Dutch East Indies at the FIFA World Cup

 Netherlands Indies was one of the participants in the 1938 FIFA World Cup. Brazil and Cuba were the only non-European participants in the World Cup. The Dutch Colony was qualified for the final round without having to play qualifying matches, because opponent Japan withdrew.

Because the mother country of the Netherlands also took part, the Wilhelmus was heard twice at the event. The team consisted only of players from the Nederlandsch-Indische Voetbal Unie (NIVU) and the Dutch association chairman Johannes Mastenbroek acted as trainer. The indigenous association PSSI, with which the NIVU collaborated, was not represented and among the players there were several of Chinese descent. The 1938 participation was the only one in the history of the Dutch East Indies. In 1950, at the next World Cup, the colony was now independent and the country was called Indonesia. After independence, Indonesia has never managed to qualify for a final round.

Qualification
The Dutch East Indies were placed in qualifying group 12 with Japan. When Japan withdrew, FIFA decided that the Dutch East Indies would have to play against one of the countries from group 11. The United States was selected by lot. This match would be played on May 29, 1938 in Rotterdam in the Feijenoord stadium. However, the United States also withdrew, meaning that the Dutch East Indies qualified for the final round without playing.

Preparation
In preparation for the 1938 world championship, the team made a long boat trip to the Netherlands to train at HBS in The Hague.

A practice match against HBS was also played, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Furthermore, there was practice against Haarlem, this match ended in a 5-3 victory.

Matches at the World Championship
The Dutch East Indies only played one match at the World Championship, with the 6-0 defeat against Hungary eliminating them for the second round.

After the World Cup
After the World Cup, the Dutch East Indies played on June 26, 1938 on the Olympic Day against the Dutch national team, losing 9-2. This match is not considered an official intercountry.

Finally, two days later they lost 2-0 to the Hague selection.

Selection
The selection of national coach Johannes Mastenbroek consisted of the following players: