Introduction

This was the eleventh World Cup and for the first time ever, there were no new teams participating. All 113 teams who had participated in World Cup X entered the qualification stage again.

Since there was no change to the number of teams, there was also no change to the format. The previous tournament's format had worked so well that it was kept completely in tact for this tournament. It was possible for each continent to send: 10-20 nations from Europe, 5-13 from Africa, 2-10 from Asia, 3-8 from South America, and 2-8 from North America. In the final 32 were 13 nations from Europe, 6 from Africa, 6 from South America, 4 from Asia, and 3 from North America.

• Teams Entered: 113
• Champion:
• Top Scorer:

Qualification

The Draw

Since there was no change to the format, for the first time since World Cup II, seeding was based solely on the results of the previous tournament only. All group winners from World Cup X were given the highest seed in this tournament, and so on down to the last placed team in each group being placed in the bottom pot.

UEFA

Pot A: England, France, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Croatia, Netherlands, Italy
Pot B: Russia, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Norway, Slovakia, Albania, Portugal, Czech Republic
Pot C: Scotland, Ukraine, Denmark, Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Wales, Finland, Turkey, Poland, Macedonia
Pot D: Montenegro, Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus, Iceland, Serbia, Latvia, Slovenia, Northern Ireland, Switzerland

CAF

Pot A: Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Senegal, Mali
Pot B: Cameroon, Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo, Cape Verde Islands
Pot C: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Benin, Egypt, Sierra Leone
Pot D: Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia, Zambia, Togo
Pot E: Reunion, South Africa, Algeria, Congo DR, Guinea

CONMEBOL

Pot A: Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil
Pot B: Ecuador, Sao Paulo, Chile
Pot C: Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela
Pot D: Rio de Janeiro, Bolivia, Peru

CONCACAF

Pot A: Guadeloupe, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala
Pot B: Honduras, Mexico, Confederate States, Jamaica
Pot C: Costa Rica, Panama, Canada, Suriname
Pot D: Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao, Martinique

AFC

Pot A: South Korea, Iran, Australia, Japan, Georgia
Pot B: United Arab Emirates, Israel, Oman, Bahrain, New Zealand
Pot C: Syria, Qatar, China, Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Pot D: Uzbekistan, North Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Kuwait

The Format

UEFA

UEFA's format was straightforward, 10 groups of 4 - group winners would qualify directly to the World Cup, runners up would advance to the playoffs, third and fourth place teams would be eliminated.

CAF

CAF had 5 groups of 5, where the group winners would all qualify to the World Cup. All 5 runners up would advance to the playoffs, along with the "best third place" team. The other 4 third place teams would be paired up to play an aggregate, where the 2 winners would advance to the playoffs, and the losers would be eliminated. In total, 5 teams would qualify directly and 8 would advance to the playoffs.

CONMEBOL

CONMEBOL would use 3 groups of 4 and have the group winners all qualify directly. All second place teams would advance to the playoffs and the "best third place" team would also advance, along with the winner of an aggregate between the two other third place teams. In total, 3 teams would qualify directly and 5 would advance to the playoffs.

CONCACAF

CONCACAF had 4 groups of 4, but only 2 automatic spots. They also had a half spot to be split with AFC, for a potential third automatic spot. As such, a "second round" would be played between all four group winners. The top two teams would qualify directly to the World Cup, the third place team would go to the AFC playoff, and the fourth place team would join all of the runners up in the playoffs. In total CONCACAF had 2 direct spots, a half spot against AFC, and 5 playoff spots.

AFC

AFC had a similar situation as CONCACAF, in which they had more groups than direct spots. They had 5 groups of 4 with 2 direct spots and 1 half spot to split with CONCACAF. This also lent itself to a "second round" where all five group winners would play a round robin to determine placement. The top two would qualify directly to the World Cup, the third place team would go on to play in the CONCACAF playoff, and the bottom two would join the group runners up in the playoffs. AFC had a total of 2 automatic spots, one half spot against CONCACAF, and 7 playoff spots.

