How many teams compete in the World Cup?
By Adam Stocker
The 2018 World Cup features 32 teams competing for the biggest prize in international soccer.
The World Cup is the biggest international soccer tournament. After years of qualifying, 32 teams travel to Russia this summer to compete in the World Cup. The 32 teams are divided up into eight groups of four. Every team in the group plays the other teams in the group once, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stage. The knockout stage is a single elimination tournament with the winner advancing.
The 32 teams in the 2018 World Cup are divided into the following groups:
Group A features Russia, who qualified as the hosts, Saudi Arabi, Eygpt and Uruguay. Saudi Arabi qualified for four World Cups between 1994 and 2006. However, they only advanced out of the group stage in 1994. Eygpt have only qualified twice for the World Cup but failed to win a game in 1934 or 1990. Uruguay qualified for 12 World Cups, winning the first World Cup in 1930 and again in 1950.
Group B is made up of Spain, Portugal, Iran and Morocco. Spain have qualified for every World Cup since 1978, winning their first title in 2010. Portugal have qualified for the last four World Cups, with their best finish coming in 1966 when they finished third. Iran have won only one game in the four World Cups they have participated in, never getting out of the group stage. Morocco have also qualified for four World Cups, losing in the round of 16 in 1986.
Group C is composed of France, Australia, Peru and Denmark. France won the World Cup in 1998 and have qualified for last six tournaments. Australia qualified for the past three World Cups but only made it out of the group stage in 2006. Peru qualified for their first World Cup since 1982. Denmark have played in four World Cups, making it out of the group stage three times. The Danes best finish was in 1998 when they reached the quarterfinal.
Group D features Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria. Argentina have qualified for every World Cup since 1974, winning in 1978 and 1986 and finishing as the runner-up in 1990 and 2014. The 2018 World Cup is the first time that Iceland have qualified and they are the smallest country to ever qualify. Croatia have qualified for four of the last five World Cups, finishing third in 1998. Nigeria qualified for five of the last six World Cups, advancing to the round of 16 three times.
Group E will feature Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia. Brazil have qualified for every World Cup, winning it five times, most recently in 2002. Switzerland qualified for three straight tournaments and 11 overall but have never advanced past the quarterfinal since 1938. Costa Rica have made it to five World Cups, advancing to the quarterfinal in 2014. Serbia have only qualified once as Serbia but have been to 11 other World Cups as either Serbia and Montenegro or Yugoslavia.
Group F contains Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea. Germany are the reign champions winning their fourth title in 2014 and have qualified for 19 of 21 tournaments and every tournament since 1954. Mexico have reached the round of 16 in every World Cup since 1994 but have lost every time. Sweden qualified for their 12th World Cup and first since 2006. The Swede’s best finish was in 1958 when they lost the final on home soil. South Korea have made every World Cup since 1986 with their best finish coming in 2002 when they finished fourth.
Group G is made up of Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England. Belgium have qualified for 13 World Cups with their best finish coming in 1986 when they finished fourth. Panama qualified for their first World Cup in 2018. Tunisia have gone to four World Cup, winning only one game and never getting out of the group stage. England have qualified for every World Cup since 1998 and 14 overall. The Three Lions won in 1966 but their World Cup history is filled with disappointing results.
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Group H is composed of Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan. Poland qualified for their first World Cup since 2006, with their best finish coming in 1974 and 1982 when they finished third. Senegal’s only other trip to the World Cup was in 1998 when they lost in the quarterfinal. Colombia have played in five previous tournaments with their best finish coming in 2014 when they reached the quarterfinal. Japan qualified for their first World Cup in 1998 and have made every tournament since then. However, the Japanese have only advanced to the round of 16 twice, losing both times.