FIFA World Cup qualification

The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup. The qualification reduces the field of eligible entrants from 211 to 32 for the finals as of the 2022 edition (to be expanded to 48 from 2026 onwards).

"World Cup qualification" and similar terms redirect here. For other uses, see World Cup qualification (disambiguation)
For the ongoing qualifying tournament, see 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.

FIFA World Cup qualification
Founded1934 (1934)
RegionInternational (FIFA)
Number of teams215
Television broadcastersList of broadcasters
WebsiteOfficial website
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Qualifying tournaments are held within FIFA's six continental zones and are 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.

The hosts receive automatic berths, and until 2002, so did the defending champions. Unlike with other sports, results of the previous World Cups or of the continental championships are not taken into account.

The current qualification process is the 2022 qualification, which commenced in 2019 and finishes in 2022.

History

Over many years, the World Cup's qualification has evolved, from having no qualification at all in 1930, when the tournament was invitational and only 13 teams entered, to the current three-year process. The first World Cup qualifying match was played on 11 June 1933 when Sweden defeated Estonia 6–2 in Stockholm. The first ever goal in a World Cup qualifying match was scored 7 minutes into the game: it was scored according to some sources by Swedish captain Knut Kroon, or according to other sources by Estonian goalkeeper Evald Tipner (own goal).

While the number of teams which qualified for the finals has increased steadily, from 16 between 1934 and 1978, to 24 between 1982 and 1994, and finally to 32 starting from 1998, the qualification format has been basically the same throughout the history of the World Cup. The teams have been grouped continentally, and they competed for a fixed number of places, with one or two places awarded to the winners of intercontinental play-offs.

Qualification spots by continent

The table below lists the numbers of spots 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.

"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, with a place in a direct play-off being counted as 0.5 spots and a place in a semi-final play-off (where the winner would then face yet another team for a place in the finals) being counted as 0.25 spots.

Places allocated for continents

1930
[lower-alpha 1]
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998

2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022


2026
Europe 4 inv1211
+H+C		7
+C		11
+H		9[lower-alpha 2]
+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		14
+H		13.5
+C		13
+H		131313
+H		1316
Africa —10[lower-alpha 3]1[lower-alpha 2]0.5111122235555
+H		5559
Asia —1110.511122223.52.5
+2H		4.54.54.54.54.5
+H		8
Oceania N/A[lower-alpha 4]0[lower-alpha 3]0[lower-alpha 3]0[lower-alpha 3]0[lower-alpha 3]0.50.50.250.50.50.50.50.50.50.51
North and Central America
and Caribbean		 2 inv112110.511
+H		1121
+H		21.25
+H		333.53.53.53.53.56
South America H+
6 inv		214
+H		1
+C		33.5
+H+C		3
+C		32.5
+C		2.5
+H		3
+C		42.5
+C		3.54
+C		4.54.54.54.5
+H		4.54.56
Play-off tournament N/A2
Total spots 1316161616243248
Teams in the finals 15[lower-alpha 5]13[lower-alpha 6]
Entered qualification[lower-alpha 7] N/A323432375154696997105107119111145172196197205[lower-alpha 8]203210211[lower-alpha 9]
Played in qualification[lower-alpha 10] 27211933464951689095103110103128168193194199[lower-alpha 8]202208204[lower-alpha 9]
Qualified via qualification 14109131414141414142222222230293131313131
Qualified without playing 13267322222222222311111
Notes
  1. Spots were given by invitation only.
  2. Actually the spots 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. 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. 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. Including host South Africa and non-FIFA member Tuvalu, who participated because other tournaments also served as World Cup qualifiers.
  9. Including host Qatar, who participated because the continental qualification also served as World Cup qualifiers.
  10. Only includes teams that played at least one qualifying match that was not annulled.

First appearance in qualification by team

Only teams that played at least one match are considered for the purposes of first appearance. Teams that withdrew prior to 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[lower-alpha 1]
 Bulgaria
 Czechoslovakia[upper-alpha 1]
 Estonia
 France[lower-alpha 1]
 Germany[upper-alpha 2]
 Greece
 Hungary
 Irish Free State[upper-alpha 3]
 Italy[N 1]
 Lithuania
 Luxembourg
 Netherlands
 Poland
 Portugal
 Romania[lower-alpha 1]
 Spain
 Sweden
  Switzerland
 Yugoslavia[lower-alpha 1][upper-alpha 4]		 none  Cuba
 Haiti
 Mexico[lower-alpha 1]
 United States[lower-alpha 1]		  Palestine, British Mandate[upper-alpha 5]  Egypt[upper-alpha 6] none 27 27

1938		  Finland
 Latvia
 Norway		 none none none none none 3 30

1950		  England
 Ireland[upper-alpha 7]
 Scotland
 Turkey[lower-alpha 2]
 Wales		 none none  Syria none none 6 36  Ireland[upper-alpha 3]
 Israel[upper-alpha 5]

1954		  Saar  Brazil[lower-alpha 3]
 Chile[lower-alpha 4]
 Paraguay[lower-alpha 5]		 none  Japan[lower-alpha 6]
 South Korea		 none none 6 42  Northern Ireland[upper-alpha 7]
 Republic of Ireland[upper-alpha 3]
 West Germany[upper-alpha 2]

1958		  Denmark
 East Germany
 Iceland
 Soviet Union[upper-alpha 8]		  Argentina[lower-alpha 7]
 Bolivia[lower-alpha 5]
 Colombia[lower-alpha 6]
 Peru[lower-alpha 8]
 Uruguay[lower-alpha 9]		  Canada
 Costa Rica[lower-alpha 6]
 Guatemala
 Territory of Curaçao[upper-alpha 9]		  China PR
 Indonesia[lower-alpha 10]		  Sudan none 16 58

