View source for 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox international football competition
|tourney_name=1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|year=
|alt=
|caption=
|host countries=
|dates={{nowrap|21 March 1992 – 17 November 1993}}
|num_teams=147
|confederations=6
|matches=497
|goals=1446
|attendance=
|top_scorer={{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kazuyoshi Miura]]<br>(13 goals)
|prevseason=[[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification|1990]]
|nextseason=[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification|1998]]}}

The '''1994 FIFA World Cup qualification''' was a series of tournaments organised by the six [[FIFA]] [[FIFA#Structure|confederations]]. The [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] featured 24 teams with one place reserved for the host nation, [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]], and one place for the defending champions, [[Germany national football team|Germany]]. The remaining 22 places were determined by a qualification process, in which 147 teams, from the six [[FIFA]] confederations, competed. Most of the successful teams were determined within these confederations, with a limited number of inter-confederation play-offs occurring at the end of the process.

Fifteen teams withdrew: [[Liechtenstein national football team|Liechtenstein]], [[Cuba national football team|Cuba]], [[Gambia national football team|Gambia]], [[Burkina Faso national football team|Burkina Faso]], [[Liberia national football team|Liberia]], [[Malawi national football team|Malawi]], [[Mali national football team|Mali]], [[Mauritania national football team|Mauritania]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe national football team|São Tomé and Príncipe]], [[Sierra Leone national football team|Sierra Leone]], [[Sudan national football team|Sudan]], [[Tanzania national football team|Tanzania]], [[Uganda national football team|Uganda]], [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]] and [[Samoa national football team|Western Samoa]], and three teams were excluded: [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] and [[Libya national football team|Libya]] due to UN sanctions, and [[Chile national football team|Chile]] for the [[El Maracanazo]] cheating incident during 1990 qualification. 

A total of 130 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 497 qualifying matches were played, and 1446 goals were scored (an average of 2.91 per match).<ref name="Document">{{Cite web|url=http://es.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/fifaworldcuppreliminaryhistory_byyear__13876.pdf|title=History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)|date=27 July 2007|page=32|website=FIFA.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612164508/https://es.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/fifaworldcuppreliminaryhistory_byyear__13876.pdf|archive-date=12 June 2018}}</ref>

The first qualification match, between [[Dominican Republic national football team|Dominican Republic]] and [[Puerto Rico national football team|Puerto Rico]], was played on 21 March 1992, and the Puerto Rican forward [[Marcos Lugris]] scored the first goal in qualification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/94qual.html|title=World Cup 1994 qualifications|website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref> Qualification ended on 17 November 1993, when European qualification ended and the OFC–CONMEBOL play-off match was played. Eighteen of FIFA's twenty-four top-ranked countries eventually qualified.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/94q.html|title=World Cup 1994 Qualifying|last=Stokkermans|first=Karel|last2=Jarreta|first2=Sergio Henrique|date=9 June 2016|website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>

== Qualified teams ==
[[File:1994_world_cup_qualification.png|center|thumb|700x700px|{{legend|#0000ff|Country qualified for World Cup}}{{legend|#ffcc00|Country failed to qualify}}{{legend|#000000|Country did not enter World Cup}}{{legend|#e0e0e0|Country not a FIFA member}}]]<!---To allow 'Previous best appearance' to be sorted, the following nominal values have been ascribed to performances in the tournament;
Winners=1, Runners-up=2, Third place=3, Fourth place=4, Quarter-finals=5, Round of 16=6, Group stage=7, First appearance=8. To sort, please input the following before the text: 'data-sort-value="x"|'.-->

