1970 FIFA World Cup qualification

A total of 75 teams entered the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. Hosts Mexico and defending champions England qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

1970 FIFA World Cup Qualification
Tournament details
Teams75 (from 6 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played172
Goals scored542 (3.15 per match)
Top scorer(s) Tostão (10 goals)

For the first time, the winners of both the African zone and the Asian and Oceanian zone were guaranteed a direct place in the final tournament. The 16 spots available in the 1970 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:

  • Europe (UEFA): 9 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier England, while the other 8 places were contested by 29 teams.
  • South America (CONMEBOL): 3 places, contested by 10 teams.
  • North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 2 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Mexico, while the other 1 place was contested by 13 teams.
  • Africa (CAF): 1 place, contested by 13 teams. (13 teams applied, but FIFA rejected the entries of Guinea and Zaire, leaving 11 teams. A 14th team from Africa, Rhodesia, entered through a non-CAF qualifying system.)
  • Asia and Oceania (AFC/OFC): 1 place, contested by 7 teams (including Rhodesia).

A total of 68 teams played in at least one qualifying match. A total of 172 qualifying matches were played, and 542 goals were scored (an average of 3.15 per match).

Listed below are the dates and results of the qualification rounds.

Key:

  • Teams highlighted in green qualified for the finals.
  • Teams highlighted in red in the same table finished level on points and advanced to a play-off on neutral ground.

Qualified teams
FIFA World Cup qualification 1970
Team Qualified as Qualification date Appearance
in finals		 Consecutive
Streak		 Previous best performance
 MexicoHost008 October 1964 7th6Group Stage (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966)
 EnglandHolders0130 July 19666th6Winners (1966)
 BelgiumUEFA Group 6 Winners0230 April 19695th1 (Last: 1954)Group Stage (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954)
 UruguayCONMEBOL Group 3 Winners0310 August 19696th3Winners (1930, 1950)
 BrazilCONMEBOL Group 2 Winners0424 August 19699th9Winners (1958, 1962)
 PeruCONMEBOL Group 1 Winners 0531 August 19692nd1 (Last: 1930)Group Stage (1930)
 El SalvadorCONCACAF Winners 068 October 19691st1–
 SwedenUEFA Group 5 Winners 0715 October 19695th1 (Last: 1958)Runners-Up (1958)
 West GermanyUEFA Group 7 Winners 0822 October 19697th5Winners (1954)
 MoroccoCAF Winners 0926 October 19691st1–
 Soviet UnionUEFA Group 4 Winners104 November 19694th4Fourth Place (1966)
 RomaniaUEFA Group 1 Winners1116 November 19694th1 (Last: 1938)Group Stage (1930, 1934, 1938)
 ItalyUEFA Group 3 Winners1222 November 19697th3Winners (1934, 1938)
 CzechoslovakiaUEFA Group 2 Winners133 December 19696th1 (Last: 1962)Runners-Up (1934, 1962)
 BulgariaUEFA Group 8 Winners 147 December 19693rd3Group Stage (1962, 1966)
 IsraelAFC/OFC Winners 1514 December 19691st1–

10 of the 16 teams subsequently failed to qualify for the 1974 finals: Belgium, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, England, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Romania and Soviet Union.

Europe
Main article: 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)

(30 teams competing for 8 berths)

FIFA rejected the entry of Albania. The remaining 29 teams were divided into 8 groups of 3 or 4 teams each (three groups with 3 teams and five groups with 4 teams). The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.

Group 1
Team Pld Pts
 Romania 68
 Greece 67
  Switzerland 65
 Portugal 64
 Group 2
Team Pld Pts
 Czechoslovakia 69
 Hungary 69
 Denmark 65
 Republic of Ireland 61
 Group 3
Team Pld Pts
 Italy 47
 East Germany 45
 Wales 40
Group 4
Team Pld Pts
 Soviet Union 47
 Northern Ireland 45
 Turkey 40
 Group 5
Team Pld Pts
 Sweden 46
 France 44
 Norway 42
 Group 6
Team Pld Pts
 Belgium 69
 Yugoslavia 67
 Spain 66
 Finland 62
Group 7
Team Pld Pts
 West Germany 611
 Scotland 67
 Austria 66
 Cyprus 60
 Group 8
Team Pld Pts
 Bulgaria 69
 Poland 68
 Netherlands 67
 Luxembourg 60

South America
Qualification for championships (CONMEBOL)
FIFA World Cup

The 10 teams were divided into 3 groups; two groups with 3 teams and one group with 4 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.

