With the 2014 FIFA World Cup 3 years away from now, the draws for the qualifying campaigns in each zone have been made.
A total of 824 qualifying games will help define the other 31 participating nations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup where Brazil have qualified as the host nation since October 30, 2007. Here’s how the qualification spots have been distributed among the 6 confederations under FIFA:
Europe (UEFA) have been awarded 13 places, Africa (CAF) 5 places, Asia (AFC) 4 or 5 places, South America (CONMEBOL) 4 or 5 places making it 5 or 6 with host Brazil, Oceania (OFC) 0 or 1 place, North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) 3 or 4 places.
In particular, the draw for the European zone has attracted a lot of interested from football fans. 2010 FIFA World Cup champions Spain have fallen in Group 9 where only 5 teams will be contesting against each other instead of 6. In this section, the inclusion of in-progress team France has added great excitement.
Another interesting table is Group 6 where Paulo Bento’s Portugal have been drawn alongside Guus Hiddink’s former side Russia. Israel might also provide shocks whereas Luxembourg and Azerbaijan are expected to occupy the last places of Group 6 come the end of the European qualifiers.
Elsewhere, England and Montenegro will face each other again after their adventure in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. Meanwhile, Turkey and the Netherlands are favorites to qualify from Group 4 where Andorra and Estonia have also been placed. Here’s a quick recap of the 6 groups:
Group 1: Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia, Wales
Group 2: Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Malta
Group 3: Germany, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Austria, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan
Group 4: Netherlands, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Andorra
Group 5: Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus, Iceland
Group 6: Portugal, Russia, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg
Group 7: Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Liechtenstein
Group 8: England, Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, San Marino
Group 9: Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland
Each group’s winners will win automatic tickets to the 2014 FIFA World Cup whereas the best 8 runners-up will go through play-offs to win the remaining 4 places.
Europe (UEFA) have been awarded 13 places, Africa (CAF) 5 places, Asia (AFC) 4 or 5 places, South America (CONMEBOL) 4 or 5 places making it 5 or 6 with host Brazil, Oceania (OFC) 0 or 1 place, North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) 3 or 4 places.
In particular, the draw for the European zone has attracted a lot of interested from football fans. 2010 FIFA World Cup champions Spain have fallen in Group 9 where only 5 teams will be contesting against each other instead of 6. In this section, the inclusion of in-progress team France has added great excitement.
Another interesting table is Group 6 where Paulo Bento’s Portugal have been drawn alongside Guus Hiddink’s former side Russia. Israel might also provide shocks whereas Luxembourg and Azerbaijan are expected to occupy the last places of Group 6 come the end of the European qualifiers.
Elsewhere, England and Montenegro will face each other again after their adventure in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. Meanwhile, Turkey and the Netherlands are favorites to qualify from Group 4 where Andorra and Estonia have also been placed. Here’s a quick recap of the 6 groups:
Group 1: Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia, Wales
Group 2: Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Malta
Group 3: Germany, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Austria, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan
Group 4: Netherlands, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Andorra
Group 5: Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus, Iceland
Group 6: Portugal, Russia, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg
Group 7: Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Liechtenstein
Group 8: England, Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, San Marino
Group 9: Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland
Each group’s winners will win automatic tickets to the 2014 FIFA World Cup whereas the best 8 runners-up will go through play-offs to win the remaining 4 places.
