by Kevin R Newell

Created on: February 06, 2009

How Nations Qualify for the FIFA World Cup

The qualification process for the FIFA World Cup is not a straight forward process and it changes nearly every time a new world cup is due to be held. The reasons its not so straight forward and simple is there are a number of different confederations spilt across the globe, separating the nations into their continents. These confederations are as follows and the number of nations that can progress from the qualifying stage to appear at the finals.

AFC Asian Football Confederation Covers whole of Asia and Australia.

4 nations will claim a place into the finals. There are 4 rounds for the nations to negotiated before they can stand any chance of qualifying. Round 1 sees 34 teams compete in a two legged play off with the winners going to the second round. The 11 highest ranked nations get a bye to the 3rd round with the last 8 going into round 2 for a two legged play off. Again only the winners go into the 3rd round group stages. The 3rd round entertains 5 groups of 4 with only the top two nations going through to the 4th and final stage. The 4th and final round will have 2 groups of 5 nations with the top 2 from each group going straight to the World Cup Finals and the two 3rd place nations will play a two legged play off game to decide who plays the winner of the Oceania confederation. They then play a final play-off game over two legs to decide the last nation to go to the finals.

CAF Confederation Africaine de Football Covers all African nations.

5 Nations can progress through the 3 rounds. Round 1 being 3 games where only the winner can progress to the second round group stages. In the second round there are 12 groups of four, with only 20 teams from these groups going into the 3rd and final group qualifying round. The top two teams from 8 of the groups will go through with the last 4 groups only the top side will progress. This leaves the final round where there are 5 groups of 4 and only the top side from each group will reach the World Cup Finals.

CONCACAF Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football Covers all North & Central America and Caribbean nations.

3 nations will automatically progress to the finals if the finish in the top 3 of the final group. There are 4 rounds in this confederation with round 1 consisting of 11 two legged games with the winners progressing into the second round along with 13 nations who has received a bye. In the 2nd round again they enter into a two legged

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