2014 World Cup Qualifying Results: Tracking Every Country Earning Bid to Brazil
June 4, 2013
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is just over a year away, but there is still plenty of work to do for the teams that are hoping to qualify. Only 32 spots are up for grabs in the prestigious tournament, so the matches are becoming more important with each passing week and month.
The United States punched its ticket to Brazil with two qualifying matches to spare after beating Mexico in convincing fashion in Columbus and getting some help from Honduras and Panama, who played to a draw, per NBC Sports on Twitter:
Japan became the first team to get the ball rolling as it qualified for the 2014 World Cup by playing Australia to a 1-1 draw, according to ESPN FC.
Qualifying first has become a quadrennial occurrence for Japan as it turned the trick in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, according to SuperSport Blitz.
Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reveals that Belgium also qualified for the World Cup:
As qualifying is dying down, a spate of countries have booked their plane tickets to Brazil. Fourteen spots have been secured, with another 18 up for grabs.
Here is a full listing of teams that have qualified for the 2014 World Cup thus far:
While Japan has broken the seal, the surface has only been scratched when it comes to World Cup qualifying. Teams from across the world will continue to battle until the field is finally determined.
Here are the current standings in every qualifying region as well as the official qualifying rules and important dates to keep track of. Check back here for regular updates on which teams have been eliminated, which have qualified and where every competing country stands during their quest to Brazil in 2014.
Africa
Third Round Standings
Final Playoff
| Team 1 | Aggregate Score | Team 2 |
| Burkina Faso | Oct. 12/Nov. 19 | Algeria |
| Ivory Coast | Oct. 12/Nov. 16 | Senegal |
| Ethiopia | Oct. 13/Nov. 16 | Nigeria |
| Tunisia | Oct. 13/Nov. 17 | Cameroon |
| Ghana | Oct. 15/Nov. 19 | Egypt |
Qualification Rules
The winner of each of the 10 groups will advance to the final round of qualification, which will feature five home-and-away matchups. The winner of each tie automatically qualifies for the 2014 World Cup, while the loser is eliminated without any hope of a playoff.
Important Dates
Last Day of Group Play: Sept. 6, 2013
African Playoffs: Oct. 11 and 15, 2013 through Nov. 15 and 19, 2013
*Information courtesy of FIFA.com/WorldCup
Asia
Group Standings
Group A
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Iran | 8 | 16 |
| South Korea | 8 | 14 |
| Uzbekistan | 8 | 14 |
| Qatar | 8 | 7 |
| Lebanon | 8 | 5 |
Group B
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Japan | 8 | 17 |
| Australia | 8 | 13 |
| Jordan | 8 | 10 |
| Oman | 8 | 9 |
| Iraq | 8 | 5 |
Qualification Rules
The top two finishers in each group automatically qualify for the 2014 World Cup. The third-place finisher in each group will face each other in a home-and-away series. Whichever team prevails will face the fifth-place finisher from South American in a home-and-away series. The winner of that series then qualifies for the World Cup.
