Rahul Sharma (Editor)

1934 FIFA World Cup qualification

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Dates
  
11 Jun 1933 – 24 May 1934

Goals scored
  
141

Teams
  
32

Matches played
  
26

1934 FIFA World Cup qualification httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons00

Top scorer(s)
  
Isidro Lángara (7 goals)

Similar
  
1938 FIFA World Cup qualification, 1950 FIFA World Cup qualification, 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification, 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification, 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification

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), 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.

Contents

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.

    • Estonia v Lithuania was not played, since neither team could qualify with a win.

    Sweden qualified.

    11-1 on aggregate; Spain qualified.

    Group 3

    Italy qualified, as Greece withdrew after the first match.

    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

    Poland withdrew before the second match.

    Czechoslovakia qualified.

    Romania fielded an ineligible player, so FIFA accordingly awarded Switzerland a 2–0 win for the match.

    Switzerland and Romania qualified.

    Netherlands and Belgium qualified (Belgium finished above the Irish Free State on goal average).

    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.

    10-2 on aggregate; Cuba advanced to the Second Round.

    12-3 on aggregate; Mexico advanced to the Final Round.

    References

    1934 FIFA World Cup qualification Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA