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FIFA World Cup qualification

Summary

The FIFA World Cup qualification is a set of competitive matches that a national association football team plays in order to qualify for one of the available berths at the final tournament of the men's FIFA World Cup.

FIFA World Cup qualification
Founded1933; 91 years ago (1933)
RegionInternational (FIFA)
Number of teams211 (currently eligible)
215 (overall)
WebsiteOfficial website
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Qualifying tournaments are held within the six FIFA continental zones, each organized by their respective confederations: AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania), and UEFA (Europe). For each World Cup, FIFA decides the number of places in the finals allocated to each of the zones, based on the numbers and relative strengths of the confederations' teams.

As a courtesy, the host receives an automatic berth selection, as has happened with the immediate past tournament winner during much of the competition's history. All other finalists are determined on a standalone qualifying round achievement without regard to previous achievements.

History edit

The berths for the inaugural 1930 tournament were filled by invitation only. The 1934 one was the first one to have an actual qualifying phase. The first ever World Cup qualifying match was played on 11 June 1933, when Sweden defeated Estonia 6–2 in Stockholm, and the first goal was scored 7 minutes into the game, with some sources[1] attributing it to Swedish captain Knut Kroon while others[which?] credit it as an own goal by the Estonian goalkeeper Evald Tipner.

The number of teams entering qualification stages has increased steadily, and in response the final tournament has also been expanded (having 16 teams until 1978, then 24 between 1982 and 1994, then 32 between 1998 and 2022, and finally 48 from 2026 onwards). While the format of the qualifying tournaments has evolved, teams have always been grouped into zones which have remained relatively unchanged and roughly correspond to the continents. The teams from each zone compete for a fixed number of berths for the zone, with a limited number of places being awarded to winners of intercontinental play-offs.

Qualification berths by continent edit

The table below lists the numbers of berths allocated by FIFA for each continent in each tournament. It also shows the total number of teams that entered and played in every qualification cycle.

In the table, "H" denotes an automatic spot for the host, "C" denotes an automatic spot for the defending champion, and "inv" indicates the number of teams that were invited in 1930. Places in intercontinental play-offs are represented as fractions, as follows:

  • 0.5 – a place in a direct play-off
  • 0.25 – a place in a semi-final play-off (where the winner would then face yet another team for a spot in the finals)
  • 1⁄3 – a place in a play-off tournament where two out of six teams would qualify
Places allocated for continents
 
1930
[a] 		 
1934 		 
1938 		 
1950 		 
1954 		 
1958 		 
1962 		 
1966 		 
1970 		 
1974 		 
1978 		 
1982 		 
1986 		 
1990 		 
1994
Europe 4 inv 12 11
+H+C		 7
+C		 11
+H		 9[b]
+H+C		 8+
2×0.5		 9
+H		 8
+C		 8.5
+H		 8.5
+C		 13
+H		 12.5
+C		 13
+H		 12
+C
Africa — 1 0[c] 1[b] 0.5 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3
Asia — 1 1 1 0.5 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
Oceania —[d] 0[c] 0[c] 0[c] 0[c] 0.5 0.5 0.25
North and Central America
and Caribbean 		2 inv 1 1 2 1 1 0.5 1 1
+H		 1 1 2 1
+H		 2 1.25
+H
South America H+
6 inv		 2 1 4
+H		 1
+C		 3 3.5
+H+C		 3
+C		 3 2.5
+C		 2.5
+H		 3
+C		 4 2.5
+C		 3.5
Total berths 13 16 16 16 24
Teams in the finals 15[e] 13[f]
Entered qualification[g] — 32 34 32 37 51 54 69 69 97 105 107 119 111 145
Played in qualification[h] 27 21 19 33 46 49 51 68 90 95 103 110 103 128
Qualified via qualification 14 10 9 13 14 14 14 14 14 14 22 22 22 22
Qualified without playing 13 2 6 7 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
 
1998 		 
 
2002 		 
2006 		 
2010 		 
2014 		 
2018 		 
2022 		 
 
 
2026 		 
 
 
2030 		 
2034
Europe 14
+H		 13.5
+C		 13
+H		 13 13 13
+H		 13 16 2H
Africa 5 5 5 5
+H		 5 5 5 9+1⁄3 H
Asia 3.5 2.5
+2H		 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
+H		 8+1⁄3 H
Oceania 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1+1⁄3
North and Central America
and Caribbean 		3 3 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3+
2×1⁄3
+3H
South America 4
+C		 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
+H		 4.5 4.5 6+1⁄3 3H
Total berths 32 48
Teams in the finals
Entered qualification[g] 172 196 197 205[i] 203 210 211[j]
Played in qualification[h] 168 193 194 199[i] 202 208 204[j]
Qualified via qualification 30 29 31 31 31 31 31 45 42 47
Qualified without playing 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 6 1
Notes
  1. ^ Berths were given by invitation only.
  2. ^ a b Actually the berths were taken by 10 European teams and no African or Asian ones. After Israel won the African/Asian zone without playing due to withdrawals of other teams, a special play-off was arranged between them and a European team, Wales, and was won by the latter.
  3. ^ a b c d e None entered.
  4. ^ No teams from the region were members of FIFA before 1950.
  5. ^ Austria withdrew after having qualified.
  6. ^ India, Scotland and Turkey withdrew after having qualified. France initially accepted to participate as a replacement but then withdrew as well.
  7. ^ a b Includes all teams that entered qualification, even if they withdrew or were excluded afterwards, or qualified by walkover. Does not include pre-determined automatic qualifiers.
  8. ^ a b Only includes teams that played at least one qualifying match that was not annulled.
  9. ^ a b Including host South Africa and non-FIFA member Tuvalu, which participated because other tournaments also served as World Cup qualifiers.
  10. ^ a b Including host Qatar, which participated because another tournament also served as World Cup qualifiers.

First appearance in qualification by team edit

Only teams that played at least one match are considered for first appearance. Teams that withdrew before the qualification, or that qualified to the World Cup by walkover due to other teams' withdrawals, are not considered.

Year Debuting teams Successor and renamed teams
Europe South America North, Central America and Caribbean Asia Africa Oceania T CT
 
1934 		  Austria
  Belgium[a]
  Bulgaria
  Czechoslovakia[A]
  Estonia
  France[a]
  Germany[B]
  Greece
  Hungary
  Irish Free State[C]
  Italy[N 1]
  Lithuania
  Luxembourg
  Netherlands
  Poland
  Portugal
  Romania[a]
  Spain
  Sweden
   Switzerland
  Yugoslavia[a][D] 		none   Cuba
  Haiti
  Mexico[a]
  United States[a] 		  Palestine, British Mandate[E]   Egypt[F] none 27 27
 
1938 		  Finland
  Latvia
  Norway 		none none none none none 3 30
 
1950 		  England
  Ireland[G]
  Scotland
  Turkey[b]
  Wales 		none none   Syria none none 6 36   Ireland[C]
  Israel[E]
 
1954 		  Saar   Brazil[c]
  Chile[d]
  Paraguay[e] 		none   Japan[f]
  South Korea 		none none 6 42   Northern Ireland[G]
  Republic of Ireland[C]
  West Germany[B]
 
1958 		  Denmark
  East Germany
  Iceland
  Soviet Union[H] 		  Argentina[g]
  Bolivia[e]
  Colombia[f]
  Peru[h]
  Uruguay[i] 		  Canada
  Costa Rica[f]
  Guatemala
  Territory of Curaçao[I] 		  China
  Indonesia[j] 		  Sudan none 16 58
 
