FIFA World Cup qualification

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

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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

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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)
  • ⅓ – 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+⅓ H
Asia 3.5 2.5
+2H
4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
+H
8+⅓ H
Oceania 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1+⅓
North and Central America
and Caribbean
3 3 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3+
2×⅓
+3H
South America 4
+C
4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
+H
4.5 4.5 6+⅓ 3H
Total berths 32 48
Teams in the finals
Entered qualification[g] 172 196 197 205[i] 203 210 211[j] 207
Played in qualification[h] 168 193 194 199[i] 202 208 204[j] 206
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

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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   Timor-Leste
  Myanmar[ab]
  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

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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 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 n 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 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 n 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]
  Timor-Leste n n n n n AFC
  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 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 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 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 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 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 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 s 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 n 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 n AFC
  Slovakia 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 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 n AFC[XII]
  Tahiti n n n n n n n n OFC
  Tajikistan n 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 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 n 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 n 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 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 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 November 2024.

Rank
(unoff.)
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   South Korea 16 10 11 163 103 42 18 331 96 +235 351 2.153 AFC
3   Australia 16 6 6 173 102 44 27 435 130 +305 350 2.023 AFC
4   Iran 12 6 6 158 101 38 19 344 98 +246 341 2.158 AFC
5   Costa Rica 18 6 6 189 95 47 47 316 184 +132 332 1.757 CONCACAF
6   Argentina 15 13 18 165 94 43 28 283 142 +141 325 1.970 CONMEBOL
7   Japan 16 6 7 150 94 28 28 351 93 +258 310 2.067 AFC
8   Brazil 14 13 22 139 87 36 16 297 86 +211 297 2.137 CONMEBOL
