1938 FIFA World Cup qualification

A total of 37 teams (including the late application of Argentina) entered the 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. For the first time the title holders and the host country were given automatic qualification. Therefore, France, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

1938 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Tournament details
Dates	16 June 1937 – 1 May 1938
Teams	37 (from 3 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played	22
Goals scored	96 (4.36 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Fricis Kaņeps Gyula Zsengellér (5 goals each)
← 1934 1950 →

Due to the Spanish Civil War, Spain application was initially suspended and eventually rejected. The remaining teams were divided into groups based on geographical considerations, as follows:^[1]

• Europe: 11 places, contested by 23 teams (including Egypt and Palestine) divided into eight groups.
• The Americas: 2 places, contested by 9 teams.
• Asia: 1 place, contested by 2 teams.

However, due to the withdrawal of Austria after qualifying (they had been annexed by Germany), only 15 teams actually competed in the final tournament. FIFA did not offer participation to the runner-up of the group that Austria had played in, Latvia.

A total of 21 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 22 qualifying matches were played, and 96 goals were scored (an average of 4.36 per match).

Format

The groups had different rules, as follows:

Europe

• Group 1 had 4 teams. The teams played against each other once. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
• Group 2^[2] had 4 teams. The teams played two separate play-offs on a home-and-away basis. The winners of each play-off would qualify.
• Groups 3,^[2] 4 and 6 had 2 teams each. In Group 3 and Group 6 the teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The play-off winners would qualify. In Group 4, Switzerland and Portugal played only one match on a neutral ground with the winner to qualify.
• Groups 5 and 7 had 3 teams each. The strongest team of each group was seeded. There would be two rounds of play:
  • First Round: The unseeded teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would advance to the Final Round.
  • Final Round: The seeded team played against the winner of the First Round at home. The winner would qualify.
• Group 8 had 3 teams. The teams played against each other once. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.

Americas

• South America had only one team. Brazil received a bye^[3] and qualified directly to the final competition.
• Central and North America had 7 teams. The United States and the winner of the Central America qualifying round (contested by 6 teams) would play a play-off with the winner to qualify.

Eastern Asia

• Eastern Asia had 2 teams. The winner of the play-off would qualify.

Format update after Argentina's application

Argentina submitted a late request to FIFA to take part to the World Cup in October 1937. In regard of the prestige of the team, the application was accepted.^[4] The qualification format was rearranged^[5] taking also in account the withdrawal of Japan.^[6]

• Play-off 1 to be played between the United States and the Dutch East Indies in Rotterdam, 26 May 1938
• Play-off 2 to be played between Argentina and the winner of the Central America qualifying round in Paris, 29 May 1938

Key:

• Teams highlighted in green qualified for the finals.
• Teams highlighted in Orange qualified for the final phase of their group.

Groups

Group 1

Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 1

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GR	Pts	Qualification
1	Germany	3	3	0	0	11	1	11.000	6	Final tournament
2	Sweden	3	2	0	1	11	7	1.571	4
3	Estonia	3	1	0	2	4	11	0.364	2
4	Finland	3	0	0	3	0	7	0.000	0

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: ^{[citation needed]}

16 June 1937

Sweden	4–0	Finland
Bunke 60', 82' Persson 65' Svanström 68'	Report

Solna Råsunda Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden

Attendance: 19,554

Referee: Kolbjørn Daehlen (Norway)

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20 June 1937

Sweden	7–2	Estonia
Josefsson 7', 41' Bunke 40' Jonasson 49' (pen.) Wetterström 73', 77', 84'	Report	Siimenson 2' Uukkivi 3'

Solna Råsunda Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden

Attendance: 18,171

Referee: Otto Remke (Denmark)

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29 June 1937

Finland	0–2	Germany
	Report	Lehner 6' Urban 60'

Pallokenttä, Helsinki, Finland

Attendance: 6,519

Referee: Otto Remke (Denmark)

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19 August 1937

Finland	0–1	Estonia
	Report	Kuremaa 56'

Urheilupuisto, Turku, Finland

Attendance: 4,797

Referee: Ivan Eklind (Sweden)

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29 August 1937

Germany	4–1	Estonia
Lehner 50', 65' Gauchel 53', 86'	Report	Siimenson 34'

Horst-Wessel Stadion, Königsberg, Germany

Attendance: 15,000

Referee: Bruno Pfützner (Czechoslovakia)

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21 November 1937

Germany	5–0	Sweden
Siffling 2', 57' Szepan 8' Schön 48', 63'	Report

Altonaer Stadion, Hamburg, Germany

Attendance: 55,000

Referee: Bruno Pfützner (Czechoslovakia)

Germany and Sweden qualified.

