Qatar World Cup: A look at 32 teams who have qualified
The line-up for the 2022 World Cup was completed when Costa Rica became the last team to qualify with a 1-0 win over New Zealand in their intercontinental playoff on June 14.
A total of 32 teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022, which runs from November 21 to December 18, with Qatar earning automatic qualification, courtesy of being the hosts.
There are a good number of notable names who will not be at the World Cup this year – Mohamed Salah with Egypt, Zlatan Ibrahimovic with Sweden, and the Italian team under Roberto Mancini that won Euro 2020.
But it also marked the return of Canada into the World Cup fold for the first time since 1986, and Gareth Bale's Wales, who will play at the event for the first time since 1958.
EUROPE (UEFA)
Thirteen teams qualified for the World Cup from this confederation.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal missed the direct spot after being stunned by Serbia in the final group match but qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022 through the playoffs. Four-time champions Italy, though, failed to qualify after losing to North Macedonia in their playoff semi-finals.
Poland and Wales also progressed after playing through a second stage of qualifiers.
Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Croatia, England, and Germany made it through as winners of the 10 groups.
SOUTH AMERICA (CONMEBOL)
Only four teams made it through from South America this time, as Peru lost in the inter-continental qualifiers to Australia.
Brazil, who last won the FIFA World Cup in 2002, advanced as a top finisher from the CONMEBOL's qualification tournament, which saw nine other teams. The Selecao have featured in every World Cup to date.
Lionel Messi's Argentina, who won the Copa America last year, have also made it through.
Uruguay too managed to get through in third place, and then Ecuador finished fourth to wrap up the CONMEBOL direct entries.
AFRICA (CAF)
This was the first confederation to have completed its qualification process. Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Cameroon were the five teams out of 54 competing to claim the World Cup spots reserved for African nations.
ASIA (AFC)
Qatar, by virtue of being hosts, had secured the qualification early. Joining them through direct entries are Saudi Arabia, Japan, Iran and South Korea. Australia won their inter-continental playoff against Peru to make it a record six teams from AFC.
Never before in the history of World Cups have six teams affiliated to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualified for the final tournament.
Five teams from Asia took part in 2018 World Cup in Russia.
NORTH AMERICA (CONCACAF)
Canada surprised the field by topping the qualification round to earn a direct entry, and make it to the World Cup for the first time since 1986. In second place was Mexico, followed by the United States making up the three direct entry spots.
**No team made it from the Oceania region.
**This is the last time a World Cup will have 32 countries competing in the finals, as the next edition in 2026 will be played with 48 teams.
GROUPS
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
KEY DATES
Group stage: November 21 to December 2
Round of 16: December 3-6
Quarter-finals: December 9-10
Semi-finals: December 13-14
Final: December 18