This Day in History: 2023-03-01

Nr. 415

AFRICAN NATIONS BOYCOTT THE WORLD CUP (1966)

North Korea’s progress to the final group stages of the 1966 World Cup came as a surprise to most watchers of the game, but their success was due in no small part to a controversial FIFA decision to make teams from three confederations compete for a single place in the finals. Those confederations – Africa, Asia and Australia – branded the decision political discrimination and the Africans promptly withdrew. South Korea also pulled out after FIFA moved the Asian tournament from Japan to Cambodia, leaving only Australia and North Korea in contention. The Red Mosquitoes won the two-leg group play-off convincingly 6-1 and 3-1.

FIFA president Sir Stanley Rous and other officials make the draw for the controversial World Cup Finals at the Royal Garden Hotel.