Yugoslav national football team/World Cup

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The article contains a detailed account of the Yugoslav national football team that competed for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in World Cup football from 1930 to 1990. She participated in World Championships eight times. The best place is the fourth place in the first participation in 1930 and 1962. In 1990, Yugoslavia participated for the last time with players from all republics. After the Yugoslav wars and the independence of most of the constituent republics, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, consisting only of Serbia and Montenegro, took part again in 1998 and then in 2006 as Serbia and Montenegro. The successes of the Yugoslav team were attributed by FIFA first to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, then Serbia and Montenegro and now Serbia, which participated for the first time in 2010.

Overview

Statistics (data included 2022: 22 World Championships); Percentages are rounded

Not participated because not admitted or no longer exists: 8× (36%); 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022
Unqualified: 6× (27%); 1934, 1938, 1966, 1970, 1978 and 1986
Sports qualification: 7× (32% or 54% of attempts)
Completed without qualification: 1× (4.5%); 1930
preliminary round: 2 × (9 %); 1950, 1982
2nd final round of the best 8 teams (only 1974 and 1978): 1x (4.5%); 1974
Quarterfinals: 3 x (13.6 %; 1954, 1958, 1990)
Semi-finals: 2 × (9 %); 1930 and 1962
Play for place 3: 1 x (4.5%, 1962)

World Cup tournaments

1930 in Uruguay

Yugoslavia was one of only four European teams already participating in the first World Cup. While Belgium, France and Romania made the three-week voyage from Europe to Uruguay on the Conte Verde, the Yugoslavs travelled on the MS Florida to South America. Since there were disputes in the Yugoslav Federation some time before the tournament between Serbian and Croatian officials because the headquarters of the Association was moved from Zagreb to Belgrade, the regional Association of Zagreb, which was in any case against participation in the World Cup, refused to interrupt or postpone the championship because of the World Cup. This refusal was soon followed by the associations of Split, Sarajevo and Subotica. Therefore, only Serbian players were nominated for the first World Cup tournament and three players who played in France.

On July 14, 1930, they met Brazil for the first time in their first World Cup match and won 2-1. The match against the other group opponent Bolivia was also won, this time with 4-0, with the Yugoslavs being the only European team to reach the semi-finals. In this they lost but after 1-0 lead against the host Uruguay with 1:6. The game for third place against the USA did not take place, in the rankings of FIFA Yugoslavia is ranked fourth. On the way back, the Yugoslavs still made Sta