nunes@utai.UUCP (Joe Nunes) (10/25/85)
The following is the status of World Cup qualifications as of October 24, 1985. All information is from the Portuguese soccer newspaper: "A Bola". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** World Cup Qualifiers *** Europe (UEFA: Union of European Football Associations) Italy (defending World Cup champion) Poland (winner of Group 1) West Germany (winner of Group 2) Portugal (runner-up in Group 2) England (winner of Group 3) Bulgaria (winner of Group 4) Hungary (winner of Group 5) Spain (winner of Group 7) South America (CONMEBOL: Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol) Argentina (winner of Group 1) Uruguay (winner of Group 2) Brazil (winner of Group 3) North America, Central America, Caribbean (CONCACAF: Confederation Norte-Centroamericana y del Caribe de Football) Mexico (host country) Canada (winner of CONCACAF) Africa (CAF: Confederation Africaine de Football) Algeria (co-winner of CAF) Morocco (co-winner of CAF) *** Countries Still in Contention *** Europe (5 or 6 more teams to qualify) Group 3 (1 more team to qualify) * England 11 Northern Ireland 9 Finland 8 Romania 7 Turkey 1 Games to play 13-11-85 England - Northern Ireland 13-11-85 Turkey - Romania Group 4 (1 more team to qualify) * Bulgaria 11 East Germany 8 Yugoslavia 8 France 7 Luxembourg 0 Games to play 30-10-85 France - Luxembourg 16-11-85 East Germany - Bulgaria 16-11-85 France - Yugoslavia Group 6 (2 more teams to qualify) Denmark 9 USSR 8 Switzerland 7 Ireland 6 Norway 4 Games to play 31-10-85 USSR - Norway 13-11-85 Switzerland - Norway 13-11-85 Ireland - Denmark Two game play-off between runner-up of Group 1 (Belgium) and runner-up of Group 5 (The Netherlands) (1 team to qualify) 16-10-85 Belgium 1 The Netherlands 0 Games to play 02-11-85 Holland - Belgium Two game play-off between Scotland and winner of Oceania group (1 team to qualify) Games to play 20-11-85 Scotland - Oceania winner 04-12-85 Oceania winner - Scotland South America (1 more team to qualify) Two game play-off between runner-up in Group 1 (Peru) and runner-up in Group 2 (Chile). Two game play-off between runner-up in Group 3 (Paraguay) and second runner-up in Group 1 (Colombia). Winners of each play-off meet in a two-game play-off (1 team to qualify) Games to play 27-10-85 Paraguay - Colombia, Chile - Peru 03-11-85 Colombia - Paraguay, Peru - Chile 10-11-85 winners play-off 17-11-85 winners play-off Asia (2 more teams to qualify) Two game play-off between Japan and South Korea (1 team to qualify) Games to play 26-10-85 Japan - South Korea 03-11-85 South Korea - Japan Two game play-off between Iraq and Syria (1 team to qualify) Games to play 15-11-85 Iraq - Syria 29-11-85 Syria - Iraq Oceania (0 or 1 more team to qualify: winner of group plays Scotland in two game play-off) Australia 6 Israel 5 New Zealand 5 China (Taipei) 0 Games to play 26-10-85 New Zealand - Israel 27-10-85 China (Taipei) - Australia 03-11-85 Australia - New Zealand 10-11-85 Israel - New Zealand