2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA): Difference between revisions
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{{EngvarB|date=July 2018}} |
{{EngvarB|date=July 2018}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date= |
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} |
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{{Infobox international football competition |
{{Infobox international football competition |
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| tourney_name = |
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| size = |
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| tourney_name = |
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| year = |
| year = |
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| alt = |
| alt = |
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| caption = |
| caption = |
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| host countries = |
| host countries = |
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| dates = {{nowrap|4 September 2016 – 14 November 2017}} |
| dates = {{nowrap|4 September 2016 – 14 November 2017}} |
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| num_teams = 54 |
| num_teams = 54 |
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| goals = 807 |
| goals = 807 |
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| attendance = {{#expr: <!--First round--> <!--Group A--> 12920 + 4202 + 36128 + 65475 + 5057 + 41200 + 9011 + 50220 + 21777 + 80000 + 1994 + 8000 + 31243 + 10900 + 8000 + 6150 + 41300 + 48783 + 12121 + 79551 + 2752 + 6431 + 47079 + 31177 + 50022 + 6850 + 12921 + 74037 + 2936 + 41244<!--Group B-->+ 1115 + 4066 + 36000 + 21668 + 4823 + 25120 + 2014 + 4780 + 4715 + 20479 + 14800 + 20744 + 1755 + 25000 + 57816 + 2407 + 4594 + 8087 + 16500 + 26514 + 13600 + 4357 + 21800 + 7587 + 4203 + 3193 + 32018 + 21400 + 4153 + 61566<!--Group C-->+ 886 + 10731 + 26793 + 35000 + 51299 + 18234 + 12148 + 42132 + 8214 + 16411 + 18404 + 3851 + 30000 + 1023 + 18161 + 27978 + 32467 + 12179 + 18093 + 8599 + 2544 + 8000 + 53814 + 18167 + 16200 + 18104 + 1922 + 5625 + 34613 + 10244<!--Group D-->+ 28500 + 7896 + 31731 + 44200 + 6192 + 39793 + 32652 + 6089 + 14200 + 48500 + 40642 + 32879 + 31328 + 21000 + 49989 + 4803 + 50000 + 46673 + 19669 + 9974 + 32633 + 13400 + 10272 + 50153 + 22290 + 42400 + 50560 + 5542 + 42000 + 32711<!--Group E-->+ 21745 + 19905 + 25468 + 5500 + 8517 + 56811 + 12346 + 20852 + 44786 + 3500 + 18901 + 48531 + 11500 + 10439 + 26895 + 19065 + 6861 + 57128 + 16511 + 34505 + 27178 + 6800 + 9452 + 56963 + 5478 + 10779 + 10123 + 36084 + 12158 + 57538<!--Group F-->+ 4114 + 18111 + 15069 + 81781 + 35966 + 10492 + 5067 + 11098 + 13274 + 87258 + 4207 + 9653 + 77690 + 4980 + 20435 + 48520 + 7839 + 4083 + 5067 + 16994 + 16896 + 67823 + 26371 + 6230 + 61598 + 3431 + 46773 + 5067 + 17774 + 11123<!--Group G-->+ 14667 + 29300 + 12139 + 38470 + 5864 + 6500 + 9000 + 15245 + 19195 + 7600 + 5864 + 16622 + 33136 + 4517 + 20321 + 15150 + 20514 + 20675 + 5500 + 11350 + 73628 + 15507 + 5864 + 3493 + 22603 + 3498 + 25397 + 14718 + 28700 + 4518<!--Group H-->+ 13632 + 12029 + 460 + 42653 + 4678 + 16512 + 8900 + 4467 + 1959 + 3151 + 37128 + 20075 + 8285 + 3864 + 42281 + 11000 + 10176 + 488 + 24050 + 4143 + 12379 + 5491 + 29465 + 805 + 750 + 9657 + 7222 + 37765 + 4967 + 12739<!--Group I-->+ 0 + 7571 + 0 + 9548 + 14612 + 36714 + 15567 + 999 + 9775 + 0 + 26555 + 26482 + 28990 + 27351 + 6832 + 8723 + 9775 + 3758 + 15835 + 6839 + 36796 + 9769 + 2446 + 28600 + 7578 + 1261 + 30390 + 6612 + 9775 + 60200 +<!--Second round--> 18269 + 36000 + 30013 + 18667 + 36189 + 51700 + 49193 + 72696}} |
| attendance = {{#expr: <!--First round--> <!--Group A--> 12920 + 4202 + 36128 + 65475 + 5057 + 41200 + 9011 + 50220 + 21777 + 80000 + 1994 + 8000 + 31243 + 10900 + 8000 + 6150 + 41300 + 48783 + 12121 + 79551 + 2752 + 6431 + 47079 + 31177 + 50022 + 6850 + 12921 + 74037 + 2936 + 41244<!--Group B-->+ 1115 + 4066 + 36000 + 21668 + 4823 + 25120 + 2014 + 4780 + 4715 + 20479 + 14800 + 20744 + 1755 + 25000 + 57816 + 2407 + 4594 + 8087 + 16500 + 26514 + 13600 + 4357 + 21800 + 7587 + 4203 + 3193 + 32018 + 21400 + 4153 + 61566<!--Group C-->+ 886 + 10731 + 26793 + 35000 + 51299 + 18234 + 12148 + 42132 + 8214 + 16411 + 18404 + 3851 + 30000 + 1023 + 18161 + 27978 + 32467 + 12179 + 18093 + 8599 + 2544 + 8000 + 53814 + 18167 + 16200 + 18104 + 1922 + 5625 + 34613 + 10244<!--Group D-->+ 28500 + 7896 + 31731 + 44200 + 6192 + 39793 + 32652 + 6089 + 14200 + 48500 + 40642 + 32879 + 31328 + 21000 + 49989 + 4803 + 50000 + 46673 + 19669 + 9974 + 32633 + 13400 + 10272 + 50153 + 22290 + 42400 + 50560 + 5542 + 42000 + 32711<!--Group E-->+ 21745 + 19905 + 25468 + 5500 + 8517 + 56811 + 12346 + 20852 + 44786 + 3500 + 18901 + 48531 + 11500 + 10439 + 26895 + 19065 + 6861 + 57128 + 16511 + 34505 + 27178 + 6800 + 9452 + 56963 + 5478 + 10779 + 10123 + 36084 + 12158 + 57538<!--Group F-->+ 4114 + 18111 + 15069 + 81781 + 35966 + 10492 + 5067 + 11098 + 13274 + 87258 + 4207 + 9653 + 77690 + 4980 + 20435 + 48520 + 7839 + 4083 + 5067 + 16994 + 16896 + 67823 + 26371 + 6230 + 61598 + 3431 + 46773 + 5067 + 17774 + 11123<!--Group G-->+ 14667 + 29300 + 12139 + 38470 + 5864 + 6500 + 9000 + 15245 + 19195 + 7600 + 5864 + 16622 + 33136 + 4517 + 20321 + 15150 + 20514 + 20675 + 5500 + 11350 + 73628 + 15507 + 5864 + 3493 + 22603 + 3498 + 25397 + 14718 + 28700 + 4518<!--Group H-->+ 13632 + 12029 + 460 + 42653 + 4678 + 16512 + 8900 + 4467 + 1959 + 3151 + 37128 + 20075 + 8285 + 3864 + 42281 + 11000 + 10176 + 488 + 24050 + 4143 + 12379 + 5491 + 29465 + 805 + 750 + 9657 + 7222 + 37765 + 4967 + 12739<!--Group I-->+ 0 + 7571 + 0 + 9548 + 14612 + 36714 + 15567 + 999 + 9775 + 0 + 26555 + 26482 + 28990 + 27351 + 6832 + 8723 + 9775 + 3758 + 15835 + 6839 + 36796 + 9769 + 2446 + 28600 + 7578 + 1261 + 30390 + 6612 + 9775 + 60200 +<!--Second round--> 18269 + 36000 + 30013 + 18667 + 36189 + 51700 + 49193 + 72696}} |
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| top_scorer = {{fbicon|POL}} [[Robert Lewandowski]] |
| top_scorer = {{fbicon|POL}} [[Robert Lewandowski]]<br>(16 goals) |
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| prevseason = [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2014]] |
| prevseason = [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2014]] |
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| nextseason = [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2022]] |
| nextseason = [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2022]] |
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{{Qualification for championships (UEFA)|expanded=FIFA}} |
{{Qualification for championships (UEFA)|expanded=FIFA}} |
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The European section of the '''[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification]]''' acted as qualifiers for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]], which was held in Russia, for national teams that are members of the [[UEFA|Union of European Football Associations]] '''(UEFA)'''. Apart from [[Russia national football team|Russia]], who qualified automatically as hosts, a total of 13 slots in the final tournament were available for UEFA teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=5/news=current-allocation-of-fifa-world-cuptm-confederation-slots-maintained-2610611.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530211217/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=5/news=current-allocation-of-fifa-world-cuptm-confederation-slots-maintained-2610611.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 2015|title=Current allocation of FIFA World |
The European section of the '''[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification]]''' acted as qualifiers for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]], which was held in Russia, for national teams that are members of the [[UEFA|Union of European Football Associations]] '''(UEFA)'''. Apart from [[Russia national football team|Russia]], who qualified automatically as hosts, a total of 13 slots in the final tournament were available for UEFA teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=5/news=current-allocation-of-fifa-world-cuptm-confederation-slots-maintained-2610611.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530211217/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=5/news=current-allocation-of-fifa-world-cuptm-confederation-slots-maintained-2610611.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 2015|title=Current allocation of FIFA World Cup confederation slots maintained|publisher=FIFA.com|date=30 May 2015}}</ref> |
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The qualifying format was confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee meeting on 22–23 March 2015 in [[Vienna]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=2225829.html|title=Executive Committee date in Vienna|publisher=UEFA.org|date=21 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="approval">{{cite web|url= |
The qualifying format was confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee meeting on 22–23 March 2015 in [[Vienna]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=2225829.html|title=Executive Committee date in Vienna|publisher=UEFA.org|date=21 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="approval">{{cite web |date=23 March 2015 |title=New distribution concept for club competitions approved |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/021f-0f8a8c9f65a5-5c29e2543908-1000--new-distribution-concept-for-club-competitions-approved/ |publisher=UEFA.org}}</ref> |
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The qualification process started on 4 September 2016, almost two months after [[UEFA Euro 2016]], and ended on 14 November 2017. |
The qualification process started on 4 September 2016, almost two months after [[UEFA Euro 2016]], and ended on 14 November 2017. |
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[[Belgium national football team|Belgium]], [[England national football team|England]], [[France national football team|France]], [[Germany national football team|Germany]], [[Iceland national football team|Iceland]] (for the first time), [[Poland national football team|Poland]], [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], [[Serbia national football team|Serbia]], and [[Spain national football team|Spain]] qualified in the first round by winning their groups. [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]], [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]], [[Sweden national football team|Sweden]] and [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] qualified by winning their playoffs. |