AFC vs CONCACAF Playoff

AFC and CONCACAF each had 2.5 automatic spots for the World Cup, so their third place teams would play off to determine which team got that full spot. The loser would go into the playoffs with the other teams to fight for one of the remaining 9 spots.

Playoffs

36 teams would play aggregates to narrow the field down to 18, and then those remaining teams would play aggregates to determine the 9 qualifiers.

Results

UEFA Group A

Belgium
Czech Republic
Scotland
Slovenia

Czech Republic – Slovenia
Belgium – Scotland

Slovenia – Belgium
Scotland – Czech Republic

Scotland – Slovenia
Belgium – Czech Republic

Belgium – Slovenia
Czech Republic – Scotland

Slovenia – Czech Republic
Scotland – Belgium

Slovenia – Scotland
Czech Republic – Belgium

UEFA Group B

Italy
Portugal
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Serbia

Bosnia-Herzegovina – Italy
Portugal – Serbia

Italy – Portugal
Serbia – Bosnia-Herzegovina

Serbia – Italy
Portugal – Bosnia-Herzegovina

Portugal – Italy
Bosnia-Herzegovina – Serbia

Italy – Bosnia-Herzegovina
Serbia – Portugal

Italy – Serbia
Bosnia-Herzegovina – Portugal

UEFA Group C

Romania
Hungary
Denmark
Latvia

Romania – Denmark
Hungary – Latvia

Denmark – Hungary
Latvia – Romania

Latvia – Denmark
Hungary – Romania

Hungary – Denmark
Romania – Latvia

Denmark – Romania
Latvia – Hungary

Denmark – Latvia
Romania – Hungary

UEFA Group D

Netherlands
Norway
Ukraine
Estonia

Norway – Netherlands
Estonia – Ukraine

Netherlands – Estonia
Ukraine – Norway

Ukraine – Netherlands
Estonia – Norway

Estonia – Netherlands
Norway – Ukraine

Netherlands – Norway
Ukraine – Estonia

Netherlands – Ukraine
Norway – Estonia

UEFA Group E

Germany
Austria
Ireland
Lithuania

Germany – Austria
Ireland – Lithuania

Austria – Ireland
Lithuania – Germany

Lithuania – Austria
Ireland – Germany

Ireland – Austria
Germany – Lithuania

Austria – Germany
Lithuania – Ireland

Austria – Lithuania
Germany – Ireland

UEFA Group F

France
Greece
Finland
Belarus

Finland – France
Greece – Belarus

France – Greece
Belarus – Finland

Belarus – France
Greece – Finland

Greece – France
Finland – Belarus

France – Finland
Belarus – Greece

France – Belarus
Finland – Greece

UEFA Group G

Spain
Albania
Poland
Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland – Poland
Spain – Albania