1962		  Cyprus[lower-alpha 11]  Ecuador[lower-alpha 12]  Dutch Guiana[lower-alpha 6][upper-alpha 10]
 Honduras		 none  Ethiopia
 Ghana
 Morocco
 Nigeria
 Tunisia		 none 9 67  Netherlands Antilles[upper-alpha 9]

1966		  Albania  Venezuela[lower-alpha 11]  Jamaica
 Trinidad and Tobago		  North Korea none  Australia 6 73

1970		 none none  Bermuda
 El Salvador[lower-alpha 6]		 none  Algeria[lower-alpha 13]
 Cameroon[lower-alpha 13]
 Libya[lower-alpha 13]
 Rhodesia[upper-alpha 11]
 Senegal[lower-alpha 13]
 Zambia		  New Zealand 9 82

1974		  Malta none  Antigua and Barbuda
 Puerto Rico		  Hong Kong
 Iran
 Iraq
 Kuwait
 Malaysia
 South Vietnam[upper-alpha 12]
 Thailand		  Congo
 Dahomey[upper-alpha 13]
 Guinea[lower-alpha 13]
 Ivory Coast
 Kenya
 Lesotho
 Mauritius
 Sierra Leone
 Tanzania
 Togo
 Zaire[upper-alpha 14]		 none 21 103

1978		 none none  Barbados
 Dominican Republic
 Guyana
 Panama		  Bahrain
 Qatar
 Republic of China[lower-alpha 14][upper-alpha 15]
 Saudi Arabia
 Singapore		  Malawi
 Mauritania
 Niger
 Uganda
 Upper Volta[upper-alpha 16]		 none 14 117  Suriname[upper-alpha 10]

1982		 none none  Grenada  Macau  Gambia
 Liberia[lower-alpha 13]
 Madagascar[lower-alpha 15]
 Mozambique
 Somalia		  Fiji 8 125  Chinese Taipei[upper-alpha 15]
 Zimbabwe[upper-alpha 11]

1986		 none none none  Bangladesh
 Brunei
 Jordan
 India[lower-alpha 16]
   Nepal
 North Yemen[upper-alpha 17]
 South Yemen
 United Arab Emirates[lower-alpha 17]		  Angola none 9 134  Benin[upper-alpha 13]

1990		 none none none  Oman[lower-alpha 18]
 Pakistan		  Gabon[lower-alpha 19] none 3 137  Burkina Faso[upper-alpha 16]

1994		  Faroe Islands
 San Marino		 none  Nicaragua
 Saint Lucia
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines		  Lebanon[lower-alpha 20]
 Sri Lanka[lower-alpha 21]		  Botswana
 Burundi
 Namibia
 South Africa
 Swaziland[upper-alpha 18]		  Solomon Islands
 Tahiti
 Vanuatu		 15 152  Germany[upper-alpha 2]
 Representation of Czechs and Slovaks[upper-alpha 1]
 Russia[upper-alpha 8]
 Vietnam[upper-alpha 12]
 Yemen[upper-alpha 17]

1998		  Armenia
 Azerbaijan
 Belarus
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Croatia
 Georgia
 Liechtenstein[lower-alpha 22]
 Macedonia[upper-alpha 19]
 Moldova
 Slovakia
 Slovenia
 Ukraine		 none  Aruba
 Belize
 Cayman Islands
 Dominica
 Saint Kitts and Nevis		  Cambodia
 Kazakhstan
 Kyrgyzstan
 Maldives[lower-alpha 23]
 Philippines[lower-alpha 24]
 Tajikistan
 Turkmenistan
 Uzbekistan		  Guinea-Bissau
 Rwanda[lower-alpha 23]		  Cook Islands
 Papua New Guinea
 Tonga
 Western Samoa[lower-alpha 22][upper-alpha 20]		 31 183  Czech Republic[upper-alpha 1]
 DR Congo[upper-alpha 14]
 FR Yugoslavia[upper-alpha 4]

2002		  Andorra none  Anguilla
 Bahamas[lower-alpha 25]
 British Virgin Islands
 Montserrat
 Turks and Caicos Islands
 U.S. Virgin Islands		  Guam
 Laos
 Mongolia
 Palestine		  Cape Verde
 Central African Republic[lower-alpha 26]
 Chad
 Djibouti
 Equatorial Guinea
 Eritrea
 Mali[lower-alpha 27]
 São Tomé and Príncipe[lower-alpha 22]
 Seychelles		  American Samoa 21 204  Samoa[upper-alpha 20]

2006		 none none none  Afghanistan none  New Caledonia 2 206  Serbia and Montenegro[upper-alpha 4]

2010		  Montenegro none none  Myanmar[lower-alpha 28]
 Timor-Leste		  Comoros  Tuvalu[N 2] 5 211  Serbia[upper-alpha 4]

2014		 none none none none none none 0 211  Curaçao[upper-alpha 9]

2018		  Gibraltar
 Kosovo		 none none  Bhutan[lower-alpha 29]  South Sudan none 4 215

2022		 none none none none none none 0 215  Eswatini[upper-alpha 18]
 North Macedonia[upper-alpha 19]
Teams' entries prior to their actual debuts in qualification
  1. 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. Participated in the 1930 World Cup by invitation. Qualified by walkover for the 1950 finals.
  6. 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. Withdrew from the 1958 qualification before playing.
  12. Withdrew from the 1950 qualification before playing.
  13. 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. Withdrew from the 1994 qualification before playing.
  23. 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. 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. Germany was succeeded from the 1954 qualification by West Germany, which in turn was succeeded by the reunified Germany from the 1994 qualification.
  3. 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. 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. 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. Ireland was succeeded by Northern Ireland from the 1954 qualification.
  8. The Soviet Union was succeeded by Russia from the 1994 qualification.
  9. 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. Dutch Guiana was succeeded by Suriname from the 1978 qualification.
  11. Rhodesia was succeeded by Zimbabwe from the 1982 qualification.
  12. South Vietnam was succeeded by Vietnam from the 1994 qualification.
  13. Dahomey was renamed as Benin from the 1986 qualification.
  14. Zaire was renamed as DR Congo during the 1998 qualification.
  15. The Republic of China became officially known as Chinese Taipei from the 1982 qualification.
  16. Upper Volta was renamed as Burkina Faso from the 1990 qualification.
  17. North Yemen was succeeded by Yemen from the 1994 qualification.
  18. Swaziland was renamed as Eswatini from the 2022 qualification.
  19. Macedonia was renamed as North Macedonia from the 2022 qualification.
  20. 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

