2024 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: A Comprehensive Overview
The 2024 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers will determine which nations will join the host country, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, at the prestigious quadrennial tournament. The qualifiers will commence in March 2023 and culminate in a series of intercontinental playoffs in June 2024. A total of 211 FIFA member associations will participate in the qualifying process, competing for 31 coveted berths at the World Cup finals.
The format of the qualifiers will vary across the six confederations. In UEFA, the European confederation, 55 nations will be divided into 10 groups, with the top two teams from each group automatically qualifying for the World Cup. The third-placed teams will enter a playoff round for three additional berths. In CONMEBOL, the South American confederation, 10 nations will compete in a single round-robin league, with the top four teams qualifying directly and the fifth-placed team advancing to the intercontinental playoffs.
In CONCACAF, the North American, Central American, and Caribbean confederation, 35 nations will compete in a three-round qualification process. The top three teams from the first round will advance to the second round, where they will join the top six ranked nations. The top three teams from the second round will qualify for the World Cup, while the fourth-placed team will enter the intercontinental playoffs.
In CAF, the African confederation, 54 nations will compete in a two-round qualification process. In the first round, the lowest-ranked 26 nations will play home-and-away ties, with the winners advancing to the second round. The 26 winners will be joined by the top 28 ranked nations, and they will be divided into 10 groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the third round, where they will be paired in home-and-away knockout ties. The five winners of these ties will qualify for the World Cup.
In AFC, the Asian confederation, 47 nations will compete in three rounds of qualification. In the first round, the lowest-ranked 12 nations will play home-and-away ties, with the six winners advancing to the second round. The six winners will join the top 34 ranked nations in the second round, which will be played in eight groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the third round, where they will be paired in home-and-away knockout ties. The four winners of these ties will qualify for the World Cup, and the two best runners-up will advance to the intercontinental playoffs.
In OFC, the Oceania confederation, 11 nations will compete in a two-round qualification process. In the first round, the lowest-ranked six nations will play home-and-away ties, with the three winners advancing to the second round. The three winners will join the top five ranked nations in the second round, which will be played in a centralized location. The winner of the second round will qualify for the intercontinental playoffs.
The intercontinental playoffs will involve the six best runners-up from the confederation qualifiers. They will be drawn into three home-and-away ties, with the winners qualifying for the World Cup.
