# 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:
| Name | Club | Particularities |
| Mo Heng Tan | HCTNH (Malang) | |
| Achmad Nawir | HBS (Surabaya) | |
| Hong Djien Tan | Tiong Hwa (Surabaya) | |
| French Meeng | SVBB (Batavia) | |
| Tjaak Pattiwael | Young Ambon (Batavia) | |
| Hans Taihuttu | Young Ambon (Batavia) | |
| Suvarte Soedarmadji | HBS (Surabaya) | |
| Anwar Sutan | VIOS (Batavia) | |
| Henk Zomers | Hercules (Surabaya) | |
| French Hukom | Sparta (Bandoeng) | |
| Jack Samuels | Excelsior (Surabaya) | |
| Leen van Beuzekom | Hercules (Batavia) | Didn't play along |
| Jan Harting | HBS (Surabaya) | Didn't play along |
| Mo Heng Bing | Tiong Hwa (Surabaya) | Didn't play along |
| Gerrit Faulhaber | Go Ahead (Semarang) | Didn't play along |
| Rudi Telwe | HBS (Surabaya) | Didn't play along |
| See Han Tan | Tiong Hwa (Surabaya) | Didn't play along |
| G. van den Burgh | SVV (Semarang) | Didn't play along |

## Dutch East Indies at the 1938 FIFA World Cup
### Hungary v Dutch East Indies

| Hungary | Dutch East Indies |
| GK | József Háda |
| DF | Lajos Korányi |
| DF | Sándor Bíró |
| MF | József Turay |
| MF | Gyula Lázár |
| MF | István Balogh |
| FW | Géza Toldi |
| FW | György Sárosi (c) |
| FW | Ferenc Sas |
| FW | Gyula Zsengellér |
| FW | Vilmos Kohut |
| Manager: ||
| Károly Dietz and Alfréd Schaffer ||
| GK | Mo Heng Tan |
| DF | Frans Hu Kon |
| DF | Jack Samuels |
| MF | Achmad Nawir (c) |
| MF | Frans Meeng |
| MF | Sutan Anwar |
| FW | The Hong Djien |
| FW | Isaak Pattiwael |
| FW | Hans Taihuttu |
| FW | Suvarte Soedarmadji |
| FW | Henk Zomers |
| Manager: ||
| Johannes Mastenbroek ||
* Man of the Match:
* Assistant referees:
* Charles de la Salle (France)
* Karl Weingartner (Germany)