Group 1
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Peru 5421174+3
2  Bolivia 4420256−1
3  Argentina 3411246−2
27 July 1969 Bolivia  3–1  Argentina La Paz, Bolivia
Díaz  18'
Blacut  51'
Alvarez  70'		 Tarabini  43' Referee: Sosa Miranda (Paraguay)
3 August 1969 Peru  1–0  Argentina Lima, Peru
León  52' Referee: De Moraes (Brazil)
10 August 1969 Bolivia  2–1  Peru La Paz, Bolivia
Alvarez  69'
Chumpitaz  80' (o.g.)		 Challe  51' Referee: Chechelev (Venezuela)
17 August 1969 Peru  3–0  Bolivia Lima, Peru
Cubillas  36'
Cruzado  40' (pen)
Gallardo  58'		 Referee: Ramirez (Colombia)
24 August 1969 Argentina  1–0  Bolivia Buenos Aires, Argentina
Albrecht  62' (pen) Referee: Pena Rocha (Uruguay)
31 August 1969 Argentina  2–2  Peru Buenos Aires, Argentina
Albrecht  80'
Rendo  89'		 Ramírez  70', 81' Referee: Diaz (Chile)

Peru qualified.

The Bolivia v Peru match on 10 August 1969 is infamous for being fixed by Argentina in favour of Bolivia. Match referee Sergio Chechelev annulled a valid goal from Peru without any justification, allowing Bolivia to win 2-1. Years later, Chechelev excused himself saying that Argentina had paid him to favour Bolivia.[1]

This has been the only time that Argentina failed to qualify to a World Cup tournament.

Group 2
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Brazil 126600232+21
2  Paraguay 8640265+1
3  Colombia 36114712−5
4  Venezuela 16015118−17
27 July 1969 Colombia  3–0  Venezuela Bogotá, Colombia
González  34', 56'
Segrera  76' (pen)		 Referee: Murgueytio (Ecuador)
2 August 1969 Venezuela  1–1  Colombia Caracas, Venezuela
Mendoza  55' Tamayo  61' Referee: Ortube Vargas (Bolivia)
6 August 1969 Colombia  0–2  Brazil Bogotá, Colombia
Tostão  37', 44' Referee: Tejada Burga (Peru)
6 August 1969 Venezuela  0–2  Paraguay Caracas, Venezuela
Rojas  38'
Sosa  53'		 Referee: Palacio (Chile)
10 August 1969 Colombia  0–1  Paraguay Bogotá, Colombia
Martínez  57' Referee: Pedraza (Peru)
10 August 1969 Venezuela  0–5  Brazil Caracas, Venezuela
Tostão  60', 72', 74'
Pelé  71', 75'		 Referee: Villacis (Ecuador)
17 August 1969 Paraguay  0–3  Brazil Asunción, Paraguay
Mendoza  70' (o.g.)
Jairzinho  81'
Edu  90'		 Referee: Conley (Chile)
21 August 1969 Brazil  6–2  Colombia Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tostão  15', 40'
Edu  48'
Pelé  60'
Rivelino  86'
Jairzinho  88'		 Mesa  18'
Gallego  89'		 Attendance: 99,947[2]
Referee: Comesana (Argentina)
21 August 1969 Paraguay  1–0  Venezuela Asunción, Paraguay
Gimenez  11' Referee: Otero (Uruguay)
24 August 1969 Brazil  6–0  Venezuela Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tostão  3', 22', 24'
Jairzinho  30'
Pelé  45' (pen), 69'		 Referee: Ortube Vargas (Bolivia)
24 August 1969 Paraguay  2–1  Colombia Ascuncion, Paraguay
Arrúa  38', 49' Segrera  83' (pen) Referee: Pestarino (Argentina)
31 August 1969 Brazil  1–0  Paraguay Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Pelé  68' Referee: Barreto Ruiz (Uruguay)

Brazil qualified.

