174 countries applied for participation in the 1998 World Cup , claiming 32 (for the first time in the history of the championships) places in the final tournament. 
France (hostess of the championship) and 
Brazil (the world champion) received permits automatically, the remaining 30 places were won in the qualifying tournament, the draw of which took place on December 12, 1995 in Paris .
32 tickets to the 1998 World Cup final tournament were distributed across the continental zones:
- Europe ( UEFA ): 15 places , 1 of which automatically received
France , and the remaining 14 places were played between 49 countries. - South America ( CONMEBOL ): 5 places , 1 of which automatically received
Brazil , and the remaining 4 places were played between 9 countries. - North , Central America and the Caribbean ( CONCACAF ): 3 places played by 30 countries.
- Africa ( CAF ): 5 places played by 38 countries.
- Asia ( AFC ): 3.5 places played by 36 countries. The holder of the 0.5 ticket got into a butt match (against the OFK team).
- Oceania ( OFC ): 0.5 places played by 10 countries. The holder of the 0.5 permit got into a butt match (against the AFC team).
168 countries played 643 matches in the qualifying tournament, scoring 1992 goals (an average of 2.99 goals per match).
Content
- 1 Continental zones
- 2 Butt matches
- 2.1 AFC / OFC
- 3 Finalist countries
- 4 notes
- 5 Links
Continental Zones
Details (dates and results of matches, tournament tables) are given in separate articles for each continental zone:
- Europe (UEFA)
- Group 1 -
Denmark received a ticket. 
Croatia entered the UEFA play-offs.- Group 2 -
England received a ticket. 
Italy entered the UEFA butt games.- Group 3 -
Norway received a ticket. 
Hungary entered the UEFA butt games.- Group 4 -
Austria received a ticket. 
Scotland also received a ticket, showing the best results among the teams that took second place.- Group 5 -
Bulgaria received a ticket. 
Russia entered the UEFA butt matches.- Group 6 -
Spain received a ticket. 
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia reached the UEFA Butt Games.- Group 7 - The Netherlands got a ticket. Belgium entered the UEFA butt matches.
- Group 8 - Romania received a ticket. Ireland reached the UEFA butt games.
- Group 9 - Germany received a ticket. Ukraine entered the UEFA butt matches.
- Butt matches - Croatia Italy Belgium and The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia received permits.
- Group 2 -
- South America (CONMEBOL)
- Argentina Paraguay Colombia and Chile received permits.
- North America (CONCACAF)
- Mexico USA and Jamaica received permits.
- Africa (CAF)
- Group 1 - Nigeria received a ticket.
- Group 2 - Tunisia received a ticket.
- Group 3 - South Africa received a ticket.
- Group 4 - Cameroon received a ticket.
- Group 5 - Morocco received a ticket.
- Group 2 - Tunisia received a ticket.
- Asia (AFC)
- Group A - Saudi Arabia received a ticket. Iran entered the AFC butt game.
- Group B - The Republic of Korea received a ticket. Japan entered the AFC butt game.
- Butt matches - Japan got a ticket. Iran entered the AFC / OFK butt game.
- Group B - The Republic of Korea received a ticket. Japan entered the AFC butt game.
- Oceania (OFC)
- Australia entered the AFC / OFK butt game.
Butt matches
The teams played two matches (at home and away). The winner received a ticket.
Russia - Italy 1-1, Italy - Russia 1-0
Croatia - Ukraine 2-0, Ukraine - Croatia 1-1
Ireland - Belgium 1-1, Belgium - Ireland 2-1
Hungary - Yugoslavia 1-7, Yugoslavia - Hungary 5-0
AFC / OFK
| November 22, 1997 |
| Azadi , Tehran Spectators: 100,000 Referee: Pierluigi Payretto |
| November 29, 1997 |
| Melbourne Spectators: 85,022 Referee: Sandor Poole |
The score for the sum of two matches was a draw (3-3), Iran received a ticket, scoring more goals in a foreign field.
Finalist countries
| Team | Finals | Contract | Last ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 12th | 7 | 1994 |
| Austria | 7th | one | 1990 |
| Belgium | 10th | 5 | 1994 |
| Brazil (World Cup) | 16th | 16 | 1994 |
| Bulgaria | 7th | 2 | 1994 |
| Cameroon | 4th | 3 | 1994 |
| Chile | 7th | one | 1982 |
| Colombia | 4th | 3 | 1994 |
| Croatia | 1st | one | - |
| Denmark | 2nd | one | 1986 |
| England | 10th | one | 1990 |
| France (XC) | 10th | one | 1986 |
| Germany | 14th ( 1 ) | 12 ( 1 ) | 1994 |
| Iran | 2nd | one | 1978 |
| Italy | 14th | 10 | 1994 |
| Jamaica | 1st | one | - |
| Japan | 1st | one | - |
| The Republic of Korea | 5th | four | 1994 |
| Mexico | 11th | 2 | 1994 |
| Morocco | 4th | 2 | 1994 |
| Netherlands | 7th | 3 | 1994 |
| Nigeria | 2nd | 2 | 1994 |
| Norway | 3rd | 2 | 1994 |
| Paraguay | 5th | one | 1986 |
| Romania | 7th | 3 | 1994 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2nd | 2 | 1994 |
| Scotland | 8th | one | 1990 |
| South Africa | 1st | one | - |
| Spain | 10th | 6 | 1994 |
| Tunisia | 2nd | one | 1978 |
| USA | 6th | 3 | 1994 |
| Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | 1st ( 2 ) | one | - ( 2 ) |
(HCh) - received a ticket automatically, as the hostess of the championship.
(World Cup) - received a ticket automatically, like a world champion.
Notes
- For the first time, the qualifying tournament in South America was played by one group.
- Australia kept the score (2-0) in the second leg with Iran, but conceded two goals in the last minutes and did not make it to the final tournament. As a result, without losing a single match, Australia lost the qualifying tournament.