2018 World Cup: October qualifying matches begin on Thursday 05/10/2017

Russia (host), Brazil (CONMEBOL), Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea (AFC), Belgium (UEFA), and Mexico (CONCACAF) have all qualified for the final phase of the XXI World Cup, to be held in Russia from 14/06 to 15/07/2018, with the next round of qualification matches from 05/10 to 10/10/2017.

Syria and Australia will contest a two-legged play-off for the AFC zone in October 2017, the winner of which will then compete in a two-legged intercontinental play-off against the fourth place finisher in the CONCACAF zone during the international period in November 2017.

New Zealand, after winning the third round of the Oceania zone qualification against the Solomon Islands (6-1; 2-2) on 01 and 05/09/2017, has qualified for the intercontinental playoff between Oceania and the fifth place team in South America, which will take place during the international period of November 2017.

The draw for the final round (distribution of the 32 qualified teams in eight groups of four) will be held at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow (RUS) on Friday, 01/12/2017.

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