Scotland first appeared at a World Cup in 1954 however this was not the first tournament Scotland could have played in. Invited to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the Scottish SFA declined the invitation. But why?
It all started with the British Home Championship in the 1949/50 season. The Championship was an annual competition between England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland which had been played since the 1883/84 season and was the oldest international association football tournament until it was cancelled in the 1983/84 season, after 100 years.
The 1949/50 tournament was special in that FIFA allowed the competition to be Group 1 of the qualifying rounds for the 1950 FIFA World Cup. FIFA offered the top two teams in the groups places at the 1950 FIFA World Cup however, the Scottish SFA (specifically, Secretary of the SFA George Graham) rejected this and stated they would only attend if they won the group. It is important to note that the Home Nations had withdrawn from FIFA in 1920 as the UK did not want to play teams with whom the country had recently been at war and was also uncomfortable with foreign influence in what was felt to be a British sport!
Scotland finished 2nd in the group, with two wins and a loss in their 3 games. Scotland had to play Ireland away and then both Wales and England at Hampden. Scotland defeated Ireland (8-2) and then Wales (2-0) and went in to the final game against England at Hampden needing a victory to top the group.
England had won their two games and had informed FIFA that they would be attending the World Cup. The game at Hampden was watched by 134,000 fans and saw Scotland lose 1-0 to England, who topped the group and won the Home Nations Championship.
Scotland’s captain, George Young, pleaded with the SFA to allow Scotland to attend, he was backed up by fans and journalists and even England players, led by captain Billy Wright, tried to convince the SFA to change their decision. The English SFA even offered to split the cost of travelling to Brazil for the tournament!
Ultimately, there was no changing George Graham’s mind and Scotland declined their invite to the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
Sadly, two players from Ayrshire missed out on the opportunity to play at a World Cup due to this decision. Sammy Cox from Darvel & Alexander Linwood from Drongan.