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European Zone |
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| Members: | 52 (51 entries*) |
| Slots: | 14 |
| System: | 3 groups x 7 teams & 5 groups x 6 teams |
| Format: | All groups follow a league system on a home and away basis. The eight group winners advance to the World Cup. The two best second placed teams qualify directly. The other six second placed teams are drawn against each other in aplay-off (on home and away basis) to determine the final three qualifiers.
* Host Germany qualifies automatically |
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| South American Zone |
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| Members: | 10 |
| Slots: | 4 1/2 (1 play off against Oceania) |
| System: | 1 group x 10 teams |
| Format: | One big group follows a league system on a home and away basis. The top four teams in the group advance to the World Cup. The 5th placed team will play off with the winner of zone Oceania. |
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| African Zone |
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| Members: | 52 (51 entries*) |
| Slots: | 5 |
| Stage I: |
| System: | Preliminary Round |
| Format: | 42 teams are paired off in a draw. The 21 winners advance to Stage II. |
| Stage II: |
| System: | 5 group x 6 teams |
| Format: | Each group follows a league system on a home and away basis. All five group winners advance to the World Cup.
* Djibouti did not enrol |
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| Asian Zone |
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| Members: | 44 (39 entries*) |
| Slots: | 4 1/2 |
| Stage I: |
| System: | Preliminary Round |
| Format: | 14 of the lowest-ranked teams (based on FIFA World Ranking published on 22 October 2003) play in a single elimination round.
The 7 winners advance to the 2nd Stage. |
| Stage II: |
| System: | 8 group x 4 teams |
| Format: | All groups follow a league system on a home and away basis. The eight group winners advance to Stage III |
| Stage III: |
| System: | 2 group x 4 teams |
| Format: | All groups follow a league system on a home and away basis. The top two teams in each group advance to the World Cup. The 3rd placed teams from each group meet in a two-leg play-off. The winner meets the 4th placed team from zone CONCACAF.
* Cambodia, Philippines, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam did not enrol; Myanmar was excluded |
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| North, Central America and the Caribbean |
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| Members: | 35 (34 entries*) |
| Slots: | 3 1/2 |
| Stage I: |
| System: | Preliminary Round |
| Format: | 14 teams are paired off in a draw. The 7 winners advance to Stage II. |
| Stage II: |
| System: | 8 group x 4 teams |
| Format: | Each group follows a league system on a home and away basis. The 8 group winners advance to Stage III |
| Stage III: |
| System: | 2 group x 4 teams |
| Format: | All groups follow a league system on a home and away basis. The top two teams in each group advance to the World Cup. The 3rd placed teams from each group meet in a two-leg play-off. The winner meets the 4th placed team from zone CONCACAF.
* Puerto Rico did not enrol |
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