Weighing up who will play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup

by Khaya South Africa
Apr 9, 2017
3 min read

The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification process is interestingly poised at the halfway stage for some confederations, with 30 of the 32 teams which will play in Russia still to be decided.

Brazil were the first country to book their place for the global showpiece, after their 3-0 win over Paraguay in late March 2017, joining the hosts as the only two confirmed participants so far.

The CONMEBOL group phase holds 10 nations. With Canarinho already qualified on 33 points from 14 games, only four points separate second-placed Colombia and sixth-placed Ecuador, so competition for the remaining places will be fierce.

Third-placed Uruguay, and Chile in fourth, are equal on 23 points. However, La Celeste boast a superior goal difference.

With two games remaining, Argentina are in fifth out of the automatic qualification spots, but are in the inter-confederation play-off place. This after falling to a shock 2-0 defeat to Bolivia in the absence of Lionel Messi, who is serving a four-match ban for insulting an assistant referee.

In Asia, Iran are leading group A of the qualifiers, with Japan on top of group B. South Korea and Saudi Arabia are the two second-place teams in each group - and are strong favourites for eventual qualification.

Uzbekistan and Australia still have an outside chance of qualifying, but will have to progress through a fourth round if they are to book their trips to Russia.

The groups in Africa are evenly poised at the moment, with two games played. Only one team of each CAF group qualifies for the 2018 World Cup.

DR Congo and Tunisia are both on six points in group A, while Guinea and Libya are yet to register a single point.

In group B, Nigeria look strong favourites on the back of maximum points from their opening two fixtures.

They lead African Champions Cameroon by four points.

Ivory Coast currently top group C with four points, but close behind them are Herve Renard's powerful Morocco side, with two points - and Gabon in third place, also with two points.

In group D, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Senegal are in a three-way race. The Stallions and Bafana Bafana are first and second, respectively, with four points each - and Senegal third with three points.

Within the final group, Egypt are strong favourites to qualify for their first World Cup since 1990. The giants of African football lead group E with six points, while Uganda are close behind with four. Ghana have only registered one point so far.

CONCACAF has its usual suspects. Mexico are the early pace-setters, with 10 points from four games, while Costa Rica in second, hold seven points.

Panama may be in third, with five points, but the United State of America are widely expected to improve and take one of the qualification spots, rather than settle for the fourth-placed inter-confederation play-offs.

OFC has sprung no surprises, with New Zealand romping towards yet another final qualification after winning group A. They look set to meet group B leaders Tahiti for a spot against the fifth-placed CONMEBOL side later this year.

In Europe, 14 teams are set to qualify from the nine UEFA groups:

In group A, France are runaway favourites, with Sweden in second looking to secure the second round play-offs tie. Les Blue have 13 points after five games, while the Swedes trail by three.

2010 World Cup finalists, Netherlands sacked coach Danny Blind after a 2-0 loss to Bulgaria recently, with the Oranje now in fourth place, six points behind Didier Deschamps' outfit.

Group B looks to be a race between Switzerland and European champions Portugal for first and second place. The Swiss currently hold the edge with 15 points, three ahead of the Cristiano Ronaldo-led side.

Reigning World Cup champions Germany are favourites in group C, with Northern Ireland in second place, but a full five points behind.

Within group D and E, it's a bit closer. Serbia and Poland hold first place in their respective groups. The Republic of Ireland are level with the Serbs in group D, while third-placed Wales and fourth-placed Austria have picked up seven points each.

Montenegro and Denmark are fighting it out for second place in group E, with seven points each, as Robert Lewandowski's side hold 13 points at the top.

The rest of the groups - F, G, H and I - are led by England, Spain, Belgium and Croatia, respectively.

European giants Italy are equal with La Roja in group G, with 13 points, which ranks them as the current best runner-up for the second round play-offs.

Portugal, Greece and Ireland complete the top-four of the runners-up rankings, while Sweden, Northern Ireland, Iceland and Slovakia make up the rest of the eight runners-up.

At the end of the group stages, the eight second-placed sides will face off in two-legged play-off encounters - and four countries will earn their passage to next year's World Cup.