1962 		  Cyprus[k]   Ecuador[l]   Dutch Guiana[f][J]
  Honduras 		none   Ethiopia
  Ghana
  Morocco
  Nigeria
  Tunisia 		none 9 67   Netherlands Antilles[I]
 
1966 		  Albania   Venezuela[k]   Jamaica
  Trinidad and Tobago 		  North Korea none   Australia 6 73
 
1970 		none none   Bermuda
  El Salvador[f] 		none   Algeria[m]
  Cameroon[m]
  Libya[m]
  Rhodesia[K]
  Senegal[m]
  Zambia 		  New Zealand 9 82
 
1974 		  Malta none   Antigua and Barbuda
  Puerto Rico 		  Hong Kong
  Iran
  Iraq
  Kuwait
  Malaysia
  South Vietnam[L]
  Thailand 		  Congo
  Dahomey[M]
  Guinea[m]
  Ivory Coast
  Kenya
  Lesotho
  Mauritius
  Sierra Leone
  Tanzania
  Togo
  Zaire[N] 		none 21 103
 
1978 		none none   Barbados
  Dominican Republic
  Guyana
  Panama 		  Bahrain
  Qatar
  Republic of China[n][O]
  Saudi Arabia
  Singapore 		  Malawi
  Mauritania
  Niger
  Uganda
  Upper Volta[P] 		none 14 117   Suriname[J]
 
1982 		none none   Grenada   Macau   Gambia
  Liberia[m]
  Madagascar[o]
  Mozambique
  Somalia 		  Fiji 8 125   Chinese Taipei[O]
  Zimbabwe[K]
 
1986 		none none none   Bangladesh
  Brunei
  Jordan
  India[p]
    Nepal
  North Yemen[Q]
  South Yemen
  United Arab Emirates[q] 		  Angola none 9 134   Benin[M]
 
1990 		none none none   Oman[r]
  Pakistan 		  Gabon[s] none 3 137   Burkina Faso[P]
 
1994 		  Faroe Islands
  San Marino 		none   Nicaragua
  Saint Lucia
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 		  Lebanon[t]
  Sri Lanka[u] 		  Botswana
  Burundi
  Namibia
  South Africa
  Swaziland[R] 		  Solomon Islands
  Tahiti
  Vanuatu 		15 152   Germany[B]
  Representation of Czechs and Slovaks[A]
  Russia[H]
  Vietnam[L]
  Yemen[Q]
 
1998 		  Armenia
  Azerbaijan
  Belarus
  Bosnia and Herzegovina
  Croatia
  Georgia
  Liechtenstein[v]
  Macedonia[S]
  Moldova
  Slovakia
  Slovenia
  Ukraine 		none   Aruba
  Belize
  Cayman Islands
  Dominica
  Saint Kitts and Nevis 		  Cambodia
  Kazakhstan
  Kyrgyzstan
  Maldives[w]
  Philippines[x]
  Tajikistan
  Turkmenistan
  Uzbekistan 		  Guinea-Bissau
  Rwanda[w] 		  Cook Islands
  Papua New Guinea
  Tonga
  Western Samoa[v][T] 		31 183   Czech Republic[A]
  DR Congo[N]
  FR Yugoslavia[D]
  
2002 		  Andorra none   Anguilla
  Bahamas[y]
  British Virgin Islands
  Montserrat
  Turks and Caicos Islands
  U.S. Virgin Islands 		  Guam
  Laos
  Mongolia
  Palestine 		  Cape Verde
  Central African Republic[z]
  Chad
  Djibouti
  Equatorial Guinea
  Eritrea
  Mali[aa]
  São Tomé and Príncipe[v]
  Seychelles 		  American Samoa 21 204   Samoa[T]
 
2006 		none none none   Afghanistan none   New Caledonia 2 206   Serbia and Montenegro[D]
 
2010 		  Montenegro none none   Myanmar[ab]
  East Timor 		  Comoros   Tuvalu[N 2] 5 211   Serbia[D]
 
2014 		none none none none none none 0 211   Curaçao[I]
 
2018 		  Gibraltar
  Kosovo 		none none   Bhutan[ac]   South Sudan none 4 215
 
2022 		none none none none none none 0 215   Eswatini[R]
  North Macedonia[S]
   
2026 		none none none none none none 0 215
Teams' entries before their actual debuts in qualification
  1. ^ a b c d e f Participated in the 1930 World Cup by invitation.
  2. ^ Withdrew from the 1934 qualification before playing.
  3. ^ Participated in the 1930 World Cup by invitation. Qualified by walkover for the 1934 and 1938 finals. Qualified automatically for the 1950 World Cup as host.
  4. ^ Participated in the 1930 World Cup by invitation. Withdrew from the 1934 qualification before playing. Qualified by walkover for the 1950 finals.
  5. ^ a b Participated in the 1930 World Cup by invitation. Qualified by walkover for the 1950 finals.
  6. ^ a b c d e Withdrew from the 1938 qualification before playing.
  7. ^ Participated in the 1930 World Cup by invitation. Qualified by walkover for the 1934 finals. Withdrew from the 1938 and 1950 qualifications before playing.
  8. ^ Participated in the 1930 World Cup by invitation. Withdrew from the 1934, 1950, and 1954 qualifications before playing.
  9. ^ Participated in the 1930 World Cup as host. Qualified by walkover for the 1950 finals. Qualified automatically for the 1954 finals as defending champion.
  10. ^ Qualified by walkover for the 1938 finals (entered as the   Dutch East Indies). Withdrew from the 1950 qualification before playing.
  11. ^ a b Withdrew from the 1958 qualification before playing.
  12. ^ Withdrew from the 1950 qualification before playing.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Withdrew from the 1966 qualification before playing.
  14. ^ Withdrew from the 1954 and 1958 qualifications before playing.
  15. ^ Withdrew from the 1974 qualification before playing (entered as the   Malagasy Republic).
  16. ^ Qualified by walkover for the 1950 finals, and subsequently withdrew from participation. Withdrew from the 1974 qualification before playing.
  17. ^ Withdrew from the 1978 qualification before playing.
  18. ^ Withdrew from the 1986 qualification before playing.
  19. ^ Withdrew from the 1966 and 1974 qualifications before playing.
  20. ^ Withdrew during the 1986 qualification and had all its matches of that campaign annulled.
  21. ^ Withdrew from the 1974 and 1978 qualifications before playing (entered in 1974 as   Ceylon).
  22. ^ a b c Withdrew from the 1994 qualification before playing.
  23. ^ a b Withdrew from the 1990 qualification before playing.
  24. ^ Withdrew from the 1950 and 1974 qualifications before playing.
  25. ^ Withdrew from the 1998 qualification before playing.
  26. ^ Withdrew from the 1978 qualification before playing. Was disqualified from the 1982 qualification before playing.
  27. ^ Withdrew from the 1966, 1994 and 1998 qualifications before playing.
  28. ^ Withdrew from the 1950, 1994, and 2002 qualifications before playing (entered in 1950 as   Burma).
  29. ^ Withdrew from the 2010 qualification before playing.
Successor and renamed teams
  1. ^ a b c The Czechoslovakia team was officially renamed as the Representation of Czechs and Slovaks during the 1994 qualification and was then succeeded by the Czech Republic from the 1998 qualification.
  2. ^ a b c Germany was succeeded from the 1954 qualification by West Germany, which in turn was succeeded by the reunified Germany from the 1994 qualification.
  3. ^ a b c The Irish Free State was succeeded in the 1950 qualification by Ireland, which became officially known as the Republic of Ireland from the 1954 qualification.
  4. ^ a b c d Yugoslavia was succeeded from the 1998 qualification by FR Yugoslavia, which was renamed as Serbia and Montenegro for the 2006 qualification and was then succeeded by Serbia from the 2010 qualification.
  5. ^ a b Mandatory Palestine was succeeded by Israel from the 1950 qualification.
  6. ^ Egypt was later succeeded by the   United Arab Republic, a political union with Syria, which entered the 1962 qualification, but withdrew before playing. Then Egypt continued independently but retained the name "United Arab Republic", under which it entered the 1966 qualification and also withdrew before playing. It was renamed back as "Egypt" from the 1974 qualification.
  7. ^ a b Ireland was succeeded by Northern Ireland from the 1954 qualification.
  8. ^ a b The Soviet Union was succeeded by Russia from the 1994 qualification.
  9. ^ a b c The Territory of Curaçao was succeeded from the 1962 qualification by the Netherlands Antilles, which in turn was succeeded by Curaçao from the 2014 qualification.
  10. ^ a b Dutch Guiana was succeeded by Suriname from the 1978 qualification.
  11. ^ a b Rhodesia was succeeded by Zimbabwe from the 1982 qualification.
  12. ^ a b South Vietnam was succeeded by Vietnam from the 1994 qualification.
  13. ^ a b Dahomey was renamed as Benin from the 1986 qualification.
  14. ^ a b Zaire was renamed as DR Congo during the 1998 qualification.
  15. ^ a b The Republic of China became officially known as Chinese Taipei from the 1982 qualification.
  16. ^ a b Upper Volta was renamed as Burkina Faso from the 1990 qualification.
  17. ^ a b North Yemen was succeeded by Yemen from the 1994 qualification.
  18. ^ a b Swaziland was renamed as Eswatini from the 2022 qualification.
  19. ^ a b Macedonia was renamed as North Macedonia from the 2022 qualification.
  20. ^ a b Western Samoa was renamed as Samoa from the 2002 qualification.
Other notes
  1. ^ Italy had to qualify for the 1934 tournament despite being the host.
  2. ^ Tuvalu, a non-FIFA member, formally could not enter the 2010 World Cup, but the team participated in the 2007 South Pacific Games which doubled as a stage of the qualification for that World Cup, and the team's results did count in determining advancement from that stage.

