The 1950 FIFA World Cup qualification determined which 13 teams would compete in Brazil, with several withdrawals reducing the original 14 contested spots.
Key Facts
- Teams entered
- 34
- Total spots available
- 16
- Qualifying matches played
- 26
- Goals scored
- 121
- Average goals per match
- 4.65
- Teams that withdrew after qualifying
- India, Scotland, Turkey
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
FIFA organised a qualification tournament ahead of the 1950 World Cup in Brazil to fill 14 of the 16 available places; Brazil qualified automatically as hosts and Italy as defending champions, leaving the remaining spots to be decided across 10 geographical groups involving 32 teams.
Thirty-four teams entered qualification, divided into groups covering Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Nineteen teams played at least one match across 26 qualifying games, producing 121 goals. The competition determined which nations would travel to Brazil for the final tournament.
Despite 14 spots being contested, the withdrawals of India, Scotland, and Turkey after qualifying meant only 13 teams joined Brazil and Italy in the final tournament, reducing the total field and leaving some allocated places unfilled.