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 continental qualifiers (South Africa in 2010 and Qatar in 2022)
\ Was not a FIFA member but took part in qualifiers as they doubled as regional 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 		Current
confederation[upper-roman 1]
 
 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 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 AFC[upper-roman 2]
 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 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 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[lower-roman 1] — — — — — — — — — — 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 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 PR — — — — 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 AFC[upper-roman 3]
 Colombia w — — n Q n n n n n n Q Q Q n n n Q Q n CONMEBOL[upper-roman 4]
 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 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[upper-roman 5]
 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)[lower-roman 2]		 — 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[upper-roman 6]
 Ecuador — — — w — — n n n n n n n n n n Q Q n Q n Q CONMEBOL
 Egypt[lower-roman 3] — Q w — n w w w — n n n n Q n n n n n n Q n CAF[upper-roman 7]
 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 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[upper-roman 8]
 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 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 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[lower-roman 4] 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[upper-roman 9]
 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[upper-roman 10]
 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 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 w — 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 AFC
 Madagascar[lower-roman 5] — — 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[lower-roman 6] — — — — n n n n n n n n n n n n n AFC
 Maldives w — 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 CONCACAF
 Moldova n n n n n n n UEFA
 Mongolia 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 CAF
 Mozambique n — s n n n n n n n n CAF
 Myanmar[lower-roman 7] 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 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 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 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 CONMEBOL
 Peru i w — w w n n n Q n Q Q n n n n n n n n Q 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 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[upper-roman 6]
 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 AFC
 Scotland w Q Q n n n Q Q Q Q Q n Q 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)
 SFR Yugoslavia (1950–1990)
 Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1930–1938)		 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
 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 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[upper-roman 11]
 Spain — Q s Q n n Q Q n n Q H Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q UEFA
 Sri Lanka[lower-roman 8] — — — — — w w — — — 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[upper-roman 12]
 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
 Timor-Leste 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[upper-roman 13]
 Turkmenistan n n n n n n n AFC
 Turks and Caicos Islands n n n n n n CONCACAF
 Tuvalu \ OFC
 U.S. Virgin Islands n n n n n n CONCACAF
 Uganda — — — — n w n n w n n n n n n n CAF
 Ukraine n n Q n n n UEFA
 United Arab Emirates w — n Q 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 CONCACAF
 Uruguay H — — b C n Q Q Q Q n n Q Q n n Q n Q Q Q Q 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 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[upper-roman 14]
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		 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. 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

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.

Key
Team has won the World Cup
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 in the 2022 qualification. The table is updated to the matches played in March 2022.

