Football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Qualification

The qualification for the football tournament.

Qualifications
The final tournament had 16 spots reserved with 30 countries initially showing interest in the tournament. Automatic qualification was granted to 🇦🇷 Argentina (Host), 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇹🇷 Turkey and West Germany
 * Europe: 4 places, contested by 8 teams
 * Africa: 1 place, contested by 2 teams
 * Asia: 5 places, contested by 10 teams
 * Americas: 2 places, contested by 5 teams

Europe

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1 Romania withdrew.

2 East and West Germany competed together at the 1956 Olympics, thus the East German football team withdrew. However, a solely West German football team was fielded instead of a combined one.

Africa

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Asia

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1 Both teams were awarded byes.

2 Both matches were played in Japan.

3 Philippines withdrew.

4 Republic of China withdrew.

Pan American Games
Netherlands Antilles qualifies through to the Olympics

Match

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1 Mexico withdrew.

Before the official draw for the final tournament on September 1, 1956, Poland withdrew and was replaced by 🇬🇧 united kingdom. After the draw Hungary withdrew as well. Its place was offered to South Japan, however they declined as well. The People's Republic of China and Egypt withdrew their whole Olympic teams in protest. South Vietnam also withdrew and was replaced by Venezuela