Group 3
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Uruguay 7431050+5
2  Chile 4412154+1
3  Ecuador 1401328−6
6 July 1969 Ecuador  0–2  Uruguay Guayaquil, Ecuador
Bareño  31'
Zubía  60'		 Referee: Arppi Filho (Brazil)
13 July 1969 Chile  0–0  Uruguay Santiago, Chile
Referee: Bossolino (Argentina)
20 July 1969 Uruguay  1–0  Ecuador Montevideo, Uruguay
Ancheta  76' Referee: Osorio (Paraguay)
27 July 1969 Chile  4–1  Ecuador Santiago, Chile
Olivares  55'
Valdéz  62', 86'
Tobar  79' (o.g.)		 Lasso  89' Referee: Ramírez (Colombia)
3 August 1969 Ecuador  1–1  Chile Guayaquil, Ecuador
Rodríguez  16' Olivares  58' Referee: Angeles (Peru
10 August 1969 Uruguay  2–0  Chile Montevideo, Uruguay
Cortés  44'
Rocha  90'		 Referee: Marques (Brazil)

Uruguay qualified.

North, Central America and Caribbean

FIFA rejected the entry of Cuba. There would be three rounds of play:

  • First Round: The remaining 12 teams were divided into 4 groups of 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would advance to the Semifinal Round.
  • Semifinal Round: The 4 teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners would advance to the Final Round.
  • Final Round: The 2 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.

Group 1
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  United States 64301116+5
2  Canada 5421183+5
3  Bermuda 14013212−10
6 October 1968 Canada  4–0  Bermuda Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Vigh  3' (pen)
Zanatta  10'
Papadakis  25', 75'		 Referee: Segura (Mexico)
13 October 1968 Canada  4–2  United States Toronto, Ontario, Canada
McPate  40', 68'
Patterson  79'
Vigh  89'		 Roy  38'
Stritzl  89'		 Referee: Figaroa (Netherlands Antilles)
20 October 1968 Bermuda  0–0  Canada Hamilton, Bermuda
Referee: Koetsier (Netherlands Antilles)
26 October 1968 United States  1–0  Canada Atlanta, United States
Albrecht  50' Referee: Soto Paris (Costa Rica)
2 November 1968 United States  6–2  Bermuda Kansas City, United States
Millar  22', 63', ?'
Baker  25', 56'
Roy  60'		 Trott  34'
Best  51'		 Referee: Fingal (Netherlands Antilles)
11 November 1968 Bermuda  0–2  United States Hamilton, Bermuda
Smith  8' (o.g.)
Roy  41'		 Referee: Felipe (Mexico)

United States advanced to the Semifinal Round.

Group 2
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Haiti 5421195+4
2  Guatemala 4412153+2
3  Trinidad and Tobago 34112410−6
17 November 1968 Guatemala  4–0  Trinidad and Tobago Guatemala City, Guatemala
Stokes  30'
Murren  66' (o.g.)
Bastide  78' (o.g.)
Melgar  88'		 Referee: Araya Muñoz (Costa Rica)
20 November 1968 Guatemala  0–0  Trinidad and Tobago Guatemala City, Guatemala[3]
Referee: Osorio Castillo (Mexico)
23 November 1968 Haiti  4–0  Trinidad and Tobago Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Saint-Vil  39', 52'
Obas  57'
François  86'		 Referee: Gamboa (Costa Rica)
25 November 1968 Haiti  2–4  Trinidad and Tobago Port-au-Prince, Haiti[3]
Guillaume  23'
Vorbe  52'		 Archibald Referee: Archundia (Mexico)
8 December 1968 Haiti  2–0  Guatemala Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Guillaume
Saint Surin 		Referee: Molina (Costa Rica)
23 February 1969 Guatemala  1–1  Haiti Guatemala City, Guatemala
González Obas Referee: Chaplin (Jamaica)

Haiti advanced to the Semifinal Round.

Group 3
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Honduras 7431072+5
2  Costa Rica 5421173+4
3  Jamaica 04004211−9
27 November 1968 Costa Rica  3–0  Jamaica San José, Costa Rica
Hernández  78'
Vaughns  88'
Sáenz  89'		 Referee: De Oca (Guatemala)
1 December 1968 Costa Rica  3–1  Jamaica San José, Costa Rica[4]
Chavarria
Vega
Núñez 		Dunkley Referee: Archundia (Mexico)
5 December 1968 Honduras  3–1  Jamaica Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Urquia  18'
Rosales  41'
Dick  56'		 Welsh  89' Referee: King (United States)
8 December 1968 Honduras  2–0  Jamaica Tegucigalpa, Honduras[4]
Mendoza  42'
Mejia  73'		 Referee: Lee (Canada)
22 December 1968 Honduras  1–0  Costa Rica Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Gómez  32' Referee: Wuertz (United States)
29 December 1968 Costa Rica  1–1  Honduras San José, Costa Rica
Chavarria  40' Rosales  25' (pen) Referee: Cumberbatch (Trinidad and Tobago)

Honduras advanced to the Semifinal Round.

