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04/01 01:27 CDT World Cup qualifying marathon ends with Iraq securing the 48th
and final spot
World Cup qualifying marathon ends with Iraq securing the 48th and final spot
By CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
Associated Press
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) --- The 48-team field for FIFA 's biggest ever World Cup
is complete after a qualifying process that spanned more than two and a half
years.
Iraq edged Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff at Monterrey in northern
Mexico on Tuesday to secure the 48th spot, hours after Bosnia and Herzegovina
upset four-time champion Italy on penalties in European playoffs. The result
meant Italy was knocked out in qualifying for a third successive World Cup.
Eight teams from Europe were competing for four places on the last day of
qualifying. The new intercontinental tournament staged in Mexico determined the
other two remaining places. The next-to-last nation to advance was Congo, which
edged Jamaica 1-0 in extra time at Guadalajara, Mexico.
Sweden, Turkey and the Czech Republic each qualified in European playoff finals.
Sweden beat Poland 3-2; Turkey edged Kosovo 1-0; and the Czech Republic beat
Denmark in a penalty shootout.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 and will be co-hosted by the United States,
Mexico and Canada. It will feature 12 groups of four teams.
With its big upset victory of Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified to join
Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.
Sweden will play in Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. Turkey
will be in Group D with the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
After reaching its first World Cup since 2006, the Czech team will play in
Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
The World Cup qualifiers for the 2026 tournament started Sept. 7, 2023 with
matches in South America.
World Cup groups Group A Mexico, Czech Republic, South Africa, South Korea Group B Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland Group C Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, Scotland Group D United States, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey Group E Curacao, Ecuador, German,y Ivory Coast Group F Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia Group G Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand Group H Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uruguay Group I France, Norway, Senegal, Iraq Group J Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Jordan Group K Colombia, Jamaica, Portugal, Uzbekistan Group L Croatia, England, Ghana, Panama ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
World Cup groups Group A Mexico, Czech Republic, South Africa, South Korea Group B Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland Group C Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, Scotland Group D United States, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey Group E Curacao, Ecuador, German,y Ivory Coast Group F Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia Group G Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand Group H Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uruguay Group I France, Norway, Senegal, Iraq Group J Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Jordan Group K Colombia, Jamaica, Portugal, Uzbekistan Group L Croatia, England, Ghana, Panama ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