Group 2

Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 2

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Norway	2	1	1	0	6	5	1.20	3
2	Irish Free State	2	0	1	1	5	6	0.83	1

10 October 1937

Norway	3–2	Irish Free State
Kvammen 30', 64' Martinsen 78'	Report	Geoghegan 37' Dunne 49'

Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway

Attendance: 20,000

Referee: Peco Bauwens (Germany)

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7 November 1937

Irish Free State	3–3	Norway
Dunne 10' O'Flanagan 62' Duggan 88'	Report	Kvammen 16', 33' Martinsen 49'

Dalymount Park, Dublin, Irish Free State

Attendance: 27,000

Referee: Thomas Gibbs (England)

Norway qualified.

Group 3

Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 3

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Poland	2	1	0	1	4	1	4.00	2
2	Yugoslavia	2	1	0	1	1	4	0.25	2

10 October 1937

Poland	4–0	Yugoslavia
Piątek 3', 20' Wostal 59' Wilimowski 78'	Report

Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw, Poland

Attendance: 30,000

Referee: Lucien Leclercq (France)

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3 April 1938

Yugoslavia	1–0	Poland
Marjanović 61'	Report

Stadion BSK, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Attendance: 25,000

Referee: Rinaldo Barlassina (Italy)

Poland finished above Yugoslavia on goal average, and thus qualified.

Group 4

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
—	Romania	qualified
—	Egypt	withdrew

Egypt were to play Romania on 17 December 1937. However, Egypt withdrew from the competition after Egyptian officials objected to playing on this date since it was in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (Some sources say that Ramadan in that year ended on 3 December,^[7] but at the time the beginning of Islamic months depended on the sighting of the new moon which could vary depending on the country or region one was in). Therefore, Romania qualified after Egypt invited Austrian club side First Vienna FC to play a friendly match against the national team.^[8]

Group 5

Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 5

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Switzerland	1	1	0	0	2	1	2.00	2
2	Portugal	1	0	0	1	1	2	0.50	0

1 May 1938

Switzerland	2–1	Portugal
Aeby 24' Amado 29'	Report	Peyroteo 72' (pen.)

Stadio Civico Arena, Milan, Italy

Attendance: 20,000

Referee: Francesco Mattea (Italy)

Switzerland qualified.

Group 6

Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 6

First round

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Greece	2	2	0	0	4	1	4.00	4
2	Mandatory Palestine	2	0	0	2	1	4	0.25	0

22 January 1938

Mandatory Palestine	1–3	Greece
Neufeld 36'	Report	Vikelidis 15', 30' Migiakis 73'

Maccabiah Stadium, Tel Aviv, Palestine

Attendance: 5,000

Referee: Mohammed Youssef (Egypt)

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20 February 1938

Greece	1–0	Mandatory Palestine
Vikelidis 88' (pen.)	Report

Stadio Leoforos Alexandras, Athens, Greece

Attendance: 12,000

Referee: Mika Popovic (Yugoslavia)

Greece qualified for the final round.

Final round

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Hungary	1	1	0	0	11	1	11.0	2
2	Greece	1	0	0	1	1	11	0.09	0

25 March 1938

Hungary	11–1	Greece
Zsengellér 15', 23' (pen.), 25', 65', 81' Titkos 18', 75' Vincze 26' Nemes 34', 40', 52'	Report	Makris 89'

Hungária, Budapest, Hungary

Attendance: 14,000

Referee: Denis Xifando (Romania)

Hungary qualified.

Group 7

Main article: 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 7

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Czechoslovakia	2	1	1	0	7	1	7.00	3
2	Bulgaria	2	0	1	1	1	7	0.14	1

7 November 1937

Bulgaria	1–1	Czechoslovakia
Pachedzhiev 89' (pen.)	Report	Ríha 44'

Junak Stadion, Sofia, Bulgaria

Attendance: 12,000

Referee: Rinaldo Barlassina (Italy)

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24 April 1938

Czechoslovakia	6–0	Bulgaria
Šimůnek 21', 79', 89' Nejedlý 57', 77' Ludl 73'	Report

AC Sparta Stadion, Prague, Czechoslovakia

Attendance: 31,458

Referee: Pál von Hertzka (Hungary)

Czechoslovakia qualified.

Group 8

First round

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Latvia	2	2	0	0	9	3	3.00	4
2	Lithuania	2	0	0	2	3	9	0.33	0

29 July 1937

Latvia	4–2	Lithuania
Kaņeps 19', 52' Vestermans 50' Borduško 83'	Report	Gudelis 79' Paulionis 90'

ASK stadions, Riga, Latvia

Attendance: 10,000

Referee: Gustav Krist (Czechoslovakia)

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3 September 1937

Lithuania	1–5	Latvia
Paulionis 72'	Report	Kaņeps 4', 45' (pen.) Borduško 11', 30' Vestermans 67'

Valstybinis stadionas, Kaunas, Lithuania

Attendance: 8,000

Referee: Hans Frankenstein (Austria)

Latvia qualified for the final round.