<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://es.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/fifaworldcuppreliminaryhistory_byyear__13876.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717045303/http://es.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/fifaworldcuppreliminaryhistory_byyear__13876.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 July 2011|title=History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)|date=27 July 2007|website=FIFA.com|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/feb/15/forgotten-story-17-november-1993|title=The forgotten story of … 17 November 1993|last=Smyth|first=Rob|date=15 February 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=13 October 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
!Team
!Method of
qualification
!Date of
qualification
!Finals
appearance
!Streak
!Previous best
performance
![[FIFA World Rankings|FIFA Ranking]]{{Efn|The rankings are shown as of 19 November 1993. These are the rankings used for the final draw.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=5/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622202000/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=5/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 June 2016|title=The FIFA World Ranking November 1993|date=19 November 1993|website=FIFA.com|language=en-GB|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>}}
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|USA}}
|Hosts
|4 July 1988
| data-sort-value="5''" |5th
|2
| data-sort-value="3" |Third place ([[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]])
|27
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|GER}}
|Defending champions
|8 July 1990
| data-sort-value="13" |13th{{Efn|This is the 3rd appearance of Germany at the FIFA World Cup. However, FIFA considers West Germany's results as Germany's.}}
|11
| data-sort-value="1" |'''Winners''' ([[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]], [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]], [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]){{Efn|Germany's best result is third place in [[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]]. However, FIFA considers West Germany's results as Germany's.}}
|3
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|MEX}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|CONCACAF Final Round]] winners
|9 May 1993
| data-sort-value="10" |10th
|1 <small>(Last: [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]])</small>
| data-sort-value="5" |Quarter-finals ([[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]])
|17
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|GRE}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 5)|UEFA Group 5]] winners
|23 May 1993
| data-sort-value="1" |1st
|1
| data-sort-value="8" |—
|32
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|RUS|1991}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 5)|UEFA Group 5]] runners-up
|2 June 1993
| data-sort-value="8" |8th{{Efn|This is the 1st appearance of Russia at the FIFA World Cup. However, FIFA considers Russia as the successor team of the [[USSR national football team|USSR]].}}
|4
| data-sort-value="4" |Fourth place ([[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]])
|14
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|COL}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL Group A]] winners
|5 September 1993
| data-sort-value="3" |3rd
|2
| data-sort-value="6" |Round of 16 ([[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]])
|21
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|BOL}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL Group B]] runners-up
|19 September 1993
| data-sort-value="3" |3rd
|1 <small>(Last: [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]])</small>
| data-sort-value="7" |Group stage ([[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]], [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]])
|59
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|BRA}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL Group B]] winners
|19 September 1993
| data-sort-value="15" |15th
|15
| data-sort-value="1" |'''Winners''' ([[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]], [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]], [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]])
|4
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|NGA}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF Final Round)|CAF Final Round Group A]] winners
|8 October 1993
| data-sort-value="1" |1st
|1
| data-sort-value="8" |—
|16
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|CMR}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF Final Round)|CAF Final Round Group C]] winners
|10 October 1993
| data-sort-value="3" |3rd
|2
| data-sort-value="5" |Quarter-finals ([[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]])
|24
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|MAR}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF Final Round)|CAF Final Round Group B]] winners
|10 October 1993
| data-sort-value="3" |3rd
|1 <small>(Last: [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]])</small>
| data-sort-value="6" |Round of 16 ([[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]])
|30
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|NOR}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 2)|UEFA Group 2]] winners
|13 October 1993
| data-sort-value="2" |2nd
|1 <small>(Last: [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]])</small>
| data-sort-value="6" |Round of 16 ([[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]])
|5
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|KOR|1984}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|AFC Final Round]] runners-up
|28 October 1993
| data-sort-value="4" |4th
|3
| data-sort-value="7" |Group stage ([[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]])
|39
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|KSA}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|AFC Final Round]] winners
|28 October 1993
| data-sort-value="1" |1st
|1
| data-sort-value="8" |—
|38
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|SWE}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 6)|UEFA Group 6]] winners
|13 October 1993
| data-sort-value="9" |9th
|2
| data-sort-value="2" |Runners-up ([[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]])
|11
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|BEL}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 4)|UEFA Group 4]] runners-up
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="9" |9th
|4
| data-sort-value="4" |Fourth place ([[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]])
|22
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|BUL}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 6)|UEFA Group 6]] runners-up
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="6" |6th
|1 <small>(Last: [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]])</small>
| data-sort-value="6" |Round of 16 ([[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]])
|23
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|ITA}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 1)|UEFA Group 1]] winners
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="13" |13th
|9
| data-sort-value="1" |'''Winners''' ([[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]], [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]])
|1
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|NED}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 2)|UEFA Group 2]] runners-up
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="6" |6th
|2
| data-sort-value="2" |Runners-up ([[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]], [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]])
|2
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|IRL}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 3)|UEFA Group 3]] runners-up
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="2" |2nd
|2
| data-sort-value="5" |Quarter finals ([[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]])
|13
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|ROU}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 4)|UEFA Group 4]] winners
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="6" |6th
|2
| data-sort-value="6" |Round of 16 ([[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]], [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]], [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]])
|12
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|ESP}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 3)|UEFA Group 3]] winners
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="9" |9th
|5
| data-sort-value="4" |Fourth place ([[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]])
|7
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|SUI}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 1)|UEFA Group 1]] runners-up
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="7" |7th
|1 <small>(Last: [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]])</small>
| data-sort-value="5" |Quarter-finals ([[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]], [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]], [[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]])
|9
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|ARG}}
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)|Inter-confederation play-off]] winners
|17 November 1993
| data-sort-value="11" |11th
|6
| data-sort-value="1" |'''Winners''' ([[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]])
|9
|}
{{Notelist}}

