1934 FIFA World Cup qualification
Tournament details | |
---|---|
Teams | 32 (from 3 confederations) |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 26 |
Goals scored | 141 (5.42 per match) |
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the first World Cup where the teams had to qualify, since the first edition in 1930 had no qualification rounds (the participating teams were invited by FIFA). This time, a total of 32 teams entered the competition, so FIFA had to organize qualification (or preliminary) rounds to reduce the field to 16 teams for the final tournament. Even Italy, the host of the World Cup, had to qualify (the only time the hosts had to qualify, and one of only two occasions the hosts have ever taken part in the qualification process[1]), while the defending champions Uruguay refused to participate and defend their title because many European nations declined to take part in the 1930 World Cup held in Uruguay.
The 32 teams were divided into 12 groups, based on geographical considerations, as follows:
- Groups 1 to 8 - Europe: 12 places, contested by 21 teams.
- Groups 9, 10 and 11 - Americas: 3 places, contested by 8 teams.
- Group 12 - Africa and Asia: 1 place, contested by 3 teams (including Turkey).
A total of 27 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 26 qualifying matches were played, and 141 goals were scored (an average of 5.42 per match).
Listed below are the dates and results of the qualification rounds.
Format
The 12 groups had different rules, as follows:
- Group 1 had 3 teams. The teams played against each other once. The group winner would qualify.
- Groups 2, 3 and 5 had 2 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.
- Group 4 had 3 teams. The teams played against each other twice. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
- Groups 6, 7 and 8 had 3 teams each. The teams played against each other once. The group winners and runners-up would qualify.
- Groups 9 and 10 had 2 teams each. The group winners would qualify.
- Group 11 had 4 teams. There would be three rounds of play:
- First Round: Haiti played against Cuba in three matches at home. The winner would advance to the Second Round.
- Second Round: Mexico played against the winner of the First Round in three matches at home. The winner would advance to the Final Round.
- Final Round: USA played against the winner of the Second Round in a single match on neutral ground. The winner would qualify.
- Group 12 had 3 teams. After Turkey withdrew before the matches began, the remaining 2 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.
Group 1
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 4.00 | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 |
3 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0.33 | 0 |
11 June 1933 | Sweden ![]() |
6 – 2 | ![]() |
Stockholm, Sweden |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kroon ![]() L. Bunke ![]() Ericsson ![]() ![]() T. Bunke ![]() Andersson ![]() |
(Report) | Kass ![]() Kuremaa ![]() |
Stadium: Stockholms Olympiastadion Attendance: 8,123 Referee: Reidar Randers-Johansen (Norway) |
29 June 1933 | Lithuania ![]() |
0 – 2 | ![]() |
Kaunas, Lithuania |
---|---|---|---|---|
(Report) | Hansson ![]() |
Stadium: Kariuomenės Stadionas Attendance: 6,000 Referee: August Silber (Estonia) |
Estonia v Lithuania was not played, since neither team could qualify with a win.
Sweden qualified.
Group 2
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 11.0 | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0.09 | 0 |
11 March 1934 | Spain ![]() |
9 – 0 | ![]() |
Madrid, Spain |
---|---|---|---|---|
González ![]() Lángara ![]() Regueiro ![]() Ventolrà ![]() |
(Report) | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Raphael van Praag (Belgium) |
18 March 1934 | Portugal ![]() |
1 – 2 | ![]() |
Lisbon, Portugal |
---|---|---|---|---|
Silva ![]() |
(Report) | Lángara ![]() |
Stadium: Estádio do Lumiar Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Raphael van Praag (Belgium) |
11-1 on aggregate; Spain qualified.
Group 3
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 | 2 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0.00 | 0 |
25 March 1934 | Italy ![]() |
4 – 0 | ![]() |
Milan, Italy |
---|---|---|---|---|
Guarisi ![]() Meazza ![]() Ferrari ![]() |
(Report) | Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 20,000 Referee: René Mercet (Switzerland) |
Italy qualified, as Greece withdrew after the first match.