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 1714171891214127453134+3194042.138CONCACAF
2  Costa Rica 1755186924747308184+1243231.737CONCACAF
3  Australia 1555159943926405124+2813212.019AFC
4  South Korea 15101115194391829990+2093212.126AFC
5  Iran 116614692351931689+2273112.130AFC
6  Argentina 141318153864225262135+1273001.961CONMEBOL
7  Netherlands 191111135892620329101+2282932.170UEFA
8  United States 19911168844044287191+962921.738CONCACAF
9  Spain 19151612587261229181+2102872.296UEFA
10  Portugal 2188149833531284146+1382841.906UEFA
11  England 17141612284271131470+2442792.287UEFA
12  Brazil 13132212782331228075+2052792.197CONMEBOL
13  Sweden 201112141862134280129+1512791.979UEFA
14  Uruguay 171114172774649240186+542771.610CONMEBOL
15  Japan 156713883272830591+2142762.000AFC
16  Serbia
 Serbia and Montenegro
 FR Yugoslavia
 SFR Yugoslavia
 Kingdom of Yugoslavia		 201213136813322287123+1642762.029UEFA
17  Belgium 201314141832731302147+1552761.957UEFA
18  Saudi Arabia 1266136813223266103+1632752.022AFC
19  Czech Republic
 Representation of Czechs and Slovaks
 Czechoslovakia		 2099147793137280126+1542681.823UEFA
20  Germany
 West Germany
 Germany		 1515201048318332874+2542672.567UEFA
21  Russia
 Soviet Union		 16101112580242124681+1652642.112UEFA
22  Italy 17141811878301023472+1622642.237UEFA
23  Honduras 1533164694451262199+632511.530CONCACAF
24  Romania 1857138722937238142+962451.775UEFA
25  Paraguay 1868172693766213215−22441.419CONMEBOL
26  El Salvador 1422160703357260187+732431.519CONCACAF
27   Switzerland 201112140683735220150+702411.721UEFA
28  Colombia 1766170625454200178+222401.412CONMEBOL
29  China PR 121112673203326996+1732391.897AFC
30  Scotland 1998135693036209143+662371.756UEFA
31  France 18121611970262323491+1432361.983UEFA
32  Denmark 1666132673035242144+982311.750UEFA
33  Chile 1669164663365236221+152311.409CONMEBOL
34  Poland 1999128672338260154+1062241.750UEFA
35  Canada 1522137623837215144+712241.635CONCACAF
36  Austria 1987134642941232155+772211.649UEFA
37  Republic of Ireland
 Ireland
 Irish Free State		 2133149584645210177+332201.477UEFA
38  Nigeria 156611262321818584+1012181.946CAF
39  Hungary 1989132632841235176+592171.644UEFA
40  Tunisia 156611262302019286+1062161.929CAF
41  Bulgaria 2077137622946215191+242151.569UEFA
42  Morocco 156611958392217583+922131.790CAF
43  Greece 2033136563347167179−122011.478UEFA
44  Trinidad and Tobago 1511141572955207184+232001.418CONCACAF
45  Ecuador 1644161543869196221−252001.242CONMEBOL
46  Iraq 1211119543233221119+1021941.630AFC
47  Qatar 1201120572340199122+771941.617AFC
48  Cameroon 14889557221615871+871932.032CAF
49  New Zealand 1422101581825239100+1391921.901OFC
50  Egypt 153310157212317694+821921.901CAF
51  Peru 1745167504077183233−501901.138CONMEBOL
52  Guatemala 1600126523242208150+581881.492CONCACAF
53  Turkey 1832139532759204206−21861.338UEFA
54  Uzbekistan 700102541929195104+911811.775AFC
55  Norway 1933136493354185186−11801.324UEFA
56  United Arab Emirates 1011115512341193125+681761.530AFC
57  Northern Ireland
 Ireland		 1933142453958155168−131741.225UEFA
58  Kuwait 131110152163317999+801721.703AFC
59  Israel
 Palestine, British Mandate		 2111132453552189199−101701.288UEFA
60  Zambia 140010247213415397+561621.588CAF
61  Ivory Coast 12338445261315470+841611.917CAF
62  Bolivia 1713168433293200326−1261610.958CONMEBOL
63  Algeria 14449745252715397+561601.649CAF
64  Ghana 14449144252214070+701571.725CAF
65  Syria 1500102442335205120+851551.520AFC
66  Wales 1911129422958167180−131551.202UEFA
67  Croatia 766724320912951+781492.069UEFA
68  Jamaica 1211118393247127154−271491.263CONCACAF
69  Haiti 151195421736165124+411431.505CONCACAF
70  Panama 1211114382650142178−361401.228CONCACAF
71  Ukraine 7117837281311960+591391.782UEFA
72  Oman 9008839212814286+561381.568AFC
73  DR Congo
 Zaire		 11118439202513992+471371.631CAF
74  North Korea 10228339192511677+391361.639AFC
75  Bahrain 11009635283312098+221331.385AFC
76  Finland 2000137352577144297−1531300.949UEFA
77  Slovakia 7117435192012774+531241.676UEFA
78  Senegal 13337132231610661+451191.676CAF
79  Guinea 130081351432119108+111191.469CAF
80  Jordan 10007832163011895+231121.436AFC
81  Iceland 1411116302264128233−1051120.966UEFA
82  Venezuela 14001582826104134348−2141100.696CONMEBOL
83  South Africa 82356329157247+251051.875CAF
84  Angola 1011692724188866+221051.522CAF
85  Slovenia 722722917269480+141041.444UEFA
86  Bosnia and Herzegovina 7116629142312181+401011.530UEFA
87  Burkina Faso
 Upper Volta		 900662913249982+171001.515CAF
88  Thailand 130097262150125165−40991.021AFC
89  Kenya 13007424193181100−19911.230CAF
90  Togo 1111712417307693−17891.254CAF
91  Hong Kong 13008124164195141−46881.086AFC
92  Lebanon 8007223183110398+5871.208AFC
93  Cuba 13017222203092105−13861.194CONCACAF
94  Albania 130011424147684200−116860.754UEFA
95  Zimbabwe
 Rhodesia		 1100692218296784−17841.217CAF
96  Libya 1100622314256769−2831.339CAF
97  Malaysia 13006923133395124−29821.188AFC
98  Gabon 900632312286473−9811.286CAF
99  Latvia 9008521184693144−51810.953UEFA
100  Suriname
 Dutch Guiana		 150069221433106115−9801.159CONCACAF
101  Congo 1000682116317593−18791.162CAF
102  Solomon Islands 8005723925118121−3781.368OFC
