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)

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.

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, 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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 West Germany 4310123+97
2 Saar 411248−43
3 Norway 402249−52
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
Attendance: 42,000
West Germany 5–1 Norway
Morlock 27', 63'
O. Walter 69'
F. Walter 80'
Rahn 88'		 Report Nordahl 26'
Attendance: 76,000
Referee: Arthur Luty (England)
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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Belgium 4310116+57
2 Sweden 411298+13
3 Finland 4022713−62
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

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
Northern Ireland 1–3 Scotland
Lockhart 72' (pen.) Report Fleming 47', 69'
Henderson 89'
Attendance: 58,248
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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 France 4400204+168
2 Republic of Ireland 420286+24
3 Luxembourg 4004119−180
Luxembourg 1–6 France
Kohn 6' Report Piantoni 5'
Kopa 10'
Cicci 41'
Glovacki 44'
Kargu 73'
Flamion 88'
Referee: Dörflinger (Switzerland)
Republic of Ireland 3–5 France
Ryan 58' (pen.)
Walsh 83'
O'Farrell 88'		 Report Glovacki 23'
Penverne 40'
Ujlaki 50', 69'
Flamion 72'
Referee: Franken (Belgium)
Republic of Ireland 4–0 Luxembourg
Fitzsimons 14', 83'
Ryan 48' (pen.)
Eglington 59'		 Report
Referee: Bond (England)
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)
Luxembourg 0–1 Republic of Ireland
Report Cummins 67'
Referee: Ausum (Netherlands)

France qualified.

Group 5

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Austria 211091+83
2 Portugal 201119−81
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
Referee: Harzic (France)

Austria qualified.

Group 6

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Spain 210142+22
 Turkey 210124−22
Spain 4–1 Turkey
Venancio 13'
Gaínza 48'
González 49'
Alsua 65'		 Report Recep 31'
Referee: Vincentini (France)
Turkey 1–0 Spain
Burhan 16' Report
Referee: Schmetzer (West Germany)

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] 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 winner of aggregate score failed to qualify.

Group 7

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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Czechoslovakia 431051+47
2 Romania 42025504
3 Bulgaria 401337−41
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'
23 August Stadium, Bucharest, Romania
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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Italy 220072+54
2 Egypt 200227−50
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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Yugoslavia 440040+48
2 Greece 420232+14
3 Israel 400405−50
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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Brazil 440081+78
2 Paraguay 420286+24
3 Chile 4004110−90
— 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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Mexico 4400191+188
2 United States 420279−24
3 Haiti 4004218−160
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

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 South Korea 211073+43
2 Japan 201137−41
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

FIFA World Cup qualification 1954
Qualifying countries
Team Date of qualification Finals appearance Streak Last appearance
 Austria 29 November 1953 3rd11938
 Belgium 8 October 1953 4th11938
 Brazil 21 March 1954 5th51950
 Czechoslovakia 25 October 1953 3rd11938
 England 11 November 1953 2nd21950
 France 25 November 1953 4th11938
 Hungary (w) 3rd11938
 Italy 24 January 1954 4th41950
 South Korea 14 March 1954 1st1—
 Mexico 14 January 1954 3rd21950
 Scotland 31 March 1954 1st1—
  Switzerland (h) 22 July 1946 4th41950
 Turkey 17 March 1954 1st1—
 Uruguay (c) 16 July 1950 3rd21950
 West Germany 28 March 1954 3rd11938
 Yugoslavia 28 March 1954 3rd21950

(h) – qualified automatically as hosts

(c) – qualified automatically as defending champions

(w) – qualified automatically because Poland withdrew

Goalscorers

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

Notes

  • 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

  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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