World Cup qualifiers: The 22nd edition of the world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Qatar this year. Despite various controversies surrounding the event, the excitement has not really been disturbed.
32 teams across the world would compete for the ultimate prize in International football, starting this November. However, only 15 of those teams have sealed their spot in the event. With the remaining 17 spots still up for grabs.
World Cup qualifiers: Everything you need to know
15 teams that have already qualified
Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
Croatia
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Iran
Netherlands
Qatar
Serbia
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
Europe (UEFA)
Total number of spots: 13
Already qualified: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland
Remaining spots: 3
Winners of finals from three different paths. With each path consisting of four teams each.
Click here for Matches.
South America (CONMEBOL)
Total number of spots: 4-5
Already qualified: Argentina, Brazil
Remaining spots: 2+1(through inter-confederation play-offs)
The top four teams at the end of the round-robin qualifiers will qualify directly, while the fifth-placed finishers enter an inter-continental playoff.
Argentina and Brazil have already qualified while Ecuador is assured of at least inter-confederation play-offs. While the remaining spots are open to Uruguay, Perú, Chile, Colombia. Bolivia can mathematically, however, enter the inter-confederation play-offs.
Matches:
March 24
Uruguay v Peru
Colombia v BoliviaUEFA
Brazil v Chile
Paraguay v Ecuador
March 25
Argentina v Venezuela
North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF)
Total number of spots: 3-4
Remaining spots: 3+1(through inter-confederation play-offs)
The top three positioned teams (currently USA, Mexico and Canada) will qualify directly. With the 4th place team having to go through inter-confederation play-offs.
Matches:
March 24
Jamaica v El Salvador
March 25
Panama v Honduras
Mexico v USA
Costa Rica v Canada
Africa (CAF)
Total number of spots: 5
Remaining spots: 5. Winners of two-legged ties between the below-mentioned teams will seal a direct spot in Qatar.
Matches:
March 25
DR Congo v Morocco
Cameroon v Algeria
Mali v Tunisia
Egypt v Senegal
Ghana v Nigeria
Asia (AFC)
Number of spots: 5-6 (Excluding hosts, Qatar)
Already qualified: Iran, South Korea
Remaining spots: 3+1(through inter-confederation play-offs). The top two teams from Group B will qualify along with Iran and South Korea (top two teams in Group A) directly. While thyroid place teams from both groups will compete in a single match in the 4th round.
Matches:
March 24
Australia v Japan
South Korea v Iran
Lebanon v Syria
Vietnam v Oman
China v Saudi Arabia
Iraq v UAE
Oceania (OFC)
Number of spots: 1 (through inter-confederation play-offs).
Matches:
March 24
Solomon Islands v Tahiti
New Zealand v New Caledonia
Fiji v Papua New Guinea
March 27 Semi-Finals
Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B
Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A
March 30
Winner semi-final 1 vs Winner semi-final 2