103  North Macedonia
 Macedonia		 7007220153795115−20751.042UEFA
104  East Germany 91147228178765+22741.574defunct
105  Singapore 12007621114481143−62740.974AFC
106  Indonesia
 Dutch East Indies		 13017919174392170−78740.937AFC
107  Fiji 100056211025114105+9731.304OFC
108  Mali 600481913166153+8701.458CAF
109  Lithuania 10008118164763130−67700.864UEFA
110  Sudan 13007216213564114−50690.958CAF
111  Curaçao
 Netherlands Antilles
 Territory of Curaçao		 17006616203069119−50681.030CONCACAF
112  Liberia 1000661812364794−47661.000CAF
113  Turkmenistan 70046205217270+2651.413AFC
114  Malawi 1100661617335995−36650.985CAF
115  Uganda 1000481712194459−15631.312CAF
116  Estonia 10008417125574187−113630.750UEFA
117  Cyprus 160012416159391320−229630.508UEFA
118  New Caledonia 50038188128946+43621.632OFC
119  Tajikistan 70044178197767+10591.341AFC
120  Tahiti 80045178206785−18591.311OFC
121  Bermuda 800401610148358+25581.450CONCACAF
122  Vietnam
 South Vietnam		 900591763664105−41570.966AFC
123  Benin
 Dahomey		 90050168265193−42561.120CAF
124  Armenia 7007213174261142−81560.778UEFA
125  Belarus 7006614124068121−53540.818UEFA
126  Cape Verde 60040165194252−10531.325CAF
127  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 800621583980186−106530.855CONCACAF
128  Montenegro 400401313146158+3521.300UEFA
129  Yemen
 North Yemen		 1000581313325898−40520.897AFC
130  Antigua and Barbuda 110046156257298−26511.109CONCACAF
131  Saint Kitts and Nevis 70036148147262+10501.389CONCACAF
132  Kyrgyzstan 70039155195761−4501.282AFC
133  Georgia 7006411173657101−44500.781UEFA
134  Kazakhstan 7006812144276148−72500.735UEFA
135  Madagascar 100042139204960−11481.143CAF
136  India 900511115254994−45480.941AFC
137  Ethiopia 1200491114245273−21470.959CAF
138  Namibia 800501211274693−47470.940CAF
139  Sierra Leone 110047129264172−31450.957CAF
140  Palestine 60034127155846+12431.265AFC
141  Dominican Republic 90033126155054−4421.273CONCACAF
142  Mozambique 90042119223558−23421.000CAF
143  Tanzania 100041914184360−17411.000CAF
144  Vanuatu 70037123227689−13391.054OFC
145  Niger 80036116194065−25391.083CAF
146  Barbados 90041116243876−38390.951CONCACAF
147  Bangladesh 1000581084037141−104380.655AFC
148  Botswana 70036106203353−20361.000CAF
149  Azerbaijan 700667154434122−88360.545UEFA
150  Rwanda 70044810264163−22340.773CAF
151  Luxembourg 210014281012477451−374340.239UEFA
152  Papua New Guinea 5002696114841+7331.269OFC
153  Faroe Islands 80080886441207−166320.400UEFA
154  Belize 7002986153759−22301.034CONCACAF
155  Guyana 11003886244089−49300.789CONCACAF
156  Maldives 70040932843140−97300.750AFC
157  Equatorial Guinea 6002885152542−17291.036CAF
158  Nicaragua 8002591153545−10281.120CONCACAF
159  Puerto Rico 10002977153257−25280.966CONCACAF
160  Samoa
 Western Samoa		 6002691163788−51281.077OFC
161  Moldova 700685135040145−105280.412UEFA
162  Grenada 8002983185159−8270.931CONCACAF
163  Burundi 7002275101928−9261.182CAF
164  Philippines 5002975172868−40260.897AFC
165  Gambia 9002666142139−18240.923CAF
166  Saint Lucia 7002471163262−30220.917CONCACAF
167  Tonga 6002271142382−59221.000OFC
168    Nepal 80038642827122−95220.579AFC
169  Chinese Taipei
 Republic of China		 120066645639234−195220.333AFC
170  Malta 13001123129742330−288210.188UEFA
171  Chad 6001862101626−10201.111CAF
172  Guinea-Bissau 700204791631−15190.950CAF
173  Mongolia 6002461171775−58190.792AFC
174  Sri Lanka 8003946292699−73180.462AFC
175  Eswatini
 Swaziland		 8002145121641−25170.810CAF
176  Dominica 7002445152058−38170.708CONCACAF
177  Myanmar 4002252151773−56170.773AFC
178  Aruba 7002051142661−35160.800CONCACAF
179  Lesotho 80026210141552−37160.615CAF
180  Bahamas 6001844102058−38160.889CONCACAF
181  Afghanistan 5002244141560−45160.727AFC
182  Cambodia 60036442822135−113160.444AFC
183  Andorra 60062435522186−164150.242UEFA
184  Macau 100037423116168−152140.378AFC
185  Laos 50028342123125−102130.464AFC
186  Liechtenstein 70070276125219−194130.186UEFA
187  Mauritania 7002225151542−27110.500CAF
188  Cook Islands 6002031161663−47100.500OFC
189  Guam 3002031161084−74100.500AFC
190  American Samoa 50018311411136−125100.556OFC
191  Montserrat 600132381749−3290.692CONCACAF
192  Bhutan 20012309958−4990.750AFC
193  U.S. Virgin Islands 600193016895−8790.474CONCACAF
194  Central African Republic 4001622121230−1880.500CAF
195  Djibouti 5002122171286−7480.381CAF
196  São Tomé and Príncipe 50010217525−2070.700CAF
197  Somalia 70013139329−2660.462CAF
198  Kosovo 200181314839−3160.333UEFA
199  Mauritius 8002013161452−3860.300CAF
200  Cayman Islands 700200614853−4560.300CONCACAF
201  Brunei 400162014562−5760.375AFC
202  Saar 100411248−441.000defunct
203  Comoros 40010046521−1640.400CAF
204  Pakistan 90032042813122−10940.125AFC
205  Eritrea 50010037420−1630.300CAF
206  British Virgin Islands 600140311753−4630.214CONCACAF
207  Turks and Caicos Islands 600131012668−6230.231CONCACAF
208  South Sudan 200402227−520.500CAF
209  Seychelles 600160214646−4020.125CAF
210  San Marino 80076027412356−34420.026UEFA
211  South Yemen 100201147−310.500defunct
212  Tuvalu 1004013222−2010.250OFC
213  Anguilla 600140113264−6210.071CONCACAF
214  Timor-Leste 400160016680−7400.000AFC
215  Gibraltar 200200020790−8300.000UEFA

