First FIFA World Cup qualifying match

On 11 June 1933, Sweden beat Estonia 6–2 in the first ever qualifying match for the FIFA World Cup. Thirty-two teams had been organized into 12 groups of three in order to find the 16 qualifiers for the 1934 World Cup. Hosts Italy were part of the qualification process, while 1930 winners Uruguay refused to participate, making 1934 the only tournament in which the reigning champions did not participate. African and Asian teams comprised just one group – Group 12 – which was won by Egypt. Sweden went on to top Group 1, which also consisted of Estonia and Lithuania, and reached the quarter-finals of the tournament proper.