9   Uruguay 18 11 14 184 82 51 51 257 195 +62 297 1.614 CONMEBOL
10   Saudi Arabia 13 6 6 148 86 36 26 281 112 +169 294 1.986 AFC
11   Netherlands 19 11 11 135 89 26 20 329 101 +228 293 2.170 UEFA
12   United States 19 9 12 168 84 40 44 287 191 +96 292 1.738 CONCACAF
13   Spain 19 15 16 125 87 26 12 291 81 +210 287 2.296 UEFA
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   Paraguay 19 6 8 184 73 42 69 221 222 −1 261 1.418 CONMEBOL
24   Colombia 18 6 6 182 67 58 57 215 188 +27 259 1.423 CONMEBOL
25   Honduras 16 3 3 166 71 44 51 271 201 +70 257 1.548 CONCACAF
26   China 13 1 1 138 77 22 39 284 121 +163 253 1.833 AFC
27   El Salvador 15 2 2 162 71 34 57 263 188 +75 247 1.525 CONCACAF
28   Romania 18 5 7 138 72 29 37 238 142 +96 245 1.775 UEFA
29    Switzerland 20 11 12 140 68 37 35 220 150 +70 241 1.721 UEFA
30   Chile 17 6 9 176 68 36 72 245 241 +4 240 1.364 CONMEBOL
31   Scotland 19 9 8 136 69 30 37 210 146 +64 237 1.743 UEFA
32   France 18 12 16 119 70 26 23 234 91 +143 236 1.983 UEFA
33   Denmark 16 6 6 132 67 30 35 242 144 +98 231 1.750 UEFA
34   Tunisia 16 6 6 116 65 31 20 198 86 +112 226 1.948 CAF
35   Poland 19 9 9 128 67 23 38 260 154 +106 224 1.750 UEFA
36   Canada 15 2 3 137 62 38 37 215 144 +71 224 1.635 CONCACAF
37   Iraq 13 1 1 131 63 34 34 243 124 +119 223 1.702 AFC
38   Morocco 16 6 6 122 61 39 22 185 84 +101 222 1.820 CAF
39   Nigeria 16 6 6 116 62 35 19 189 89 +100 221 1.905 CAF
40   Austria 19 8 7 134 64 29 41 232 155 +77 221 1.649 UEFA
41   Republic of Ireland
  Ireland
  Irish Free State
21 3 3 149 58 46 45 210 177 +33 220 1.477 UEFA
42   Ecuador 17 4 4 173 60 42 71 207 225 −18 219 1.266 CONMEBOL
43   Qatar 13 0 1 132 64 25 43 227 142 +85 217 1.644 AFC
44   Hungary 19 8 9 132 63 28 41 235 176 +59 217 1.644 UEFA
45   Bulgaria 20 7 7 137 62 29 46 215 191 +24 215 1.569 UEFA
46   Uzbekistan 8 0 0 114 62 22 30 216 113 +103 208 1.825 AFC
47   Trinidad and Tobago 16 1 1 143 58 30 55 216 187 +29 204 1.427 CONCACAF
48   Egypt 16 3 3 105 60 22 23 187 96 +91 202 1.924 CAF
49   United Arab Emirates 11 1 1 128 59 25 44 222 133 +89 202 1.578 AFC
50   New Zealand 15 2 2 105 61 18 26 258 102 +156 201 1.914 OFC
51   Cameroon 15 8 8 99 59 24 16 167 74 +93 201 2.030 CAF
52   Greece 20 3 3 136 56 33 47 167 179 −12 201 1.478 UEFA
53   Peru 18 4 5 180 51 45 84 186 248 −62 198 1.100 CONMEBOL
54   Guatemala 17 0 0 128 54 32 42 217 150 +67 194 1.516 CONCACAF
55   Turkey 18 3 2 139 53 27 59 204 206 −2 186 1.338 UEFA
56   Kuwait 14 1 1 113 54 21 38 190 116 +74 183 1.619 AFC
57   Norway 19 3 3 136 49 33 54 185 186 −1 180 1.324 UEFA
58   Northern Ireland
  Ireland
19 3 3 142 45 39 58 155 168 −13 174 1.225 UEFA
59   Bolivia 18 1 3 180 47 33 100 213 353 −140 174 0.967 CONMEBOL
60   Ivory Coast 13 3 3 88 48 27 13 166 70 +96 171 1.943 CAF
61   Israel
  Palestine, British Mandate
21 1 1 132 45 35 52 189 199 −10 170 1.288 UEFA
62   Algeria 15 4 4 101 48 25 28 161 101 +60 169 1.673 CAF
63   Ghana 15 4 4 95 47 25 23 147 75 +72 166 1.747 CAF