Current format

Until 2022, 32 places are available in the final tournament. One of them is reserved for the host nation, but if two or more nations co-host the competition, each is awarded a place.

From 1934 to 2002, one berth was reserved for the winners of the previous World Cup, but in November 2001, FIFA announced that the defending champion would no longer get automatic entry to the subsequent tournament, starting with the 2006 finals. This decision was made to address the issue of the returning champions being at a disadvantage to their fellow competitors due to having not played a competitive match in the previous two years.[1]

The problem was amply demonstrated at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, as returning champions France tumbled out in the first round, finishing bottom of their group without scoring a single goal. 2002 winner Brazil qualified for 2006 at the top of their qualifiers group, but Italy, defending champions from 2006, finished bottom of their group in 2010, despite playing in the qualifying matches. In 2014, 2010 champions Spain finished third in their group and failed to advance to the round of 16, despite having qualified as first in their group. 2014 winners Germany also failed to make it out of their group in 2018, finishing bottom, despite winning all of their qualifying matches. They were the third consecutive World Cup winners to go out in the first round at the following tournament.

FIFA decides beforehand the number of spots awarded to each of the continental zones. For the 2022 World Cup, the following numbers were used:[2]

  • UEFA (Europe)[n 1] – 13 berths
  • CAF (Africa) – 5 berths
  • AFC (Asia) [n 2] – 4 berths, plus the host Qatar
  • CONMEBOL (South America) – 4 berths
  • CONCACAF (North and Central America and Caribbean)[n 3] – 3 berths
  • 2 berths for the winners of intercontinental play-offs between the best team from the OFC (Oceania), as well as additional teams from the AFC, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF. The pairings for these play-offs were determined by an open draw.

The number of berths allocated per continent is widely debated, with the main point of contention being the extent to which berths should be allocated to regions based on sheer population vs. talent. A historically weaker continent, Africa has called for more places, as they are allocated only five in comparison to Europe's 13.[3]

In early October 2016, it was announced that the World Cup would have featured 40 teams starting with the 2026 tournament,[4] then FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated his support for a 48-team World Cup,[5] mainly to address African concerns. On 10 January 2017, the FIFA Council voted unanimously to expand the World Cup to a 48 team tournament that will open with a group stage consisting of 16 groups of three teams, with two teams progressing from each group to a knockout tournament starting with a round of 32.[6] The new format for the qualifying process has yet to be confirmed, other than a play-off tournament that consists of one team from each confederation (except UEFA) and one additional team from the confederation of the host country for the last two World Cup berths.[7]

These numbers vary slightly between tournaments (see above).

Qualification in all zones ends at approximately the same time, in September–November of the year preceding the finals. For 2022, qualification will end in September, three months preceding the Qatar tournament.

The formats of the qualification tournaments differ between confederations and over time. The systems used in 2022 are outlined below.

Africa

The CAF qualification process reverted to the format used for the 2014 qualification. It began with one preliminary round to narrow the field of the 28 entrants with the worst FIFA Rankings to 14 teams in September 2019.

The group stage consisted of 10 groups of four, the 14 teams from the first round and top 26 teams based on FIFA Rankings, with the group winners advancing to the two-legged, home-and-away third round. The five winners of that round advance to the World Cup. In the 2022 FIFA Qualifiers edition organized by CAF the team that qualified are Senegal, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia and Cameroon.

Asia

Qualifying was altered significantly from the 2014 method, with changes to the structure of the preliminary rounds – which were held before the AFC's main draw. One home-and-away preliminary round reduced the 12 weakest entrants to six, which then joined the 34 strongest sides in eight groups of five, with the winners and 4 best runners-up advancing to the final group stage, comprising two 6-team groups. As Qatar was among the group winners, only the seven other group winners advanced and the fifth-best group runners-up entered in Qatar's place. The winners and runners-up of the two final groups of six advance to the World Cup with the two third-placed sides playing off for the right to play in an inter-confederation play-off for a final World Cup spot. The first two rounds also acted as the qualifiers for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

A total of 24 teams eliminated from World Cup qualification in the second round compete in the third round of 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification (which is separate from the third round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification), where they will be divided into six groups of four teams and compete for the remaining slots of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The 24 teams consist of the 22 highest-to-lowest-ranked teams eliminated in the second round, and the two teams that advanced from the play-off round of 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification which were contested by the remaining 4 teams eliminated in the second round.[8]

Europe

The European qualification was changed from the 2010 to 2018 systems. The 55 national teams were divided into five groups of six teams and five groups of five, with the group winners qualifying directly to the finals. Since 2014, the World Cup qualification in Europe and the European Championships qualification are organised by UEFA under the single brand of UEFA European Qualifiers.

The introduction of the new UEFA Nations League partly changed the qualifying format. Two teams based on the Nations League overall ranking that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group joined the group runners-up to make it 12 teams drawn into three paths, playing two rounds of single-match ties in each path (semi-finals and final, with the home teams to be drawn), for the remaining three places.[9][10]

North and Central America and Caribbean

The 2022 CONCACAF qualification process changed significantly from the 2018 qualification cycle. There were two separate preliminary group stages, one containing the five highest-ranked teams and another for the 29 lowest-ranked teams, based on the July 2020 FIFA rankings. The first round had the remaining 29 teams divided into six groups of five teams. The winners of each group advanced to a knockout phase that was played in a two-legged home-and-away series. The three knockout phase winners advanced to the third round which had eight teams involved, five of which already qualified due to the July 2020 rankings, to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top three teams advance to the World Cup finals, while the fourth-placed side will enter the inter-continental play-offs.

Oceania

Qualification in Oceania was finalised to be played in the World Cup host country, Qatar: The two lowest-ranked OFC teams in the November 2021 rankings were to play a qualifying match that was cancelled, from which the remaining team entered the first stage that has two groups of four teams each. The top two in each group advance to the second stage where four teams contest a knockout phase, to be played in a one-legged series. The two semi-final winners enter a single-match final. The winner of this final advances to an inter-confederation play-off for a World Cup spot.

South America

As in the previous qualification series CONMEBOL qualification consists of a single group of all entrants. Unlike qualifying tournaments where the fixtures were pre-determined as applied until the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, the fixtures were determined by a draw held on 17 December 2019.[11]

The top four teams from the 10-team group advance to the World Cup finals, while the fifth placed team enters an inter-confederation play-off for a World Cup spot.

Intercontinental play-offs

Like the previous 2018 tournament, the pairings for the two play-offs were determined by an open draw on 26 November 2021. But for the first time and on a neutral ground, intercontinental play-offs are played as single-leg ties.

Qualification tournament rules

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

Groups

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

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.

