1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
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A total of 107 teams entered the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament.  Argentina, as the hosts, and  West Germany, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

The 16 spots available in the 1978 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:

• Europe (UEFA): 9.5 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Germany, while the other 8.5 places were contested by 31 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from CONMEBOL).
• South America (CONMEBOL): 3.5 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Argentina, while the other 2.5 places were contested by 9 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from UEFA).
• North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 1 place, contested by 17 teams.
• Africa (CAF): 1 place, contested by 26 teams.
• Asia (AFC) and Oceania (OFC): 1 place, contested by 22 teams.

A total of 95 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 252 qualifying matches were played, and 723 goals were scored (an average of 2.87 per match).

Continental Zones

To see the dates and results of the qualification rounds for each continental zone, click on the following articles:

• Europe (UEFA)

Group 1 - Poland qualified.

Group 2 - Italy qualified.

Group 3 - Austria qualified.

Group 4 - Netherlands qualified.

Group 5 - France qualified.

Group 6 - Sweden qualified.

Group 7 - Scotland qualified.

Group 8 - Spain qualified.

Group 9 - Hungary advanced to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.

• South America (CONMEBOL)

Brazil and Peru qualified. Bolivia advanced to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.

• North America (CONCACAF)

Mexico qualified.

• Africa (CAF)

Tunisia qualified.

• Asia (AFC) and Oceania (OFC)

Iran qualified.

Intercontinental Play-offs

The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.

UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off

October 29, 1977, Budapest, Hungary -  Hungary 6 - 0  Bolivia

November 30, 1977, La Paz, Bolivia -  Bolivia 2 - 3  Hungary

Hungary qualified by the aggregate score of 9-2.

Qualified teams

Qualifying countries

Team	Finals Appearance	Streak	Last Appearance
Argentina (h)	7th	2	1974
Austria	4th	1	1958
Brazil	11th	11	1974
France	7th	1	1966
Hungary	7th	1	1966
Iran	1st	1	-
Italy	9th	5	1974
Mexico	8th	1	1970
Netherlands	4th	2	1974
Peru	3rd	1	1970
Poland	3rd	2	1974
Scotland	4th	2	1974
Spain	5th	1	1966
Sweden	7th	3	1974
Tunisia	1st	1	-
West Germany (c)	9th	7	1974

(h) - qualified automatically as hosts

(c) - qualified automatically as defending champions

Notes

• For the first time, over 100 teams entered qualification for the World Cup.

• Statistically, this was the most difficult World Cup to qualify for. Not counting the two automatic places and teams who withdrew before playing, 95 teams competed for 14 places (14.7%). The number of spots was increased to 24 for the next World Cup.

• Tunisia's victory over Morocco on penalties was the first penalty shootout in World Cup qualification matches.

External links

• FIFA World Cup Official Site - 1978 World Cup Qualification
• RSSSF - 1978 World Cup Qualification