Poland – Spain
Albania – Northern Ireland

Albania – Poland
Spain – Northern Ireland

Spain – Poland
Northern Ireland – Albania

Poland – Northern Ireland
Albania – Spain

Poland – Albania
Northern Ireland – Spain

UEFA Group H

England
Russia
Macedonia
Montenegro

Macedonia – Russia
Montenegro – England

Russia – Montenegro
England – Macedonia

England – Russia
Montenegro – Macedonia

Montenegro – Russia
Macedonia – England

Russia – Macedonia
England – Montenegro

Russia – England
Macedonia – Montenegro

UEFA Group I

Sweden
Bulgaria
Wales
Iceland

Sweden – Iceland
Wales – Bulgaria

Iceland – Wales
Bulgaria – Sweden

Bulgaria – Iceland
Wales – Sweden

Wales – Iceland
Sweden – Bulgaria

Iceland – Sweden
Bulgaria – Wales

Iceland – Bulgaria
Sweden – Wales

UEFA Group J

Croatia
Slovakia
Turkey
Switzerland

Switzerland – Turkey
Croatia – Slovakia

Turkey – Croatia
Slovakia – Switzerland

Slovakia – Turkey
Croatia – Switzerland

Croatia – Turkey
Switzerland – Slovakia

Turkey – Switzerland
Slovakia – Croatia

Turkey – Slovakia
Switzerland – Croatia

CAF Group A

Ghana
Cape Verde Islands
Benin
Togo
South Africa

Cape Verde Islands - Togo
South Africa - Benin
BYE: Ghana

Togo - South Africa
Benin - Ghana
BYE: Cape Verde Islands

South Africa - Cape Verde Islands
Ghana - Togo
BYE: Benin

Cape Verde Islands - Ghana
Togo - Benin
BYE: South Africa

Benin - Cape Verde Islands
Ghana - South Africa
BYE: Togo

South Africa - Togo
Ghana - Cape Verde Islands
BYE: Benin

Togo - Ghana
Cape Verde Islands - Benin
BYE: South Africa

Benin - South Africa
Togo - Cape Verde Islands
BYE: Ghana

Ghana - Benin
Cape Verde Islands - South Africa
BYE: Togo

Benin - Togo
South Africa - Ghana
BYE: Cape Verde Islands

CAF Group B

Mali
Cameroon
Egypt
Morocco
Reunion

Morocco - Reunion
Egypt - Cameroon
BYE: Mali

Reunion - Egypt
Cameroon - Mali
BYE: Morocco

Egypt - Morocco
Mali - Reunion
BYE: Cameroon

Morocco - Mali
Reunion - Cameroon
BYE: Egypt

Cameroon - Morocco
Mali - Egypt
BYE: Reunion

Egypt - Reunion
Mali - Morocco
BYE: Cameroon

Reunion - Mali
Morocco - Cameroon
BYE: Egypt

Cameroon - Egypt
Reunion - Morocco
BYE: Mali

Mali - Cameroon
Morocco - Egypt
BYE: Reunion

Cameroon - Reunion
Egypt - Mali
BYE: Morocco

CAF Group C

Mozambique
Angola
Sierra Leone
Tunisia
Congo DR

Congo DR - Mozambique
Sierra Leone - Tunisia
BYE: Angola

Mozambique - Sierra Leone
Tunisia - Angola
BYE: Congo DR

Sierra Leone - Congo DR
Angola - Mozambique
BYE: Tunisia

Congo DR - Angola
Mozambique - Tunisia
BYE: Sierra Leone

Tunisia - Congo DR
Angola - Sierra Leone
BYE: Mozambique

Sierra Leone - Mozambique
Angola - Congo DR
BYE: Tunisia

Mozambique - Angola
Congo DR - Tunisia
BYE: Sierra Leone

Tunisia - Sierra Leone
Mozambique - Congo DR
BYE: Angola

Angola - Tunisia
Congo DR - Sierra Leone
BYE: Mozambique

Tunisia - Mozambique
Sierra Leone - Angola
BYE: Congo DR

CAF Group D

Nigeria
Cote d'Ivoire
Gabon
Zambia
Guinea

Cote d'Ivoire - Gabon
Zambia - Nigeria
BYE: Guinea

Gabon - Zambia
Nigeria - Guinea
BYE: Cote d'Ivoire

Zambia - Cote d'Ivoire
Guinea - Gabon
BYE: Nigeria

Cote d'Ivoire - Guinea
Gabon - Nigeria
BYE: Zambia

Nigeria - Cote d'Ivoire
Guinea - Zambia
BYE: Gabon

Zambia - Gabon
Guinea - Cote d'Ivoire
BYE: Nigeria

Gabon - Guinea
Cote d'Ivoire - Nigeria
BYE: Zambia

Nigeria - Zambia
Gabon - Cote d'Ivoire
BYE: Guinea

Guinea - Nigeria
Cote d'Ivoire - Zambia
BYE: Gabon

Nigeria - Gabon
Zambia - Guinea
BYE: Cote d'Ivoire

CAF Group E

Senegal
Congo
Burkina Faso
Equatorial Guinea
Algeria

Burkina Faso - Senegal
Algeria - Congo
BYE: Equatorial Guinea

Senegal - Algeria
Congo - Equatorial Guinea
BYE: Burkina Faso

Algeria - Burkina Faso
Equatorial Guinea - Senegal
BYE: Congo

Burkina Faso - Equatorial Guinea
Senegal - Congo
BYE: Algeria

Congo - Burkina Faso
Equatorial Guinea - Algeria
BYE: Senegal

Algeria - Senegal
Equatorial Guinea - Burkina Faso
BYE: Congo

Senegal - Equatorial Guinea
Burkina Faso - Congo
BYE: Algeria

Congo - Algeria
Senegal - Burkina Faso
BYE: Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea - Congo
Burkina Faso - Algeria
BYE: Senegal

Congo - Senegal
Algeria - Equatorial Guinea
BYE: Burkina Faso

CAF Round 2

x - x

x - x

CONMEBOL Group A

Uruguay
Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru

Peru – Uruguay
Ecuador – Paraguay

Uruguay – Ecuador
Paraguay – Peru

Paraguay – Uruguay
Ecuador – Peru

Ecuador – Uruguay
Peru – Paraguay

Uruguay – Peru
Paraguay – Ecuador

Uruguay – Paraguay
Peru – Ecuador

CONMEBOL Group B

Argentina
Chile
Venezuela
Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro – Venezuela
Argentina – Chile

