Road to Brazil 2014:The global qualification picture

First-timers Bosnia joined holders Spain, England and Russia in grabbing Europe’s remaining automatic spots for the 2014 World Cup finals as the last round of group matches ended in joy, despair and shattered nerves.


Fireworks lit the skies across Bosnia whose fans celebrated qualifying for their first major tournament as an independent nation, while bigger European names like France, Portugal and Greece were consigned to the play-offs.

 There was heartbreak for Denmark, who pummelled Malta 6-0 to finish second behind Italy in Group B but were the unlucky team to miss out on the play-off spots available.

 With eight places up for grabs from nine play-off groups, the Scandinavians were missed out by virtue of picking up fewer points than the other European runners up.

 Iceland kept alive their hopes of reaching their first finals when a 1-1 draw in Norway ensured they finished second behind Group E winners Switzerland to put them in the hat for Monday’s draw for November’s two-legged ties.

The other countries who also get another chance to snap up a ticket to Brazil are Romania, Ukraine, Sweden and Croatia.


Teams qualified for the 2014 World Cup

Europe: Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Bosnia, England, Spain.



Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, South Korea.



South America: Brazil (hosts), Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador.



North, Central America and Caribbean: Costa Rica, United States, Honduras



European teams qualified for 2014 World Cup play-offs



Croatia*, Sweden, Romania, Iceland, Portugal*, Greece*, Ukraine*, France



*Seeded teams



The draw for the play-offs will take place on October 21.



The matches will take place on November 15 and November 19.



Africa: Winners of the below play-offs will qualify (first-leg scores in brackets.



Senegal (1) v Ivory Coast (3) – November 16



Nigeria (2) v Ethiopia (1) – November 16



Cameroon (0) v Tunisia (0) – November 17



Egypt (1) v Ghana (6) – November 19



Algeria (2) v Burkina Faso (3) – November 19



Asia-South America play-off



Jordan v Uruguay (1st leg 13-14 November, 2nd leg 20 November)



CONCACAF-Oceania play-off



Mexico v New Zealand (1st leg 15 November, 2nd leg 20 November)



TOP SEEDS FOR THE 2014 WORLD CUP



Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Colombia and Uruguay*



*If they win their play-off, if not the Netherlands.

Eurosports