View source for 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Infobox International Football Competition
| tourney_name   = 1978 FIFA World Cup Qualification
| year           = 
| alt            =
| caption        =
| dates          = {{nowrap|7 March 1976 – 11 December 1977}}
| num_teams      = 107
| confederations = 6
| matches        = 252
| goals          = 723
| attendance     = 
| top_scorer     = {{fbicon|ITA|1946}} [[Roberto Bettega]] {{nowrap|(9 goals)}}
| prevseason     = [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification|1974]]
| nextseason     = [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification|1982]]
}}

A total of 107 teams entered the '''[[1978 FIFA World Cup]] [[FIFA World Cup qualification|qualification]]''' rounds, which began with the preliminary qualification draw on 20 November 1975 at [[Guatemala City]]. [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], as the hosts, and [[Germany national football team|West Germany]], as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

The 16 places would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:
*Europe ([[UEFA]]): ''9 or 10 places''. One place went to automatic qualifier [[Germany national football team|West Germany]], while nine places were contested by 31 teams. The team coming ninth in qualifying would advance to the intercontinental play-offs against a team from CONMEBOL.
*South America ([[CONMEBOL]]): ''3 or 4 places''. One place automatically went to host nation [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], while the other three places were contested by nine teams. The team coming third in qualifying would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from UEFA).
*North, Central America and Caribbean ([[CONCACAF]]): ''1 place'', contested by 16 teams.
*Africa ([[Confederation of African Football|CAF]]): ''1 place'', contested by 26 teams.
*Asia ([[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]) and [[Oceania]] ([[Oceania Football Confederation|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).

==Confederation qualification==

===AFC and OFC===
{{main|1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)}}
:'''Iran''' qualified.

===CAF===
{{main|1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)}}
:'''Tunisia''' qualified.

===CONCACAF===
{{main|1977 CONCACAF Championship}}
:'''Mexico''' qualified.

===CONMEBOL===
{{main|1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)}}

====First round====

=====Group 1=====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=30|Rank
!width=165 style="text-align:left;"|Team
!width=20|{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
|- style="background:#ffebad;"
|'''1'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|BRA|1968}}
|'''6'''||4||2||2||0||8||1||+7
|-
|'''2'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|PAR|1954}}
|'''4'''||4||1||2||1||3||3||0
|-
|'''3'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|COL}}
|'''2'''||4||0||2||2||1||8||&minus;7
|}

=====Group 2=====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=30|Rank
!width=165 style="text-align:left;"|Team
!width=20|{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
|- style="background:#ffebad;"
|'''1'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|BOL}}
|'''7'''||4||3||1||0||8||3||+5
|-
|'''2'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|URU}}
|'''4'''||4||1||2||1||5||4||+1
|-
|'''3'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|VEN|1954}}
|'''1'''||4||0||1||3||2||8||&minus;6
|}

=====Group 3=====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=30|Rank
!width=165 style="text-align:left;"|Team
!width=20|{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
|- style="background:#ffebad;"
|'''1'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|PER}}
|'''6'''||4||2||2||0||8||2||+6
|-
|'''2'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|CHI}}
|'''5'''||4||2||1||1||5||3||+2
|-
|'''3'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ECU}}
|'''1'''||4||0||1||3||1||9||&minus;8
|}

====Final round====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=30|Rank
!width=165 style="text-align:left;"|Team
!width=20|{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width=20|{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|'''1'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|BRA|1968}}
|'''4'''||2||2||0||0||9||0||+9
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|'''2'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|PER}}
|'''2'''||2||1||0||1||5||1||+4
|- style="background:#ffebad;"
|'''3'''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|BOL}}
|'''0'''||2||0||0||2||0||13||&minus;13
|}

'''Brazil''' and '''Peru''' qualified.
'''Bolivia''' advanced to the [[#Inter-confederation play-offs: UEFA v CONMEBOL|inter-confederation play-offs]].

