As the 2018 World Cup qualifying games reach the final phase we now know 23 of the participating nations at next summer's World Cup.
Europe: Belgium, England, Germany, Poland, Russia (as hosts), Spain, Iceland, Serbia, France, and Portugal.
23👌
— #WCQ ⚽️🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) October 11, 2017
🇷🇺RUS
🇧🇷BRA
🇮🇷IRN
🇯🇵JPN
🇲🇽MEX
🇧🇪BEL
🇰🇷KOR
🇸🇦KSA
🇩🇪GER
🦁ENG
🇪🇸ESP
🇳🇬NGA
🇨🇷CRC
🇵🇱POL
🇪🇬EGY
🇮🇸ISL
🇷🇸SRB
🇫🇷FRA
🇵🇹POR
🇦🇷ARG
🇨🇴COL
🇺🇾URU
🇵🇦PAN
Eight nations (Switzerland, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Greece and Northern Ireland) have qualified for the play-offs games which will be staged in November to determine the 13 nations that will be in Russia.
Republic of Ireland's midfielder James McClean celebrates victory after the group D World Cup qualifying football match between Wales and Republic of Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff on October 10, 2017. Republic of Ireland beat Wales 1-0. GEOFF CADDICK (AFP)
On Monday night Iceland beat Kosovo 2-0 to ensure they topped their group and became the smallest ever country to qualify for the World Cup. And Serbia also booked their place in Russia with a 1-0 win over Kosovo.
Africa: Egypt, Nigeria
The final fixtures in the CAF Federation take place in early November with Tunisia and Senegal favorites to join Nigeria and Egypt with a tense game guaranteed as Morocco travel to face Ivory Coast with a point being enough for the "Lions of the Atlas"
QUALIFIED! 🙌
— #WCQ ⚽️🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) October 8, 2017
Congratulations, 🇪🇬Egypt! 👏
Welcome back to the #WorldCup finals and see you in 🇷🇺Russia! #WCQ pic.twitter.com/NMwoR6qMSg
Asia: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
COMNEBOL: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay
The COMNEBOL qualifying campaign concluded last night with Argentina digging deep and a Lionel Messi hat-trick away to Ecuador being enough for the Albiceleste to secure an automatic place.
Peru who finished fifth will now face a home and away play-off against the winners of the Oceania region New Zealand with the winner heading to Russia.
A Rusia! #YoAmoAMiSeleccion 🇦🇷🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/DLryj2dqJs
— Gabriel Mercado (@GabeMadryn) October 11, 2017
CONCACAF: Mexico, Costa Rica & Panama
The USA failed to make a World Cup final for the first time since 1986 after a night of high drama in the CONCACAF region after losing away to already eliminated Trinidad & Tobago with Panama securing a spot at a World Cupo final for the first time in history with a 2-1 home win over Costa Rica.
Honduras secured fourth place and will play Australia (who beat Syria in the AFC play-off) in a two legged play off in November.
