1962 FIFA World Cup qualification


A total of 56 teams entered the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. Chile, as the hosts, and Brazil, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.
As with previous World Cups, the rules of the qualification rounds varied by confederation. The winners of the four weakest continental zones: North America, Central America and Caribbean, Africa and Asia, were not guaranteed direct spots in the final tournament. Instead, they entered a play-off against a team from either Europe or South America, with the winners of the three play-offs qualifying.

Format

The 16 spots available in the 1962 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:
  • Europe : 8 direct places + 2 spots in the Intercontinental Play-offs, contested by 30 teams.
  • South America : 5 direct places + 1 spot in the Intercontinental Play-offs ; 2 direct places went to automatic qualifiers Chile and Brazil, while the other 3.5 places were contested by 7 teams.
  • North, Central America and Caribbean : 1 spot in the Intercontinental Play-offs, contested by 8 teams.
  • Africa : 1 spot in the Intercontinental Play-offs, contested by 6 teams.
  • Asia : 1 spot in the Intercontinental Play-offs, contested by 3 teams.
A total of 49 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 92 qualifying matches were played, and 325 goals were scored.
Listed below are the dates and results of the qualification rounds.

Confederation qualification

AFC

There would be only one round of play. The 3 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would advance to the UEFA/AFC Intercontinental Play-off.

CAF

There would be two rounds of play:
  • First round: The 6 teams were divided into 3 groups of 2 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group 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 advance to the UEFA/CAF Intercontinental Play-off.

CCCF and NAFC

There would be two rounds of play:
  • First Round: The remaining 7 teams were divided into 3 groups of 2 or 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group 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 advance to the CONMEBOL/CCCF/NAFC Intercontinental Play-off.

CONMEBOL

Among the 7 teams, Paraguay were drawn to play in the [|CONMEBOL / CCCF / NAFC Intercontinental Play-off]. The remaining 6 teams were divided into 3 groups of 2 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.

UEFA

The 30 teams were divided into 10 groups. The groups had different rules, as follows:
  • Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 had 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify. If the top two teams finished on level points, then a play-off at a neutral ground determined the final qualifier.
  • Group 7 had 5 teams. The teams played in a knockout tournament, with matches on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.
  • Group 9 had 2 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would advance to the UEFA / CAF Intercontinental Play-off. If the top two teams finished on level points, then a play-off at a neutral ground determined the final qualifier.
  • Group 10 had 2 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would advance to the UEFA / AFC Intercontinental Play-off. If the top two teams finished on level points, then a play-off at a neutral ground determined the final qualifier.

Inter-confederation play-offs

In each play-off, the teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winners would qualify.

Qualified teams

TeamDate of qualificationFinals appearanceStreakLast appearance
17 December 19604th21958
29 June 19587th71958
16 December 19611st1—
11 June 19563rd11950
7 May 19611st1—
29 November 19615th31958
25 October 19614th41958
10 September 19615th31958
4 November 19615th11954
5 November 19615th41958
23 November 19613rd11950
12 November 19615th11954
30 July 19614th11954
12 November 19612nd21958
22 October 19615th31958
26 November 19615th41958

Goalscorers

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