Group 4
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 4.00 | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6.00 | 2 |
3 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0.21 | 0 |
25 March 1934 | Bulgaria ![]() |
1 – 4 | ![]() |
Sofia, Bulgaria |
---|---|---|---|---|
Baikushev ![]() |
(Report) | Sarosi ![]() Szabó ![]() Toldi ![]() Markos ![]() |
Stadium: A.S. 23 Stadium Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Denis Xifandu (Romania) |
25 April 1934 | Austria ![]() |
6 – 1 | ![]() |
Vienna, Austria |
---|---|---|---|---|
Horvath ![]() Zischek ![]() Viertl ![]() Sindelar ![]() |
(Report) | Lozanov ![]() |
Stadium: Praterstadion Attendance: 25,000 Referee: František Cejnar (Czechoslovakia) |
29 April 1934 | Hungary ![]() |
4 – 1 | ![]() |
Budapest, Hungary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Szabó ![]() Solti ![]() |
(Report) | Todorov ![]() |
Stadium: Hungária-körút Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Hans Frankenstein (Austria) |
Bulgaria withdrew, and the remaining matches were not played since Hungary and Austria were already assured of the top two spots.
Hungary and Austria qualified.
Group 5
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2.00 | 2 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 |
15 October 1933 | Poland ![]() |
1 – 2 | ![]() |
Warsaw, Poland |
---|---|---|---|---|
Martyna ![]() |
(report) | Silný ![]() Pelcner ![]() |
Stadium: Polish Army Stadium Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Denis Xifandu (Romania) |
Poland withdrew before the second match.
Czechoslovakia qualified.
Group 6
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 3 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 2 |
3 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.75 | 1 |
24 September 1933 | Yugoslavia ![]() |
2 – 2 | ![]() |
Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kragić ![]() Marjanović ![]() |
(Report) | Frigerio ![]() Jäggi ![]() |
Stadium: Stadion BSK Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Alois Beranek (Austria) |
29 October 1933 | Switzerland ![]() |
2 – 0 | ![]() |
Bern, Switzerland |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hochstrasser ![]() Hufschmid ![]() |
(Report) | Stadium: Wankdorf Stadion Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Hans Boekmann (Netherlands) |
Romania fielded an ineligible player, so FIFA accordingly awarded Switzerland a 2–0 win for the match.
29 April 1934 | Romania ![]() |
2 – 1 | ![]() |
Bucharest, Romania |
---|---|---|---|---|
Schwartz ![]() Dobay ![]() |
(Report) | Kragić ![]() |
Stadium: Stadionul ONEF Attendance: 20,000 Referee: John Langenus (Belgium) |
Switzerland and Romania qualified.
Group 7
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 2.25 | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 0.75 | 1 |
3 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 0.67 | 1 |
25 February 1934 | Irish Free State ![]() |
4 – 4 | ![]() |
Dublin, Irish Free State |
---|---|---|---|---|
Moore ![]() |
(Report) | Capelle ![]() S. Vanden Eynde ![]() F. Vanden Eynde ![]() |
Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Thomas Crewe (England) |
8 April 1934 | Netherlands ![]() |
5 – 2 | ![]() |
Amsterdam, Netherlands |
---|---|---|---|---|
Smit ![]() Bakhuys ![]() Vente ![]() |
(Report) | Squires ![]() Moore ![]() |
Stadium: Olympischstadion Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Otto Ohlsson (Sweden) |
29 April 1934 | Belgium ![]() |
2 – 4 | ![]() |
Antwerp, Belgium |
---|---|---|---|---|
Grimmonprez ![]() Voorhoof ![]() |
(Report) | Smit ![]() Bakhuys ![]() Vente ![]() |
Stadium: Bosuil Stadion Attendance: 42,000 Referee: Stanley Rous (England) |
Netherlands and Belgium qualified (Belgium finished above the Irish Free State on goal average).
Group 8
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 9.00 | 2 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6.00 | 2 |
3 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 0.13 | 0 |
11 March 1934 | Luxembourg ![]() |
1 – 9 | ![]() |
Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mengel ![]() |
(Report) | Rasselnberg ![]() Wigold ![]() Albrecht ![]() Hohmann ![]() |
Stadium: Stade Municipal Attendance: 14,500 Referee: Jan de Wolf (Netherlands) |
15 April 1934 | Luxembourg ![]() |
1 – 6 | ![]() |
Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Speicher ![]() |
(Report) | Aston ![]() Nicolas ![]() Liberati ![]() |
Stadium: Stade Municipal Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Marc Turfkruyer (Belgium) |
Germany v France was not played, since both teams were already assured of the top two spots.
Germany and France qualified.
Group 9
Peru withdrew, so Brazil qualified automatically.
Group 10
Chile withdrew, so Argentina qualified automatically.
