A total of 199 teams entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 32 spots in the final tournament. South Korea and Japan, as the co-hosts, and France, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 29 spots open for competition.
The 32 spots available in the 2002 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:
Europe (UEFA): 14.5 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier France, while the other 13.5 places were contested by 50 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from AFC)
South America (CONMEBOL): 4.5 places, contested by 10 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from OFC).
North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 places, contested by 35 teams.
Africa (CAF): 5 places, contested by 51 teams.
Asia (AFC): 4.5 places, 2 of them went to automatic qualifiers South Korea and Japan, while the other 2.5 places were contested by 40 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from UEFA).
Oceania (OFC): 0.5 place, contested by 10 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from CONMEBOL).
A total of 193 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 777 qualifying matches were played, and 2452 goals were scored (an average of 3.17 per match).
To see the dates and results of the qualification rounds for each continental zone, click on the following articles:
Europe (UEFA)
Group 1 –
Russia qualified.
Slovenia advanced to the UEFA play-offs.
Group 2 –
Portugal qualified.
Republic of Ireland advanced to the UEFA–AFC intercontinental play-off
Group 3 –
Denmark qualified.
Czech Republic advanced to the UEFA play-offs.
Group 4 –
Sweden qualified.
Turkey advanced to the UEFA play-offs.
Group 5 –
Poland qualified.
Ukraine advanced to the UEFA play-offs.
Group 6 –
Croatia qualified.
Belgium advanced to the UEFA play-offs.
Group 7 –
Spain qualified.
Austria advanced to the UEFA play-offs.
Group 8 –
Italy qualified.
Romania advanced to the UEFA play-offs.
Group 9 –
England qualified.
Germany advanced to the UEFA play-offs.
Play-offs –
Belgium,
Germany,
Slovenia and
Turkey qualified over
Czech Republic,
Ukraine,
Romania, and
Austria respectively.
South America (CONMEBOL)
Argentina,
Ecuador,
Brazil and
Paraguay qualified.
Uruguay advanced to the CONMEBOL–OFC intercontinental play-off.
North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF)
Costa Rica,
Mexico and
USA qualified.
Africa (CAF)
Group A –
Cameroon qualified.
Group B –
Nigeria qualified.
Group C –
Senegal qualified.
Group D –
Tunisia qualified.
Group E –
South Africa qualified.
Asia (AFC)
Group A –
Saudi Arabia qualified.
Iran advanced to the AFC play-off.
Group B –
China PR qualified.
United Arab Emirates advanced to the AFC play-off.
Play-off –
Iran advanced to the UEFA–AFC intercontinental play-off over
United Arab Emirates.
Oceania (OFC)
Australia advanced to the CONMEBOL–OFC intercontinental play-off.
The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.
Republic of Ireland qualified by the aggregate score of 2–1.
Uruguay qualified by the aggregate score of 3–1.
The following 33 teams qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup:
(h) – qualified automatically as co-hosts
(c) – qualified automatically as defending champions