Venezuela – Argentina
Chile – Rio de Janeiro

Chile – Venezuela
Argentina – Rio de Janeiro

Argentina – Venezuela
Rio de Janeiro – Chile

Venezuela – Rio de Janeiro
Chile – Argentina

Venezuela – Chile
Rio de Janeiro – Argentina

CONMEBOL Group C

Brazil
Sao Paulo
Colombia
Bolivia

Bolivia – Brazil
Sao Paulo – Colombia

Brazil – Sao Paulo
Colombia – Bolivia

Colombia – Brazil
Sao Paulo – Bolivia

Sao Paulo – Brazil
Bolivia – Colombia

Brazil – Bolivia
Colombia – Sao Paulo

Brazil – Colombia
Bolivia – Sao Paulo

CONMEBOL Round 2

x - x

CONCACAF Group A

Guatemala
Confederate States
Suriname
Curacao

Curacao – Guatemala
Confederate States – Suriname

Guatemala – Confederate States
Suriname – Curacao

Suriname – Guatemala
Confederate States – Curacao

Confederate States – Guatemala
Curacao – Suriname

Guatemala – Curacao
Suriname – Confederate States

Guatemala – Suriname
Curacao – Confederate States

CONCACAF Group B

El Salvador
Mexico
Canada
Haiti

Haiti – El Salvador
Mexico – Canada

El Salvador – Mexico
Canada – Haiti

Canada – El Salvador
Mexico – Haiti

Mexico – El Salvador
Haiti – Canada

El Salvador – Haiti
Canada – Mexico

El Salvador – Canada
Haiti – Mexico

CONCACAF Group C

Guadeloupe
Honduras
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago

Costa Rica – Guadeloupe
Trinidad & Tobago – Honduras

Guadeloupe – Trinidad & Tobago
Honduras – Costa Rica

Honduras – Guadeloupe
Trinidad & Tobago – Costa Rica

Trinidad & Tobago – Guadeloupe
Costa Rica – Honduras

Guadeloupe – Costa Rica
Honduras – Trinidad & Tobago

Guadeloupe – Honduras
Costa Rica – Trinidad & Tobago

CONCACAF Group D

United States
Jamaica
Panama
Martinique

Martinique – United States
Jamaica – Panama

United States – Jamaica
Panama – Martinique

Panama – United States
Jamaica – Martinique

Jamaica – United States
Martinique – Panama

United States – Martinique
Panama – Jamaica

United States – Panama
Martinique – Jamaica

CONCACAF Round 2

CONCACAF A1
CONCACAF B1
CONCACAF C1
CONCACAF D1

AFC Group A

Australia
Oman
China
Thailand

China – Australia
Oman – Thailand

Australia – Oman
Thailand – China

Thailand – Australia
Oman – China

Oman – Australia
China – Thailand

Australia – China
Thailand – Oman

Australia – Thailand
China – Oman

AFC Group B

Georgia
New Zealand
Syria
Uzbekistan

Georgia – New Zealand
Syria – Uzbekistan

New Zealand – Syria
Uzbekistan – Georgia

Uzbekistan – New Zealand
Syria – Georgia

