1982 FIFA World Cup qualification

Updated on Nov 20, 2023

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Matches played 306		Goals scored 797 (2.6 per match)

Teams 109 (from 6 confederations)

A total of 109 teams entered the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, which began with the preliminary qualification draw on 14 October 1979 at Zürich, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament, an increase from 16 in the previous World Cups. Spain, as the hosts, and Argentina, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 22 spots open for competition.

The 24 spots available in the 1982 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:

Europe (UEFA): 14 places, one to automatic qualifier Spain, while the other 13 places were contested by 33 teams (including Israel).

South America (CONMEBOL): 4 places, one to automatic qualifier Argentina, while the other 3 places were contested by 9 teams.

North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 2 places, contested by 15 teams.

Africa (CAF): 2 places, contested by 29 teams.

Asia (AFC) and Oceania (OFC): 2 places, contested by 21 teams.

A total of 103 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 306 qualifying matches were played, and 797 goals were scored (an average of 2.60 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 - West Germany and Austria qualified. Group 2 - Belgium and France qualified. Group 3 - USSR and Czechoslovakia qualified. Group 4 - Hungary and England qualified. Group 5 - Yugoslavia and Italy qualified. Group 6 - Scotland and Northern Ireland qualified. Group 7 - Poland qualified.

South America (CONMEBOL)

Group 1 - Brazil qualified. Group 2 - Peru qualified. Group 3 - Chile qualified.

North America (CONCACAF)

Honduras and El Salvador qualified.

Africa (CAF)

Algeria and Cameroon qualified.

Asia (AFC) and Oceania (OFC)

Kuwait and New Zealand qualified.