Simple summary
As of 15 April 2022
Number Team Part Pld W D L GF GA GD Points
1  Mexico 171891214127453134+319404
2  Costa Rica 17186924747308184+124323
3  Australia 15159943926405124+281321
4  South Korea 1515194391829990+209321
5  Iran 1114692351931689+227311
6  Argentina 14153864225262135+127300
7  Netherlands 19135892620329101+228293
8  United States 19168844044287191+96292
9  Spain 1912587261229181+210287
10  Portugal 21149833531284146+138284
11  England 1712284271131470+244279
12  Brazil 1312782331228075+205279
13  Sweden 20141862134280129+151279
14  Uruguay 17172774649240186+54277
15  Japan 1513883272830591+214276
16  Serbia 20136813322287123+164276
17  Belgium 20141832731302147+155276
18  Saudi Arabia 12136813223266103+163275
19  Czech Republic 20147793137280126+154268
20  Germany 151048318332874+254267
21  Russia 1612580242124681+165264
22  Italy 1711878301023472+162264
23  Honduras 15164694451262199+63251
24  Romania 18138722937238142+96245
25  Paraguay 18172693766213215−2244
26  El Salvador 14160703357260187+73243
27   Switzerland 20140683735220150+70241
28  Colombia 17170625454200178+22240
29  China PR 1212673203326996+173239
30  Scotland 19135693036209143+66237
31  France 1811970262323491+143236
32  Denmark 16132673035242144+98231
33  Chile 16164663365236221+15231
34  Poland 19128672338260154+106224
35  Canada 15137623837215144+71224
36  Austria 19134642941232155+77221
37  Republic of Ireland 21149584645210177+33220
38  Nigeria 1511262321818584+101218
39  Hungary 19132632841235176+59217
40  Tunisia 1511262302019286+106216
41  Bulgaria 20137622946215191+24215
42  Morocco 1511958392217583+92213
43  Greece 20136563347167179−12201
44  Trinidad and Tobago 15141572955207184+23200
45  Ecuador 16161543869196221−25200
46  Iraq 12119543233221119+102194
47  Qatar 12120572340199122+77194
48  Cameroon 149557221615871+87193
49  New Zealand 14101581825239100+139192
50  Egypt 1510157212317694+82192
51  Peru 17167504077183233−50190
52  Guatemala 16126523242208150+58188
53  Turkey 18139532759204206−2186
54  Uzbekistan 7102541929195104+91181
55  Norway 19136493354185186−1180
56  United Arab Emirates 10115512341193125+68176
57  Northern Ireland 19142453958155168−13174
58  Kuwait 1310152163317999+80172
59  Israel 21132453552189199−10170
60  Zambia 1410247213415397+56162
61  Ivory Coast 128445261315470+84161
62  Bolivia 17168433293200326−126161
63  Algeria 149745252715397+56160
64  Ghana 149144252214070+70157
65  Syria 15102442335205120+85155
66  Wales 19129422958167180−13155
67  Croatia 7724320912951+78149
68  Jamaica 12118393247127154−27149
69  Haiti 1595421736165124+41143
70  Panama 12114382650142178−36140
71  Ukraine 77837281311960+59139
72  Oman 98839212814286+56138
73  DR Congo 118439202513992+47137
74  North Korea 108339192511677+39136
75  Bahrain 119635283312098+22133
76  Finland 20137352577144297−153130
77  Slovakia 77435192012774+53124
78  Senegal 137132231610661+45119
79  Guinea 1381351432119108+11119
80  Jordan 107832163011895+23112
81  Iceland 14116302264128233−105112
82  Venezuela 141582826104134348−214110
83  South Africa 856329157247+25105
84  Angola 10692724188866+22105
85  Slovenia 7722917269480+14104
86  Bosnia and Herzegovina 76629142312181+40101
87  Burkina Faso 9662913249982+17100
88  Thailand 1397262150125165−4099
89  Kenya 137424193181100−1991
90  Togo 11712417307693−1789
91  Hong Kong 138124164195141−4688
92  Lebanon 87223183110398+587
93  Cuba 137222203092105−1386
94  Albania 1311424147684200−11686
95  Zimbabwe 11692218296784−1784
96  Libya 11622314256769−283
97  Malaysia 136923133395124−2982
98  Gabon 9632312286473−981
99  Latvia 98521184693144−5181
100  Suriname 1569221433106115−980
101  Congo 10682116317593−1879
102  Solomon Islands 85723925118121−378
103  North Macedonia 77220153795115−2075
104  East Germany 947228178765+2274
105  Singapore 127621114481143−6274
106  Indonesia 137919174392170−7874
107  Fiji 1056211025114105+973
108  Mali 6481913166153+870
109  Lithuania 108118164763130−6770
110  Sudan 137216213564114−5069
111  Curaçao 176616203069119−5068
112  Liberia 10661812364794−4766
113  Turkmenistan 746205217270+265
114  Malawi 11661617335995−3665
115  Uganda 10481712194459−1563
116  Estonia 108417125574187−11363
117  Cyprus 1612416159391320−22963
118  New Caledonia 538188128946+4362
119  Tajikistan 744178197767+1059
120  Tahiti 845178206785−1859
121  Bermuda 8401610148358+2558
122  Vietnam 9591763664105−4157
123  Benin 950168265193−4256
124  Armenia 77213174261142−8156
125  Belarus 76614124068121−5354
126  Cape Verde 640165194252−1053
127  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8621583980186−10653
128  Montenegro 4401313146158+352
129  Yemen 10581313325898−4052
130  Antigua and Barbuda 1146156257298−2651
131  Saint Kitts and Nevis 736148147262+1050
132  Kyrgyzstan 739155195761−450
133  Georgia 76411173657101−4450
134  Kazakhstan 76812144276148−7250
135  Madagascar 1042139204960−1148
136  India 9511115254994−4548
137  Ethiopia 12491114245273−2147
138  Namibia 8501211274693−4747
139  Sierra Leone 1147129264172−3145
140  Palestine 634127155846+1243
141  Dominican Republic 933126155054−442
142  Mozambique 942119223558−2342
143  Tanzania 1041914184360−1741
144  Vanuatu 737123227689−1339
145  Niger 836116194065−2539
146  Barbados 941116243876−3839
147  Bangladesh 10581084037141−10438
148  Botswana 736106203353−2036
149  Azerbaijan 7667154434122−8836
150  Rwanda 744810264163−2234
151  Luxembourg 2114281012477451−37434
152  Papua New Guinea 52696114841+733
153  Faroe Islands 880886441207−16632
154  Belize 72986153759−2230
155  Guyana 113886244089−4930
156  Maldives 740932843140−9730
157  Equatorial Guinea 62885152542−1729
158  Nicaragua 82591153545−1028
159  Puerto Rico 102977153257−2528
160  Samoa 62691163788−5128
161  Moldova 7685135040145−10528
162  Grenada 82983185159−827
163  Burundi 72275101928−926
164  Philippines 52975172868−4026
165  Gambia 92666142139−1824
166  Saint Lucia 72471163262−3022
167  Tonga 62271142382−5922
168    Nepal 838642827122−9522
169  Chinese Taipei 1266645639234−19522
170  Malta 131123129742330−28821
171  Chad 61862101626−1020
172  Guinea-Bissau 7204791631−1519
173  Mongolia 62461171775−5819
174  Sri Lanka 83946292699−7318
175  Eswatini 82145121641−2517
176  Dominica 72445152058−3817
177  Myanmar 42252151773−5617
178  Aruba 72051142661−3516
179  Lesotho 826210141552−3716
180  Bahamas 61844102058−3816
181  Afghanistan 52244141560−4516
182  Cambodia 636442822135−11316
183  Andorra 662435522186−16415
184  Macau 1037423116168−15214
185  Laos 528342123125−10213
186  Liechtenstein 770276125219−19413
187  Mauritania 72225151542−2711
188  Cook Islands 62031161663−4710
189  Guam 32031161084−7410
190  American Samoa 518311411136−12510
191  Montserrat 6132381749−329
192  Bhutan 212309958−499
193  U.S. Virgin Islands 6193016895−879
194  Central African Republic 41622121230−188
195  Djibouti 52122171286−748
196  São Tomé and Príncipe 510217525−207
197  Somalia 713139329−266
198  Kosovo 2181314839−316
199  Mauritius 82013161452−386
200  Cayman Islands 7200614853−456
201  Brunei 4162014562−576
202  Saar 1411248−44
203  Comoros 410046521−164
204  Pakistan 932042813122−1094
205  Eritrea 510037420−163
206  British Virgin Islands 6140311753−463
207  Turks and Caicos Islands 6131012668−623
208  South Sudan 2402227−52
209  Seychelles 6160214646−402
210  San Marino 876027412356−3442
211  South Yemen 1201147−31
212  Tuvalu 14013222−201
213  Anguilla 6140113264−621
214  Timor-Leste 4160016680−740
215  Gibraltar 2200020790−830

