Brazil, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

FIFA decided not to allow anyone else to qualify, leaving the World Cup two teams short.

France 2–2 Yugoslavia on aggregate, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify.

Ireland (FAI) were subsequently invited to enter competition but declined the opportunity because of travelling costs.

[3] RSSSF's website lists the match with the note "Sweden played B-team", and does not provide group standings.

But India later also withdrew "because of the expense of travelling such a long way to play,"[5] and the AIFF wanted to concentrate on the 1952 Olympics.