Overview of teams' participations edit

The below table shows how every team has participated in each World Cup qualification.

Key

  • golden background = successful qualifying campaign
  • grey background = did not take part in qualifying
  • bold red typeface = participated in the final tournament
Q Qualified
w Qualified, then withdrew from the finals (Austria in 1938, and Scotland and Turkey in 1950)
n Did not qualify
w Withdrew during qualifying
d Was disqualified during qualifying
H Qualified automatically as host but took part in qualifiers as they doubled as another tournament (South Africa in 2010 and Qatar in 2022)
\ Was not a FIFA member but took part in qualifiers as they doubled as another tournament (Tuvalu in 2010)
b Received bye to the finals
B Received bye to the finals, then withdrew (India in 1950)
H Qualified automatically as host
C Qualified automatically as reigning champion
i Was invited to the finals (all finalists in 1930 except Uruguay)
w Entered but withdrew before playing, or withdrew during qualifying and had all matches annulled
d Entered but was disqualified before playing, or was disqualified during qualifying and had all matches annulled
s Was suspended from entering, or had entry rejected
— Did not enter despite being a FIFA member
Was not a FIFA member
Team 19
30 		19
34 		19
38 		19
50 		19
54 		19
58 		19
62 		19
66 		19
70 		19
74 		19
78 		19
82 		19
86 		19
90 		19
94 		19
98 		20
02 		20
06 		20
10 		20
14 		20
18 		20
22 		20
26 		20
30 		20
34 		Current
confederation[I]
 
