World Cup qualifiers
International soccer elimination
World Cup qualifiers are the competitive matches that determine which national teams advance to the FIFA World Cup finals.
Since only 32 teams (expanding to 48) compete in the tournament proper, most nations must earn their place through regional qualifying rounds: England's World Cup qualifiers begin in September.
The matches are played over months or years before each World Cup, with different confederations using various formats—some with group stages, others with knockout rounds or playoffs.
- qualifiersWords limiting scope
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
- group stageTournament's initial round-robin
- group of deathExceptionally competitive tournament bracket
- FIFAInternational soccer authority
national team · away goals · knockout · away leg · aggregate · draw · fixtures · standings · points · goal difference · seeding · anthem · stadium · caps · squad · manager · pitch · nil-nil
- International SoccerUEFA Euro, Copa America, Champions League, European Championship, national teams
- FIFA soccerCopa America, group stage, round of 16, quarterfinal, quarterfinals
- CONCACAFMexico, United States, USA, Canada, Costa Rica
- every four yearsleap year, Summer Olympics, Olympic Games, US election, presidential election
- Asian FootballAFC, J-League, A-League, Persepolis
- South American FootballSantos, Corinthians, Vasco da Gama, Bolivar, Bahia