Syria – New Zealand
Georgia – Uzbekistan

New Zealand – Georgia
Uzbekistan – Syria

New Zealand – Uzbekistan
Georgia – Syria

AFC Group C

Japan
Israel
Qatar
North Korea

North Korea – Japan
Israel – Qatar

Japan – Israel
Qatar – North Korea

Qatar – Japan
Israel – North Korea

Israel – Japan
North Korea – Qatar

Japan – North Korea
Qatar – Israel

Japan – Qatar
North Korea – Israel

AFC Group D

Iran
Bahrain
Iraq
Kuwait

Kuwait – Iraq
Iran – Bahrain

Iraq – Iran
Bahrain – Kuwait

Bahrain – Iraq
Iran – Kuwait

Iran – Iraq
Kuwait – Bahrain

Iraq – Kuwait
Bahrain – Iran

Iraq – Bahrain
Kuwait – Iran

AFC Group E

South Korea
United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Indonesia

South Korea – Indonesia
Saudi Arabia – United Arab Emirates

Indonesia – Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates – South Korea

United Arab Emirates – Indonesia
Saudi Arabia – South Korea

Saudi Arabia – Indonesia
South Korea – United Arab Emirates

Indonesia – South Korea
United Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia

Indonesia – United Arab Emirates
South Korea – Saudi Arabia

AFC Round 2

AFC A1
AFC B1
AFC C1
AFC D1
AFC E1

AFC/CONCACAF Playoff

CONCACAF 3 - AFC 3
AFC 3 - CONCACAF 3

Play-offs

UEFA A2
UEFA B2
UEFA C2
UEFA D2
UEFA E2
UEFA F2
UEFA G2
UEFA H2
UEFA I2
UEFA J2
CAF A2
CAF B2
CAF C2
CAF D2
CAF E2
CAF 6
CAF 7
CAF 8
CONMEBOL A2
CONMEBOL B2
CONMEBOL C2
CONMEBOL 4
CONMEBOL 5
CONCACAF 4
CONCACAF A2
CONCACAF B2
CONCACAF C2
CONCACAF D2
AFC 4
AFC 5
AFC A2
AFC B2
AFC C2
AFC D2
AFC E2
CONCACAF/AFC Loser

Play-offs Round 1

Play-offs Round 2

Qualified Teams

UEFA A1
UEFA B1
UEFA C1
UEFA D1
UEFA E1
UEFA F1
UEFA G1
UEFA H1
UEFA I1
UEFA J1
CAF A1
CAF B1
CAF C1
CAF D1
CAF E1
CONMEBOL A1
CONMEBOL B1
CONMEBOL C1
CONCACAF 1
CONCACAF 2
AFC 1
AFC 2
CONCACAF-AFC Winner
Playoff 1
Playoff 2
Playoff 3
Playoff 4
Playoff 5
Playoff 6
Playoff 7
Playoff 8
Playoff 9

*First time qualifying

World Cup Finals

Group Stage

Group A

x
x
x
x

Group B

x
x
x
x

Group C

x
x
x
x

Group D

x
x
x
x

Group E

x
x
x
x

Group F

x
x
x
x

Group G

x
x
x
x

Group H

x
x
x
x

Knockout Round

Round of Sixteen

x - x
x - x
x - x
x - x
x - x
x - x
x - x
x - x

Quarterfinals

x - x
x - x
x - x
x - x

Semifinals

x - x
x - x

Third Place

x - x

Championship

x - x

Scoring Award

The top scorers from the tournament (players with 3 or more) were:

Last modified: ?6?/?29?/?2016? ?3?:?54?:?49? ?PM