- Belgium: First European Team to qualify for Russia 2018 (Sept 3rd, 2017)
- Iceland: Qualifies for their first ever World Cup appearance by topping Group I
- Germany: The only team to win all 10 group games, in their qualifiers.
- Four teams (Germany, Belgium, England and Spain) went through their qualifiers unbeaten. (Germany - 10W, 0D, 0L; Belgium - 9W, 1D, 0L; England - 8W, 2D, 0L; Spain - 9W, 1D, 0L)
European Qualifiers
How many teams get to qualify?
The group toppers from each of the nine groups qualify directly. Eight best runners-up from the nine groups go into four play-offs. Then the four winners from the two-legged plays (involving the eight best runners-up), make it to Russia 2018, including the host nation, Russia, making a total of 13 European teams at next year’s summer event.
GROUP A
France emerged group winners after their final game victory over Belarus in Paris. Sweden ended up in second place to secure a playoff spot. Netherlands, Belarus, Bulgaria, and Luxembourg were all eliminated.
GROUP B
Portugal claimed the top spot in group B, after peeping Switzerland in their last game to reach the World Cup. Switzerland settled for a playoff spot after finishing second on same points with Portugal. Andorra, Faroe Islands, Hungary, and Latvia would not be at the World Cup.
GROUP C
World Cup holders Germany qualified in superb style, winning all 10 of their games, while Northern Ireland claimed the playoff spot from the group.
Holders Germany qualified with 30 points having won all 10 of their games in Group C while Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland side claimed a play-off place, leaving them just 180 minutes away from their first World Cup finals for 32 years. Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Norway and San Marino willnot feature at the World Cup.
GROUP D
Serbia emerged group winners ahead of Republic of Ireland and Wales. The Welsh’s golden generation failed to reach the playoffs after losing at home to Ireland in the last group game. Wales joined Austria, Georgia, and Moldova in being eliminated.
GROUP E
Poland topped group E, while Denmark managed to claim the playoff position ahead of the likes of Montenegro and Romania, who both joined Armenia and Kazakhstan in being eliminated.
GROUP F
England enjoyed an unbeaten run involving eight wins and two draws, in their quest to qualify from group F, and they duly ended up as group toppers.
GROUP G
Spain dominated group G and topped to ensure direct qualification, while Italy claimed the playoff spot. Albania, Israel, Macedonia, and Liechtenstein were eliminated.
GROUP H
Belgium became the first European nation to qualify for Russia 2018, and they finished with 28 points from 10 games. Greece who were Euro 2004 champions settled for a playoff spot after beating Gilbratar 4 -0 in their final qualification game. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Estonia, and Gibraltar were all eliminated.
GROUP I
Iceland qualified for their first-ever appearance at the World Cup by defeating Kosovo 2 – 0 in their last game in Group I. Croatia could only settle for a playoff spot. Finland, Kosovo, Turkey, and Ukraine were eliminated.