Documenting the performance of Asian countries at the FIFA World Cup in 20th Century.

1950 World Cup, Brazil

A 1950 Brazilian stamp promoting the tournament.

India automatically got qualified for the 1950 World Cup after Burma, Philippines and Indonesia withdrew before the draw.

Later India also withdrew because the cost of travelling to Brazil was too much to bear for a newly independent country. There are some reports which say that India withdrew from the tournament because FIFA refused their request to play barefoot.

FIFA decided to proceed the tournament without teams from Asia.

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1954 World Cup, Brazil

World Cup Finals, 1954 Switzerland. The Stade Olympique Stadium during the Finals.

In the qualifying rounds, Asia continent was allocated one place out of 16 in the final tournament. South Korea defeated Japan in the qualification round and participated in the World Cup for the first time in their history. Sadly they were humiliated and embarrassed as they lost 0-9 to Hungry and 0-7 to Turkey and finished last in the tournament.

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1958 World Cup, Sweden

Pele with King of Sweden

Even before the qualification round got underway, China, Sudan, and other countries withdrew, and as a result, only Israel was left.

Technically they would have qualified to the final tournament, but FIFA announced a rule that a team must play at least one qualifier to play in the concluding tournament. So a special inter-confederation playoff was arranged between Wales and Israel, and sadly Israel lost, and that meant no Asian team at the 1958 World Cup.