Group 11
First round
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 5.00 | 5 |
2 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 0.20 | 1 |
28 January 1934 | Haiti ![]() |
1 – 3 | ![]() |
Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
---|---|---|---|---|
St. Fort ![]() |
López ![]() Socorro ![]() Martínez ![]() |
Stadium: Parc Leconte Attendance: 6,000 Referee: John Williams (United States) |
1 February 1934 | Haiti ![]() |
1 – 1 | ![]() |
Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
---|---|---|---|---|
St. Fort ![]() |
López ![]() |
Stadium: Parc Leconte Attendance: 6,000 Referee: John Williams (United States) |
4 February 1934 | Haiti ![]() |
0 – 6 | ![]() |
Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
---|---|---|---|---|
H. Socorro ![]() López ![]() ![]() F. Socorro ![]() Ferrer ![]() Soto ![]() |
Stadium: Parc Leconte Attendance: 5,000 Referee: John Williams (United States) |
10-2 on aggregate; Cuba advanced to the Second Round.
Second round
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 4.00 | 6 |
2 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 0.25 | 0 |
4 March 1934 | Mexico ![]() |
3 – 2 | ![]() |
Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mejía ![]() |
López ![]() |
Stadium: Parque Necaxa Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Edward Donaghy (United States) |
11 March 1934 | Mexico ![]() |
5 – 0 | ![]() |
Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sota ![]() Mejía ![]() Rosas ![]() |
Stadium: Parque Necaxa Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Edward Donaghy (United States) |
18 March 1934 | Mexico ![]() |
4 – 1 | ![]() |
Mexico City, Mexico |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alonso ![]() Ruvalcaba ![]() Marcos ![]() |
López ![]() |
Stadium: Parque Necaxa Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Edward Donaghy (United States) |
12-3 on aggregate; Mexico advanced to the Final Round.
Final round
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 2 |
2 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0.50 | 0 |
24 May 1934 | United States ![]() |
4 – 2 | ![]() |
Rome, Italy |
---|---|---|---|---|
Donelli ![]() |
Alonso ![]() Mejía ![]() |
Stadium: Stadio Nazionale Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Yossouf Mohammed (Egypt) |
United States qualified.
Group 12
The Palestine football team consisted of nine British footballers, six Jewish footballers and one Arab footballer.[2] FIFA states in reference to the 1930s Palestine Mandate team that the 'Palestine team' that had participated in previous competitions in the 1930s was actually the forerunner of today's Israel team and as such bears no relation to the national team of the Palestinian authority.[3] However, the region currently known as Palestine is considered "one of the first Asian teams to compete in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers".[4]
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 5.50 | 4 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0.18 | 0 |
— | ![]() |
withdrew |
16 March 1934 | Egypt ![]() |
7 – 1 | ![]() |
Cairo, Egypt |
---|---|---|---|---|
El-Tetsh ![]() Taha ![]() Latif ![]() |
Nudelmann ![]() |
Stadium: British Army Ground Attendance: 13,000 Referee: Stanley Wells (England) |
6 April 1934 | Palestine, British Mandate ![]() |
1 – 4 | ![]() |
Tel-Aviv, Palestine, British Mandate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Suknik ![]() |
Latif ![]() El-Tetsh ![]() Fawzi ![]() |
Stadium: Hapoel Ground Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Frederick Goodsby (England) |
11-2 on aggregate; Egypt qualified.
Qualified teams


Team | Finals Appearance | Streak | Last Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
2nd | 2 | 1930 |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
2nd | 2 | 1930 |
![]() |
2nd | 2 | 1930 |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
2nd | 2 | 1930 |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
2nd | 2 | 1930 |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
1st | 1 | – |
![]() |
2nd | 2 | 1930 |
Notes
- The match to decide whether USA or Mexico would qualify was played in Italy only three days before the start of the final tournament, as the USA team submitted their entry too late. Thus, the match was played on Italian ground, so that the winner would effectively stay for the tournament (the teams travelled by ship at that time, and travelling from America to Europe took around 15 days).
- Chile, Peru and Turkey all withdrew before qualifying began, while Denmark, Finland, Latvia and Norway all withdrew before draw.
References
- ↑ Although South Africa were automatically qualified for the 2010 World Cup as hosts, they took part in the 2010 African qualifiers. The Confederation of African Football used its 2010 World Cup qualifiers as the qualifiers for the 2010 African Cup of Nations, an event for which South Africa had to qualify separately. They were eliminated at the second of three rounds of qualifying.
- ↑ "A long wait for a home game". Reuters. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ↑ "FIFA Fact Sheet: History of the FIFA World Cup (TM) Preliminary Competition (see page 43)" (PDF). FIFA. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
- ↑ "Palestine (PLE)". FIFA. 2010. Retrieved 2011-09-23.