64   Zambia 15 0 0 106 48 21 37 159 104 +55 165 1.557 CAF
65   Syria 16 0 0 108 46 24 38 214 132 +82 162 1.500 AFC
66   Wales 19 2 2 130 43 29 58 168 180 −12 158 1.215 UEFA
67   Oman 10 0 0 100 45 22 33 159 97 +62 157 1.570 AFC
68   Jamaica 13 1 1 120 41 32 47 131 156 −25 155 1.292 CONCACAF
69   Bahrain 12 0 0 108 39 33 36 136 111 +25 150 1.389 AFC
70   Croatia 7 6 6 72 43 20 9 129 51 +78 149 2.069 UEFA
71   Haiti 16 1 1 97 44 17 36 170 126 +44 149 1.536 CONCACAF
72   North Korea 11 2 2 95 42 21 32 132 93 +39 147 1.547 AFC
73   Panama 13 1 1 116 40 26 50 147 179 −32 146 1.259 CONCACAF
74   DR Congo
  Zaire
12 1 1 88 41 21 26 143 94 +49 144 1.636 CAF
75   Ukraine 7 1 1 80 38 28 14 122 62 +60 142 1.775 UEFA
76   Jordan 11 0 0 90 38 20 32 143 104 +39 134 1.489 AFC
77   Finland 20 0 0 137 35 25 77 144 297 −153 130 0.949 UEFA
78   Senegal 14 3 3 75 34 25 16 112 62 +50 127 1.693 CAF
79   Guinea 14 0 0 85 37 14 34 123 112 +11 125 1.471 CAF
80   Slovakia 7 1 1 74 35 19 20 127 74 +53 124 1.676 UEFA
81   Venezuela 15 0 0 170 30 32 108 145 363 −218 122 0.718 CONMEBOL
82   South Africa 9 2 3 60 34 10 16 78 52 +26 112 1.867 CAF
83   Iceland 14 1 1 116 30 22 64 128 233 −105 112 0.966 UEFA
84   Angola 11 1 1 73 28 27 18 90 67 +23 111 1.521 CAF
85   Thailand 14 0 0 103 28 23 52 134 174 −40 107 1.039 AFC
86   Burkina Faso
  Upper Volta
10 0 0 70 30 15 25 106 87 +19 105 1.500 CAF
87   Slovenia 7 2 2 72 29 17 26 94 80 +14 104 1.444 UEFA
88   Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 1 1 66 29 14 23 121 81 +40 101 1.530 UEFA
89   Kenya 14 0 0 78 25 21 32 88 103 −15 96 1.231 CAF
90   Indonesia
  Dutch East Indies
14 0 1 93 25 21 47 118 187 −69 96 1.032 AFC
91   Lebanon 9 0 0 78 24 21 33 108 106 +2 93 1.192 AFC
92   Hong Kong 14 0 0 89 25 18 46 103 158 −55 93 1.045 AFC
93   Togo 12 1 1 75 24 20 31 78 96 −18 92 1.227 CAF
94   Malaysia 14 0 0 75 26 14 35 104 133 −29 92 1.227 AFC
95   Libya 12 0 0 66 25 15 26 71 72 −1 90 1.364 CAF
96   Gabon 10 0 0 67 26 12 29 71 78 −7 90 1.343 CAF
97   Cuba 14 0 1 74 23 20 31 96 108 −12 89 1.203 CONCACAF
98   Suriname
  Dutch Guiana
16 0 0 71 24 14 33 114 116 −2 86 1.211 CONCACAF
99   Zimbabwe
  Rhodesia
12 0 0 73 22 20 31 69 90 −21 86 1.178 CAF
100   Albania 13 0 0 114 24 14 76 84 200 −116 86 0.754 UEFA
101   Solomon Islands 9 0 0 60 24 9 27 122 126 −4 81 1.350 OFC
102   Latvia 9 0 0 85 21 18 46 93 144 −51 81 0.953 UEFA
103   Singapore 13 0 0 84 23 12 49 89 168 −79 81 0.964 AFC
104   Congo 11 0 0 71 21 16 34 77 106 −29 79 1.113 CAF
105   Sudan 14 0 0 76 19 22 35 71 115 −44 79 1.039 CAF
106   Fiji 11 0 0 59 22 12 25 119 109 +10 78 1.322 OFC
107   Mali 7 0 0 52 20 15 17 66 57 +9 75 1.442 CAF
108   North Macedonia
  Macedonia
7 0 0 72 20 15 37 95 115 −20 75 1.042 UEFA
109   East Germany 9 1 1 47 22 8 17 87 65 +22 74 1.574 defunct
110   Curaçao
  Netherlands Antilles
  Territory of Curaçao
18 0 0 68 18 20 30 75 120 −45 74 1.088 CONCACAF
111   Liberia 11 0 0 70 20 13 37 52 96 −44 73 1.043 CAF
112   Malawi 12 0 0 70 18 17 35 63 98 −35 71 1.014 CAF
