1978 FIFA World Cup qualification

Last updated
1978 FIFA World Cup Qualification
Tournament details
Dates7 March 1976 – 11 December 1977
Teams107 (from 6 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played252
Goals scored723 (2.87 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Italy.svg Roberto Bettega (9 goals)
1974
1982

A total of 107 teams entered the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, which began with the preliminary qualification draw on 20 November 1975 at Guatemala City. Argentina, as the hosts, and West Germany, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

Contents

The 16 places would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:

A total of 95 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 252 qualifying matches were played, and 723 goals were scored (an average of 2.87 per match).

Confederation qualification

AFC and OFC

Iran qualified.

CAF

Tunisia qualified.

CONCACAF

Mexico qualified.

CONMEBOL

First round

Group 1
RankTeamPtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 6422081+7
2Flag of Paraguay (1954-1988).svg  Paraguay 44121330
3Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 24022187
Group 2
RankTeamPtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia 7431083+5
2Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 4412154+1
3Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).svg  Venezuela 14013286
Group 3
RankTeamPtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru 6422082+6
2Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 5421153+2
3Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador 14013198

Final round

RankTeamPtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 4220090+9
2Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru 2210151+4
3Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia 0200201313

Brazil and Peru qualified. Bolivia advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

UEFA

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 611
2Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 69
3Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 64
4Flag of Cyprus (1960-2006).svg  Cyprus 60
Source: [ citation needed ]

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 610
2Flag of England.svg  England 610
3Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 64
4Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 60
Source: [ citation needed ]

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 610
2Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 69
3Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 65
4Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 60
Source: [ citation needed ]
Group 4 Group 5 Group 6

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 611
2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 66
3Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 65
4Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 62
Source: [ citation needed ]

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 45
2Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg  Bulgaria 44
3Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 43
Source: [ citation needed ]

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 46
2Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 44
3Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 42
Source: [ citation needed ]
Group 7 Group 8 Group 9

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Scotland (traditional).svg  Scotland 46
2Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 44
3Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 42
Source: [ citation needed ]

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 46
2Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 44
3Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 42
Source: [ citation needed ]

PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 45
2Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 44
3Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 43
Source: [ citation needed ]

Hungary advanced to the UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off.

Inter-confederation play-offs: UEFA v CONMEBOL

The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Hungary  Flag of Hungary.svg9–2Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia 6–0 3–2

Qualified teams

Final qualification status
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Country qualified for World Cup
Country failed to qualify
Country did not enter World Cup
Country not a FIFA member 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification.png
Final qualification status
  Country qualified for World Cup
  Country failed to qualify
  Country did not enter World Cup
  Country not a FIFA member

The following 16 teams qualified for the 1978 FIFA World Cup:

TeamDate of qualificationFinals appearanceStreakLast appearance
Flag of Argentina (civil).svg  Argentina (Hosts)6 July 19667th2 1974
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 30 October 19774th1 1958
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 14 July 197711th11 1974
Flag of France.svg  France 16 November 19777th1 1966
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 30 November 19777th1 1966
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran 25 November 19771st1
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 3 December 19779th5 1974
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 19 October 19778th1 1970
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 26 October 19774th2 1974
Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru 17 July 19773rd1 1970
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 21 September 19773rd2 1974
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 12 October 19774th2 1974
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 30 November 19775th1 1966
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 30 October 19777th3 1974
Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia 11 December 19771st1
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany (Defending champions)7 July 19749th7 1974

Top goalscorers

9 goals
7 goals
6 goals

Notes

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