Who's Made It To The World Cup Finals? Featured Analysis On World Cup Qualifiers

 

Belgium, Germany, Colombia and Switzerland are the latest nations to qualify automatically for the 2014 World Cup - but there are still 18 places up for grabs.

Next summer's tournament in Brazil will feature 32 teams, who will be drawn into eight groups of four at the finals draw at Costa do Sauipe in Bahia on 6 December.

Here's a look at how things stand across the six Fifa confederations.

Africa

Definitely there: None.

Still to be decided: The final round of qualification in Africa sees the 10 group winners from the previous stage meet in five two-legged play-off meetings, with the victors qualifying for Brazil 2014.

The first legs are played during the current international break, beginning with Algeria's trip to Burkina Faso. Ivory Coast playSenegal, Ethiopia host Nigeria, Tunisia face Cameroon and Ghana are in action against Egypt.

The qualifiers will be decided in November's second legs.

Asia

Definitely there: Australia, Iran, Japan, South Korea.

Still to be decided: Jordan are a play-off match away from competing at their first World Cup.

The Middle Eastern nation won the right to a two-legged tie against the fifth-placed team from South American qualifying, which is ongoing, by beating Uzbekistan in September.

Europe

Definitely there: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland.

Still to be decided: The group stages in Europe finish during the current international break, with nine group winners guaranteed entry into Brazil 2014.

Groups A, B, C, D and E already have a team secured in top spot, but the first-placed teams in Groups F, G, H and I are yet to be confirmed.

From the nine groups, the eight second-placed teams with the best record in qualifying will play off in a series of two-legged ties in November, with the four winners qualifying. Only in Groups A and C are the top two teams already known.

North, Central America and Caribbean

Definitely there: Costa Rica, United States.

Still to be decided: The third guaranteed qualifying place is between Honduras and Mexico and will be decided on Tuesday.

Honduras will qualify with a win or a draw against Jamaica, or if they match Mexico's result against Costa Rica. Mexico must win and hope Honduras lose - and even then could miss out on goal difference.

The fourth-placed side - either Honduras, Mexico or Panama - will enter into an intercontinental play-off against Oceania's New Zealand for the right to compete in Brazil.

Oceania

Definitely there: None.

Still to be decided: New Zealand easily won the final group stage to qualify for a play-off match against the fourth-placed side from North, Central America and Caribbean - either Honduras, Mexico or Panama.

South America

Definitely there: Argentina, Brazil (hosts) and Colombia.

Still to be decided: Two from Ecuador, Chile and Uruguay will join the three teams already assured of a place at Brazil 2014.

Chile host Ecuador on Tuesday and a draw would see both qualify with Uruguay in the play-offs. Uruguay must beat Argentina to have any chance of finishing in the top four.The fifth-placed side face Asia's Jordan in a two-legged play-off to qualify.