The 2018 World Cup is just around the corner! Fourteen European countries will participate in it, hoping to keep their dominance over national teams from around the world. Only Brazil has been able to win a global tournament in European soil, and those countries that made it to Russia 2018 will certainly want to keep it that way.
When did each team qualify?
Russia - December 2, 2010 (hosts)
Belgium - September 3, 2017 (Group H winners)
Germany - October 5, 2017 (Group C winners)
England - October 5, 2017 (Group F winners)
Spain - October 6, 2017 (Group G winners)
Poland - October 8, 2017 (Group E winners)
Iceland - October 9, 2017 (Group I winners)
Serbia - October 9, 2017 (Group D winners)
Portugal - October 10, 2017 (Group B winners)
France - October 10, 2017 (Group A winners)
Switzerland - November 12, 2017 (Play-off winners)
Croatia - November 12, 2017 (Play-off winners)
Sweden - November 13, 2017 (Play-off winners)
Denmark - November 14, 2017 (Play-off winners)
Facts about all UEFA teams playing in the 2018 World Cup
Russia
Next year's hosts have participated in ten previous World Cup editions, seven of them as part of the Soviet Union. Their best finish came in the 1966 World Cup, where they finished fourth.
Did you know...? The Russians haven't made it past the group stage in their three most recent World Cup outings (1994, 2002, 2014)
Belgium
This will be the 13th time the Red Devils play in the World Cup. Their best finish came during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where they finished fourth after losing the semi-final match against Argentina.
Did you know...? Romelu Lukaku set a record as the best striker in a World Cup Qualifying campaign for Belgium, scoring 10 times during the ongoing WC Qualifiers.
Germany
This will be the 19th World Cup performance for Die Mannschaft. The Germans have won the tournament four times, including the 2014 edition. Joachim Löw's side made it to the World Cup with a perfect record of 10 wins in ten games.
Did you know...? Thomas Müller is ranked eighth in the World Cup goal scoring charts with 10 goals. He needs six more to become the tournament's all-time top scorer.
England
The Rose Team made it to their 15th World Cup with an unbeaten record of eight wins and two draws. Their 1966 win at home remains as their best result in any major tournament. This will be their fifth World Cup in a row after being eliminated from the 1994 edition.
Did you know...? The Three Lions have only won one of their most recent seven World Cup games.
Spain
One of the main candidates to take the trophy home, Spain will participate in their 15th World Cup. Their win over the Netherlands in South Africa 2010 was the highest point in La Roja's history. Julen Lopetegui's side dropped only two points en route to winning Group G.
Did you know...? David Villa holds the record for most goals scored by a Spanish player in World Cup history, with nine goals.
Poland
The Eagles will return to the World Cup after 12 years. This will be their eighth performance in this competition, with their best finish taking place in the 1974 and 1982 editions, where they finished in third place.
Did you know...? Robert Lewandowski became the national team's all-time top scorer in the 2018 WC Qualifiers by scoring 16 goals, the most by any player in the European Qualifiers.
Iceland
The team that captivated the hearts of all football fans in the 2016 UEFA Euro will make their debut in the World Cup next year. The Strákarnir okkar leapfrogged Croatia as group leaders with two games left to be played, winning Group I by a two-point margin.
Did you know...? Kolbeinn Sigborsson needs four goals to become the team's all-time joint top scorer alongside former Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Serbia
The White Eagles made it to their second World Cup as an independent country after winning the tough Group D. Mladen Krstajić's men booked their tickets to Russia during Matchday 10 of the Qualifiers. Their best finish came in the 1962 World Cup, when they finished fourth as part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Did you know...? Milan Jovanovic and Marko Pantelic have scored Serbia's only goals in a World Cup as an independent country.
Portugal
The current European champions struggled to get to their seventh World Cup, as they had to wait until Matchday 10 to claim the top of Group B. A Seleccao Das Quinas' best finish came during their first World Cup performance, when legendary striker Eusebio led them to the third place in the 1966 edition.
Did you know...? This will be the fifth World Cup in a row for Portugal. Prior to the 2002 edition, they had only played in the tournaments held in England (1966) and Mexico (1986).
France
Didier Deschamps will lead France to their 15th World Cup,his second as Les Bleus' coach. The French side won Group A by a four-point margin, and now they will try to repeat their 1998 performance, where they famously defeated Brazil in the title match 3-0.
Did you know...? Les Bleus became the worst defending world champion of all-time after their early exit in the 2002 World Cup. The French side left that tournament without scoring a single goal.
Switzerland
The Swiss side ended the Group stage in second place of Group B, forcing them to fight for their spot in Russia 2018 against Northern Ireland in a play-off tie. This will be their 11th World Cup performance, with their best finish taking place in 1954, when they reached the Quarter final stage at home.
Did you know...? Xherdan Shaqiri could become the team's all-time top scorer in the World Cup if he scores three times in Russia 2018.
Croatia
Zlatko Dalic's men will represent Croatia in their fifth World Cup. The Blazers eliminated Greece in their play-off tie after finishing second in Group I of the Qualifiers. Their best finish in the global tournament came during their first performance, when they finished third in 1998.
Did you know...? Croatia has only been able to win two games in their last nine World Cup games after winning five in the 1998 edition.
Sweden
The Swedish side shocked the world by eliminating Italy in their play-off tie. Prior to that, the Blågult finished as Group A's runner up, eliminating the Netherlands on goal average. This will be the 12th World Cup for Sweden, and their best finish came in the 1958 edition, when they lost the final match against Brazil.
Did you know...? Even though he's Sweden's all-time top scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic never scored a goal in a World Cup match.
Denmark
The Danish side became the last European team to qualify to the World Cup, beating Ireland in their play-off tie after ending the group stage as Group E's runner up behind Poland. This will be the fifth World Cup appearance for Denmark. Their best performance came in the 1998 edition, where they reached the Quarterfinals.
Did you know...? The Danish Dynamite has played in four different World Cup editions. They've failed to qualify to the KO stage only once, back in 2010.