Final round

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Austria	1	1	0	0	2	1	2.00	2
2	Latvia	1	0	0	1	1	2	0.50	0

5 October 1937

Austria	2–1	Latvia
Jerusalem 15' Binder 33'	Report	Vestermans 6'

Stadion Prater, Vienna, Austria

Attendance: 16,000

Referee: Pál von Hercka (Hungary)

Austria qualified, but was later incorporated by Germany during the Anschluss. FIFA offered the place to England (winner of the 1937–38 British Home Championship), who had opted not to enter the competition, but they declined the offer; FIFA decided not to allow anyone else to qualify, leaving the World Cup one team short.

Group 9

Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Netherlands	2	1	1	0	5	1	5.00	3
2	Belgium	2	1	1	0	4	3	1.33	3
3	Luxembourg	2	0	0	2	2	7	0.29	0

28 November 1937

Netherlands	4–0	Luxembourg
Smit 29' de Boer 68', 78', 82'	Report

Stadion Feyenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Attendance: 40,000

Referee: Karl Weingarter (Austria)

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13 March 1938

Luxembourg	2–3	Belgium
Libar 4' Kemp 33'	Report	Voorhoof 19' Braine 55' de Vries 59'

Stade Municipal, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Attendance: 12,500

Referee: Georges Capdeville (France)

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3 April 1938

Belgium	1–1	Netherlands
Isemborghs 53'	Report	van Spaandonck 37'

Bosuil Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium

Attendance: 47,660

Referee: Arthur Jewell (England)

Netherlands and Belgium qualified.

Group 10

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Brazil	Bye
2	Argentina	Withdrew

Argentina withdrew, so Brazil qualified automatically.

Group 11

First round

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Cuba	Bye
2	Costa Rica	Withdrew
	Dutch Guiana
	El Salvador
	Colombia
	Mexico
	United States

Costa Rica, Dutch Guiana, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia and the United States all withdrew, so Cuba qualified automatically for the second round.

Second round

All teams other than Cuba had withdrawn from competition, so they qualified automatically for the finals.

Group 12

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Dutch East Indies	Bye
2	Japan	Withdrew

Japan withdrew, so the Dutch East Indies qualified automatically.

Qualified teams

FIFA World Cup qualification 1938

Qualifying countries

Team	Finals appearance	Streak	Last appearance
Austria	2nd	2	1934
Belgium	3rd	3	1934
Brazil	3rd	3	1934
Cuba	1st	1	—
Czechoslovakia	2nd	2	1934
Dutch East Indies	1st	1	—
France (H)	3rd	3	1934
Germany	2nd	2	1934
Hungary	2nd	2	1934
Italy (C)	2nd	2	1934
Netherlands	2nd	2	1934
Norway	1st	1	—
Poland	1st	1	—
Romania	3rd	3	1934
Sweden	2nd	2	1934
Switzerland	2nd	2	1934

•  Austria withdrew after qualifying due to the Anschluss.
• (H) – qualified automatically as hosts
• (C) – qualified automatically as defending champions

Goalscorers

5 goals

• Gyula Zsengellér
• Fricis Kaņeps

4 goals

• Reidar Kvammen

3 goals

• Ladislav Šimůnek
• Ernst Lehner
• Kleanthis Vikelidis
• József Nemes
• Iļja Vestermans
• Piet de Boer
• Lennart Bunke
• Gustav Wetterström

2 goals

• Oldřich Nejedlý
• Georg Siimenson
• Josef Gauchel
• Helmut Schön
• Otto Siffling
• Pál Titkos
• Jimmy Dunne
• Vaclavs Borduško
• Jonas Paulionis
• Alf Martinsen
• Leonard Piontek
• Gustaf Josefsson

1 goal

• Franz Binder
• Camillo Jerusalem
• Raymond Braine
• Hendrik Isemborghs
• Bernard Voorhoof
• François Devries
• Georgi Pachedzhiev
• Josef Ludl
• Jan Říha
• Richard Kuremaa
• Heinrich Uukkivi
• Fritz Szepan
• Adolf Urban
• Lefteris Makris
• Antonis Migiakis
• Jenő Vincze
• Harry Duggan
• Matty Geoghegan
• Kevin O'Flanagan
• Juozas Gudelis
• Gusty Kemp
• Camille Libar
• Peri Neufeld
• Kick Smit
• Henk van Spaandonck
• Ernst Wilimowski
• Jerzy Wostal
• Fernando Peyroteo
• Sven Jonasson
• Erik Persson
• Kurt Svanström
• Georges Aeby
• Lauro Amadò
• Blagoje Marjanović

Notes

• It was originally intended that the World Cup would be held alternately between the continents of South America and Europe. However Jules Rimet, the creator of the World Cup, convinced FIFA to hold the competition in France,^{[citation needed]} his home country. Because of this controversial move, many American countries, including Argentina (the most likely hosts if the event was held in South America), Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Dutch Guiana, Uruguay, and the United States, all withdrew or refused to enter.^{[citation needed]}. Brazil and Cuba were the only countries from the Americas to enter qualification and thus qualified for the World Cup by default.