1986 FIFA World Cup qualification

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A total of 121 teams entered the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament. Mexico, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 22 spots open for competition. The draw took place on 7th December 1983 at Zurich, Switzerland.

The 24 spots available in the 1986 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:

Europe (UEFA): 13.5 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Italy, while the other 12.5 places were contested by 32 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from OFC).
South America (CONMEBOL): 4 places, contested by 10 teams.
North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 2 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Mexico, while the other 1 place was contested by 17 teams.
Africa (CAF): 2 places, contested by 29 teams.
Asia (AFC): 2 places, contested by 27 teams.
Oceania (OFC): 0.5 place, contested by 4 teams (including Israel and Chinese Taipei). The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from UEFA).

A total of 110 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 308 qualifying matches were played, and 801 goals were scored (an average of 2.60 per match).

1 Continental zones
2 Intercontinental Play-offs
- 2.1 UEFA / OFC Intercontinental Play-off
3 Qualified teams
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Continental zones

To see the dates and results of the qualification rounds for each continental zone, click on the following articles:

Europe (UEFA)

Group 1 - Poland qualified. Belgium advanced to the UEFA Play-offs.

Group 2 - West Germany and Portugal qualified.

Group 3 - England and Northern Ireland qualified.

Group 4 - France and Bulgaria qualified.

Group 5 - Hungary qualified. Netherlands advanced to the UEFA Play-offs.

Group 6 - Denmark and USSR qualified.

Group 7 - Spain qualified. Scotland advanced to the UEFA / OFC Intercontinental Play-off.

Play-offs - Belgium qualified over Netherlands.

South America (CONMEBOL)

Group 1 - Argentina qualified. Peru and Colombia advanced to the CONMEBOL Play-offs.

Group 2 - Uruguay qualified. Chile advanced to the CONMEBOL Play-offs.

Group 3 - Brazil qualified. Paraguay advanced to the CONMEBOL Play-offs.

Play-offs - Paraguay qualified over Chile, Colombia and Peru.

North America (CONCACAF)

Canada qualified.

Africa (CAF)

Algeria and Morocco qualified.

Asia (AFC)

Iraq and Korea Republic qualified.

Oceania (OFC)

Australia advanced to the UEFA / OFC Intercontinental Play-off.

[edit] Intercontinental Play-offs

The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.

[edit] UEFA / OFC Intercontinental Play-off

November 20, 1985, Glasgow, Scotland - Scotland 2 - 0 Australia

December 4, 1985, Melbourne, Australia - Australia 0 - 0 Scotland

Scotland qualified by the aggregate score of 2-0.

[edit] Qualified teams

Qualifying countries

Team	Finals Appearance	Streak	Last Appearance
Algeria	2nd	2	1982
Argentina	9th	4	1982
Belgium	7th	2	1982
Brazil	13th	13	1982
Bulgaria	5th	1	1974
Canada	1st	1	-
Denmark	1st	1	-
England	8th	2	1982
France	9th	3	1982
Hungary	9th	3	1982
Iraq	1st	1	-
Italy (c)	11th	7	1982
Korea Republic	2nd	1	1954
Mexico (h)	9th	1	1978
Morocco	2nd	1	1970
Northern Ireland	3rd	2	1982
Paraguay	4th	1	1958
Poland	6th	4	1982
Portugal	2nd	1	1966
Scotland	6th	4	1982
Spain	7th	3	1982
Uruguay	8th	1	1974
USSR	6th	2	1982
West Germany	11th	9	1982