World Cup 2022: Which teams have qualified for Qatar?
Next year, for the first time ever, we will be served up a winter World Cup, with the 2022 tournament in Qatar set to kick off in November.
The competition will be the final World Cup to feature 32 teams before FIFA increase the countries involved to 48 for the 2026 tournament – which will be jointly-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
There are several qualification paths around the world for the tournament, and some nations have already secured their ticket to the Middle East. Here’s your one-stop guide to every team that has qualified for the 2022 World Cup so far, as well as a short explainer about the finer details of the competition…
Which teams have qualified for the 2022 World Cup So far?
1. Qatar
This one should surprise nobody. As hosts, Qatar were the first team to ‘qualify’ for the tournament and they have invested heavily in their national side since winning the bidding process in 2010.
At the time they were awarded the World Cup they sat 112th in the FIFA rankings, below the likes of Uzbekistan, North Korea and Kuwait.
Since then they have risen into the top 50, even beating Japan in the Asian Cup final back in 2019. Qatar will be hoping to avoid embarrassment in front of their home crowd.
2. Germany
Germany became the first team to actually qualify for the 2022 World Cup when a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia in November ensured that they could not be caught at the top of Group J.
Die Mannschaft will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing Euro 2020, where they were dumped out at the round of 16 stage by eventual finalists England.
Hansi Flick took over following that underwhelming display and the former Bayern Munich man has his side playing some nice stuff.
3. Denmark
Denmark had a truly memorable Euro 2020 campaign, losing Christian Eriksen early in the tournament before reaching the semi finals, where they lost to England.
While the Inter midfielder is yet to return, the Nordic nation steamrolled their way to World Cup qualification in his absence with eight wins in their first eight games, with their pathway sealed by a 1-0 victory over Austria.
They’ve scored 27 goals so far and are yet to concede at the other end. Truly remarkable stuff.
4. Brazil
Brazil continued their streak of being the only team to compete in every World Cup, sealing qualification with a victory over Colombia in November 2021.
In truth they made light work of the majority of their CONMEBOL rivals this time around and must be considered one of the favourites heading into the competition proper.
5. France
World champions France became the fifth team to book their place in Qatar, with a resounding 8-0 win over Kazakhstan ensuring they will defend their title.
Didier Deschamps’ side have responded magnificently to their disappointing Euro 2020 exit to Switzerland. Les Bleus have since won the UEFA Nations League finals and have torn through the rest of their qualifying group.
6. Belgium
Belgium have qualified for their third-successive World Cup, and will be looking to build on their third-place finish in Russia in 2018.
Roberto Martinez has been linked with several jobs in the Premier League and La Liga, but the Red Devils have soldiered on regardless of that speculation and have topped qualifying Group E.
7. Croatia
Croatia sealed their place at the showpiece in Qatar with victory in a straight qualification shootout against Russia in Split.
2018’s runners-up had to win to pip the Russians to top spot in Group H and secure automatic qualification, and a scrappy, nervy contest was aptly decided by a late own goal from Fyodor Kudryashov. The 1-0 defeat consigned the visitors to a play-off place.
8. Spain
Spain qualified for the World Cup top of Group B in qualifying, despite Sweden running them close.
La Roja secured their place in Qatar with a victory over Sweden in Seville in their final qualifier, winning 1-0 courtesy of a late Alvaro Morata goal.
9. Serbia
The biggest surprise of European qualifying by some stretch.
Serbia ensured their place at the 2022 World Cup in the most dramatic fashion, with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring a last-minute header to snatch a 2-1 victory over Portugal in a must-win game for the Serbs in Lisbon.
The visitors came into the clash level on points but with an inferior goal difference to their hosts, who had just needed to avoid defeat to secure qualification for Qatar.