Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification

The men's qualification for association football tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics was the first time the qualifying round was done on a home-and-away basis.

Qualified teams
† Withdrew after qualifying

Format
The final tournament had 16 spots reserved with 28 countries initially showing interest in the tournament.

Automatic qualification was granted to 🇦🇺 australia (host), 🇵🇱 poland, 🇹🇷 turkey, and  (originally as West Germany).


 * Europe: 4 places, contested by 8 teams (including Israel).
 * Africa: 1 place, contested by 2 teams.
 * Asia: 6 places, contested by 12 teams.
 * Americas: 1 place, contested by 2 teams.

Africa

 * }

Asia

 * }

1 Both teams withdrew; the tie was scratched.

2 As the withdrawal of other teams left six winners, the tie was scratched and both teams qualified automatically.

3 Both matches were played in Japan due to the lack of a suitable stadium in South Korea; Japan advanced on the drawing of lots.

4 Philippines withdrew.

5 Republic of China withdrew after the organizing committee ruled they had to play under the FIFA flag during the first leg, due to concerns over social and political unrest in Indonesia relating to the use of the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag.

Americas

 * }

1 Mexico withdrew.

Notes on qualifying
Before the official draw for the final tournament on September 1, 1956, Poland withdrew and was replaced by 🇬🇧 united kingdom.

After the draw, Hungary also withdrew: its place was offered to South Korea, however South Korea declined due to financial reasons.

Subsequently, South Vietnam and Turkey both withdrew, while the People's Republic of China and Egypt boycotted the Olympics.

Qualifying Matches
Japan advanced by the drawing of lots.