  Afghanistan — — — — — — — — — — — — — — n n n n n AFC
  Albania — — — — — — n s n — n n n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Algeria w n n n Q Q n n n n n Q Q n n CAF
  American Samoa n n n n n w OFC
  Andorra n n n n n n UEFA
  Angola n n n n n Q n n n n CAF
  Anguilla n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Antigua and Barbuda n — — n n n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Argentina i b w w — Q Q Q n Q H C Q C Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q H CONMEBOL
  Armenia n n n n n n n UEFA
  Aruba — n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Australia n n Q n n n n n n n Q Q Q Q Q AFC[II]
  Austria — Q w w Q Q — n n n Q Q n Q n Q n n n n n n UEFA
  Azerbaijan n n n n n n n UEFA
  Bahamas — — — — — — — w n n n w n n CONCACAF
  Bahrain — — n n n w n n n n n n n n AFC
  Bangladesh — — n n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Barbados — — n — w — n n n n n n d n CONCACAF
  Belarus n n n n n n n UEFA
  Belgium i Q Q w Q n n n Q n n Q Q Q Q Q Q n n Q Q Q UEFA
  Belize s — n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Benin (1978–)
  Dahomey (1970–1974) 		— n — — n — n — n n n n n n CAF
  Bermuda — n — — — — — n w n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Bhutan — — w — n n n AFC
  Bolivia i — — b s n n n n n n n n n Q n n n n n n n CONMEBOL
  Bosnia and Herzegovina n n n n Q n n UEFA
  Botswana — — — n — n n n n n n CAF
  Brazil i b b H Q Q C C Q C Q Q Q Q Q C Q Q Q H Q Q CONMEBOL
  British Virgin Islands n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Brunei — — — n — — — n — — s n n n AFC
  Bulgaria — w n — n n Q Q Q Q n n Q n Q Q n n n n n n UEFA
  Burkina Faso (1986–)
  Upper Volta (1970–1982) 		— — n — — n w n n n n n n n CAF
  Burundi — — — — n w w n n n n n CAF
  Cambodia[i] — — — — — — — — — — n n — n n n n n AFC
  Cameroon w n n n Q n Q Q Q Q n Q Q n Q CAF
  Canada — — n w — n n n n Q n n n n n n n n Q H CONCACAF
  Cape Verde — — — n n n n n n CAF
  Cayman Islands n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Central African Republic — — — w d — — — — n w w n n n CAF
  Chad — — — — — — — — — n n n n n n CAF
  Chile i w — b n n H Q n Q n Q n n s Q n n Q Q n n CONMEBOL
  China — — — — n — — — — — n n n n n Q n n n n n AFC
  Chinese Taipei (1982–)
  Republic of China (1954–1978) 		w w — — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n n AFC[III]
  Colombia w — — n Q n n n n n n Q Q Q n n n Q Q n CONMEBOL[IV]
  Comoros n n n n CAF
  Congo s — n n — — — n n n n n n n n CAF
  Cook Islands n n n n n n w OFC
  Costa Rica — — w — s n n n n n n n n Q n n Q Q n Q Q Q CONCACAF
  Croatia Q Q Q n Q Q Q UEFA
  Cuba n b n s — — n s — n n — n w n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Curaçao (2014–)
  Netherlands Antilles (1962–2010)
  Territory of Curaçao (1934–1958) 		— — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Cyprus w n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n UEFA[V]
  Czech Republic (1998–)
  Representation of Czechs and Slovaks (1994)
  Czechoslovakia (1930–1994) 		— Q Q — Q Q Q n Q n n Q n Q n n n Q n n n n UEFA
  Denmark — — — — — n — n n n n n Q n n Q Q n Q n Q Q UEFA
  Djibouti — n — n n n n CAF
  Dominica n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Dominican Republic — — — — — n — — — n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  DR Congo (1998–)
  Zaire (1974–1998)[ii] 		— s Q w n — n n n n n n n n n CAF
  East Germany — n n n n Q n n n n defunct[VI]
  Ecuador — — — w — — n n n n n n n n n n Q Q n Q n Q CONMEBOL
  Egypt[iii] — Q w — n w w w — n n n n Q n n n n n n Q n CAF[VII]
  El Salvador w — — — — — Q n n Q n n n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  England Q Q Q Q H C n n Q Q Q n Q Q Q Q Q Q Q UEFA
  Equatorial Guinea — — — n n n n n n CAF
  Eritrea n n w n n n w CAF
  Estonia — n n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Eswatini (2022–)
  Swaziland (1982–2018) 		— — — n n n n n n n n CAF
  Ethiopia — s n w n n n n n — n — n n d n n n CAF[VIII]
  Faroe Islands n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Fiji — — — — n — n n n n n n n n n OFC
  Finland — — n w n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  France i Q H n Q Q n Q n n Q Q Q n n H C Q Q Q Q Q UEFA
  Gabon w — w — — — n n n n n n n n n CAF
  Gambia — — — n n — w n n n n n n n CAF
  Georgia n n n n n n n UEFA
  Germany (1994–)
  West Germany (1950–1990)
  Germany (1930–1938) 		— Q Q s Q C Q Q Q H C Q Q Q C Q Q H Q Q Q Q UEFA
  Ghana n w n n n w n n n n n Q Q Q n Q CAF
  Gibraltar n n UEFA
  Greece — w n — n n n n n n n n n n Q n n n Q Q n n UEFA
  Grenada n w — — n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Guam — n w w — n n n AFC
  Guatemala — — n n s n n n n n n n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Guinea w s n n n n n n n d n n n n n CAF
  Guinea-Bissau — — n n n n n n n CAF
  Guyana — n n n n n n d n n n n n CONCACAF
  Haiti n — — n — — — n Q n n n — n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Honduras — — — n n n n w Q n n n n n n Q Q n n CONCACAF
  Hong Kong — — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Hungary — Q Q — b Q Q Q n n Q Q Q n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Iceland — s n — — — n n n n n n n n n n n Q n UEFA
  India B s — — — — w — — n w n n n n n n n n AFC
  Indonesia[iv] b w — w w — — n n n n n n n n n n n d n AFC
  Iran — — — — — — n Q w d n n Q n Q n Q Q Q AFC
  Iraq — — — — — n w n Q n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Israel (1950–)
  Palestine, British Mandate (1930–1938) 		— n n n n n n n Q n n n n n n n n n n n n n UEFA[IX]
  Italy — Q C C Q n Q Q Q Q Q Q C H Q Q Q Q Q Q n n UEFA
  Ivory Coast — — n n — n n n n n Q Q Q n n CAF
  Jamaica n n w n — d n n Q n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Japan — — w s n — n — n n n n n n n Q H Q Q Q Q Q AFC
  Jordan — — — — — — — n n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Kazakhstan n n n n n n n UEFA[X]
  Kenya — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n n CAF
  Kosovo n n UEFA
  Kuwait — — n n Q n n n n n n n n d n AFC
  Kyrgyzstan n n n n n n n AFC
  Laos — — — — — — — — — — — — n n — n n n n AFC
  Latvia — — n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Lebanon — — — — — — — — — — w — n n n n n n n n AFC
  Lesotho — — n — n w w — — n n n n n n CAF
  Liberia w — — — n n n w n n n n n n n CAF
  Libya w n — n w n w d — n n n n n n CAF
  Liechtenstein — — — — w n n n n n n n UEFA
  Lithuania — n n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Luxembourg — n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Macau n n — n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Madagascar[v] — — w — n n — n n n n n n n n CAF
  Malawi — — n n n n w n n n n n n n CAF
  Malaysia[vi] — — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Maldives w — n n n n n n n n AFC
  Mali w — — — — — — w w n n n n n n CAF
  Malta — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Mauritania — n — — — w n n n n — n n CAF
  Mauritius — — n — — n s — n n n n w n n CAF
  Mexico i n w Q Q Q Q Q H n Q n H d Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q H CONCACAF
  Moldova n n n n n n n UEFA
  Mongolia n n n n n n n AFC
  Montenegro n n n n UEFA
  Montserrat n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Morocco n w Q w n n Q n Q Q n n n n Q Q H CAF
  Mozambique n — s n n n n n n n n CAF
  Myanmar[vii] w — — — — — — — — — — w — w s n n n n AFC
  Namibia n n n n n n n n CAF
    Nepal — — — n n — n n w n n n n n AFC
  Netherlands — Q Q — — n n n n Q Q n n Q Q Q n Q Q Q n Q UEFA
  New Caledonia n n n n n OFC
  New Zealand — — — — — n n n Q n n n n n n Q n n n OFC
  Nicaragua — — — — — — — — — — n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Niger — — — n n w — n w — n n n n n CAF
  Nigeria n w n n n n n n Q Q Q n Q Q Q n CAF
  North Korea — Q d n w n n n n — — n Q n n w AFC
  North Macedonia (2022–)
  Macedonia (1998–2018) 		n n n n n n n UEFA
  Northern Ireland (1954–)
  Ireland (1950) 		n n Q n n n n n Q Q n n n n n n n n n UEFA
  Norway — — Q — n n n n n n n n n n Q Q n n n n n n UEFA
  Oman — w n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Pakistan — — — — — — — — — — n n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Palestine n n n n n n AFC
  Panama — — — — — — — n n n n n n n n n n Q n CONCACAF
  Papua New Guinea — — — — — — — n — n — n n n OFC
  Paraguay i — — b n Q n n n n n n Q n n Q Q Q Q n n n H CONMEBOL
  Peru i w — w w n n n Q n Q Q n n n n n n n n Q n CONMEBOL
  Philippines — — w — — — s — w — — — — — n n — — n n n AFC
  Poland — n Q — w n n n n Q Q Q Q n n n Q Q n n Q Q UEFA
  Portugal — n n n n n n Q n n n n Q n n n Q Q Q Q Q Q H UEFA
  Puerto Rico — — — n — — n n n n n — n n n n CONCACAF
  Qatar — n n n n n n n n n n n H AFC
  Republic of Ireland (1954–)
  Ireland (1950)
  Irish Free State (1930–1938) 		— n n n n n n n n n n n n Q Q n Q n n n n n UEFA
  Romania i Q b — n n w n Q n n n n Q Q Q n n n n n n UEFA
  Russia (1994–)
  Soviet Union (1950–1990) 		— — Q Q Q Q d n Q Q Q Q n Q n n Q H d UEFA
  Rwanda — — w — n n n n n n n CAF
  Saar n defunct[VI]
  Saint Kitts and Nevis n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Saint Lucia n n n n n n n w CONCACAF
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Samoa (2002–)
  Western Samoa (1990–1998) 		— w n n n n n n w OFC
  San Marino n n n n n n n n UEFA
  São Tomé and Príncipe — w — n n w n n n CAF
  Saudi Arabia — — — — — n n n n Q Q Q Q n n Q Q H AFC
  Scotland w Q Q n n n Q Q Q Q Q n Q n n n n n n UEFA
  Senegal w n n n n n — n n Q n n n Q Q CAF
  Serbia (2010–)
  Serbia and Montenegro (2006)
  FR Yugoslavia (1994–2002)
  Yugoslavia (1930–1990) 		i n n Q Q Q Q n n Q n Q n Q d Q n Q Q n Q Q UEFA
  Seychelles — — — n n n n n n CAF
  Sierra Leone — — — n n n n — w n n n n n n n CAF
  Singapore — — — — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Czech Republic (1998–)
  Representation of Czechs and Slovaks (1994)
  Czechoslovakia (1930–1994) 		— Q Q — Q Q Q n Q n n Q n Q n n n n Q n n n UEFA
  Slovenia n Q n Q n n n UEFA
  Solomon Islands n n n n n n n n OFC
  Somalia — — — — n — — — — n n n n n n CAF
  South Africa s d s s s n Q Q n H n n n CAF
  South Korea — Q s n w n n n n Q Q Q Q H Q Q Q Q Q AFC
  South Sudan n n CAF
  South Yemen — — — — n w defunct[XI]
  Spain — Q s Q n n Q Q n n Q H Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q H UEFA
  Sri Lanka[viii] — — — — — w w — — — n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Sudan — — w w w n n w n n n w n n n n n n n CAF
  Suriname (1978–)
  Dutch Guiana (1930–1974) 		— — w — — — n n n n n n n — n n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Sweden — Q Q Q n H n n Q Q Q n n Q Q n Q Q n n Q n UEFA
   Switzerland — Q Q Q H n Q Q n n n n n n Q n n Q Q Q Q Q UEFA
  Syria — w — n w — n n n n n n n n n n d n n AFC[XII]
  Tahiti n n n n n n n n OFC
  Tajikistan n n n n n n n AFC
  Tanzania — — n w n n — w n n n n n n n CAF
  Thailand — — — — — — — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n n AFC
  East Timor n n n n n AFC
  Togo — — n n n w w n n n Q n n n n CAF
  Tonga n n n n n n w OFC
  Trinidad and Tobago — — — — n n n n n n n n n n Q n n n n CONCACAF
  Tunisia n w n n Q n n n n Q Q Q n n Q Q CAF
  Turkey — w — w Q w n n n n n n n n n n Q n n n n n UEFA[XIII]
  Turkmenistan n n n n n n n n AFC
  Turks and Caicos Islands n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Tuvalu \ OFC
  Uganda — — — — n w n n w n n n n n n n CAF
  Ukraine n n Q n n n n UEFA
  United Arab Emirates w — n Q n n n n n n n n AFC
  United States i Q w Q n n n n n n n n n Q H Q Q Q Q Q n Q H CONCACAF
  U.S. Virgin Islands n n n n n n n CONCACAF
  Uruguay H — — b C n Q Q Q Q n n Q Q n n Q n Q Q Q Q H CONMEBOL
  Uzbekistan n n n n n n n AFC
  Vanuatu n n n n n n n w OFC
  Venezuela — w — n n w n n n n n n n n n n n n CONMEBOL
  Vietnam (1978–)
  South Vietnam (1954–1974) 		s — — — — n w — — — n n n n n n n n AFC
  Wales n n Q n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n Q UEFA
  Yemen (1994–)
  North Yemen (1982–1990) 		— n n n n n n n n n n AFC
  Zambia — n n n n n n n n n n n n n n CAF
  Zimbabwe (1982–)
  Rhodesia (1970–1978) 		n — — n n n n n n n n n d n CAF[XIV]
Team 19
30 		19
34 		19
38 		19
50 		19
54 		19
58 		19
62 		19
66 		19
70 		19
74 		19
78 		19
82 		19
86 		19
90 		19
94 		19
98 		20
02 		20
06 		20
10 		20
14 		20
18 		20
22 		20
26 		20
30 		20
34 		Current
confederation
Non-participating incarnations
  1. ^ Known as the   Khmer Republic in 1974, and then as   Kampuchea until 1990.
  2. ^ Known as   Congo-Kinshasa until 1970.
  3. ^ Entered in 1962 as the   United Arab Republic representing a political union with Syria. After that continued independently but retained the name "United Arab Republic" until 1970.
  4. ^ Entered as the   Dutch East Indies in 1938.
  5. ^ Known as the   Malagasy Republic until 1974.
  6. ^ Preceded by   Malaya until 1962.
  7. ^ Known as   Burma until 1990.
  8. ^ Known as   Ceylon until 1974.
Continental allocations
  1. ^ Africa and Asia had a joint zone in 1934 and 1958. Africa, Asia and Oceania had a joint zone in 1966. Asia and Oceania had a joint zone in 1970–1982.
  2. ^ Entered the Oceanian zone in 1986–2006.
  3. ^ Entered the Oceanian zone in 1986–1990.
  4. ^ Entered the North and Central American zone in 1938.
  5. ^ Entered the African/Asian zone in 1958.
  6. ^ a b Participated in the European zone.
  7. ^ Entered the European zone in 1938 and 1954.
  8. ^ Entered the European zone in 1962.
  9. ^ Entered the African/Asian zone in 1934 and 1958, the Asian/Oceanian zone in 1970–1978, and the Oceanian zone in 1986–1990.
  10. ^ Entered the Asian zone in 1998–2002.
  11. ^ Participated in the Asian zone.
  12. ^ Entered the European zone in 1950 and 1966.
  13. ^ Entered the African/Asian zone in 1934 and 1958.
  14. ^ Entered the Asian/Oceanian zone in 1970.