Important Dates
Last Day of Group Play: June 18, 2013
Asian Playoffs: Between Sept. 6 and 10, 2013
Intercontinental Playoffs: Nov. 15 and 19, 2013
*Information courtesy of FIFA.com/WorldCup
Europe
Group Standings
Group A
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Belgium | 9 | 25 |
| Croatia | 9 | 17 |
| Serbia | 9 | 11 |
| Wales | 9 | 9 |
| Scotland | 9 | 8 |
| FYR Macedonia | 9 | 7 |
Group B
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Italy | 9 | 21 |
| Bulgaria | 9 | 13 |
| Denmark | 9 | 13 |
| Czech Republic | 9 | 12 |
| Armenia | 9 | 12 |
| Malta | 9 | 3 |
Group C
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Germany | 9 | 25 |
| Sweden | 9 | 20 |
| Austria | 9 | 14 |
| Republic of Ireland | 9 | 14 |
| Kazakhstan | 9 | 5 |
| Faroe Islands | 9 | 1 |
Group D
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Netherlands | 9 | 25 |
| Turkey | 9 | 16 |
| Romania | 9 | 16 |
| Hungary | 9 | 14 |
| Estonia | 9 | 7 |
| Andorra | 9 | 0 |
Group E
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Switzerland | 9 | 21 |
| Iceland | 9 | 16 |
| Slovenia | 9 | 15 |
| Norway | 9 | 11 |
| Albania | 9 | 6 |
| Cyprus | 9 | 4 |
Group F
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Russia | 9 | 21 |
| Portugal | 9 | 18 |
| Israel | 9 | 13 |
| Azerbaijan | 9 | 8 |
| Northern Ireland | 9 | 6 |
| Luxembourg | 9 | 6 |
Group G
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | 9 | 22 |
| Greece | 9 | 22 |
| Slovakia | 9 | 12 |
| Lithuania | 9 | 11 |
| Latvia | 9 | 7 |
| Liechtenstein | 9 | 2 |
Group H
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| England | 9 | 19 |
| Ukraine | 9 | 18 |
| Montenegro | 9 | 15 |
| Poland | 9 | 13 |
| Moldova | 9 | 8 |
| San Marino | 9 | 0 |
Group I
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Spain | 7 | 17 |
| France | 7 | 14 |
| Finland | 7 | 9 |
| Georgia | 7 | 5 |
| Belarus | 8 | 4 |
Qualification Rules
The winner of each of the nine groups automatically qualifies for the 2014 World Cup. The eight best non-first-place finishers in terms of overall points will then be entered into an eight-team playoff. This playoff will feature four home-and-away series. The four teams that prevail in those series qualify for the World Cup, while the four losers are eliminated without any hope for an additional playoff.
Also, due to the fact that Group I has one fewer participant than the others, only points earned against the top five teams in each group will count when determining which eight teams will qualify for the European playoffs.
Important Dates
Last Day of Group Play: Aug. 14, 2013
European Playoffs: Between Nov. 15 and 19, 2013
*Information courtesy of FIFA.com/WorldCup
CONCACAF
Group Standings
Group A
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| USA | 9 | 19 |
| Costa Rica | 9 | 15 |
| Honduras | 9 | 14 |
| Panama | 8 | 8 |
| Mexico | 8 | 8 |
| Jamaica | 9 | 4 |
Qualification Rules
The top three finishers in group play automatically qualify for the 2014 World Cup. The fourth-place finisher will face the winner of the Oceania region in a home-and-away playoff. The winner of that series will also qualify for the World Cup, while the loser will be eliminated.
Important Dates
Last Day of Group Play: Sept. 10, 2013
Intercontinental Playoffs: Nov. 15 and 19, 2013
*Information courtesy of FIFA.com/WorldCup
Oceania
Group Standings
Group A
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| New Zealand | 6 | 18 |
| New Caledonia | 6 | 12 |
| Tahiti | 6 | 3 |
| Solomon Islands | 6 | 3 |
Qualification Rules
The winner of the group will face the fourth-place CONCACAF finisher in a home-and-away playoff. The winner of that series qualifies for the World Cup, while the loser is eliminated.
Important Dates
Last Day of Group Play: Completed (New Zealand qualifies for playoff)
Intercontinental Playoffs: Nov. 15 and 19, 2013
*Information courtesy of FIFA.com/WorldCup
South America
Group Standings
Group A
| Team | Games Played | Points |
| Argentina | 15 | 32 |
| Colombia | 15 | 27 |
| Ecuador | 15 | 25 |
| Chile | 15 | 25 |
| Uruguay | 15 | 22 |
| Venezuela | 16 | 20 |
| Peru | 15 | 14 |
| Paraguay | 15 | 12 |
| Bolivia | 15 | 11 |
Qualification Rules
The top four teams in group play automatically qualify for the 2014 World Cup. The fifth-place finisher will face the winner of the Asian playoff in a home-and-away series. Whichever team wins that series qualifies for the World Cup, while the loser is eliminated.
Important Dates
Last Day of Group Play: Sept. 10, 2013
Intercontinental Playoffs: Nov. 15 and 19, 2013
*Information courtesy of FIFA.com/WorldCup
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