1938 FIFA World Cup qualification


A total of 37 teams 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.
Due to the Spanish Civil War, Spain's application was initially suspended and eventually rejected. The remaining teams were divided into groups based on geographical considerations, as follows:
  • Europe: 11 places, contested by 23 teams 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, only 15 teams actually competed in the final tournament.
A total of 21 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 22 qualifying matches were played, and 96 goals were scored.

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 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, 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

  • North America had only one team. The United States would play a play-off with the winner of the Central America for one spot in the competition.
  • Central America had 6 teams. The winner of the qualifying round would play a play-off with the North America for one spot in the competition.
  • South America had only one team. Brazil received a bye and qualified directly to the final competition.

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.
The qualification format was rearranged taking also in account the withdrawal of Japan. Two intercontinental play-offs were established.
Key:
  • Teams highlighted in green qualified for the finals.
  • Teams highlighted in Orange qualified for the final phase of their group.

Groups

Group 1

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Germany and Sweden qualified.

Group 2a

RankTeam
12110651.203
22011560.831

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Norway qualified.

Group 2b

RankTeam
12101414.002
22101140.252

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

Group 3

FIFA fixed the dates for the play-off: the first leg to be played in Cairo on 17 December 1937, the second leg to be played in Bucharest on 17 April 1938. Egypt did not accept the first leg date and this refusal was considered as a withdrawal from the competition.

Group 4

RankTeam
11100212.002
21001120.500

Switzerland qualified.

Group 5

First round

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Greece qualified for the final round.

Final round

Hungary qualified.

Group 6

RankTeam
12110717.003
22011170.141

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Czechoslovakia qualified.

Group 7

First round

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Latvia qualified for the final round.

Final round

Austria qualified, but was later incorporated by Germany during the Anschluss. FIFA offered the place to England, 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 8

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Netherlands and Belgium qualified.

North America

The United States had originally to play against the winner of the Central America zone for one spot in the final competition. After the application of Argentina, FIFA changed the opponent of the play-off, that would be now played in Europe. The opponent would be the Dutch East Indies.

Central America

The winner of the Central America zone had originally to play against the United States for one spot in the final competition. After the application of Argentina, FIFA changed the opponent of the play-off, that would be now played in Europe. The opponent would be Argentina.

The course of the Central America qualifying round was quite chaotic and involved several changes of format. In the initial configuration the First Round was composed of two groups, one to be played in Barranquilla, Colombia, involving Colombia, Cuba and the Dutch Guiana, the second to be played in San José, Costa Rica, involving Costa Rica, El Salvador and Mexico. The winners would advance to the Final Round.

In January 1938 México withdrew from the competition protesting against the late inclusion of Argentina in the qualifying process. The Dutch Guiana withdrew too.

In March 1938 the First Round was still to be played, the fixtures being Colombia-El Salvador and Cuba-Costa Rica.

Eventually, Colombia, Costa Rica and El Salvador all withdrew so Cuba emerged as the winner of the group. No match was played in the Central America zone.

South America

Brasil was originally the only South American team participating to the World Cup, being Colombia included in the Central America zone. Thus Brasil received a bye to take part to the final competition in France.

Later on Argentina applied to the FIFA. Argentina was admitted to play an intercontinental play-off against the winner of the Central America zone for one spot in the final competition.

East Asia

The Dutch East Indies and Japan had originally to play for one spot in the competition. Japan withdrew as a result of the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War and, after the application of Argentina, FIFA assigned the Dutch East Indies to a different play-off, that would be now played in Europe. The opponent would be the United States.

Intercontinental play-offs

Two intercontinental play-offs were established by FIFA after the application of Argentina to the competition. They were meant to be played in Europe about one week before the start of the World Cup as an anticipation of the proper competition.
Eventually, none of these play-offs was played.

Play-off 1

The play-off had to be played in Rotterdam on 29 May 1938 between the United States and the Dutch East Indies. The United States withdrew from the competition in April 1938 thus allowing the Dutch East Indies to qualify without playing a single match.

Play-off 2

The play-off had to be played in Bordeaux on 29 May 1938 between Argentina and the winner of the Central America zone. Argentina withdrew from the competition for disagreements between the National Federation and the local clubs. Cuba, who emerged as the winner of Central America zone, qualified to the World Cup without playing a single match.

Qualified teams

TeamFinals appearanceStreakLast appearance
2nd21934
3rd31934
3rd31934
1st1—
2nd21934
1st1—
3rd31934
2nd21934
2nd21934
2nd21934
2nd21934
1st1—
1st1—
3rd31934
2nd21934
2nd21934

  • withdrew after qualifying due to the Anschluss.
  • – qualified automatically as hosts
  • – qualified automatically as defending champions

Goalscorers

;5 goals
;4 goals
;3 goals
;2 goals
;1 goal