===UEFA===
{{main|1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)}}

{|
|-valign=top
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|Group 1]]
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|Group 2]]
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|Group 3]]
|-valign=top
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|-valign=top
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|Group 4]]
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|Group 5]]
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 6|Group 6]]
|-valign=top
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 6|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|-valign=top
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 7|Group 7]]
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 8|Group 8]]
!align="center"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 9|Group 9]]
|-valign=top
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 7|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 8|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 9|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|}

'''Hungary''' advanced to the [[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off)|UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off]].

==Inter-confederation play-offs: UEFA v CONMEBOL==
{{main article|1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off)}}

The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.
<onlyinclude>{{TwoLegStart}}
{{TwoLegResult|'''{{fb-rt|HUN}}'''||9–2|{{fb|BOL}}||[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off)#First leg|6–0]]|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off)#Second leg|3–2]]}}
{{TwoLeg end}}</onlyinclude>

==Qualified teams==
[[Image:1978_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification.png|thumb|500px|Final qualification status {{legend|#000cff|Country qualified for World Cup}} {{legend|#ffb400|Country failed to qualify}} {{legend|#000000|Country did not enter World Cup}} {{legend|#ababab|Country not a FIFA member}}]]

The following 16 teams qualified for the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]]:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=220|Team
!width=120|Date of qualification
!width=80|Finals appearance
!width=50|Streak
!width=80|Last appearance
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ARG|alt}} (hosts)
|6 July 1966||7th||2||[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|AUT}}
|30 October 1977||4th||1||[[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|BRA|1968}}
|14 July 1977||11th||11||[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|FRA}}
|16 November 1977||7th||1||[[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|HUN}}
|30 November 1977||7th||1||[[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|IRN|1964}}
|25 November 1977||1st||1||—
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ITA}}
|3 December 1977||9th||5||[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|MEX}}
|19 October 1977||8th||1||[[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|NED}}
|26 October 1977||4th||2||[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|PER}}
|17 July 1977||3rd||1||[[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|POL}}
|21 September 1977||3rd||2||[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|SCO}}
|12 October 1977||4th||2||[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ESP|1977}}
|30 November 1977||5th||1||[[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|SWE}}
|30 October 1977||7th||3||[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|TUN|1959}}
|11 December 1977||1st||1||—
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|FRG}} (defending champions)
|7 July 1974||9th||7||[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
|}

==Top goalscorers==

;9 goals
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Roberto Bettega]]

;7 goals
*{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Hans Krankl]]
*{{flagicon|El Salvador}} [[Luis Ramírez Zapata]]
*{{flagicon|HAI|1964}} [[Emmanuel Sanon]]
*{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Keith Nelson (footballer)|Keith Nelson]]

;6 goals
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[John Kosmina]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Peter Ollerton]]
*{{flagicon|EGY|1972}} [[Mahmoud El Khatib]]
*{{flagicon|GUA}} [[Óscar Enrique Sánchez]]
*{{flagicon|HAI|1964}} [[Leintz Domingue]]
*{{flagicon|KUW}} [[Faisal Al-Dakhil]]
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Víctor Rangel (Mexican footballer)|Víctor Rangel]]

==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. Taking the two automatic places into account, and excluding twelve teams who withdrew before playing, 95 teams competed for the remaining 14 places (14.7%). The number of spots was increased to 24 for the next World Cup.
*[[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]]'s victory over [[Morocco national football team|Morocco]] on penalties was the first [[penalty shootout (football)|penalty shootout]] in World Cup qualification matches.

==External links==
*[http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/p/pwc/q/1978.html FIFA World Cup Official Site - 1978 World Cup Qualification]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160625100456/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/78q.html RSSSF - 1978 World Cup Qualification]

{{1978 FIFA World Cup qualification}}
{{FIFA World Cup qualification}}
{{1977 in Japanese football}}

[[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup qualification| ]]
[[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup|Qualification]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup qualification]]