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".
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*** 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