FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Finals Qualifiers & Initial Rankings

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The FIFA World Ranking is a ranking system for men’s national teams in association football, which was led by Germany in June 2018 and currently led by Belgium. The national teams of the FIFA member nations are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest. The rankings were introduced in December 1992. Brazil was rank first for the longest time. Points are awarded based on the results of all FIFA-recognised full international matches.
For the Group stage draw the teams were divided into 4 pots according to their World Ranking in October 2017, with Pot 1 consisting of the highest ranked teams, Pot 2 had 2nd highest ranked teams, and so on. The host team Russia was included in Pot 1. One team was selected from each Pot to form on of the eight group for the Group Stage competition. FIFA World Cup performance history is shown for all national teams that participated in the World Cup.

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FIFA Rankings June 2018

FIFA World Cup Finals – Qualifiers

	Country	Qualification Method	Date	Appearances	Last App	Best Performance
	Russia	Host Nation	2-Dec-10	11th	2014	Fourth Place (1966)
	Brazil	CONMEBOL Round Robin Winners	28-Mar-17	21st	2014	Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
	Iran	AFC Third Round Group A Winners	12-Jun-17	5th	2014	Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014)
	Japan	AFC Third Round Group B Winners	31-Aug-17	6th	2014	Round of 16 (2002, 2010)
	Mexico	CONCACAF Fifth Round Winners	1-Sep-17	16th	2014	Quarter-Finals (1970, 1986)
	Belgium	UEFA Group H Winners	3-Sep-17	13th	2014	Fourth Place (1986)
	South Korea	AFC Third Round Group A Runners-up	5-Sep-17	10th	2014	Fourth Place (2002)
	Saudi Arabia	AFC Third Round Group B Runners-up	5-Sep-17	5th	2006	Round of 16 (1994)
	Germany	UEFA Group C Winners	5-Oct-17	19th	2014	Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
	England	UEFA Group F Winners	5-Oct-17	15th	2014	Winners (1966)
	Spain	UEFA Group G Winners	6-Oct-17	12th	2014	Winners (2010)
	Nigeria	CAF Group B Winners	7-Oct-17	6th	2014	Round of 16 (1994, 1998, 2014)
	Costa Rica	CONCACAF Fifth Round Runners-Up	7-Oct-17	5th	2014	Quarter-Finals (2014)
	Poland	UEFA Group E Winners	8-Oct-17	8th	2006	Third Place (1974, 1982)
	Egypt	CAF Group E Winners	8-Oct-17	3rd	1990	First Round (1934, 1990)
	Serbia	UEFA Group D Winners	9-Oct-17	12th	2010	Fourth Place (1930, 1962)
	Iceland	UEFA Group I Winners	9-Oct-17	1st	None	None
	France	UEFA Group A Winners	10-Oct-17	15th	2014	Winners (1998)
	Portugal	UEFA Group B Winners	10-Oct-17	7th	2014	Third Place (1966)
	Uruguay	CONMEBOL Round Robin 2nd place	10-Oct-17	13th	2014	Winners (1930, 1950)
	Argentina	CONMEBOL Round Robin 3rd place	10-Oct-17	17th	2014	Winners (1978, 1986)
	Colombia	CONMEBOL Round Robin 4th place	10-Oct-17	6th	2014	Quarter-Finals (2014)
	Panama	CONCACAF Fifth Round Third Place	10-Oct-17	1st	None	None
	Senegal	CAF Group D Winners	10-Nov-17	2nd	2002	Quarter-Finals (2002)
	Morocco	CAF Group C Winners	11-Nov-17	5th	1998	Round of 16 (1986)
	Tunisia	CAF Group A Winners	11-Nov-17	5th	2006	Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006)
	Switzerland	UEFA Play-Off Winners 1	12-Nov-17	11th	2014	Quarter Finals (1934, 1938, 1954)
	Croatia	UEFA Play-Off Winners 2	12-Nov-17	5th	2014	Semi-Final (1998)
	Sweden	UEFA Play-Off Winners 3	13-Nov-17	12th	2006	Final (1958)
	Denmark	UEFA Play-Off Winners 4	14-Nov-17	5th	2010	Quarter Finals (1998)
	Australia	CONCACAF / AFC Play-Off Winners	15-Nov-17	5th	2014	Second Round (2006)
	Peru	OFC / CONMEBOL Play-Off Winners	15-Nov-17	5th	1982	Quarter Finals (1970, 1978)