1994 FIFA World Cup qualification

A total of 147 teams entered the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament. The United States, as the hosts, and Germany, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 22 spots open for competition.

For the first time, 3 teams would qualify from the African zone, due to the performance of African teams in the previous tournament. The 24 spots available in the 1994 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:

• Europe (UEFA): 13 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Germany, while the other 12 places were contested by 38 teams (including Israel).
• South America (CONMEBOL): 3.5 places, contested by 9 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from CONCACAF or OFC).
• North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 2.25 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier United States, while the other 1.25 places were contested by 22 teams. The winner of the 0.25 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from OFC).
• Africa (CAF): 3 places, contested by 40 teams.
• Asia (AFC): 2 places, contested by 30 teams.
• Oceania (OFC): 0.25 place, contested by 7 teams. The winner of the 0.25 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from CONCACAF).

A total of 130 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 497 qualifying matches were played, and 1446 goals were scored (an average of 2.91 per match).

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 - Italy and Switzerland qualified.

Group 2 - Norway and Netherlands qualified.

Group 3 - Spain and Republic of Ireland qualified.

Group 4 - Romania and Belgium qualified.

Group 5 - Greece and Russia qualified.

Group 6 - Sweden and Bulgaria qualified.

• South America (CONMEBOL)

Group 1 - Colombia qualified. Argentina advanced to the CONMEBOL / CONCACAF / OFC Intercontinental Play-off.

Group 2 - Brazil and Bolivia qualified.

• North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF)

Mexico qualified. Canada advanced to the CONCACAF / OFC Intercontinental Play-off.

• Africa (CAF)

Group 1 - Nigeria qualified.

Group 2 - Morocco qualified.

Group 3 - Cameroon qualified.

• Asia (AFC)

Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic qualified.

• Oceania (OFC)

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

Intercontinental play-offs

For the first time, there would be two rounds of play in the Intercontinental play-offs. The teams from CONCACAF and OFC would first play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would then play against the team from CONMEBOL on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.

CONCACAF – OFC Intercontinental Play-off

The aggregate score was tied at 3–3, however Australia advanced 4–1 on penalties to the CONMEBOL / CONCACAF / OFC Intercontinental Play-off.

CONMEBOL – OFC Intercontinental Play-off

Argentina qualified by the aggregate score of 2–1.

Qualified teams

The following 24 teams qualified for the 1994 FIFA World Cup:

(h) - qualified automatically as hosts

(c) - qualified automatically as defending champions

Notes

• Brazil lost a World Cup qualifying match for the first time ever on 25th July 1993, when they were defeated 2-0 by Bolivia in La Paz. Brazil had played 31 World Cup qualifying matches (24 wins, 7 draws) before.
• The entire team of Zambia was killed in a plane crash in Gabon carrying them to a qualifier against Senegal. The nation virtually had to build a new team from scratch, but the new team was a formidable opponent, missing out on USA 1994 by one point. Kalusha Bwalya was the only survivor, due to being in the Netherlands rather than on the flight.
• San Marino's Davide Gualtieri scored the fastest goal ever in World Cup competition: the opener against England after just 8.3 seconds[1] , although England went on to win the game 7-1. The English radio commentary on that day went as follows:

"Welcome to Bologna on Capital Gold for England versus San Marino with Tennent's Pilsner, brewed with Czechoslovakian yeast for that extra Pilsner taste... and England are one down."^[1]

• Emil Kostadinov scored the Bulgaria's winner against France in the dying seconds of their last World Cup qualifier match in November 1993 at Parc des Princes. Bulgaria got the points and qualified for the finals, while denying France a ticket, as they would have qualified with a draw. The team was heavily criticized for the loss, especially David Ginola, who mistakenly gave away possession and poor pass that would lead to the goal. The Blues, with 2 home matches left, had the chance to beat Israel or obtain a point against Bulgaria to guarantee qualification, but lost both matches.
• In what is now considered a historic result, Colombia trounced Argentina 5 goals to 0 in Buenos Aires on the last match of the South American qualifiers. This result sent Colombia straight into the World Cup, while Argentina were forced to play Australia at the CONMEBOL/CONCACAF/OFC playoff to qualify.
• Japan also conceded a last-minute goal against Iraq in their final match, thus denying themselves a place in the finals and handing the spot to their rivals South Korea. The incident is called the Agony of Doha in Japan.
• There were only nine participants in the CONMEBOL qualification because Chile could not take part in qualification as it was still banned by FIFA.
• On the last day of qualifying Denmark lost 1-0 against Spain, subsequently moving from 1st to 3rd place and missing qualification. Spain's goal scored on a header by Fernando Hierro was controversial as Spanish midfielder José Bakero fouled Peter Schmeichel as the Danish goalkeeper came out to collect the incoming cross from a corner kick. The referee, who had mistakenly awarded Spain the corner kick, did not see the foul and allowed the goal to stand. Ireland finished 2nd in the group with the same points and goal difference as Denmark, but qualified due to having scored more goals. Denmark were, despite the mistakes of the referee, not given a rematch.

References

External links

• 1994 FIFA World Cup USA Preliminaries
• RSSSF - 1994 World Cup Qualification