Group 4
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  El Salvador 64301105+5
2  Suriname 44202109+1
3  Netherlands Antilles 2410339−6
24 November 1968 Suriname  6–0  Netherlands Antilles Paramaribo, Suriname
Corte
Schoonhoven
Vanenburg 		Referee: King (United States)
1 December 1968 El Salvador  6–0  Suriname San Salvador, El Salvador
Estrada  23', 84'
Azucar  56', 88'
Barraza  87'
Martínez  90'		 Referee: De Gourville (Trinidad and Tobago)
5 December 1968 Netherlands Antilles  2–0  Suriname Oranjestad, Netherlands Antilles
Brokke
A. Martina 		Referee: King (Canada)
12 December 1968 El Salvador  1–0  Netherlands Antilles San Salvador, El Salvador
Quintanilla  28' Referee: Di Salvatore (United States)
15 December 1968 El Salvador  2–1  Netherlands Antilles San Salvador, El Salvador[5]
Martínez  58'
Barraza  83'		 E. Martina Referee: De Gourville (Trinidad and Tobago)
22 December 1968 Suriname  4–1  El Salvador Paramaribo, Suriname
Lagadeau
Oosthuizen
Schal 		González Referee: Downer (Trinidad and Tobago)

El Salvador advanced to the Semifinal Round.

Group 1
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Haiti 4220030+3
2  United States 0200203−3
20 April 1969 Haiti  2–0  United States Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Obas  8'
Saint-Vil  54'		 Referee: Segura (Mexico)
11 May 1969 United States  0–1  Haiti San Diego, United States
Saint-Vil  43' Referee: Dunstan (Bermuda)

Haiti advanced to the Final Round.

Group 2
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1=  El Salvador 2210131+2
1=  Honduras 2210113−2
8 June 1969 Honduras  1–0  El Salvador Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Wells  89' Referee: Yamasaki (Mexico)
15 June 1969 El Salvador  3–0  Honduras San Salvador, El Salvador
Martínez  27' (pen), 41'
Acevedo  29'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)

El Salvador and Honduras finished level on points, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would advance to the Final Round.

26 June 1969 El Salvador  3–2 (a.e.t.)  Honduras Mexico City, Mexico
Martínez  8', 28'
Quintanilla  101'		 Cardona  19'
Gómez  50'		 Referee: Abel Aguilar Elizalde (Mexico)

El Salvador advanced to the Final Round. Additionally, these matches featured prominently in the Football War.

Final Round
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1=  Haiti 2210142+2
1=  El Salvador 2210124−2
21 September 1969 Haiti  1–2  El Salvador Port-au-Prince, Haiti
François Acevedo
Rodríguez 		Referee: Yamasaki (Mexico)
28 September 1969 El Salvador  0–3  Haiti San Salvador, El Salvador
Désir  20'
François  40'
Barthélemy  44'		 Referee: Elizalde (Mexico)

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

8 October 1969 El Salvador  1–0
(a.e.t.)		  Haiti Kingston, Jamaica
Martínez  104' Referee: Dunstan (Bermuda)

El Salvador qualified.

Africa
Main article: 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)

FIFA rejected the entries of Guinea and Zaire. There would be three rounds of play:

  • First Round: Ghana received a bye and advanced to the Second Round directly. The remaining 10 teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners (determined by aggregate score) would advance to the Second Round.
  • Second Round: The 6 teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners would advance to the Final Round.
  • Final Round: The 3 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.

First round
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg3rd leg
Zambia  6–6  Sudan 4–2 2–4 (aet) 
Morocco  4–2  Senegal 1–0 1–22–0
Algeria  1–2  Tunisia 1–2 0–0 
Nigeria  4–3  Cameroon 1–1 3–2 
Libya  3–5  Ethiopia 2–0 1–5 
Ghana  Bye   

Second round
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg3rd leg
Tunisia  2–2  Morocco 0–0 0–0 (aet)2–2 (aet)
Ethiopia  2–4  Sudan 1–1 1–3 
Nigeria  3–2  Ghana 2–1 1–1 

Final Round
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Morocco 5421153+2
2  Nigeria 4412187+1
3  Sudan 3403158−3

Morocco qualified.