[[Belgium national football team|Belgium]], [[England national football team|England]], [[France national football team|France]], [[Germany national football team|Germany]], [[Iceland national football team|Iceland]] (for the first time), [[Poland national football team|Poland]], [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], [[Serbia national football team|Serbia]], and [[Spain national football team|Spain]] qualified in the first round by winning their groups. [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]], [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]], [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] and [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] qualified by winning their playoffs. |
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Four-time champions [[Italy national football team|Italy]] did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, missing out on qualification for the first time since 1958 after losing in the playoffs to Sweden,<ref>{{cite news|last1=AFP|title=Italy Miss Out on FIFA World Cup For the First Time Since 1958|url=http://www.news18.com/news/sports/italy-miss-out-on-fifa-world-cup-for-the-first-time-since-1958-1575865.html|access-date=14 November 2017|publisher=News 18}}</ref> while the three-time FIFA World Cup runners-up [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] did not qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2002 after finishing third in 2014,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/a-win-for-the-netherlands-but-not-enough-to-secure-world-cup-qualification-20171010-gyycx4.html|title=A win for the Netherlands, but not enough to secure World Cup qualification|date=11 October 2017|work=Sydney Morning Herald|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012002420/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/a-win-for-the-netherlands-but-not-enough-to-secure-world-cup-qualification-20171010-gyycx4.html|archive-date=12 October 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and second in 2010. Iceland, with 335,000 inhabitants, became the smallest country ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iceland become smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/09/iceland-qualify-world-cup-smallest-nation|access-date=20 November 2017|publisher=The |
Four-time champions [[Italy national football team|Italy]] did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, missing out on qualification for the first time since 1958 after losing in the playoffs to Sweden,<ref>{{cite news|last1=AFP|title=Italy Miss Out on FIFA World Cup For the First Time Since 1958|url=http://www.news18.com/news/sports/italy-miss-out-on-fifa-world-cup-for-the-first-time-since-1958-1575865.html|access-date=14 November 2017|publisher=News 18}}</ref> while the three-time FIFA World Cup runners-up [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] did not qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2002 after finishing third in 2014,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/a-win-for-the-netherlands-but-not-enough-to-secure-world-cup-qualification-20171010-gyycx4.html|title=A win for the Netherlands, but not enough to secure World Cup qualification|date=11 October 2017|work=Sydney Morning Herald|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012002420/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/a-win-for-the-netherlands-but-not-enough-to-secure-world-cup-qualification-20171010-gyycx4.html|archive-date=12 October 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and second in 2010. Iceland, with 335,000 inhabitants, became the smallest country ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iceland become smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/09/iceland-qualify-world-cup-smallest-nation|access-date=20 November 2017|publisher=The Guardian |date=9 October 2017}}</ref> |
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==Entrants== |
==Entrants== |
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Apart from [[Russia national football team|Russia]], which qualified automatically as hosts, all remaining 52 FIFA-affiliated national teams from UEFA at the registration deadline of January 2015 entered qualification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/news/newsid=2507253/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115183352/http://www.fifa.com//worldcup/russia2018/news/newsid=2507253/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2015|title=Road to Russia with new milestone|publisher=FIFA.com|date=15 January 2015}}</ref> |
Apart from [[Russia national football team|Russia]], which qualified automatically as hosts, all remaining 52 FIFA-affiliated national teams from UEFA at the registration deadline of January 2015 entered qualification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/news/newsid=2507253/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115183352/http://www.fifa.com//worldcup/russia2018/news/newsid=2507253/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2015|title=Road to Russia with new milestone|publisher=FIFA.com|date=15 January 2015}}</ref> |
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[[Gibraltar national football team|Gibraltar]], despite being a UEFA member since 2013, was not a [[FIFA]] member at the time of the registration deadline, and thus was not eligible to enter qualification for the FIFA World Cup. They appealed to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] to challenge FIFA's refusal to grant membership in order to enter World Cup qualifying.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/12/gibraltar-appeal-fifa-world-cup-qualifying|title=Gibraltar appeal to court for Fifa recognition to enter World Cup qualifying|work=The Guardian|date=12 February 2015}}</ref> In May 2016, the CAS found in Gibraltar's favour and ordered that FIFA put Gibraltar forward for FIFA membership, which would permit Gibraltar to take part in the qualifiers if membership was granted.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/03/sports/soccer/ruling-moves-gibraltar-closer-to-fifa-membership.html |title=Ruling Moves Gibraltar Closer to FIFA Membership |work=New York Times |date=2 May 2016}}</ref> |
[[Gibraltar national football team|Gibraltar]], despite being a UEFA member since 2013, was not a [[FIFA]] member at the time of the registration deadline, and thus was not eligible to enter qualification for the FIFA World Cup. They appealed to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] to challenge FIFA's refusal to grant membership in order to enter World Cup qualifying.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/12/gibraltar-appeal-fifa-world-cup-qualifying|title=Gibraltar appeal to court for Fifa recognition to enter World Cup qualifying|work=The Guardian|date=12 February 2015}}</ref> In May 2016, the CAS found in Gibraltar's favour and ordered that FIFA put Gibraltar forward for FIFA membership, which would permit Gibraltar to take part in the qualifiers if membership was granted.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/03/sports/soccer/ruling-moves-gibraltar-closer-to-fifa-membership.html |title=Ruling Moves Gibraltar Closer to FIFA Membership |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 May 2016}}</ref> |
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[[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo]] became a UEFA member on 3 May 2016, and together with Gibraltar, applied for membership in the FIFA Congress in 12–13 May 2016. FIFA confirmed that in the case both associations succeeded in becoming a member, they would be entitled to participate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with UEFA tasked to integrate them into the competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=5/news=fifa-council-agrees-on-four-phase-bidding-process-for-2026-fifa-world--2790472.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510215719/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=5/news=fifa-council-agrees-on-four-phase-bidding-process-for-2026-fifa-world--2790472.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 May 2016|title=FIFA Council agrees on four-phase bidding process for 2026 FIFA World Cup|publisher=FIFA.com|date=10 May 2016}}</ref> |
[[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo]] became a UEFA member on 3 May 2016, and together with Gibraltar, applied for membership in the FIFA Congress in 12–13 May 2016. FIFA confirmed that in the case both associations succeeded in becoming a member, they would be entitled to participate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with UEFA tasked to integrate them into the competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=5/news=fifa-council-agrees-on-four-phase-bidding-process-for-2026-fifa-world--2790472.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510215719/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=5/news=fifa-council-agrees-on-four-phase-bidding-process-for-2026-fifa-world--2790472.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 May 2016|title=FIFA Council agrees on four-phase bidding process for 2026 FIFA World Cup|publisher=FIFA.com|date=10 May 2016}}</ref> |
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On 13 May 2016, both Kosovo and Gibraltar were officially admitted as FIFA members, thus allowing them to compete.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/kosovo-gibraltar-join-fifa-before-2018-world-cup-qualifying/2016/05/13/37144c7a-193d-11e6-971a-dadf9ab18869_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514142209/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/kosovo-gibraltar-join-fifa-before-2018-world-cup-qualifying/2016/05/13/37144c7a-193d-11e6-971a-dadf9ab18869_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2016|title=Kosovo, Gibraltar join FIFA before 2018 World Cup qualifying|work=Washington Post|date=13 May 2016}}</ref> UEFA created a task force to discuss how to integrate the two teams into the competition,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/mediaservices/newsid=2365958.html|title=Timeline for UEFA Presidential elections decided|publisher=UEFA|date=18 May 2016|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=22 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722145008/http://www.uefa.org/mediaservices/newsid=2365958.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and on 9 June 2016 UEFA announced that Kosovo would be assigned to Group I, to avoid meeting Bosnia and Herzegovina for security reasons, and Gibraltar would play in Group H.<ref name="Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned groups" /><ref name="Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned groups2" /> |