Overall team records edit

The below table compares the overall records of all teams that have participated in qualification. Teams are ordered by points using the three points for a win system, then by goal difference, and then by goals scored. Note that this order does not represent any official rankings, and qualification tournaments are not direct competitions among all teams.

The "Qualifying attempts" column counts qualifying campaigns where the team played at least one match that was not annulled. An attempt is treated as "successful" if the team gained the right to participate in the finals, even if it did not appear there eventually.

As per statistical convention in football, goals scored during extra time are counted towards matches' scorelines and outcomes, while goals scored during penalty shoot-outs are not. Annulled matches are not counted; for matches that were annulled and then replayed, only the replays are counted. For matches where the scorelines were awarded, the awarded scorelines, and not the original ones (if any), are counted.

Ecuador was deducted 3 points in the 2026 qualifying, which is reflected in the table.

Key
Team has qualified for the main tournament through a qualifying process
Team has qualified for the main tournament only by walkover (Cuba, and Indonesia as Dutch East Indies)
Team has qualified for the main tournament by walkover but has not participated there because it withdrew (India)
Team has qualified for the main tournament only automatically as host (Qatar)
Team has not qualified for the main tournament
Defunct team that qualified for the main tournament (East Germany)
Defunct team that never qualified for the main tournament (Saar and South Yemen)
Team is not a member of FIFA and is not eligible for the main tournament (Tuvalu)

Teams in bold are currently participating or are yet to start in the 2026 qualification. The table is updated to the matches played in March 2024.

