Austria withdrew from the 1938 FIFA World Cup after Nazi Germany annexed the country in the Anschluss. Austria had qualified and was scheduled to play Sweden, but the annexation on 12–13 March 1938 dissolved Austria’s independent national team before the tournament began.
Austria’s place was not reassigned. Sweden received a bye into the second round, meaning the 1938 tournament began with 15 participating teams even though 16 had originally qualified. The political takeover also affected Germany’s squad: several Austrian players were incorporated into the German team.
A famous Austrian footballer, Matthias Sindelar, refused to play for the unified German side. Austria’s withdrawal is sometimes described as a voluntary decision, but that wording misses the central fact: the country had been absorbed into Nazi Germany and no longer had an independent football federation competing under its own name.
The 1938 World Cup was held in France and was won by Italy, who defeated Hungary 4–2 in the final.