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Australia might have already qualified for the World Cup, but throughout Europe, Africa and the Americas, the battle for positions in Brazil next year is still being closely fought, and will come down to the final round of games this week.
A number of spots have already been guaranteed in the 2014 World Cup, while a number of countries will know that they cannot make the group stage of the competition.
Yet for many – including some of the biggest nations in international football history – it will all come down to their final qualifying fixture.
We’ve broken down all the action scheduled for the final qualifiers, and done all the maths for you as to who can (and can’t) make the World Cup next year.
Read on to see who could be joining the Socceroos in Brazil next year.
EUROPE WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION
Group A
Belgium are top of the group and have confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Second-placed Croatia have confirmed themselves as second in the group, but need a draw or a win against Croatia to guarantee a playoff spot.
Serbia, Wales, Scotland, and Macedonia cannot qualify.
Group B
Italy are top of the group and have confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Bulgaria must beat Czech Republic and hope other results fall their way to secure a playoff spot. Denmark need Bulgaria and Armenia to lose and hope other results fall their way to secure a playoff spot. Armenia need to beat Italy, need Bulgaria and Denmark to lose and hope other results to fall their way.
Czech Republic and Malta cannot qualify.
Group C
Germany are top of the group and have confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Sweden are second in the group and have confirmed a playoff spot.
Austria, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Faroe Islands cannot qualify.
Group D
Netherlands are top of the group and have confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Turkey must pick up more or equal points from their fixture against Netherlands than Romania does against Estonia to secure second place in the group. (If equal, they must still maintain their four goal advantage in points differential.) They also need Bulgaria to either lose or draw against Czech Republic to secure a playoff spot. Romania need to do the reverse and also need Bulgaria to lose or draw to secure a playoff spot. Hungary need to beat Andorra and need both Bulgaria and Hungary to lose their respective games to secure second place in the group. They would also need Bulgaria to lose or draw against the Czech Republic to secure a playoff spot.
Estonia and Andorra cannot qualify.
Group E
Switzerland are top of the group and have confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Iceland must pick up the same number of points or more from their fixture against Norway than Slovenia does against Switzerland to secure a playoff spot. Slovenia must pick up one more point against Switzerland than Iceland does against Norway to secure a playoff spot.
Norway, Albania, Cyprus cannot qualify.
Group F
Russia are top of the group and can confirm qualification to Brazil next year unless they lose to Azerbaijan and Portugal beat Netherlands (and make up a seven goal difference in points differential). If that happens, they will secure a playoff spot. Portugal need to do the reverse to confirm qualification to Brazil next year, otherwise they will secure a playoff spot.
Israel, Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg cannot qualify.
Group G
Bosnia and Herzegovina are top of the group and can confirm qualification to Brazil next year by picking up more points against Lithuania than Greece does against Slovakia. If they achieve the same number of points, Greece would also need to make up a 17-goal points differential to take top spot. If that happens, Bosnia and Herzegovina would secure a playoff spot. Greece need to do the reverse in order to confirm qualification to Brazil next year, otherwise they will secure a playoff spot.
Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Liechtenstein cannot qualify.
Group H
England need to pick up more or the same number of points against Poland as what Ukraine does against San Marino to confirm qualification to Brazil next year. If they lose and Ukraine draw, they would need to lose by more than nine goals in order to finish second in the group. Should that happen, they would secure a playoff spot. Ukraine need to pick up more points against San Marino than what England does against Poland to finish top of the group. If not, they need to either draw or hope Montenegro does not win by more than 12 goals against Moldova to secure a playoff spot. Montenegro need to beat Moldova, hope Ukraine lose to San Marino (who haven’t won a game) and make up a 12-goal deficit in points differential to secure a playoff spot.
Poland, Moldova, San Marino cannot qualify.
Group I
Spain can confirm qualification to Brazil next year by picking up either a draw or a win against Georgia in their final fixture. If they lose, France would need to beat Finland and make up a three goal deficit in points differential to take top spot of the group. Whoever finishes second in the group will secure a playoff spot.
Finland, Georgia, Belarus cannot qualify.
CONMEBOL (S.AMERICA) WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION
Argentina is top of the final group and has confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Brazil of course, have automatic qualification. Colombia have also confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Ecuador need to draw or win against Chile to confirm qualification to Brazil next year. If not, they need to hope that Uruguay does not beat Argentina and make up a six goal deficit in points differential. If that happens, they would go into a two-leg playoff against Jordan. The same case is for Chile. Uruguay needs to hope that either Chile or Ecuador lose their final match against each other and beat Argentina by six-plus goals. If not, they will be in a two-leg playoff against Jordan.
Venezuela, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia cannot qualify.
CONCACAF (N.AMERICA) WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION
United States are top of the group and have confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Costa Rica have also confirmed qualification to Brazil next year. Honduras needs to win or draw against Jamaica to confirm qualification to Brazil next year. If not, they need Mexico to not beat Costa Rica by more than one two goals, otherwise they will secure a playoff against New Zealand. Mexico need to do the reverse against Honduras to secure qualification to Brazil or else they will likely be in a playoff against New Zealand. They can lose that playoff berth, however, if they lose to Costa Rica and Panama beats the United States while also making up the three-goal deficit in points differential.
Jamaica cannot qualify.
CAF (AFRICA) WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION
Ghana will need to beat Egypt over two legs in order to secure qualification in Brazil next year. Egypt, obviously, need to do the reverse. Ivory Coast need to either win or draw against Senegal in their final match to secure qualification, or not lose the match by more than two goals. Nigeria needs to either win or draw against Ethiopa to secure qualification, or not lose the match by more than one goal. Cameroon need to either win or have a scoring draw (i.e. not 0-0) against Tunisia to secure qualification. Burkina Faso need to either win or draw against Algeria to secure qualification, or not lose the match by more than one goal.
ASIA WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION
Japan, Australia, South Korea and Iran have already confirmed qualification in Brazil next year. Jordan needs to win in a two-leg playoff against either Ecuador, Uruguay or Chile to confirm qualification in Brazil next year.
OCEANIA WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION
New Zealand needs to win in a two-leg playoff against either Honduras, Mexico or Panama to confirm qualification in Brazil next year.
FINAL QUALIFIED LIST:
Host: Brazil
AFC (Asia): Japan, Australia, Iran, South Korea
UEFA (Europe): Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland
CONCACAF (North and Latin America): Costa Rica, United States
CONMEBOL (South America): Argentina, Colombia
Click here for the full draw of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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