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| World football is split into six confederations, which look after football in various continental regions. |
Uefa (Europe)
CAF (Africa)
AFC (Asia)
OFC (Oceania)
Conmebol (South America)
Concacaf (North and Central America)
Each of the six send teams to the World Cup after holding their own qualifying competitions.
Click on the links below - or to the right - to see the full results from every match on the road to the finals.
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AFRICA
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First round: Home and away knockout ties involving 50 teams.
Second round: 25 first round winners drawn in five groups of five. Group winners qualify for World Cup.
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ASIA
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| First round: 10 groups of four teams each. Group winners qualify for second round. |
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Second round: Two groups of five teams. Group winners qualify for World Cup. Runners-up qualify for third round.
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Third round and Euro play-off: Home and away play-off between group runners-up. Winners qualify for play-off with European team.
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Euro/Asian play-off: Home and away play-off between third round winners and one European group runner-up.
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EUROPE
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| First round: Nine groups of five or six teams each. Group winners qualify for World Cup. Runners-up qualify for play-offs |
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Play-offs: Nine European runners-up and winner of europen play-off compete in home and away fixtures.
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NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
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| Caribbean zone: Three groups of eight play knockout matches. Three winners qualify for semi-final round. Runners-up into play-offs. |
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Central American zone: Two groups of three, winners into semi-final round. Runners-up into play-offs.
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Play-offs: Canada plays Group 1 runner-up. Group 2 and 3 runners-up play Group A and B runners-up, all for place in semi-final round.
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Semi-final round: Three groups of four, including four automatic qualifiers - Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico and the United States. Top two teams in each group go to final round.
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Final round: Top three teams qualify for World Cup.
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SOUTH AMERICA
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| Qualifying tournament: One league, 10 teams. Top four qualify for World Cup. Fifth-placed team qualifies for play-off. |
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Play-off: Fifth-placed team plays winner of Oceania section.
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