As the memories of Euro 2016 start to fade, the world of international football will now focus on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Ireland, Northern Ireland and especially Wales can look back on an amazing Euros campaign after exceeding all expectations and lighting up the tournament with their great sportsmanship, enthusiastic singing and (not forgetting) some wonderful, amusing and colourful flags! As for England….least said soonest mended. With Big Sam now in charge one things for sure – he can’t possibly do any worse.
The 21st FIFA World Cup will be held in Russia from the 14th June to the 15th July 2018 with 32 participating nations (31 qualifiers plus the host nation). Russia was given the honour of hosting the competition after being awarded the hosting rights on the 2nd December 2010 by the twenty-two-member FIFA Executive Committee in Zürich. The last World Cup to be held in Europe was in 2006 (Germany).
European qualifiers for the long road to Russia will start on September 4th 2016, but in other parts of the world, the qualifying process for Russia 2018 started as early as March 2015 (Central America and the Caribbean are already on round 4 of the qualifications). The different federations around the world have varying formats for qualification to the 2018 World Cup, so some continents will endeavor a much more long and drawn out process.
Asian Football Confederation
First round: The 12 teams ranked 35–46 will play home-and-away over two legs. The six winners will advance to the second round.
Second round: The 40 teams ranked 1–34, and six first round winners, will be divided into eight groups of five teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The eight group winners and the four best group runners-up will advance to the third round of FIFA World Cup qualification as well as qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals.
Third round: The 12 teams which advance from the second round will be divided into two groups of six teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top two teams of each group will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the two third-placed teams will advance to the fourth round.
Fourth round: The two third-placed teams of each group from the third round will play home-and-away over two legs. The winner will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Confederation of African Football
First round: The teams ranked 28–53 play home-and-away over two legs. The 13 winners advance to the second round.
Second round: The teams ranked 1–27 and 13 first round winners play home-and-away over two legs. The 20 winners advance to the third round.
Third round: The 20 teams which advance from the second round will be divided into five groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The winners of each group will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football
First round: The teams ranked 22–35 play home-and-away over two legs. The seven winners advance to the second round.
Second round: The teams ranked 9–21 and seven first round winners play home-and-away over two legs. The ten winners advance to the third round.
Third round: The teams ranked 7–8 and ten second round winners) play home-and-away over two legs. The six winners will advance to the fourth round.
Fourth round: The teams ranked 1–6 and six third round winners are divided into three groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top two teams of each group will advance to the fifth round.
Fifth round: The six teams which advance from the fourth round will play home-and-away round-robin matches in one single group (often referred to as the "Hexagonal"). The top three teams will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the fourth-placed team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
South American Football Confederation
The ten teams will play in a league of home-and-away round-robin matches. The top four teams will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the team in fifth place will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Oceania Football Confederation
First round: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa, and Tonga will play a round-robin tournament at a single country. The winner will advance to the second round.
Second round (OFC Nations Cup): A total of eight teams (Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu, and the first round winner) will play the tournament at a single country. For the group stage, they will be divided into two groups of four teams. The top three teams of each group will advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying. The top two teams of each group will also advance to the knockout stage (semi-finals and final) to decide the 2016 OFC Nations Cup winner which will play in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Third round: The six teams which advance from the second round will be divided into two groups of three teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The two group winners will meet in a two-legged match with the winner advancing to the inter-confederation play-offs in November 2017 where they will play a team from another confederation for a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.
Union of European Football Associations
First round (group stage): The 52 UEFA teams are divided into nine groups (seven groups of six teams and two groups of five teams) to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The winners of each group will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the eight best runners-up will advance to the second round (play-offs).
Second round (play-offs): The eight best runners-up from the first round will play home-and-away matches over two legs. The four winners will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.