1994 FIFA World Cup qualification

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

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

• Europe (UEFA): 13 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Germany, while the other 12 places were contested by 38 teams (including Israel).
• South America (CONMEBOL): 3.5 places, contested by 9 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from CONCACAF or OFC).
• North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 2.25 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier United States, while the other 1.25 places were contested by 22 teams. The winner of the 0.25 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from OFC).
• Africa (CAF): 3 places, contested by 40 teams.
• Asia (AFC): 2 places, contested by 29 teams.
• Oceania (OFC): 0.25 place, contested by 7 teams. The winner of the 0.25 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from CONCACAF).

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

Continental zones

To see the dates and results of the qualification rounds for each continental zone, click on the following articles:

• Europe (UEFA)

Group 1 - Italy and Switzerland qualified.

Group 2 - Norway and Netherlands qualified.

Group 3 - Spain and Republic of Ireland qualified.

Group 4 - Romania and Belgium qualified.

Group 5 - Greece and Russia qualified.

Group 6 - Sweden and Bulgaria qualified.

• South America (CONMEBOL)

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

Group 2 - Brazil and Bolivia qualified.

• North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF)

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

• Africa (CAF)

Group 1 - Nigeria qualified.

Group 2 - Morocco qualified.

Group 3 - Cameroon qualified.

• Asia (AFC)

Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic qualified.

• Oceania (OFC)

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

Intercontinental Play-offs

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

CONCACAF / OFC Intercontinental Play-off

July 31, 1993, Edmonton, Canada -  Canada 2 - 1 Australia 

August 15, 1993, Sydney, Australia -  Australia 2 - 1 (aet) Canada 

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

CONMEBOL / CONCACAF / OFC Intercontinental Play-off

October 31, 1993, Sydney, Australia -  Australia 1 - 1 Argentina 

November 17, 1993, Buenos Aires, Argentina -  Argentina 1 - 0 Australia 

Argentina qualified by the aggregate score of 2-1.

Qualified teams

Team	Finals Appearance	Streak	Last Appearance
Argentina	11th	6	1990
Belgium	9th	4	1990
Bolivia	3rd	1	1950
Brazil	15th	15	1990
Bulgaria	6th	1	1986
Cameroon	3rd	2	1990
Colombia	3rd	2	1990
Germany (c)	13th(1)	11(1)	1990(1)
Greece	1st	1	-
Italy	13th	9	1990
Korea Republic	4th	3	1990
Mexico	10th	1	1986
Morocco	3rd	1	1986
Netherlands	6th	2	1990
Nigeria	1st	1	-
Norway	2nd	1	1938
Republic of Ireland	2nd	2	1990
Romania	6th	2	1990
Russia	1st(2)	1(2)	-(2)
Saudi Arabia	1st	1	-
Spain	9th	5	1990
Sweden	9th	2	1990
Switzerland	7th	1	1966
USA (h)	5th	2	1990

(h) - qualified automatically as hosts

(c) - qualified automatically as defending champions

Qualifying countries

Notes

• Tragedy struck when the entire team of Zambia was killed on a plane crash in Gabon carrying them to a qualifier against Senegal.The nation virtually had to build a new team from scratch, but the new team was a formidable opponent, missing USA 1994 by one point
• San Marino’s Davide Gualtieri scored the fastest goal ever in World Cup competition: the opener against England after just 8.3 seconds [1], although England went on to win the game 7-1. The English radio commentary on that day went as follows: "Welcome to Bologna on Capital Gold for England versus San Marino with Tennent's Pilsner, brewed with Czechoslovakian yeast for that extra Pilsner taste...and England are one down."
• Emil Kostadinov scored the Bulgaria's winner against France in the dying seconds of their last World Cup qualifier in November 1993 at Parc des Princes. Bulgaria got the points and qualified for the finals, while denying France a ticket, as they would have qualified with a draw. The team was heavily criticized for the loss, especially David Ginola, who mistakenly gave Kostadinov the pass that would lead to the goal. Because of this, Ginola was never called for the French squad again.
• Japan also conceded a last-minute goal against Iraq in their final match, thus denying themselves a place in the finals and handing the spot to their rivals South Korea. The episode is called the Agony of Doha in Japan.

External links

• FIFA World Cup Official Site - 1994 World Cup Qualification
• RSSSF - 1994 World Cup Qualification

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