No. Team Qualifying attempts Appearances
in the finals 		Overall qualification record Points Confederation
Total Successful Pld W D L GF GA GD Total Avg
1   Mexico 17 14 18 189 121 41 27 453 134 +319 404 2.138 CONCACAF
2   Australia 16 6 6 165 99 40 26 422 125 +297 337 2.042 AFC
3   South Korea 16 10 11 155 97 40 18 311 91 +220 331 2.135 AFC
4   Costa Rica 17 6 6 187 93 47 47 309 184 +125 326 1.743 CONCACAF
5   Iran 12 6 6 150 95 36 19 328 91 +237 321 2.140 AFC
6   Argentina 15 13 18 159 91 42 26 270 137 +133 315 1.981 CONMEBOL
7   Netherlands 19 11 11 135 89 26 20 329 101 +228 293 2.170 UEFA
8   United States 19 9 12 168 84 40 44 287 191 +96 292 1.738 CONCACAF
9   Uruguay 18 11 14 178 81 47 50 253 191 +62 290 1.629 CONMEBOL
10   Spain 19 15 16 125 87 26 12 291 81 +210 287 2.296 UEFA
11   Brazil 14 13 22 133 84 34 15 288 82 +206 286 2.150 CONMEBOL
12   Japan 16 6 7 141 86 27 28 316 91 +225 285 2.021 AFC
13   Saudi Arabia 13 6 6 140 84 33 23 274 104 +170 285 2.036 AFC
14   Portugal 21 8 8 149 83 35 31 284 146 +138 284 1.906 UEFA
15   England 17 14 16 122 84 27 11 314 70 +244 279 2.287 UEFA
16   Sweden 20 11 12 141 86 21 34 280 129 +151 279 1.979 UEFA
17   Serbia
  Serbia and Montenegro
  FR Yugoslavia
  Yugoslavia 		20 12 13 136 81 33 22 287 123 +164 276 2.029 UEFA
18   Belgium 20 13 14 141 83 27 31 302 147 +155 276 1.957 UEFA
19   Czech Republic
  Representation of Czechs and Slovaks
  Czechoslovakia 		20 9 9 147 79 31 37 280 126 +154 268 1.823 UEFA
20   Germany
  West Germany
  Germany 		15 15 20 104 83 18 3 328 74 +254 267 2.567 UEFA
21   Russia
  Soviet Union 		16 10 11 125 80 24 21 246 81 +165 264 2.112 UEFA
22   Italy 17 14 18 118 78 30 10 234 72 +162 264 2.237 UEFA
23   Colombia 18 6 6 176 65 57 54 206 181 +25 252 1.432 CONMEBOL
24   Honduras 15 3 3 164 69 44 51 262 199 +63 251 1.530 CONCACAF
25   Paraguay 19 6 8 178 70 39 69 214 218 −4 249 1.399 CONMEBOL
26   China 13 1 1 130 75 21 34 277 103 +174 246 1.892 AFC
27   Romania 18 5 7 138 72 29 37 238 142 +96 245 1.775 UEFA
28   El Salvador 14 2 2 160 70 33 57 260 187 +73 243 1.519 CONCACAF
29    Switzerland 20 11 12 140 68 37 35 220 150 +70 241 1.721 UEFA
30   Scotland 19 9 8 136 69 30 37 210 146 +64 237 1.743 UEFA
31   France 18 12 16 119 70 26 23 234 91 +143 236 1.983 UEFA
32   Chile 17 6 9 170 67 35 68 239 228 +11 236 1.388 CONMEBOL
33   Denmark 16 6 6 132 67 30 35 242 144 +98 231 1.750 UEFA
34   Poland 19 9 9 128 67 23 38 260 154 +106 224 1.750 UEFA
35   Canada 15 2 3 137 62 38 37 215 144 +71 224 1.635 CONCACAF
36   Tunisia 16 6 6 114 64 30 20 197 86 +111 222 1.947 CAF
37   Austria 19 8 7 134 64 29 41 232 155 +77 221 1.649 UEFA
38   Nigeria 16 6 6 114 62 34 18 187 86 +101 220 1.930 CAF
39   Republic of Ireland
  Ireland
  Irish Free State 		21 3 3 149 58 46 45 210 177 +33 220 1.477 UEFA
40   Hungary 19 8 9 132 63 28 41 235 176 +59 217 1.644 UEFA
41   Morocco 16 6 6 120 59 39 22 177 83 +94 216 1.800 CAF
42   Bulgaria 20 7 7 137 62 29 46 215 191 +24 215 1.569 UEFA
43   Ecuador 17 4 4 167 57 40 70 201 224 −23 208 1.246 CONMEBOL
44   Iraq 13 1 1 123 58 32 33 233 120 +113 206 1.675 AFC
45   Qatar 13 0 1 124 61 23 40 215 124 +91 206 1.661 AFC
46   Greece 20 3 3 136 56 33 47 167 179 −12 201 1.478 UEFA
47   Trinidad and Tobago 15 1 1 141 57 29 55 207 184 +23 200 1.418 CONCACAF
48   Egypt 16 3 3 103 59 21 23 184 94 +90 198 1.922 CAF
49   Cameroon 15 8 8 97 58 23 16 162 72 +90 197 2.031 CAF
50   Peru 18 4 5 174 50 43 81 184 241 −57 193 1.109 CONMEBOL
51   New Zealand 14 2 2 102 58 18 26 239 101 +138 192 1.882 OFC
52   Uzbekistan 8 0 0 106 57 20 29 205 107 +98 191 1.802 AFC
53   United Arab Emirates 11 1 1 120 55 23 42 205 128 +77 188 1.567 AFC
54   Guatemala 16 0 0 126 52 32 42 208 150 +58 188 1.492 CONCACAF
55   Turkey 18 3 2 139 53 27 59 204 206 −2 186 1.338 UEFA
56   Norway 19 3 3 136 49 33 54 185 186 −1 180 1.324 UEFA
57   Kuwait 14 1 1 105 53 16 36 184 105 +79 175 1.667 AFC
58   Northern Ireland
  Ireland 		19 3 3 142 45 39 58 155 168 −13 174 1.225 UEFA
59   Israel
  Palestine, British Mandate 		21 1 1 132 45 35 52 189 199 −10 170 1.288 UEFA
60   Ivory Coast 13 3 3 86 47 26 13 165 70 +95 167 1.942 CAF
61   Algeria 15 4 4 99 47 25 27 158 98 +60 166 1.677 CAF
62   Zambia 15 0 0 104 48 21 35 158 101 +57 165 1.587 CAF
63   Bolivia 18 1 3 174 44 32 98 204 340 −136 164 0.943 CONMEBOL
64   Syria 16 0 0 106 46 24 36 214 126 +88 162 1.528 AFC
65   Ghana 15 4 4 93 45 25 23 141 71 +70 160 1.720 CAF
66   Wales 19 2 2 130 43 29 58 168 180 −12 158 1.215 UEFA
67   Croatia 7 6 6 72 43 20 9 129 51 +78 149 2.069 UEFA
68   Jamaica 12 1 1 118 39 32 47 127 154 −27 149 1.263 CONCACAF
69   Oman 10 0 0 92 42 21 29 149 87 +62 147 1.598 AFC
70   Haiti 15 1 1 95 42 17 36 165 124 +41 143 1.505 CONCACAF
71   Ukraine 7 1 1 80 38 28 14 122 62 +60 142 1.775 UEFA
72   Bahrain 12 0 0 100 38 28 34 130 100 +30 142 1.420 AFC
73   DR Congo
  Zaire 		12 1 1 86 40 20 26 141 93 +48 140 1.628 CAF
74   Panama 12 1 1 114 38 26 50 142 178 −36 140 1.228 CONCACAF
75   North Korea 11 2 2 86 40 19 27 122 80 +42 139 1.616 AFC
76   Finland 20 0 0 137 35 25 77 144 297 −153 130 0.949 UEFA
77   Slovakia 7 1 1 74 35 19 20 127 74 +53 124 1.676 UEFA
78   Senegal 14 3 3 73 33 24 16 110 61 +49 123 1.685 CAF
79   Guinea 14 0 0 83 36 14 33 121 110 +11 122 1.470 CAF
80   Jordan 11 0 0 82 34 17 31 129 98 +31 119 1.451 AFC
81   Venezuela 15 0 0 164 30 29 105 140 351 −211 119 0.726 CONMEBOL
82   Iceland 14 1 1 116 30 22 64 128 233 −105 112 0.966 UEFA
83   South Africa 9 2 3 58 33 9 16 74 50 +24 108 1.862 CAF
84   Angola 11 1 1 71 27 26 18 88 66 +22 107 1.507 CAF
85   Burkina Faso
  Upper Volta 		10 0 0 68 30 14 24 103 83 +20 104 1.529 CAF
86   Slovenia 7 2 2 72 29 17 26 94 80 +14 104 1.444 UEFA
87   Thailand 14 0 0 101 27 22 52 130 172 −42 103 1.020 AFC
88   Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 1 1 66 29 14 23 121 81 +40 101 1.530 UEFA
89   Kenya 14 0 0 76 25 19 32 87 102 −15 94 1.237 CAF
90   Hong Kong 14 0 0 87 25 17 45 101 154 −53 92 1.057 AFC
91   Togo 12 1 1 73 24 19 30 77 94 −17 91 1.247 CAF
92   Lebanon 9 0 0 76 23 20 33 104 106 −2 89 1.171 AFC
93   Malaysia 14 0 0 73 25 13 35 100 131 −31 88 1.205 AFC
94   Libya 12 0 0 64 24 15 25 69 70 −1 87 1.359 CAF
95   Gabon 10 0 0 65 25 12 28 68 75 −7 87 1.338 CAF
96   Indonesia
  Dutch East Indies 		14 0 1 85 23 18 44 110 176 −66 87 1.024 AFC
97   Cuba 13 0 1 72 22 20 30 92 105 −13 86 1.194 CONCACAF
98   Zimbabwe
  Rhodesia 		12 0 0 71 22 20 29 68 85 −17 86 1.211 CAF
99   Albania 13 0 0 114 24 14 76 84 200 −116 86 0.754 UEFA
100   Latvia 9 0 0 85 21 18 46 93 144 −51 81 0.953 UEFA
101   Singapore 13 0 0 82 23 12 47 88 158 −70 81 0.988 AFC
102   Suriname
  Dutch Guiana 		15 0 0 69 22 14 33 106 115 −9 80 1.159 CONCACAF