On 13 May 2016, both Kosovo and Gibraltar were officially admitted as FIFA members, thus allowing them to compete.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/kosovo-gibraltar-join-fifa-before-2018-world-cup-qualifying/2016/05/13/37144c7a-193d-11e6-971a-dadf9ab18869_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514142209/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/kosovo-gibraltar-join-fifa-before-2018-world-cup-qualifying/2016/05/13/37144c7a-193d-11e6-971a-dadf9ab18869_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2016|title=Kosovo, Gibraltar join FIFA before 2018 World Cup qualifying|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=13 May 2016}}</ref> UEFA created a task force to discuss how to integrate the two teams into the competition,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/mediaservices/newsid=2365958.html|title=Timeline for UEFA Presidential elections decided|publisher=UEFA|date=18 May 2016|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=22 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722145008/http://www.uefa.org/mediaservices/newsid=2365958.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and on 9 June 2016 UEFA announced that Kosovo would be assigned to Group I, to avoid meeting Bosnia and Herzegovina for security reasons, and Gibraltar would play in Group H.<ref name="Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned groups" /><ref name="Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned groups2" /> |
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==Format== |
==Format== |
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The qualification structure was as follows:<ref name="approval" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/preliminarydraw/02/66/71/27/europe_drawprocedures_neutral.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724213005/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/preliminarydraw/02/66/71/27/europe_drawprocedures_neutral.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2015|title=Draw Procedures – European Zone|publisher=FIFA.com}}</ref> |
The qualification structure was as follows:<ref name="approval" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/preliminarydraw/02/66/71/27/europe_drawprocedures_neutral.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724213005/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/preliminarydraw/02/66/71/27/europe_drawprocedures_neutral.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2015|title=Draw Procedures – European Zone|publisher=FIFA.com}}</ref> |
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*'''First round (group stage)''': |
*'''First round (group stage)''': 54 teams were divided into nine groups of six teams each to play home-and-away [[round-robin tournament|round-robin]] matches. The winners of each group qualified for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]], and the eight best runners-up advanced to the second round (play-offs). |
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*'''Second round (play-offs)''': |
*'''Second round (play-offs)''': Eight best runners-up from the first round played against one other team over [[two-legged tie|two legs]], home and away. The draw for these matches was held on 17 October 2017. The first legs were played on 9–11 November, and the second legs were played on 12–14 November 2017 — the winners of each tie qualified for the World Cup. |
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Qualifying matches started in September 2016, following [[UEFA Euro 2016]], and finished in November 2017.<ref name="approval" /><ref name="draw format"/> |
Qualifying matches started in September 2016, following [[UEFA Euro 2016]], and finished in November 2017.<ref name="approval" /><ref name="draw format">{{cite web |date=16 June 2015 |title=FIFA World Cup qualifying draw format |url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2257685.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626094547/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid%3D2257685.html |archive-date=26 June 2016 |publisher=UEFA.com}}</ref> |
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The scheduling of qualifying matches, which |
The scheduling of qualifying matches, which UEFA centralised, followed the "Week of Football" concept first used for [[UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administration/marketing/blocked-broadcasting-hours/news/newsid=1939716.html|title=UEFA announces deals for European qualifiers|publisher=UEFA.org|date=10 April 2013|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=23 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023001015/http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administration/marketing/blocked-broadcasting-hours/news/newsid=1939716.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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*Matches take place from Thursday to Tuesday. |
*Matches take place from Thursday to Tuesday. |
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*Kick-off times are largely set at 18:00 and 20:45 [[Central European Time|CET/CEST]] on Saturdays and Sundays, and 20:45 CET/CEST on Thursdays, Fridays, Mondays and Tuesdays. |
*Kick-off times are largely set at 18:00 and 20:45 [[Central European Time|CET/CEST]] on Saturdays and Sundays, and 20:45 CET/CEST on Thursdays, Fridays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. |
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*On double-header matchweeks, teams play on Thursday and Sunday, |
*On double-header matchweeks, teams play on Thursday and Sunday, Friday and Monday, or Saturday and Tuesday. |
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*Matches in the same group are played on the same day. |
*Matches in the same group are played on the same day. |
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The fixture list was confirmed by UEFA on 26 July 2015, the day following the draw.<ref name="draw format"/><ref>{{ |
The fixture list was confirmed by UEFA on 26 July 2015, the day following the draw.<ref name="draw format"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=World Cup European Qualifiers fixtures confirmed |url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0253-0d8063d53683-37eece34611b-1000--world-cup-european-qualifiers-fixtures-confirmed/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref> |
||
==First round== |
==First round== |
||
===Seeding=== |
===Seeding=== |
||
The draw for the first round (group stage) occurred as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on 25 July 2015, starting 18:00 [[Moscow Standard Time|MSK]] ([[UTC+03:00|UTC+3]]), at the Konstantinovsky Palace in [[Strelna]], [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia.<ref name=" |
The draw for the first round (group stage) occurred as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on 25 July 2015, starting 18:00 [[Moscow Standard Time|MSK]] ([[UTC+03:00|UTC+3]]), at the Konstantinovsky Palace in [[Strelna]], [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=European teams learn World Cup qualifying fate |url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0253-0d8061d122ac-6b4e5e13ae2a-1000--european-teams-learn-world-cup-qualifying-fate/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref> |
||
The seeding was based on the July 2015 [[FIFA World Rankings]].<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – July 2015 (UEFA) |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=252/uefa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717025433/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=252/uefa.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2015 |work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=9 July 2015 |access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> The 52 teams were seeded into six pots: |
The seeding was based on the July 2015 [[FIFA World Rankings]].<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – July 2015 (UEFA) |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=252/uefa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717025433/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=252/uefa.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2015 |work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=9 July 2015 |access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> The 52 teams were seeded into six pots: |
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Line 119: | Line 117: | ||
*Pot 6 contains the teams ranked 46–52. |
*Pot 6 contains the teams ranked 46–52. |
||
Each six-team group contained one team from each of the six pots, while each five-team group contained one team from each of the first five pots.<ref name=" |
Each six-team group contained one team from each of the six pots, while each five-team group contained one team from each of the first five pots.<ref name=":0" /> |
||
Due to the |
Due to the centralization of media rights for European qualifiers, the following teams were drawn into groups with six teams: England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. Both the Netherlands and France were drawn together in Group A, and both Spain and Italy were drawn together in Group G.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=FIFA World Cup qualifying draw format|url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0253-0d7ffa54e62a-74fd19cb037f-1000--fifa-world-cup-qualifying-draw-format/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref> |
||
In consideration of the political [[Armenia–Azerbaijan relations|relations]] |
In consideration of the political [[Armenia–Azerbaijan relations|relations]] between [[Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan]], UEFA requested that FIFA maintain the current UEFA policy not to draw these teams into the same qualification groups (since the two teams were in the same seeding pot, this would not have happened regardless of the request).<ref name=":0" /> |