Asia and Oceania
Main article: 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)

North Korea withdrew because they refused to play with Israel. There would be three rounds of play:

  • First Round: Israel, New Zealand and Rhodesia received byes and advanced to the Second Round directly. The remaining 3 teams, Australia, Japan and South Korea, played against each other twice in South Korea. The group winner would advance to the Second Round.
  • Second Round: The 4 teams were divided into 2 groups of 2 teams each. The teams played against each other twice. The group winners would advance to the Final Round.
  • Final Round: The 2 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.

First round
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Australia 64220743
2  South Korea 44121651
3  Japan 2402248−4
Australia 3 – 1 Japan
McColl  5'
Ogi  68' (o.g.)
Baartz  69'		  11' Watanabe
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Nice (Malaysia)
South Korea 2 – 2 Japan
Kim Ki-bok  8'
Park Soo-Il  39'		  34' Miyamoto
 50' Kuwahara
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Cheung Tang-Sun (China Republic)
South Korea 1 – 2 Australia
Lee Yi-woo  45'  37' Watkiss
 82' McColl
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Suppiah (Singapore)
Australia 1 – 1 Japan
McColl  39'  4' Miyamoto
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Suvaree (Thailand)
South Korea 2 – 0 Japan
Jeong Gang-Ji  17', 40'
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Lee Kan Chi (Hong Kong)
South Korea 1 – 1 Australia
Park Soo-Il  29'  58' Baartz
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Nice (Malaysia)

Australia advanced to the Second Round.

Group 1
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1=  Australia 22020110
1=  Rhodesia 22020110
23 November 1969 Rhodesia  1 – 1  Australia Lourenço Marques, Mozambique[6]
Chalmers  63' McColl  68' Referee: Ribeiro (Portugal)
27 November 1969 Rhodesia  0 – 0  Australia Lourenço Marques, Mozambique[6]
Referee: Ribeiro (Portugal)

Australia and Rhodesia finished level on points, and a play-off was played to decide who would advance to the Final Round.

29 November 1969 Rhodesia  1 – 3  Australia Lourenço Marques, Mozambique[6]
Chalmers  54' Warren  17'
Tegire  22' (o.g.)
Rutherford  57'		 Referee: Ribeiro (Portugal)

Australia advanced to the Final Round.

Group 2
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Israel 4220060+6
2  New Zealand 0200206−6
—  North Korea withdrew
28 September 1969 Israel  4 – 0  New Zealand Ramat Gan, Israel[7]
Spiegler  48'
Spiegel  65'
Feigenbaum  72', 86'		 Referee: Nassiri (Iran)
1 October 1969 Israel  2 – 0  New Zealand Ramat Gan, Israel[7]
Spiegler  24'
Spiegel  33'		 Referee: Nassiri (Iran)

Israel advanced to the Final Round. North Korea, despite their good performance in the previous tournament staged in England in 1966, refused to play in Israel for political reasons.[8]

Final round
Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Israel 3211021+1
2  Australia 1201112−1
4 December 1969 Israel  1–0  Australia Ramat Gan, Israel
Giora Spiegel  18' Referee: Ferdinand Marschall (Austria)
14 December 1969 Australia  1–1  Israel Sydney, Australia
Watkiss  87' Mordechai Spiegler  82' Referee: Ferdinand Marschall (Austria)

Israel qualified.

Goalscorers
10 goals
9 goals
7 goals
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

Notes
    • In the African zone, aggregate score was used to determine the winners of two-legged ties. However, different tie-breakers were used in the matches when the aggregate score was tied.
    • Morocco was the first African team to qualify since Egypt in the 1934 World Cup.
    • As a result of the hostile relationship between El Salvador and Honduras, and rioting during the qualification matches between them, the short-lived Football War broke out between the two countries.
    • Israel qualified for their only World Cup to date as an Asian team. However, soon after this, they were expelled from the Asian Football Confederation, and now compete in the European zone as they are now a member of UEFA.

    References
    1. Horacio Zimmerman (8 March 2012). "Escándalos arbitrales que marcaron el futuro de equipos peruanos" (in Spanish). El Comercio.pe. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
    2. http://www.allworldcup.narod.ru/1970/PROTOCOL/QUALIF/CONMEBOL/G2/BRAVSCOL.HTM
    3. Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and New Zealand played all of their matches away. Rhodesia and Australia played their matches at a neutral venue.
    4. Jamaica played all of its matches away.
    5. Netherlands Antilles played its "home" game away in El Salvador.
    6. All matches were played on neutral ground due to the boycott of Rhodesia.
    7. Both matches were played in Israel.
    8. Fifa.com: preliminairies 1970
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