103   Congo 11 0 0 69 21 16 32 77 97 −20 79 1.145 CAF
104   Solomon Islands 8 0 0 57 23 9 25 118 121 −3 78 1.368 OFC
105   North Macedonia
  Macedonia 		7 0 0 72 20 15 37 95 115 −20 75 1.042 UEFA
106   East Germany 9 1 1 47 22 8 17 87 65 +22 74 1.574 defunct
107   Mali 7 0 0 50 20 14 16 65 55 +10 74 1.480 CAF
108   Fiji 10 0 0 56 21 10 25 114 105 +9 73 1.304 OFC
109   Sudan 14 0 0 74 17 22 35 66 115 −49 73 0.986 CAF
110   Lithuania 10 0 0 81 18 16 47 63 130 −67 70 0.864 UEFA
111   Malawi 12 0 0 68 17 17 34 60 96 −36 68 1.000 CAF
112   Curaçao
  Netherlands Antilles
  Territory of Curaçao 		17 0 0 66 16 20 30 69 119 −50 68 1.030 CONCACAF
113   Turkmenistan 8 0 0 50 20 6 24 75 81 −6 66 1.320 AFC
114   Uganda 11 0 0 50 18 12 20 46 61 −15 66 1.320 CAF
115   Liberia 11 0 0 68 18 12 38 47 96 −49 66 0.971 CAF
116   Tajikistan 8 0 0 48 18 10 20 85 71 +14 64 1.333 AFC
117   Estonia 10 0 0 84 17 12 55 74 187 −113 63 0.750 UEFA
118   Cyprus 16 0 0 124 16 15 93 91 320 −229 63 0.508 UEFA
119   New Caledonia 5 0 0 38 18 8 12 89 46 +43 62 1.632 OFC
120   Vietnam
  South Vietnam 		10 0 0 63 18 6 39 66 110 −44 60 0.952 AFC
121   Kyrgyzstan 8 0 0 43 18 5 20 68 66 +2 59 1.372 AFC
122   Tahiti 8 0 0 45 17 8 20 67 85 −18 59 1.311 OFC
123   Yemen
  North Yemen 		11 0 0 64 15 14 35 65 106 −41 59 0.922 AFC
124   Bermuda 8 0 0 40 16 10 14 83 58 +25 58 1.450 CONCACAF
125   Cape Verde 7 0 0 42 17 6 19 44 52 −8 57 1.357 CAF
126   Benin
  Dahomey 		10 0 0 52 16 9 27 52 95 −43 57 1.096 CAF
127   Armenia 7 0 0 72 13 17 42 61 142 −81 56 0.778 UEFA
128   Belarus 7 0 0 66 14 12 40 68 121 −53 54 0.818 UEFA
129   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8 0 0 62 15 8 39 80 186 −106 53 0.855 CONCACAF
130   Montenegro 4 0 0 40 13 13 14 61 58 +3 52 1.300 UEFA
131   India 10 0 0 55 12 16 27 51 99 −48 52 0.945 AFC
132   Madagascar 11 0 0 44 14 9 21 52 61 −9 51 1.159 CAF
133   Antigua and Barbuda 11 0 0 46 15 6 25 72 98 −26 51 1.109 CONCACAF
134   Palestine 7 0 0 38 14 8 16 64 47 +17 50 1.316 AFC
135   Saint Kitts and Nevis 7 0 0 36 14 8 14 72 62 +10 50 1.389 CONCACAF
136   Georgia 7 0 0 64 11 17 36 57 101 −44 50 0.781 UEFA
137   Namibia 9 0 0 52 13 11 28 48 94 −46 50 0.962 CAF
138   Kazakhstan 7 0 0 68 12 14 42 76 148 −72 50 0.735 UEFA
139   Ethiopia 13 0 0 51 11 15 25 52 76 −24 48 0.941 CAF
140   Sierra Leone 12 0 0 49 12 10 27 41 74 −33 46 0.939 CAF
141   Mozambique 10 0 0 44 12 9 23 38 62 −24 45 1.023 CAF
142   Tanzania 11 0 0 43 10 14 19 44 62 −18 44 1.023 CAF
143   Bangladesh 11 0 0 64 11 10 43 41 157 −116 43 0.672 AFC
144   Dominican Republic 9 0 0 33 12 6 15 50 54 −4 42 1.273 CONCACAF
145   Niger 9 0 0 38 12 6 20 42 67 −25 42 1.105 CAF
146   Vanuatu 7 0 0 37 12 3 22 76 89 −13 39 1.054 OFC
147   Botswana 8 0 0 38 11 6 21 36 56 −20 39 1.026 CAF
148   Barbados 9 0 0 41 11 6 24 38 76 −38 39 0.951 CONCACAF
149   Rwanda 8 0 0 46 9 11 26 43 63 −20 38 0.826 CAF
150   Azerbaijan 7 0 0 66 7 15 44 34 122 −88 36 0.545 UEFA
151   Equatorial Guinea 7 0 0 30 10 5 15 27 42 −15 35 1.167 CAF
152   Luxembourg 21 0 0 142 8 10 124 77 451 −374 34 0.239 UEFA
153   Papua New Guinea 5 0 0 26 9 6 11 48 41 +7 33 1.269 OFC
154   Faroe Islands 8 0 0 80 8 8 64 41 207 −166 32 0.400 UEFA
155   Maldives 8 0 0 42 9 4 29 45 143 −98 31 0.738 AFC
156   Belize 7 0 0 29 8 6 15 37 59 −22 30 1.034 CONCACAF
157   Guyana 11 0 0 38 8 6 24 40 89 −49 30 0.789 CONCACAF
158   Burundi 8 0 0 24 8 5 11 23 32 −9 29 1.208 CAF
159   Nicaragua 8 0 0 25 9 1 15 35 45 −10 28 1.120 CONCACAF
160   Puerto Rico 10 0 0 29 7 7 15 32 57 −25 28 0.966 CONCACAF
161   Samoa
  Western Samoa 		6 0 0 26 9 1 16 37 88 −51 28 1.077 OFC
162   Moldova 7 0 0 68 5 13 50 40 145 −105 28 0.412 UEFA
163   Chinese Taipei
  Republic of China 		13 0 0 72 8 4 60 47 245 −198 28 0.389 AFC
164   Grenada 8 0 0 29 8 3 18 51 59 −8 27 0.931 CONCACAF
165   Philippines 6 0 0 33 7 6 20 29 77 −48 27 0.818 AFC
166   Afghanistan 6 0 0 28 7 5 16 20 73 −53 26 0.929 AFC
167     Nepal 9 0 0 44 7 5 32 29 137 −108 26 0.591 AFC
168   Gambia 10 0 0 28 6 6 16 23 44 −21 24 0.857 CAF
169   Guinea-Bissau 8 0 0 22 5 8 9 18 32 −14 23 1.045 CAF
170   Saint Lucia 7 0 0 24 7 1 16 32 62 −30 22 0.917 CONCACAF
171   Tonga 6 0 0 22 7 1 14 23 82 −59 22 1.000 OFC
172   Myanmar 5 0 0 28 6 4 18 24 93 −69 22 0.786 AFC
173   Malta 13 0 0 112 3 12 97 42 330 −288 21 0.188 UEFA
174   Chad 7 0 0 20 6 2 12 17 32 −15 20 1.000 CAF
175   Mongolia 7 0 0 26 6 1 19 17 77 −60 19 0.731 AFC
176   Sri Lanka 9 0 0 41 4 7 30 27 103 −76 19 0.463 AFC
177   Lesotho 9 0 0 28 2 12 14 16 53 −37 18 0.643 CAF
178   Eswatini
  Swaziland 		9 0 0 23 4 5 14 16 44 −28 17 0.739 CAF
179   Dominica 7 0 0 24 4 5 15 20 58 −38 17 0.708 CONCACAF
180   Cambodia 7 0 0 38 4 5 29 22 136 −114 17 0.447 AFC
181   Aruba 7 0 0 20 5 1 14 26 61 −35 16 0.800 CONCACAF
182   Bahamas 6 0 0 18 4 4 10 20 58 −38 16 0.889 CONCACAF
183   Macau 11 0 0 39 4 3 32 17 173 −156 15 0.385 AFC
184   Andorra 6 0 0 62 4 3 55 22 186 −164 15 0.242 UEFA
185   Laos 6 0 0 30 3 5 22 24 127 −103 14 0.467 AFC
186   Liechtenstein 7 0 0 70 2 7 61 25 219 −194 13 0.186 UEFA
187   Mauritania 8 0 0 24 2 6 16 15 44 −29 12 0.500 CAF
188   Bhutan 3 0 0 14 4 0 10 11 62 −51 12 0.857 AFC
189   U.S. Virgin Islands 7 0 0 21 3 2 16 9 96 −87 11 0.524 CONCACAF
190   Comoros 5 0 0 12 2 4 6 10 23 −13 10 0.833 CAF
191   Cook Islands 6 0 0 20 3 1 16 16 63 −47 10 0.500 OFC
192   Guam 4 0 0 22 3 1 18 11 87 −76 10 0.455 AFC
193   American Samoa 5 0 0 18 3 1 14 11 136 −125 10 0.556 OFC
194   Central African Republic 5 0 0 18 2 3 13 15 35 −20 9 0.500 CAF
195   Montserrat 6 0 0 13 2 3 8 17 49 −32 9 0.692 CONCACAF
196   Djibouti 6 0 0 23 2 2 19 12 93 −81 8 0.348 CAF
197   Pakistan 10 0 0 38 1 5 32 15 142 −127 8 0.211 AFC
198   São Tomé and Príncipe 6 0 0 12 2 1 9 5 31 −26 7 0.583 CAF
199   Mauritius 9 0 0 22 1 4 17 14 55 −41 7 0.318 CAF
200   Somalia 8 0 0 15 1 3 11 4 33 −29 6 0.400 CAF
201   Kosovo 2 0 0 18 1 3 14 8 39 −31 6 0.333 UEFA
202   Cayman Islands 7 0 0 20 0 6 14 8 53 −45 6 0.300 CONCACAF
203   Brunei 5 0 0 18 2 0 16 5 74 −69 6 0.333 AFC
204   British Virgin Islands 7 0 0 16 0 5 11 8 54 −46 5 0.313 CONCACAF
205   Turks and Caicos Islands 7 0 0 15 1 2 12 7 69 −62 5 0.333 CONCACAF
206   Saar 1 0 0 4 1 1 2 4 8 −4 4 1.000 defunct
207   South Sudan 3 0 0 6 0 3 3 2 11 −9 3 0.500 CAF
208   Eritrea 5 0 0 10 0 3 7 4 20 −16 3 0.300 CAF
209   Anguilla 7 0 0 16 0 3 13 3 65 −62 3 0.188 CONCACAF
210   Seychelles 7 0 0 18 0 2 16 6 60 −54 2 0.111 CAF
211   San Marino 8 0 0 76 0 2 74 12 356 −344 2 0.026 UEFA
212   South Yemen 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 4 7 −3 1 0.500 defunct
213   Tuvalu 1 0 0 4 0 1 3 2 22 −20 1 0.250 OFC
214   East Timor 5 0 0 18 0 0 18 6 87 −81 0 0.000 AFC
215   Gibraltar 2 0 0 20 0 0 20 7 90 −83 0 0.000 UEFA