||
Teams in '''bold''' eventually qualified for the final tournament, teams in '''''bold italic''''' qualified for the final tournament through the play-offs, and teams in ''italic'' participated in the play-offs but did not qualify for the final tournament. |
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{| |
{| |
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|- valign=top |
|- valign=top |
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Line 135: | Line 132: | ||
! width=190| Team !! {{Tooltip|Rank|Position on the July 2015 FIFA World Rankings}} |
! width=190| Team !! {{Tooltip|Rank|Position on the July 2015 FIFA World Rankings}} |
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|- |
|- |
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| '''{{fb|GER}}''' || align=center| 2 |
| ''' {{fb|GER}}''' || align=center| 2 |
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|- |
|- |
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| '''{{fb|BEL}}''' || align=center| 3 |
| ''' {{fb|BEL}}''' || align=center| 3 |
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|- |
|- |
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| {{fb|NED}} || align=center| 5 |
| {{fb|NED}} || align=center| 5 |
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|- |
|- |
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| '''{{fb|POR}}''' || align=center| 7 |
| ''' {{fb|POR}}''' || align=center| 7 |
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|- |
|- |
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| {{fb|ROU}} || align=center| 8 |
| {{fb|ROU}} || align=center| 8 |
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|- |
|- |
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| '''{{fb|ENG}}''' || align=center| 9 |
| ''' {{fb|ENG}}''' || align=center| 9 |
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|- |
|- |
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| {{fb|WAL}} || align=center| 10 |
| {{fb|WAL}} || align=center| 10 |
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|- |
|- |
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| '''{{fb|ESP}}''' || align=center| 12 |
| ''' {{fb|ESP}}''' || align=center| 12 |
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|- |
|- |
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| ''' |
| ''' {{fb|CRO}}''' || align=center| 14 |
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|} |
|} |
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| |
| |
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Line 164: | Line 161: | ||
| {{fb|AUT}} || align=center| 15 |
| {{fb|AUT}} || align=center| 15 |
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|- |
|- |
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| |
| {{fb|ITA}} || align=center| 17 |
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|- |
|- |
||
| ''' |
| ''' {{fb|SUI}}''' || align=center| 18 |
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|- |
|- |
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| {{fb|CZE}} || align=center| 20 |
| {{fb|CZE}} || align=center| 20 |
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|- |
|- |
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| '''{{fb|FRA}}''' || align=center| 22 |
| ''' {{fb|FRA|1974}}''' || align=center| 22 |
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|- |
|- |
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| '''{{fb|ISL}}''' || align=center| 23 |
| ''' {{fb|ISL}}''' || align=center| 23 |
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|- |
|- |
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| ''' |
| ''' {{fb|DEN}}''' || align=center| 24 |
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|- |
|- |
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| {{fb|BIH}} || align=center| 26 |
| {{fb|BIH}} || align=center| 26 |
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Line 189: | Line 186: | ||
| {{fb|SCO}} || align=center| 29 |
| {{fb|SCO}} || align=center| 29 |
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|- |
|- |
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| '''{{fb|POL}}''' || align=center| 30 |
| ''' {{fb|POL}}''' || align=center| 30 |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{fb|HUN}} || align=center| 31 |
| {{fb|HUN}} || align=center| 31 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ''' |
| ''' {{fb|SWE}}''' || align=center| 33 |
||
|- |
|- |
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| {{fb|ALB}} || align=center| 36 |
| {{fb|ALB}} || align=center| 36 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
| {{fb|NIR}} || align=center| 37 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''{{fb|SRB}}''' || align=center| 43 |
| ''' {{fb|SRB}}''' || align=center| 43 |
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|- |
|- |
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| |
| {{fb|GRE}} || align=center| 44 |
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|} |
|} |
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|-valign=top |
|-valign=top |
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Line 217: | Line 214: | ||
| {{fb|ISR}} || align=center| 51 |
| {{fb|ISR}} || align=center| 51 |
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|- |
|- |
||
| |
| {{fb|IRL}} || align=center| 52 |
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|- |
|- |
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| {{fb|NOR}} || align=center| 67 |
| {{fb|NOR}} || align=center| 67 |
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Line 277: | Line 274: | ||
|} |
|} |
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The football associations of [[Gibraltar |
The football associations of [[Gibraltar Football Association|Gibraltar]] and [[Football Federation of Kosovo|Kosovo]] became members of FIFA after the draw had taken place but before any games had been played. It was decided that both would be added to the World Cup qualifying process in Groups H and I, making those groups up to six teams each; due to the disputed [[political status of Kosovo]], for security reasons, it was decided that Kosovo could not play against [[Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team|Bosnia and Herzegovina]] or [[Serbia national football team|Serbia]], which meant Kosovo was added to Group I and Gibraltar to Group H.<ref name="Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned groups">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=2373259.html|title=Kosovo to play in Group I in European Qualifiers|publisher=Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)|work=uefa.org|date=9 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned groups2">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=6/news=kosovo-and-gibraltar-assigned-to-2018-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-groups-2800709.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609202622/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=6/news=kosovo-and-gibraltar-assigned-to-2018-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-groups-2800709.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 June 2016|title=Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying groups|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)|work=FIFA.com|date=9 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20160609_02331830 |title=Gibraltar komt in kwalificatiegroep van Rode Duivels voor WK |language=nl |access-date=9 June 2016 |date=9 June 2016}}</ref> Gibraltar and [[Spain national football team|Spain]] had previously been kept separate from each other in [[UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying]] as a result of the [[disputed status of Gibraltar]].<ref name="Euro 2016 Seeding">{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-gibraltar-spain-kept-apart-euro-2016-draw-122831948--sow.html|title=Gibraltar and Spain kept apart in Euro 2016 draw|agency=Reuters|publisher=Yahoo Sports|date=24 January 2014}}</ref> |
||
The hosts [[Russia national football team|Russia]] were to be partnered with five-team [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H|Group H]] for friendlies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Tech/uefaorg/General/01/91/19/14/1911914_DOWNLOAD.pdf|title=Commercial regulations for the European qualifying matches for UEFA EURO 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup|publisher=UEFA.com}}</ref> However, with the admission of Kosovo and Gibraltar, all groups were filled to contain six teams and the Russia friendlies against Group H teams were cancelled. UEFA vice-president [[Hryhoriy Surkis]] said that the UEFA management would deal with the issue of finding opponents for Russia to play friendlies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/en/sport/876439|title=UEFA sets up commission on Kosovo, Gibraltar participation in 2018 World Cup qualifiers|publisher=Russian News Agency TASS|work=tass.ru|date=18 May 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> |
The hosts [[Russia national football team|Russia]] were originally to be partnered with five-team [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H|Group H]] for friendlies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Tech/uefaorg/General/01/91/19/14/1911914_DOWNLOAD.pdf|title=Commercial regulations for the European qualifying matches for UEFA EURO 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup|publisher=UEFA.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119013718/https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Tech/uefaorg/General/01/91/19/14/1911914_DOWNLOAD.pdf|archive-date=19 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> However, with the admission of Kosovo and Gibraltar, all groups were filled to contain six teams and the Russia friendlies against Group H teams were cancelled. UEFA vice-president [[Hryhoriy Surkis]] said that the UEFA management would deal with the issue of finding opponents for Russia to play friendlies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/en/sport/876439|title=UEFA sets up commission on Kosovo, Gibraltar participation in 2018 World Cup qualifiers|publisher=Russian News Agency TASS|work=tass.ru|date=18 May 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> |
||
===Summary=== |
===Summary=== |
||