113   Lithuania 10 0 0 81 18 16 47 63 130 −67 70 0.864 UEFA
114   New Caledonia 6 0 0 41 20 9 12 96 50 +46 69 1.683 OFC
115   Uganda 11 0 0 52 19 12 21 48 63 −15 69 1.327 CAF
116   Tajikistan 8 0 0 50 19 10 21 88 74 +14 67 1.340 AFC
117   Turkmenistan 8 0 0 52 20 7 25 76 84 −8 67 1.288 AFC
118   Tahiti 9 0 0 48 19 8 21 72 88 −16 65 1.354 OFC
119   Kyrgyzstan 8 0 0 51 19 7 25 76 81 −5 64 1.255 AFC
120   Benin
  Dahomey
10 0 0 54 18 9 27 55 96 −41 63 1.167 CAF
121   Vietnam
  South Vietnam
10 0 0 65 19 6 40 70 115 −45 63 0.969 AFC
122   Estonia 10 0 0 84 17 12 55 74 187 −113 63 0.750 UEFA
123   Cyprus 16 0 0 124 16 15 93 91 320 −229 63 0.508 UEFA
124   Yemen
  North Yemen
11 0 0 66 15 16 35 67 108 −41 61 0.924 AFC
125   Cape Verde 7 0 0 44 18 6 20 46 56 −10 60 1.364 CAF
126   Bermuda 9 0 0 42 16 11 15 85 65 +20 59 1.405 CONCACAF
127   Armenia 7 0 0 72 13 17 42 61 142 −81 56 0.778 UEFA
128   Madagascar 11 0 0 46 15 10 21 54 62 −8 55 1.196 CAF
129   Namibia 9 0 0 54 14 13 27 52 94 −42 55 1.019 CAF
130   Palestine 7 0 0 46 14 12 20 68 60 +8 54 1.174 AFC
131   Belarus 7 0 0 66 14 12 40 68 121 −53 54 0.818 UEFA
132   Saint Kitts and Nevis 8 0 0 38 15 8 15 73 66 +7 53 1.395 CONCACAF
133   India 10 0 0 57 12 17 28 52 101 −49 53 0.930 AFC
134   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9 0 0 64 15 8 41 82 193 −111 53 0.828 CONCACAF
135   Montenegro 4 0 0 40 13 13 14 61 58 +3 52 1.300 UEFA
136   Antigua and Barbuda 12 0 0 48 15 7 26 73 100 −27 52 1.083 CONCACAF
137   Mozambique 10 0 0 46 14 9 23 41 63 −22 51 1.109 CAF
138   Ethiopia 13 0 0 53 11 17 25 53 77 −24 50 0.943 CAF
139   Sierra Leone 12 0 0 51 13 11 27 45 77 −32 50 0.980 CAF
140   Georgia 7 0 0 64 11 17 36 57 101 −44 50 0.781 UEFA
141   Kazakhstan 7 0 0 68 12 14 42 76 148 −72 50 0.735 UEFA
142   Tanzania 11 0 0 44 11 14 19 45 62 −17 47 1.068 CAF
143   Dominican Republic 10 0 0 35 13 6 16 54 55 −1 45 1.286 CONCACAF
144   Niger 9 0 0 39 13 6 20 45 67 −22 45 1.154 CAF
145   Bangladesh 11 0 0 66 11 10 45 41 163 −122 43 0.652 AFC
146   Vanuatu 8 0 0 40 13 3 24 81 100 −19 42 1.050 OFC
147   Botswana 8 0 0 40 12 6 22 39 58 −19 42 1.050 CAF
148   Rwanda 8 0 0 48 10 11 27 44 64 −20 41 0.854 CAF
149   Barbados 10 0 0 43 11 6 26 40 83 −43 39 0.907 CONCACAF
150   Azerbaijan 7 0 0 66 7 15 44 34 122 −88 36 0.545 UEFA
151   Papua New Guinea 6 0 0 29 9 7 13 53 49 +4 34 1.172 OFC
152   Nicaragua 9 0 0 27 11 1 15 43 46 −3 34 1.259 CONCACAF
153   Samoa
  Western Samoa
7 0 0 31 11 1 19 42 104 −62 34 1.097 OFC
154   Luxembourg 21 0 0 142 8 10 124 77 451 −374 34 0.239 UEFA
155   Burundi 8 0 0 26 9 6 11 27 34 −7 33 1.269 CAF
156   Guyana 12 0 0 40 9 6 25 43 92 −49 33 0.825 CONCACAF
157   Puerto Rico 11 0 0 31 8 8 15 40 57 −17 32 1.032 CONCACAF
158   Equatorial Guinea 7 0 0 32 9 5 18 26 49 −23 32 1.000 CAF
159   Faroe Islands 8 0 0 80 8 8 64 41 207 −166 32 0.400 UEFA
160   Maldives 8 0 0 42 9 4 29 45 143 −98 31 0.738 AFC
161   Belize 8 0 0 31 8 6 17 38 66 −28 30 0.968 CONCACAF
162   Grenada 9 0 0 31 8 4 19 53 64 −11 28 0.903 CONCACAF