Simple summary (top 20)
As of 15 April 2022
Number Team Pld GD Points
1  Mexico 189+319404
2  Costa Rica 186+124323
3  Australia 159+281321
4  South Korea 151+209321
5  Iran 146+227311
6  Argentina 153+127300
7  Netherlands 135+228293
8  United States 168+96292
9  Spain 125+210287
10  Portugal 149+138284
11  England 122+244279
12  Brazil 127+205279
13  Sweden 141+151279
14  Uruguay 172+54277
15  Japan 138+214276
16  Serbia 136+164276
17  Belgium 141+155276
18  Saudi Arabia 136+163275
19  Czech Republic 147+154268
20  Germany 104+254267

Top scorers (1934-2022)
As of 15 April 2022
Number Name Goals Matches
1 Carlos Ruiz 39 47
2 Cristiano Ronaldo 36 47
3 Ali Daei 35 51
4 Robert Lewandowski 30 37
5 Luis Suárez 29 62
6 Lionel Messi 28 60
7 Karim Bagheri 28 29
8 Kazu Miura 27 25
9 Andriy Shevchenko 26 40
10 Edin Džeko 25 37
11 Carlos Pavón 25 37
12 Tim Cahill 25 37
13 Jared Borgetti 23 24
14 Marcelo Martins 22 58
15 Sardar Azmoun 21 28
16 Ali Mabkhout 21 29
17 Paulo Wanchope 21 37
18 Archie Thompson 20 16
19 Stern John 20 49
20 Chris Wood 20 25

See also

Notes
  1. The notation used in the logo for the qualifiers is "European Qualifiers"
  2. The notation used in the logo for the qualifiers is "AFC Asian Qualifiers"
  3. The notation used in the logo for the qualifiers is "CONCACAF Qualifiers"

References
  1. "Fifa makes major policy shift". BBC News. 30 November 2001.
  2. "Current allocation of FIFA World Cup confederation slots maintained" (Press release). FIFA. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
  3. "Africa calls for FIFA to increase World Cup places". Ahram Online. Reuters. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  4. "New Fifa chief backs 48-team World Cup". heraldlive. 7 October 2016. It's an idea, just as the World Cup with 40 teams is already on the table with groups of four or five teams.
  5. "World Cup could expand to 48 teams, Fifa's Gianni Infantino suggests". The Guardian. 3 October 2016.
  6. "Fifa approves Infantino's plan to expand World Cup to 48 teams from 2026". The Guardian. 10 January 2017.
  7. "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017.
  8. "Line-up for AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers Final Round unveiled". AFC. 16 June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021.
  9. "Game changer: group stage for UEFA Women's Champions League". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  10. "2022 World Cup qualifying: all you need to know". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  11. "FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers: draws to take centre stage in South America and Africa". FIFA. 11 December 2019.
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