The 1954 FIFA World Cup was the fifth FIFA World Cup held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. West Germany beat Hungary 3–2 in the final in the Wankdorf Stadium, Bern to claim their first title.
Switzerland was awarded the 1954 FIFA World Cup tournament at a meeting in Luxembourg City on 22 July 1946, on the same day Brazil was selected to host the 1950 World Cup. Both countries' bids were unopposed.
Thirty seven1 countries entered the qualifying competition with Egypt of the Confederation of African Football and Israel of the Asian Football Confederation taking part in the European qualifiers.
The hosts and the defending champions, Uruguay, qualified automatically. Of the remaining 14 places, 11 were allocated to Europe, two to the Americas, and one to Asia.
The 25 European teams, Egypt and Israel were divided into 10 groups. As in 1950, FIFA decided to use the Home Championships as a qualifying group with the top two teams qualifying for the 1954 Fifa World Cup in Switzerland.
.Uefa qualifying Group 3
| no. | date | score | scorers (wales) | venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/10/1953 | Northern Ireland 1-3 Scotland | Windsor Park, Belfast | BC | ||
| 201 | 10/10/1953 | Wales 1-4 England | I Allchurch | Ninian Park, Cardiff | BC |
| 202 | 04/11/1953 | Scotland 3-3 Wales | J Charles (2, 1pen), I Allchurch | Hampden Park, Glasgow | BC |
| 11/11/1953 | England 3-1 Northern Ireland | Wembley Stadium, London | BC | ||
| 203 | 31/03/1954 | Wales 1-2 Northern Ireland | J Charles | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | BC |
| 03/04/1954 | Scotland 2-4 England | Hampden Park, Glasgow | BC |
Group standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 6 |
| 2. | Scotland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 3 |
| 3. | Northern Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 4. | Wales | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
As in 1950, the Home Championships served as a qualifying group with the top two teams qualifying for the 1954 Fifa World Cup in Switzerland.
Despite a poor showing in the previous season's Home Championship and a disastrous end of season tour to France and Yugoslavia which saw Wales lose 1-6 in Paris and 2-5 in Belgrade, Welsh hopes were high especially as the games against England and Northern Ireland would be at home.
The 11 goals conceded in both tour two games seemingly brought an end to Plymouth Argylle goalkeeper, Bill Shortt's international career as Ron Howells of Cardiff City made his debut in goal for the 1-4 defeat to England.
However, Howells' international tenure was to be short lived as he won his second and final cap in the next match; a 3-3 draw against Scotland. In Wales' final match of a disappointing campaign, Jack Kelsey of Arsenal won the first of his 41 caps for Wales but even he couldn't stop Wales from slipping to a third successive defeat.
1Of the 37 countries who entered, Chinese Taipei, Peru and Poland withdrew without playing a single match. The entries of Bolivia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Iceland, India and Vietnam were not accepted by FIFA.
22pts for a win / 1pt for a draw
