-FIFA’s French President Jules Rimet was the driving
force for France becoming the 1938 World Cup hosts.
Initially there were some doubts within FIFA’s
hierarchy whether France was capable of hosting the event.
FIFA wanted Rimet to guarantee the same successful
conditions as the previous hosts Uruguay and Italy.
He seemed hesitant and suggested to co-host along with
Belgium and Holland. FIFA members refused this idea.
However, after he received guarantees that the attendance
of Stade Colombes would be increased to 65,000, Rimet guaranteed France’s
commitment to host.
Jules
Rimet had wanted to have the World Cup in France to follow the World Fair at
Paris of 1937.
The ‘International
Exposition of Art and Technology in Modern Life’ was to be
held from May 25th, 1937 to November 25th, 1937.
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Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 55, August 1993
(Official
World Cup poster)
|
Rimet
believed having the two events in close proximity would fill up the stadiums.
In
some sources it is alleged that Rimet was pushing for the World Cup to be held
in 1937 to achieve this goal.
The
consensus among the FIFA members appeared to be that as a token of appreciation
for Rimet’s service, they should endorse his proposal.
On
August 13 (or 15), 1936, during the Berlin Olympics, FIFA members gathered at
the Kroll Opera to decide the venue for the next World Cup. Although FIFA had
51 affiliated members, only 23 members voted.
The
French Delegation plead its case by reminding all of the efforts of Henri
Delaunay and Jules Rimet for the growth of the game.
Rimet
and Delaunay were at the meeting, which may have contributed to the ultimate
choice.
France
received 19 votes, Argentina received 3 and Germany got one.
 |
Photo
From: Coupe Du Monde 1938-La Coupe du Monde Oubliee, Author Victor Sinet
(Jules Rimet with other FIFA members during the
1936 FIFA Congress in Berlin) |
France became the second European hosts after Italy
in 1934 and third overall.
The
Argentina delegation left the Congress in protest.
Argentina had lobbied for the hosting rights and
advanced the idea that the tournament should be hosted alternatively in Europe
and South America.
After their request was rejected, the Argentineans
pressured the other Nations in the Americas to boycott the World Cup.
Uruguay were already snubbing the World Cup in Europe
as they had in 1934 as protest for the refusals of the many European Nations
during the 1930 Edition at Montevideo.
Even though the alternating venue location was not
written down it was assumed to be the case. Argentina had withdrawn their
candidacy in 1930 and supported Uruguay with the belief that the next World Cup
in 1938 would be in South America and Argentina.
Brazil would be the only South American Nation to
participate.
 |
Photo
From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo,
1910-1983
(Art
Cover by Joe Bridge)
|
-England and the other British Nations were still
boycotting FIFA and did not participate in the qualifiers.
The
British Nations were still out of FIFA and would miss out on all the World Cups
of the 1930s.
-On
December 18th, 1936, a commission was set up headed by Rene
Chevalier along with Henri Delaunay, Dr. Ivo Schricker (General Secretary of
FFA), the Italian Ottorino Barassi and Frenchman J. Caudron.
On March 14th, 1937 at Paris, FIFA’s executive
committee listened to the recommendations of this commission in setting up the
Qualification Groups and the Preliminary matches.
 |
Photo
From: Coupe Du Monde 1938-La Coupe du Monde Oubliee, Author Victor Sinet
(The
Organization committee for the 1938 World Cup in France)
|
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, New Series, Hors Serie 14, 1982, La Glorieuse Epopee De la Coupe
Du Monde
(The Organization committee for the 1938 World
Cup in France) |
An Organization commission was also set up that included
Hungary’s Maurice Fischer, Holland’s Dirk Lotsy as well as Dr. Schricker and Henri
Delaunay.
One
of the decisions made was concerning the Final match. It was agreed that if
after a replay the match was still tied the two teams would be considered
co-winners and each team would hold onto the World Cup for two years each.
Ten
other sub-committees were also formed that day for the other administrative
issues concerning the World Cup.
 |
Photo
From: III Fussballweltmeisterschaft 1938 Frankreich, Author Robert Franta
(Sketch
illustration of FIFA members)
|
-Since the last World Cup, the political climate of
Europe had worsened and the continent was on the brink of what many believed
would be an inevitable War.
Italy was still under Fascist Dictator Benito
Mussolini.
At the time of 1934, Hitler’s Nazi Regime had taken
over just the year before, but by now their intents were becoming clearer and
many believed War and conflict was just around the corner.
-Spain had been in the midst of a Civil War and did
not participate internationally and therefore did not play in the qualifiers.
-The 1936 Olympics in Berlin had been marred with
Political overtones, as the Nazis had used the event to advance their
propaganda.
-Initially 33 Nations (36-37 in some sources) wanted
to compete to take. Some withdrew for various reasons and it was left to 24
Nations (26-27-28 Nations in other sources) to compete for the remaining 14
spots.
France as hosts and Italy as defending Champions had
automatically qualified.
The deadline for entries was February 15th,
1937. The Qualification draw was made
on March 14th, 1937 in Paris.
The actual FIFA membership at this time was 51.
-This would be the first World Cup, where the
defending Champion was guaranteed to participate in the following Tournament.
This tradition would remain in place until the 2006 World Cup qualifiers
(Brazil as 2002 World Cup Champions participated in the Qualifiers, as did all
Champions onwards).
Likewise, from this World Cup onwards the host Nation
was also guaranteed an automatic spot.
Italy in 1934 would be the only time when the host
Nation would have to qualify on the field.
 |
Photo
From: L'Auto, Issue 13681, June 5, 1938
(Map
of Stade Colombes with its surroundings)
|
-Austria was annexed by Hitler’s Germany on March 12,
1938 (Anschluss). Austria would
withdraw from the World Cup and as a result, fifteen teams took part in the
World Cup instead of sixteen.
England had been invited to replace Austria but
refused.
-The qualified Nations were as follows:
Europe: France (Host Nation), Italy
(Defending Champions), Germany, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Romania, Switzerland,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands, and Belgium.
Note:
Austria had qualified, but were withdrawn after the ‘Anschluss’.
South
America: Brazil
North/Central
America: Cuba
Asia: Dutch East Indies
 |
Photo
From: Coupe Du Monde 1938-La Coupe du Monde Oubliee, Author Victor Sinet
(FIFA
Congress June 3, 1938)
|
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