163   Moldova 7 0 0 68 5 13 50 40 145 −105 28 0.412 UEFA
164   Chinese Taipei
  Republic of China
13 0 0 74 8 4 62 48 251 −203 28 0.378 AFC
165   Gambia 10 0 0 30 7 6 17 30 48 −18 27 0.900 CAF
166   Philippines 6 0 0 35 7 6 22 31 82 −51 27 0.771 AFC
167   Afghanistan 6 0 0 30 7 6 17 20 74 −54 27 0.900 AFC
168     Nepal 9 0 0 46 7 6 33 31 143 −112 27 0.587 AFC
169   Guinea-Bissau 8 0 0 24 5 10 9 19 33 −14 25 1.042 CAF
170   Tonga 7 0 0 24 8 1 15 27 85 −58 25 1.042 OFC
171   Saint Lucia 8 0 0 26 7 2 17 35 66 −31 23 0.885 CONCACAF
172   Myanmar 5 0 0 30 6 4 20 25 102 −77 22 0.733 AFC
173   Lesotho 9 0 0 30 3 12 15 18 54 −36 21 0.700 CAF
174   Malta 13 0 0 112 3 12 97 42 330 −288 21 0.188 UEFA
175   Chad 7 0 0 22 6 2 14 17 35 −18 20 0.909 CAF
176   Mongolia 7 0 0 26 6 1 19 17 77 −60 19 0.731 AFC
177   Sri Lanka 9 0 0 41 4 7 30 27 103 −76 19 0.463 AFC
178   Eswatini
  Swaziland
9 0 0 25 4 5 16 17 47 −30 17 0.680 CAF
179   Aruba 8 0 0 22 5 2 15 28 65 −37 17 0.773 CONCACAF
180   Dominica 8 0 0 26 4 5 17 22 67 −45 17 0.654 CONCACAF
181   Cambodia 7 0 0 38 4 5 29 22 136 −114 17 0.447 AFC
182   Bahamas 7 0 0 20 4 4 12 21 66 −45 16 0.800 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   Comoros 5 0 0 14 3 4 7 13 25 −12 13 0.929 CAF
187   Liechtenstein 7 0 0 70 2 7 61 25 219 −194 13 0.186 UEFA
188   Central African Republic 5 0 0 20 3 3 14 19 39 −20 12 0.600 CAF
189   Mauritania 8 0 0 26 2 6 18 15 47 −32 12 0.462 CAF
190   Bhutan 3 0 0 14 4 0 10 11 62 −51 12 0.857 AFC
191   U.S. Virgin Islands 7 0 0 21 3 2 16 9 96 −87 11 0.524 CONCACAF
192   Mauritius 9 0 0 24 2 4 18 17 58 −41 10 0.417 CAF
193   Cook Islands 7 0 0 21 3 1 17 17 66 −49 10 0.476 OFC
194   Guam 4 0 0 22 3 1 18 11 87 −76 10 0.455 AFC
195   American Samoa 6 0 0 19 3 1 15 11 138 −127 10 0.526 OFC
196   Montserrat 7 0 0 15 2 3 10 19 56 −37 9 0.600 CONCACAF
197   Cayman Islands 8 0 0 22 1 6 15 9 56 −47 9 0.409 CONCACAF
198   Djibouti 6 0 0 25 2 3 20 14 96 −82 9 0.360 CAF
199   Pakistan 10 0 0 40 1 5 34 15 148 −133 8 0.200 AFC
200   São Tomé and Príncipe 6 0 0 14 2 1 11 6 35 −29 7 0.500 CAF
201   Kosovo 2 0 0 18 1 3 14 8 39 −31 6 0.333 UEFA
202   Somalia 8 0 0 17 1 3 13 6 38 −32 6 0.353 CAF
203   Brunei 5 0 0 18 2 0 16 5 74 −69 6 0.333 AFC
204   British Virgin Islands 7 0 0 18 0 5 13 8 61 −53 5 0.278 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 8 0 4 4 3 15 −12 4 0.500 CAF
208   Eritrea 5 0 0 10 0 3 7 4 20 −16 3 0.300 CAF
209   Anguilla 7 0 0 18 0 3 15 3 77 −74 3 0.167 CONCACAF
210   Seychelles 7 0 0 20 0 2 18 8 68 −60 2 0.100 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   Timor-Leste 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

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

Groups

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "Sweden vs Estonia, 11 June 1933, World Cup qualification". eu-football.info. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
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  NODES
Association 1
INTERN 3
Note 7