{{legend|#ccffcc|Winner of each group qualified directly for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]}} |
{{legend|#ccffcc|Winner of each group qualified directly for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]}} |
||
{{legend|#BBF3FF|The [[#Ranking of second-placed teams|eight best runners-up among all nine groups]] advanced to the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA |
{{legend|#BBF3FF|The [[#Ranking of second-placed teams|eight best runners-up among all nine groups]] advanced to the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round|second round (play-offs)]]}} |
||
{{legend|#ffcccc|Other teams were eliminated after the first round}} |
{{legend|#ffcccc|Other teams were eliminated after the first round}} |
||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" width="99%" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" width="99%" |
||
⚫ | |||
|- align="center" |
|||
! width="11%" |[[#Group A|Group A]] |
! width="11%" |[[#Group A|Group A]] |
||
! width="11%" |[[#Group B|Group B]] |
! width="11%" |[[#Group B|Group B]] |
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Line 298: | Line 295: | ||
! width="11%" |[[#Group I|Group I]] |
! width="11%" |[[#Group I|Group I]] |
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|- style="background:#ccffcc; font-size:90%" |
|- style="background:#ccffcc; font-size:90%" |
||
| style="vertical-align:top" |{{fb-big|FRA}} |
| style="vertical-align:top" |{{fb-big|FRA|1974}} |
||
| style="vertical-align:top" |{{fb-big|POR}} |
| style="vertical-align:top" |{{fb-big|POR}} |
||
| style="vertical-align:top" |{{fb-big|GER}} |
| style="vertical-align:top" |{{fb-big|GER}} |
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Line 333: | Line 330: | ||
====Group A==== |
====Group A==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
====Group B==== |
====Group B==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group B}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group B}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group B |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group B|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
====Group C==== |
====Group C==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group C}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group C}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group C |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group C|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
====Group D==== |
====Group D==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
====Group E==== |
====Group E==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
====Group F==== |
====Group F==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group F}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group F}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group F |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group F|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
====Group G==== |
====Group G==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group G}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group G}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group G |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group G|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
====Group H==== |
====Group H==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
====Group I==== |
====Group I==== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I}} |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I}} |
||
{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules |show_matches=yes}} |
||
===Ranking of second-placed teams=== |
===Ranking of second-placed teams=== |
||
When the draw was made, groups H and I had one team fewer than the other groups so it was decided that matches against the last-placed team in each of the six-team groups would not be included in the ranking of the second-placed teams |
When the draw was made, groups H and I had one team fewer than the other groups so it was decided that matches against the last-placed team in each of the six-team groups would not be included in the ranking of the second-placed teams. Although the admission of Kosovo and Gibraltar made all teams have equal groups, this rule was not amended.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/newsid=2389887.html|title=Focus switches to World Cup qualifying|website=UEFA.com|date=22 August 2016}}</ref> As a result, only eight matches played by each team were counted in the second-placed table. |
||
The eight best runners-up were determined by the following parameters, in this order:<ref |
The eight best runners-up were determined by the following parameters, in this order:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/newsid=2506867.html|title=As it stands: ranking of second-placed teams|website=UEFA.com|date=3 October 2017}}</ref> |
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# Highest number of points |
# Highest number of points |
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# Goal difference |
# Goal difference |
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Line 385: | Line 374: | ||
# Fair play points |
# Fair play points |
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# Drawing of lots |
# Drawing of lots |
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<onlyinclude>{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL |
|||
⚫ | |||
|section=Runners-up |
|||
|source=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/index.html#2000062534 FIFA] |
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<!--UPDATE standings below (including date)--> |
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<!--DO NOT include results against sixth-placed teams--> |
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|update=complete |
|||
|win_GrA=4 |draw_GrA=1 |loss_GrA=3 |gf_GrA=18|ga_GrA=9 |
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|win_GrB=7 |draw_GrB=0 |loss_GrB=1 |gf_GrB=18|ga_GrB=6 |
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|win_GrC=4 |draw_GrC=1 |loss_GrC=3 |gf_GrC=10|ga_GrC=6 |
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|win_GrD=3 |draw_GrD=4 |loss_GrD=1 |gf_GrD=7 |ga_GrD=5 |
|||
|win_GrE=4 |draw_GrE=2 |loss_GrE=2 |gf_GrE=13|ga_GrE=6 |
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|win_GrF=4 |draw_GrF=0 |loss_GrF=4 |gf_GrF=11|ga_GrF=6 |
|||
|win_GrG=5 |draw_GrG=2 |loss_GrG=1 |gf_GrG=12|ga_GrG=8 |
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|win_GrH=3 |draw_GrH=4 |loss_GrH=1 |gf_GrH=9 |ga_GrH=5 |
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|win_GrI=4 |draw_GrI=2 |loss_GrI=2 |gf_GrI=8 |ga_GrI=4 |
|||
<!--UPDATE positions below (check tiebreakers)--> |
|||
|class_rules=Counting only matches against teams ranked first to fifth in the group, 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Fair play points; 5) Drawing of lots.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/competitionformat/index.html |title=Competition format - FIFA World Cup - News - UEFA.com |website=uefa.com |publisher=UEFA |access-date=4 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="second-placed">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/newsid=2506867.html|title=As it stands: ranking of second-placed teams|publisher=UEFA.com|date=3 October 2017}}</ref> |
|||
|team1=GrB |team2=GrG |team3=GrE |team4=GrI |team5=GrA |team6=GrC |team7=GrH |team8=GrD |team9=GrF |
|||
<!-- NOTE: USE fb TEMPLATE --> |
|||
|name_GrA={{fb|SWE}} |
|||
|name_GrB={{fb|SUI}} |
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|name_GrC={{fb|NIR}} |
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|name_GrD={{fb|IRL}} |
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|name_GrE={{fb|DEN}} |
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|name_GrF={{fb|SVK}} |
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|name_GrG={{fb|ITA}} |
|||
|name_GrH={{fb|GRE}} |
|||
|name_GrI={{fb|CRO}} |
|||
|show_groups=T |
|||
⚫ | |||
|group_GrB=[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group B|B]] |
|||
|group_GrC=[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group C|C]] |
|||
|group_GrD=[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group D|D]] |
|||
|group_GrE=[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E|E]] |
|||
|group_GrF=[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group F|F]] |
|||
|group_GrG=[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group G|G]] |
|||
|group_GrH=[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H|H]] |
|||
|group_GrI=[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I|I]] |
|||
<!--Update qualifications below--> |
|||
|res_col_header=Q |
|||
|result1=PO |result2=PO |result3=PO |result4=PO |result5=PO |result6=PO |result7=PO |result8=PO |
|||
|col_PO=blue1 |text_PO=Advance to [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round|second round (play-offs)]] |
|||
}}</onlyinclude> |
|||
==Second round== |
==Second round== |
||
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA |
{{main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round}} |
||
The eight best group runners-up contested the second round, where they were paired into four two-legged (home-and-away) fixtures. |
The eight best group runners-up contested the second round, where they were paired into four two-legged (home-and-away) fixtures. |
||
Line 398: | Line 433: | ||
!width=50%|Pot 2 |
!width=50%|Pot 2 |
||
|- valign=top |
|- valign=top |
||
|{{fb|SUI}} (11)<br>{{fb|ITA}} (15)<br>{{fb|CRO}} (18)<br>{{fb|DEN}} (19) |
|||
⚫ | |||
{{fb| |
|{{fb|NIR}} (23)<br>{{fb|SWE}} (25)<br>{{fb|IRL}} (26)<br>{{fb|GRE}} (47) |
||
{{fb|ITA}} (15)<br /> |
|||
{{fb|CRO}} (18)<br /> |
|||
{{fb|DEN}} (19) |
|||
| |
|||
{{fb|NIR}} (23)<br /> |
|||
{{fb|SWE}} (25)<br /> |
|||
{{fb|IRL}} (26)<br /> |
|||
{{fb|GRE}} (47) |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
===Matches=== |
===Matches=== |
||
The first legs were played on 9–11 November, and the second legs were played on 12–14 November 2017. The winners of each tie qualified for the World Cup. |
The first legs were played on 9–11 November, and the second legs were played on 12–14 November 2017. The winners of each tie qualified for the World Cup. |
||
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA |
{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round}} |
||
==Qualified teams== |
==Qualified teams== |
||
Line 422: | Line 449: | ||
! Qualified as |
! Qualified as |
||
