world cup 1950

The 1950 FIFA World Cup was the fourth FIFA World Cup and was held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July 1950. The tournament was won by Uruguay, winning their second title beating Brazil 2-1 in the final match of the Final Round to win the group and claim the title.


Host selection

Brazil was awarded the 1950 FIFA World Cup tournament at a meeting in Luxembourg City on 22 July 1946, on the same day Switzerland was selected to host the 1950 World Cup. Both countries' bids were unopposed.

FIFA had hoped to stage the tournament in 1949 but Brazil's bid stipulated they would only be able to host the tournament if it was staged a year later.

The hosts, Brazil, and the defending champions, Italy, qualified automatically. Of the remaining 14 places, seven were allocated to Europe, six to the Americas, and one to Asia.

Thirty four1 countries entered the qualifying competition with Israel and Syria of the Asian Football Confederation taking part in the European qualifiers.


Qualifying

Having rejoined FIFA in 1946, the four Home Associations were offered two places at the 1950 World Cup with the 1949-50 British Home Championship doubling up as Group 1 of the World Cup qualification campaign.


Uefa qualifying Group 1

no.datescorescorers (wales)venue 
 01/10/1949Ireland 2-8 Scoland Windsor Park, BelfastBC
18315/10/1949Wales 1-4 EnglandGriffithsNinian Park, CardiffBC
18409/11/1949Scotland 2-0 Wales Hampden Park, GlasgowBC
 16/11/1949England 9-2 Ireland Maine Road, ManchesterBC
18608/03/1950Wales 0-0 Ireland Racecourse Ground, WrexhamBC
 15/04/1950Scotland 0-1 England Hampden Park, GlasagowBC

Group standings
  PWDLFAPts2
1.England33001436
2.Scotland332011034
3.Northern Ireland30124171
4.Wales3012161

Wales and the 1950 World Cup

Having rejoined FIFA in 1946, the four Home Associations were offered two places at the 1950 World Cup with the 1949-50 British Home Championship doubling up as Group 1 of the World Cup qualification campaign, meaning Wales' 1-4 defeat to England at Ninian Park was the first World Cup qualifying match and Mal Griffiths of Leicester City was Wales' first goalscorer in a World Cup qualifier.

Defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park extinguished Wales' hopes of qualification meaning the final match against Northern Ireland was meaningless in terms of World Cup qualification and the British Home Championship.

Notes

1Of the 34 countries who entered, Austria, Argentina, Belgium, Burma, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru and the Philippines withdrew without playing a single match.

22pts for a win / 1pt for a draw

3Despite finishing second, the Scottish Football Association declined their invitation stating they would only accept had they won the group.