European Qualifiers for World Cup: who can join Belgium?

*Have at least clinched a play-off
**Will finish in top two of group

Who can still make the play-offs?

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece

Who is out of contention?

Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, Finland, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Gibraltar, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Romania, San Marino

Who has qualified from outside Europe?

Brazil, Iran, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Saudi Arabia

Group by group permutations …

THURSDAY 5 OCTOBER

Group C
18:00CET: Azerbaijan (10) v Czech Republic (9)
20:45CET: San Marino (0) v Norway (7), Northern Ireland (19) v Germany (24)

• Germany, with eight wins from eight,  are assured a play-off. Northern Ireland are also guaranteed to finish in the top two but are not yet guaranteed a play-off. The sides meet in Belfast next time out, with world champions Germany requiring a point to qualify for Russia.

Group E
18:00CET: Armenia (6) v Poland (19)
20:45CET: Romania (9) v Kazakhstan (2), Montenegro (16) v Denmark (16)

• Poland need a point to guarantee a top-two finish. They will clinch the group if they win and Denmark draw in Montenegro.

Group F
20:45CET: Scotland (14) v Slovakia (15), England (20) v Slovenia (14), Malta (0) v Lithuania (5)

• England qualify if they win, or if they draw and Slovakia do not win. Regardless they would guarantee a top-two finish with a draw, or even if they lose should Scotland and Slovakia draw.

• Slovakia will secure second place if they beat Scotland and Slovenia lose to England.

FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER

Group D
18:00CET: Georgia (5) v Wales (14)
20:45CET: Republic of Ireland (13) v Moldova (2), Austria (9) v Serbia (18)

Group G
20:45CET: Liechtenstein (0) v Israel (9), Italy (19) v FYR Macedonia (7), Spain (22) v Albania (13)

Group I
20:45CET: Kosovo (1) v Ukraine (14), Turkey (14) v Iceland (16), Croatia (16) v Finland (7)

SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER

Group A
18:00CET: Sweden (16) v Luxembourg (5)
20:45CET: Belarus (5) v Netherlands (13), Bulgaria (12) v France (17)

• France will clinch the group if they win and Sweden lose. France would guarantee a top-two finish if they win, while a draw could be enough provided the Netherlands fail to beat Belarus.

• Sweden will secure a top-two finish if Bulgaria fail to beat France and Sweden pick up more points than the Netherlands manage against Belarus.

• The Netherlands will be out if they fail to at least match Sweden’s result.

• Bulgaria will stay in the hunt with a win. If they fail to triumph and Sweden pick up a point against Luxembourg, they will be out.

Group B
18:00CET: Faroe Islands (8) v Latvia (3)
20:45CET: Andorra (4) v Portugal (21), Switzerland (24) v Hungary (10)

• Switzerland (yet to drop a point) and Portugal are certain to finish in the top two and at worst will be in the play-offs.

• With three points separating the pair with two games to go, Portugal must at least match Switzerland’s result to keep hopes alive of top spot. Portugal, who have a far superior goal difference, host Switzerland to end the group on 10 October.

Group H
18:00CET: Gibraltar (0) v Estonia (8), Bosnia and Herzegovina (14) v Belgium (22)
20:45CET: Cyprus (10) v Greece (13)

• Belgium have clinched a finals place with two games to spare.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina will seal second spot if they win and Greece lose.

• Cyprus must win and hope Bosnia and Herzegovina drop points, or draw and hope Bosnia and Herzegovina lose.

How teams are split
(from competition regulations, article 20.6)