November 1953 Yugoslavia  1–0  Israel Skopje, Yugoslavia
Milutinović  3' Report Referee: Alsteen (Belgium)
8 March 1954 Israel  0–2  Greece Tel-Aviv, Israel
Report Kokkinakis  61'
Kamaras  83'		 Referee: Buchmüller (Switzerland)
21 March 1954 Israel  0–1  Yugoslavia Tel-Aviv, Israel
Report Zebec  80' Referee: Leafe (England)
28 March 1954 Greece  0–1  Yugoslavia Athens, Greece
Report Veselinović  50' Referee: Rufli (Switzerland)

Yugoslavia qualified.

Group 11
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Brazil 440081+78
2 Paraguay 420286+24
3 Chile 4004110−90
— Peru Withdrew
14 February 1954 Paraguay  4–0  Chile Asunción, Paraguay
Lugo  30'
J. Parodi  52'
Hermosilla  70'
S. Parodi  79'		 Referee: Steiner (Austria)
21 February 1954 Chile  1–3  Paraguay Santiago, Chile
Robledo  16' Lugo  17', 63'
J. Parodi  84'		 Referee: Vincentini (France)
28 February 1954 Chile  0–2  Brazil Santiago, Chile
Baltazar  38', 63' Referee: Vincentini (France)
7 March 1954 Paraguay  0–1  Brazil Asunción, Paraguay
Baltazar  52' Referee: Steiner (Austria)
14 March 1954 Brazil  1–0  Chile Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Baltazar  35' Referee: Steiner (Austria)
21 March 1954 Brazil  4–1  Paraguay Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Botelho  60', 85'
Baltazar  62'
Maurinho  90'		 Martínez  75' Referee: Vincentini (France)

Brazil qualified. Despite they qualified for the all World Cups, this was the first time they played the qualifying match, and the first time to the South American zone qualification matches was played.

Group 12
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Mexico 4400191+188
2 United States 420279−24
3 Haiti 4004218−160
19 July 1953 Mexico  8–0  Haiti Mexico City, Mexico
Balcázar  23', 26', 76'
Gómez  27'
Tellez  34'
Arnauda  38', 69', 85'		 Referee: Crawford (England)
27 December 1953 Haiti  0–4  Mexico Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Ávalos  6'
Lamadrid  15', 59'
Balcázar  65'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)
10 January 1954 Mexico  4–0  United States Mexico City, Mexico
Balcázar  5'
Scheppel  16' (o.g.)
Lamadrid  47'
Naranjo  63'		 Referee: Sunderland (England)
14 January 1954 Mexico  3–1  United States Mexico City, Mexico
A. Torres  60', 89'
Lamadrid  82'		 Looby  6' Referee: Best (United States)
3 March 1954 Haiti  2–3  United States Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Ellie  60' (pen.), 89' Casey  20'
Chacurian  42'
Looby  83'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)
4 March 1954 Haiti  0–3  United States Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Looby  22', 65'
Mendoza  31'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)

Mexico qualified.

Group 13
Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC – Group 13)
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 South Korea 211073+43
2 Japan 201137−41
— Republic of China Withdrew
7 March 1954 Japan  1–5  South Korea Tokyo, Japan
Naganuma  16' Chung Nam-sik  22'
Choi Kwang-suk  34'
Sung Nak-woon  65'
Choi Chung-min  82'  85'		 Stadium: Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium
Referee: Haran (Hong Kong)
14 March 1954 South Korea  2–2  Japan Tokyo, Japan
Chung Nam-sik  20'
Choi Kwang-suk  43'		 Iwatani  17', 61' Stadium: Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium
Referee: Haran (Hong Kong)

South Korea qualified.

Qualified teams
FIFA World Cup qualification 1954
Qualifying countries
Team Finals appearance Streak Last appearance
 Austria 3rd11938
 Belgium 4th11938
 Brazil 5th51950
 Czechoslovakia 3rd11938
 England 2nd21950
 France 4th11938
 Hungary 3rd11938
 Italy 4th41950
 South Korea 1st1—
 Mexico 3rd21950
 Scotland 1st1—
  Switzerland (h) 4th41950
 Turkey 1st1—
 Uruguay (c) 3rd21950
 West Germany 1st1—
 Yugoslavia 3rd21950

(h) – qualified automatically as hosts

(c) – qualified automatically as defending champions

6 of the 16 teams subsequently failed to qualify for the 1958 finals: Belgium, Italy, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and Uruguay.

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

Notes
  • Turkey gained a place in the World Cup through drawing lots, over Spain after failing to decide which team was the winner of Group 6 after three matches. However, it was not the only one. Morocco eliminated Tunisia during qualification for the 1962 FIFA World Cup by drawing lots, and eliminated Tunisia again on a coin toss during 1970 World Cup qualification. They also eliminated Tunisia during qualification for the 1968 Olympics either by drawing lots or a coin toss. In 1978, Tunisia defeated Morocco during World Cup qualification on penalties, in the first time penalties were ever used during World Cup qualification.
  • For the first time, qualification matches were actually played in South America, since in all previous World Cups, the South American teams all qualified automatically due to withdrawals (in the case of 1934) or through the South American Football Championship (for the 1938 and 1950 tournaments). Argentina did not take part to the qualification process.
  • As the French-occupied Saarland protectorate became part of the Federal Republic of Germany only in 1957, the Saarland 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 edition, Germany and Japan were both allowed to play again, West Germany eventually 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
  1. "Play-off history provides no clues for Spain". FIFA. 20 Oct 2005.
  2. Rogers, Iain (27 March 2009). "Don't mention the draw!". Reuters.
  3. "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
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