! Qualified on |
! Qualified on |
||
! data-sort-type="number"|Previous [[National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup|appearances]] in [[FIFA World Cup]]<sup> |
! data-sort-type="number"|Previous [[National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup|appearances]] in [[FIFA World Cup]]<sup>[[#1|1]]</sup> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{fb|RUS}} || {{sort|*|Hosts}} || {{dts|2 December 2010}} || 10 ([[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]) |
| {{fb|RUS}} || {{sort|*|Hosts}} || {{dts|2 December 2010}} || 10 ([[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]<sup>'''[[#2|2]]'''</sup>, [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{fb|FRA}} || {{sort|A|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A|Group A]] winners}} || {{dts|10 October 2017|addkey=2}} || 14 ([[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]], [[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]], ''[[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]]'', [[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]], [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]], [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]], [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], '''''[[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]''''', [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]) |
| {{fb|FRA|1974}} || {{sort|A|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A|Group A]] winners}} || {{dts|10 October 2017|addkey=2}} || 14 ([[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]], [[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]], ''[[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]]'', [[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]], [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]], [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]], [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], '''''[[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]''''', [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{fb|POR}} || {{sort|B|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group B|Group B]] winners}} || {{dts|10 October 2017|addkey=1}} || 6 ([[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]) |
| {{fb|POR}} || {{sort|B|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group B|Group B]] winners}} || {{dts|10 October 2017|addkey=1}} || 6 ([[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]) |
||
Line 444: | Line 471: | ||
| {{fb|ISL}} || {{sort|I|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I|Group I]] winners}} || {{dts|9 October 2017|addkey=1}} || 0 (debut) |
| {{fb|ISL}} || {{sort|I|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I|Group I]] winners}} || {{dts|9 October 2017|addkey=1}} || 0 (debut) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{fb|SUI}} || {{sort|PO1|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA |
| {{fb|SUI}} || {{sort|PO1|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round|Second round (play-off)]] winners}} || {{dts|12 November 2017|addkey=1}} || 10 ([[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]], [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]], [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]], ''[[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]]'', [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]], [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]], [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{fb|CRO}} || {{sort|PO2|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA |
| {{fb|CRO}} || {{sort|PO2|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round|Second round (play-off)]] winners}} || {{dts|12 November 2017|addkey=2}} || 4 ([[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{fb|DEN}} || {{sort|PO3|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA |
| {{fb|DEN}} || {{sort|PO3|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round|Second round (play-off)]] winners}} || {{dts|14 November 2017}} || 4 ([[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]]) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{fb|SWE}} || {{sort|PO4|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA |
| {{fb|SWE}} || {{sort|PO4|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round|Second round (play-off)]] winners}} || {{dts|13 November 2017}} || 11 ([[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]], [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]], [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]], ''[[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]'', [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]], [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]], [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]], [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]], [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]) |
||
|} |
|} |
||
:<div id="1"><sup>1</sup> '''Bold''' indicates champions for that year. ''Italic'' indicates hosts for that year.</div> |
:<div id="1"><sup>1</sup> '''Bold''' indicates champions for that year. ''Italic'' indicates hosts for that year.</div> |
||
Line 458: | Line 485: | ||
==Top goalscorers== |
==Top goalscorers== |
||
{{Goalscorers |
|||
⚫ | |||
|goals=807 |matches=278 |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
|||
⚫ | |||
*{{fbicon|POL}} [[Robert Lewandowski]] |
*{{fbicon|POL}} [[Robert Lewandowski]] |
||
{{div col end}} |
|||
|15 goals= |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
|||
*{{fbicon|POR}} [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] |
*{{fbicon|POR}} [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] |
||
{{div col end}} |
|||
|11 goals= |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
|||
*{{fbicon|BEL}} [[Romelu Lukaku]] |
*{{fbicon|BEL}} [[Romelu Lukaku]] |
||
*{{fbicon|DEN}} [[Christian Eriksen]] |
*{{fbicon|DEN}} [[Christian Eriksen]] |
||
{{div col end}} |
|||
|9 goals= |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
|||
*{{fbicon|POR}} [[André Silva (footballer, born 1995)|André Silva]] |
*{{fbicon|POR}} [[André Silva (footballer, born 1995)|André Silva]] |
||
{{div col end}} |
|||
|8 goals= |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
|||
*{{fbicon|SWE}} [[Marcus Berg]] |
*{{fbicon|SWE}} [[Marcus Berg]] |
||
{{div col end}} |
|||
|7 goals= |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
|||
*{{fbicon|MNE}} [[Stevan Jovetić]] |
*{{fbicon|MNE}} [[Stevan Jovetić]] |
||
{{div col end}} |
|||
|6 goals= |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
|||
*{{fbicon|BEL}} [[Eden Hazard]] |
*{{fbicon|BEL}} [[Eden Hazard]] |
||
*{{fbicon|GRE}} [[Kostas Mitroglou]] |
*{{fbicon|GRE}} [[Kostas Mitroglou]] |
||
Line 497: | Line 514: | ||
*{{fbicon|SRB}} [[Aleksandar Mitrović (footballer)|Aleksandar Mitrović]] |
*{{fbicon|SRB}} [[Aleksandar Mitrović (footballer)|Aleksandar Mitrović]] |
||
*{{fbicon|UKR}} [[Andriy Yarmolenko]] |
*{{fbicon|UKR}} [[Andriy Yarmolenko]] |
||
⚫ | |||
{{div col end}} |
|||
Below are full goalscorer lists for all groups and the play-off rounds: |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
||
*[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A#Goalscorers|Group A]] |
*[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A#Goalscorers|Group A]] |
||
Line 510: | Line 527: | ||
*[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H#Goalscorers|Group H]] |
*[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H#Goalscorers|Group H]] |
||
*[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I#Goalscorers|Group I]] |
*[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I#Goalscorers|Group I]] |
||
*[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA |
*[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round#Goalscorers|Play-offs]] |
||
{{div col end}} |
{{div col end}} |
||
⚫ | |||
==Branding== |
==Branding== |
||
UEFA unveiled the branding for the qualifiers on 15 April 2013. It shows a national jersey inside a heart, and represents Europe, honour and ambition. The same branding was also used for the [[UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying|European qualifiers]] for the [[UEFA Euro 2016]].<ref>{{cite news|title=European qualifiers branding launched|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administration/marketing/news/newsid=1941055.html|access-date=10 September 2014|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=15 April 2013}}</ref> |
UEFA unveiled the branding for the qualifiers on 15 April 2013. It shows a national jersey inside a heart, and represents Europe, honour and ambition. The same branding was also used for the [[UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying|European qualifiers]] for the [[UEFA Euro 2016]].<ref>{{cite news|title=European qualifiers branding launched|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administration/marketing/news/newsid=1941055.html|access-date=10 September 2014|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=15 April 2013}}</ref> |
||
==Broadcasting== |
|||
{{Main|UEFA European Qualifiers broadcasting rights}} |
|||
==Sponsors== |
==Sponsors== |
Latest revision as of 20:13, 1 December 2024
Tournament details | |
---|---|
Dates | 4 September 2016 – 14 November 2017 |
Teams | 54 (from 1 confederation) |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 278 |
Goals scored | 807 (2.9 per match) |
Attendance | 5,866,771 (21,103 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | Robert Lewandowski (16 goals) |
← 2014 2022 → |
UEFA European Qualifiers |
---|
The European section of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification acted as qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Russia, for national teams that are members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Apart from Russia, who qualified automatically as hosts, a total of 13 slots in the final tournament were available for UEFA teams.[1]
The qualifying format was confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee meeting on 22–23 March 2015 in Vienna.[2][3]
The qualification process started on 4 September 2016, almost two months after UEFA Euro 2016, and ended on 14 November 2017. Belgium, England, France, Germany, Iceland (for the first time), Poland, Portugal, Serbia, and Spain qualified in the first round by winning their groups. Croatia, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland qualified by winning their playoffs.