Qualification tournament rules edit

Qualification tournaments generally consist of a number of stages, made up of groups or knock-out ties.

Groups edit

In all group tournaments, three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. FIFA has set the order of the tie-breakers for teams that finish level on points:

  1. goal difference in all group matches
  2. greater number of goals scored in all group matches

Where teams are still not able to be separated, the following tie-breakers are used:

  1. greater number of points obtained in matches between the tied teams
  2. goal difference in matches between the tied teams
  3. greater number of goals scored in matches between the tied teams
  4. goals scored away from home in matches between the tied teams, if the tie is only between two teams

Where teams are still equal, then a play-off on neutral ground, with extra time and penalties if necessary will be played if FIFA deems such a play-off able to be fitted within the coordinated international match calendar. If this is not deemed feasible, then the result will be determined by fair play points and then the drawing of lots.

Note that this order of tie-breaker application has not always been applied. While it was used in the 2010 qualifiers, the qualification for the 2006 World Cup used the head-to-head comparison prior to goal difference (although this system was – where applicable – used in the 2006 finals themselves). If these rules had applied in 2006, then Nigeria would have qualified rather than Angola.

Home-and-away ties edit

Most knock-out qualifiers (such as the inter-confederation play-offs and many preliminary ties) are played over two legs. The team that scores a greater aggregate number of goals qualifies. Away goals rule applies. If these rules fail to determine the winner, extra time and penalty shootouts are used.

Occasionally – usually when one entrant lacks adequate facilities to host international matches – ties are played over a single leg, in which case matches level after 90 minutes will go to extra time and then to a penalty shootout if required.

Alternatively, "home" matches can be played in neutral countries, or occasionally one team will host both matches. In the latter case the visiting team will still be considered as the "home" team for one of the legs – which may determine which side advances under the away goals rule, as occurred in CONCACAF qualification in 2010.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Sweden vs Estonia, 11 June 1933, World Cup qualification". eu-football.info. Retrieved 25 January 2023.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Qualification for the FIFA World Cup.
  • History of the FIFA World Cup preliminary competition (by year). Published by FIFA in November 2009; archived from the original by Wayback Machine on 23 October 2013.
  • FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition Statistics (PDF) (archived 31 October 2008)
  • FIFA World Cup Preliminary History (PDF) (archived 2 September 2009)
  • FIFA World Cup 2022 Regulations
  • FIFA – official documents

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