On Saturday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, the run to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will begin in earnest with the tournament's preliminary draw. Each confederation will have their qualifying groups and schedules drawn as teams learn their path to the World Cup. It will also mark the first World Cup event in Brazil as they prepare to hold the world's largest sporting event in three years.
2014 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw Marks The Start Of Qualifying
A few World Cup qualifiers have already been played, but none of real importance. They’ve been played by the world’s minnows that won’t be around in any qualifying stage that anyone has heard of or bothers to watch. That makes tomorrow the first real important step in World Cup qualifying.
Each confederation gets to determine their own methods of qualifying so exactly how and why the draws tomorrow will be conducted will change depending on the confederation it is being drawn for. It may also not be the final draw as part of World Cup qualifying as some confederations have a further round to be drawn at a later date.
Asia- 43 teams, 4.5 spots
There are 20 teams remaining in Asian qualifying as they have reached the third round of qualifying. Those 20 teams will be split into five, four-team groups with the top two in each group moving onto the fourth round of qualifying where they will be split into two groups of five. The top two teams in each group will qualify for the World Cup with the two third-place teams playing a two-legged playoff. The winner of that playoff will then play in an inter-confederation playoff for a spot in the World Cup.
The preliminary draw will determine the groups for the third round of qualifying. The 15 teams that have advanced from the previous rounds will join the five top teams that enter qualifying in the third round. Those five teams will make up Pot 1 with the other teams being placed in pots based on the FIFA rankings. The draw for the fourth round will be held at a later date.
Africa- 52 teams, 5 spots
African qualifying has reached the second round where there are 40 teams remaining. 28 teams are entering qualifying competition at this stage, while 12 others will join them from the previous round. They will be split into 10 groups of four teams for the second round to be played from June 1, 2012 through September 10, 2013 with the top team from each group advancing to the third round. The third round will match the 10 teams in five two-legged ties with the winner of each tie advancing to the World Cup.
The preliminary stage will determine the groups for the second round. The 40 teams will be put into four pots of 10 teams each and drawn into their 10, four-team groups. The pots will be determined by the FIFA rankings. The draw that splits the 10 teams into their five two-legged ties will be held at a later date.
CONCACAF- 35 teams, 3.5 spots
The confederation will return to the same final round qualifying format that they have used for the last four World Cups. The final round will consist of six teams in one group playing each team playing every other in the group once at home and one away with the top three teams in the final stage qualifying for the World Cup and the fourth place team advancing to an inter-confederation two-legged playoff. Before that round though, there will be a semifinal round of three, four-team groups to be played on June 8, 2012 through October 16, 2012. The top two teams in each group will advance to the final round.
In the preliminary draw will determine the groups for the semifinal round. The United States, Mexico and Honduras are in Pot 1 and will be put in separate groups with one of the three teams from Pot B, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Cuba, joining them in their group. There is a stage prior to the semifinals of six groups of four and the two group winners will also be assigned to each semifinal group at the draw as well. The draw for the final stage schedule will be done at a later date.
Europe- 52 teams, 13 spots
European qualifying remains the same with eight groups of six and one group of five teams each playing a round robin. The matches will be played from September 7, 2012 through October 15, 2013 and the nine group winners will qualify for the 2014 World Cup. The eight best second-place teams will advance to play in four two-legged playoffs against each other with the winners of those playoffs also qualifying for the World Cup.
The preliminary draw will determine the nine groups for the qualifying stage. The teams are placed into six pots of nine based on the FIFA rankings. The top nine times will be in Pot 1, the next nine teams in Pot 2, etc., to ensure that the top teams are not in the same group. The draw for the two-legged playoffs will be held at a later date.
Oceania- 11 teams, 0.5 spots
There are eight teams remaining in Oceania qualifying. They will be split into two groups of four teams with the top two teams from each group advancing to the next round. Those four teams will play a round robin with the team finishing first in the group advancing to an inter-confederation playoff for a World Cup spot.
The preliminary draw will determine the groups for the two-group round. The teams are split into two pots with two teams from each pot in each group. The draw for the final round schedule will be held at a later date.
South America- 9 teams, 4.5 spots
Brazil will not take part in qualifying because they have a spot in the World Cup as the hosts. The other nine teams will play in a round robin from October 7, 2011 through October 15, 2013 with the top four teams qualifying for the World Cup and the fifth place team going on to an inter-confederation two-legged playoff for a World Cup spot. The schedule for qualifying has already been made and nothing will be drawn for South America at the preliminary draw.
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