Four-time champions Italy did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, missing out on qualification for the first time since 1958 after losing in the playoffs to Sweden,[4] while the three-time FIFA World Cup runners-up Netherlands did not qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2002 after finishing third in 2014,[5] and second in 2010. Iceland, with 335,000 inhabitants, became the smallest country ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.[6]
Entrants
[edit]Apart from Russia, which qualified automatically as hosts, all remaining 52 FIFA-affiliated national teams from UEFA at the registration deadline of January 2015 entered qualification.[7]
Gibraltar, despite being a UEFA member since 2013, was not a FIFA member at the time of the registration deadline, and thus was not eligible to enter qualification for the FIFA World Cup. They appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge FIFA's refusal to grant membership in order to enter World Cup qualifying.[8] In May 2016, the CAS found in Gibraltar's favour and ordered that FIFA put Gibraltar forward for FIFA membership, which would permit Gibraltar to take part in the qualifiers if membership was granted.[9]
Kosovo became a UEFA member on 3 May 2016, and together with Gibraltar, applied for membership in the FIFA Congress in 12–13 May 2016. FIFA confirmed that in the case both associations succeeded in becoming a member, they would be entitled to participate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with UEFA tasked to integrate them into the competition.[10]
On 13 May 2016, both Kosovo and Gibraltar were officially admitted as FIFA members, thus allowing them to compete.[11] UEFA created a task force to discuss how to integrate the two teams into the competition,[12] and on 9 June 2016 UEFA announced that Kosovo would be assigned to Group I, to avoid meeting Bosnia and Herzegovina for security reasons, and Gibraltar would play in Group H.[13][14]
Format
[edit]The qualification structure was as follows:[3][15]
- First round (group stage): 54 teams were divided into nine groups of six teams each to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The winners of each group qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the eight best runners-up advanced to the second round (play-offs).
- Second round (play-offs): Eight best runners-up from the first round played against one other team over two legs, home and away. The draw for these matches was held on 17 October 2017. The first legs were played on 9–11 November, and the second legs were played on 12–14 November 2017 — the winners of each tie qualified for the World Cup.
Qualifying matches started in September 2016, following UEFA Euro 2016, and finished in November 2017.[3][16]
|
|
The scheduling of qualifying matches, which UEFA centralised, followed the "Week of Football" concept first used for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying:[17]
- Matches take place from Thursday to Tuesday.
- Kick-off times are largely set at 18:00 and 20:45 CET/CEST on Saturdays and Sundays, and 20:45 CET/CEST on Thursdays, Fridays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
- On double-header matchweeks, teams play on Thursday and Sunday, Friday and Monday, or Saturday and Tuesday.
- Matches in the same group are played on the same day.
The fixture list was confirmed by UEFA on 26 July 2015, the day following the draw.[16][18]
First round
[edit]Seeding
[edit]The draw for the first round (group stage) occurred as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on 25 July 2015, starting 18:00 MSK (UTC+3), at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, Saint Petersburg, Russia.[19][20]
The seeding was based on the July 2015 FIFA World Rankings.[21] The 52 teams were seeded into six pots:
- Pot 1 contains the teams ranked 1–9.
- Pot 2 contains the teams ranked 10–18.
- Pot 3 contains the teams ranked 19–27.
- Pot 4 contains the teams ranked 28–36.
- Pot 5 contains the teams ranked 37–45.
- Pot 6 contains the teams ranked 46–52.
Each six-team group contained one team from each of the six pots, while each five-team group contained one team from each of the first five pots.[19]
Due to the centralization of media rights for European qualifiers, the following teams were drawn into groups with six teams: England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. Both the Netherlands and France were drawn together in Group A, and both Spain and Italy were drawn together in Group G.[19]
In consideration of the political relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, UEFA requested that FIFA maintain the current UEFA policy not to draw these teams into the same qualification groups (since the two teams were in the same seeding pot, this would not have happened regardless of the request).[19]
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The football associations of Gibraltar and Kosovo became members of FIFA after the draw had taken place but before any games had been played. It was decided that both would be added to the World Cup qualifying process in Groups H and I, making those groups up to six teams each; due to the disputed political status of Kosovo, for security reasons, it was decided that Kosovo could not play against Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia, which meant Kosovo was added to Group I and Gibraltar to Group H.[13][14][22] Gibraltar and Spain had previously been kept separate from each other in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying as a result of the disputed status of Gibraltar.[23]
The hosts Russia were originally to be partnered with five-team Group H for friendlies.[24] However, with the admission of Kosovo and Gibraltar, all groups were filled to contain six teams and the Russia friendlies against Group H teams were cancelled. UEFA vice-president Hryhoriy Surkis said that the UEFA management would deal with the issue of finding opponents for Russia to play friendlies.[25]
Summary
[edit]Groups
[edit]2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tiebreakers |
---|
In league format, the ranking of teams in each group was based on the following criteria (regulations Articles 20.6 and 20.7):[26]
|
Group A
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | France | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 6 | +12 | 23 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | |
2 | Sweden | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 26 | 9 | +17 | 19 | Advance to second round | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–0 | 8–0 | 4–0 | |
3 | Netherlands | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 12 | +9 | 19 | 0–1 | 2–0 | — | 3–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | ||
4 | Bulgaria | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 19 | −5 | 13 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | — | 4–3 | 1–0 | ||
5 | Luxembourg | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 26 | −18 | 6 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | ||
6 | Belarus | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 21 | −15 | 5 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — |
Group B
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Portugal | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 4 | +28 | 27 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 6–0 | |
2 | Switzerland | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 7 | +16 | 27 | Advance to second round | 2–0 | — | 5–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | |
3 | Hungary | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 0–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | ||
4 | Faroe Islands | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 9 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | ||
5 | Latvia | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 18 | −11 | 7 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 4–0 | ||
6 | Andorra | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 23 | −21 | 4 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | — |
Group C
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Germany | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 4 | +39 | 30 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 7–0 | |
2 | Northern Ireland | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 6 | +11 | 19 | Advance to second round | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | |
3 | Czech Republic | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 10 | +7 | 15 | 1–2 | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | 5–0 | ||
4 | Norway | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 13 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | ||
5 | Azerbaijan | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 19 | −9 | 10 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | — | 5–1 | ||
6 | San Marino | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 51 | −49 | 0 | 0–8 | 0–3 | 0–6 | 0–8 | 0–1 | — |
Group D
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Serbia | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 10 | +10 | 21 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | |
2 | Republic of Ireland | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 19 | Advance to second round | 0–1 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
3 | Wales | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 17 | 1–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | ||
4 | Austria | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 15 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | ||
5 | Georgia | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 14 | −6 | 5 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | ||
6 | Moldova | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 23 | −19 | 2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | — |
Group E
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Poland | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 14 | +14 | 25 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | |
2 | Denmark | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 8 | +12 | 20 | Advance to second round | 4–0 | — | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | |
3 | Montenegro | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 16 | 1–2 | 0–1 | — | 1–0 | 4–1 | 5–0 | ||
4 | Romania | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 13 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 3–1 | ||
5 | Armenia | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 26 | −16 | 7 | 1–6 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 0–5 | — | 2–0 | ||
6 | Kazakhstan | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 26 | −20 | 3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | — |
Group F
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | England | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 3 | +15 | 26 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
2 | Slovakia | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 18 | 0–1 | — | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | ||
3 | Scotland | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 18 | 2–2 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | ||
4 | Slovenia | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 15 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | ||
5 | Lithuania | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 20 | −13 | 6 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | ||
6 | Malta | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 25 | −22 | 1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — |
Group G
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spain | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 3 | +33 | 28 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 8–0 | |
2 | Italy | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 8 | +13 | 23 | Advance to second round | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | |
3 | Albania | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 13 | 0–2 | 0–1 | — | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | ||
4 | Israel | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 12 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–3 | — | 0–1 | 2–1 | ||
5 | Macedonia | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | ||
6 | Liechtenstein | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 39 | −38 | 0 | 0–8 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 | — |
Group H
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Belgium | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 6 | +37 | 28 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 8–1 | 4–0 | 9–0 | |
2 | Greece | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 6 | +11 | 19 | Advance to second round | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | |
3 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 13 | +11 | 17 | 3–4 | 0–0 | — | 5–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | ||
4 | Estonia | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 11 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | ||
5 | Cyprus | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 10 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | — | 3–1 | ||
6 | Gibraltar | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 47 | −44 | 0 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 1–2 | — |
Group I
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Iceland | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 7 | +9 | 22 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | |
2 | Croatia | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 20 | Advance to second round | 2–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | |
3 | Ukraine | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 17 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | ||
4 | Turkey | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 15 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | ||
5 | Finland | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 9 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | ||
6 | Kosovo | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 24 | −21 | 1 | 1–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–1 | — |
Ranking of second-placed teams
[edit]When the draw was made, groups H and I had one team fewer than the other groups so it was decided that matches against the last-placed team in each of the six-team groups would not be included in the ranking of the second-placed teams. Although the admission of Kosovo and Gibraltar made all teams have equal groups, this rule was not amended.[27] As a result, only eight matches played by each team were counted in the second-placed table.
