World Cup: Meet The 32 Finalists for Russia 2018 Set for Draws
Excitement is building for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, with all 32 teams now confirmed for the next edition of football’s showpiece event as all is set for the draws on December 1, 2017.
As part of the build-up, FIFA took a closer look at the teams that will appear at Russia 2018 in its colourful and interactive guide.
On its website, there is a slide for each country that shows a profile on the coach and the star of each qualified team, as well as a video of the top goal scored by most of the teams in qualifying.
Below are the 32 teams that will contest world football’s top prize in Russia.
AFC
AUSTRALIA – The Socceroos are making their fifth appearance at a World Cup
IRAN – Team Melli were the first Asian team to qualify for Russia 2018
JAPAN – The Japanese have made the Round of 16 on two occasions
KOREA REPUBLIC – The Taeguk Warriors have been a World Cup ever-present since 1986
SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudis made their World Cup debut at USA 1994
CAF
EGYPT – The Pharaohs are making their first world finals appearance since Italy 1990
MOROCCO – The Atlas Lions topped African zone Group C in qualification
NIGERIA – The Super Eagles have only missed one tournament since their debut at USA 1994
SENEGAL – In their debut at Korea/Japan 2002, the Lions of Teranga reached the quarter-finals
TUNISIA – At Argentina 1978, the Carthage Eagles became the first African team to win a World Cup match
CONCACAF
COSTA RICA – Los Ticos impressed at Brazil 2014, making the quarter-finals
MEXICO – The Mexicans lost just once in qualifying for Russia 2018
PANAMA – The central Americans are making their World Cup debut in Russia
CONMEBOL
ARGENTINA – The two-time champions appeared at the inaugural edition at Uruguay 1930
BRAZIL – A Seleção were the first team to qualify after hosts Russia
COLOMBIA – Los Cafeteros coach Jose Pekerman was in charge of his native Argentina at Germany 2006
PERU – The Peruvians return to the world finals for the first time in 36 years
URUGUAY – La Celeste were world champions as hosts in 1930 and at Brazil 1950
UEFA
BELGIUM – The Belgians went undefeated in topping UEFA Group H in qualifying
CROATIA – The Croatians finished third in their World Cup debut at France 1998
DENMARK – The Danes secured qualification with a comfortable play-off win over the Republic of Ireland
ENGLAND – The Three Lions have made the finals 14 times from 16 qualifying campaigns
FRANCE – Les Bleus are making a sixth-straight world finals appearance
GERMANY – The defending world champions registered a 100 percent record in qualifying
ICELAND – The smallest country by population ever to qualify for a World Cup
POLAND – The Poles finished third at Germany 1974 and Spain 1982
PORTUGAL – A Seleção das Quinas are making a fifth-straight finals appearance
RUSSIA – As the Soviet Union, the World Cup hosts finished fourth at England 1966
SERBIA – The Serbs topped UEFA Group D in qualification with only one defeat
SPAIN – Champions in 2010, Spain’s World Cup debut was at Italy 1934
SWEDEN – The Swedes were runners-up as World Cup hosts in 1958
SWITZERLAND – The Swiss have reached the quarter-finals on three occasions
(FIFA)