The eight best runners-up were determined by the following parameters, in this order:[28]
- Highest number of points
- Goal difference
- Highest number of goals scored
- Fair play points
- Drawing of lots
Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | B | Switzerland | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 6 | +12 | 21 | Advance to second round (play-offs) |
2 | G | Italy | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 17 | |
3 | E | Denmark | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 14 | |
4 | I | Croatia | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 14 | |
5 | A | Sweden | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 9 | +9 | 13 | |
6 | C | Northern Ireland | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 13 | |
7 | H | Greece | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 13 | |
8 | D | Republic of Ireland | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 13 | |
9 | F | Slovakia | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 12 |
Rules for classification: Counting only matches against teams ranked first to fifth in the group, 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Fair play points; 5) Drawing of lots.[29][30]
Second round
[edit]The eight best group runners-up contested the second round, where they were paired into four two-legged (home-and-away) fixtures.
Seeding and draw
[edit]The draw for the second round (play-offs) was held on 17 October 2017, 14:00 CEST (UTC+2), at the FIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland.[31] The eight teams were seeded by FIFA World Rankings published on 16 October 2017, rather than qualifying record, with the top four teams in Pot 1, and the remaining four teams in Pot 2. It so happened that the top four teams by qualifying record were the same as the top four by FIFA World Ranking. Teams from Pot 1 played teams from Pot 2 on a home and away basis, with the order of legs decided by draw.
Pot 1 | Pot 2 |
---|---|
Switzerland (11) Italy (15) Croatia (18) Denmark (19) |
Northern Ireland (23) Sweden (25) Republic of Ireland (26) Greece (47) |
Matches
[edit]The first legs were played on 9–11 November, and the second legs were played on 12–14 November 2017. The winners of each tie qualified for the World Cup.
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Switzerland | 1–0 | Northern Ireland | 1–0 | 0–0 |
Croatia | 4–1 | Greece | 4–1 | 0–0 |
Denmark | 5–1 | Republic of Ireland | 0–0 | 5–1 |
Sweden | 1–0 | Italy | 1–0 | 0–0 |
Qualified teams
[edit]The following 14 teams from UEFA qualified for the final tournament.
- 1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.
- 2 Competed as Soviet Union.
- 3 Competed as West Germany. A separate team for East Germany also participated in qualifications during this time, having only competed in 1974.
Top goalscorers
[edit]There were 807 goals scored in 278 matches, for an average of 2.9 goals per match.
16 goals
15 goals
11 goals
9 goals
8 goals
7 goals
6 goals
Below are full goalscorer lists for all groups and the play-off rounds:
Branding
[edit]UEFA unveiled the branding for the qualifiers on 15 April 2013. It shows a national jersey inside a heart, and represents Europe, honour and ambition. The same branding was also used for the European qualifiers for the UEFA Euro 2016.[32]
Sponsors
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Current allocation of FIFA World Cup confederation slots maintained". FIFA.com. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
- ^ "Executive Committee date in Vienna". UEFA.org. 21 March 2015.
- ^ a b c "New distribution concept for club competitions approved". UEFA.org. 23 March 2015.
- ^ AFP. "Italy Miss Out on FIFA World Cup For the First Time Since 1958". News 18. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ "A win for the Netherlands, but not enough to secure World Cup qualification". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 October 2017. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017.
- ^ "Iceland become smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals". The Guardian. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Road to Russia with new milestone". FIFA.com. 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Gibraltar appeal to court for Fifa recognition to enter World Cup qualifying". The Guardian. 12 February 2015.
- ^ "Ruling Moves Gibraltar Closer to FIFA Membership". The New York Times. 2 May 2016.
- ^ "FIFA Council agrees on four-phase bidding process for 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA.com. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2016.
- ^ "Kosovo, Gibraltar join FIFA before 2018 World Cup qualifying". The Washington Post. 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Timeline for UEFA Presidential elections decided". UEFA. 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Kosovo to play in Group I in European Qualifiers". uefa.org. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 9 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying groups". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Draw Procedures – European Zone" (PDF). FIFA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2015.
- ^ a b "FIFA World Cup qualifying draw format". UEFA.com. 16 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2016.
- ^ "UEFA announces deals for European qualifiers". UEFA.org. 10 April 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ UEFA.com. "World Cup European Qualifiers fixtures confirmed". UEFA.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d UEFA.com. "FIFA World Cup qualifying draw format". UEFA.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ UEFA.com. "European teams learn World Cup qualifying fate". UEFA.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – July 2015 (UEFA)". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 9 July 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ "Gibraltar komt in kwalificatiegroep van Rode Duivels voor WK" (in Dutch). 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Gibraltar and Spain kept apart in Euro 2016 draw". Yahoo Sports. Reuters. 24 January 2014.
- ^ "Commercial regulations for the European qualifying matches for UEFA EURO 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup" (PDF). UEFA.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2013.
- ^ "UEFA sets up commission on Kosovo, Gibraltar participation in 2018 World Cup qualifiers". tass.ru. Russian News Agency TASS. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Regulations – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia" (PDF). FIFA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016.
- ^ "Focus switches to World Cup qualifying". UEFA.com. 22 August 2016.
- ^ "As it stands: ranking of second-placed teams". UEFA.com. 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Competition format - FIFA World Cup - News - UEFA.com". uefa.com. UEFA. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
- ^ "As it stands: ranking of second-placed teams". UEFA.com. 3 October 2017.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup European play-off draw to take place on 17 October". FIFA.com. 6 September 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017.
- ^ "European qualifiers branding launched". UEFA. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
External links
[edit]- Official FIFA World Cup website
- Qualifiers – Europe, FIFA.com
- FIFA World Cup, UEFA.com