== Qualification process ==
[[File:Madisonsquaregarden.jpg|thumb|[[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]] hosted the qualification draw]]
The draw was made in New York on 8 December 1991 at [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/11/theater/new-paramount-theater-to-give-radio-city-a-run-for-its-music.html|title=New Paramount Theater to Give Radio City a Run for Its Music|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=11 September 1991|work=The New York Times|access-date=13 October 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

For the first time, three teams qualified from the African zone, because of its performance in the previous tournament. The 24 spots available in the 1994 World Cup were distributed among the continental zones as follows:
* Europe ([[UEFA]]): 13 places. 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Germany, while the other 12 places were contested by 38 teams (including Israel).
* South America ([[CONMEBOL]]): 3.5 places, contested by 9 teams.
* [[North America|North]], Central America and [[Caribbean]] ([[CONCACAF]]): 2.25 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier United States, while the other 1.25 places were contested by 22 teams.
* Africa ([[Confederation of African Football|CAF]]): 3 places, contested by 40 teams.
* Asia ([[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]): 2 places, contested by 29 teams.
* [[Oceania]] ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]]): 0.25 places, contested by 7 teams.
UEFA, AFC and CAF have a guaranteed number of places, whereas the number of qualifiers from other confederations is dependent on play-offs between OFC's first-placed team and CONCACAF's second-placed team and the winner of this fixture against CONMEBOL's fourth-placed team.

After the first round of 1994 FIFA World Cup finals, the percentage of teams from each confederation that passed through to the [[1994 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|round of 16]] was as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1994usa|title=1994 FIFA World Cup USA|website=FIFA.com|language=en-GB|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref>
* [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] (Asia): 50% (1 of 2 places)
* [[Confederation of African Football|CAF]] (Africa): 33% (1 of 3 places)
* [[CONCACAF]] (North, Central American and Caribbean): 100% (2 of 2 places)
* [[CONMEBOL]] (South America): 50% (2 of 4 places)
* [[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] (Oceania): n/a (0 of 0 places)
* [[UEFA]] (Europe): 77% (10 of 13 places)

=== Summary of qualification ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
| colspan="9" bgcolor="white" |[[File:FIFAmembers.png|450x450px]]
|-
! width="150" |Confederation
! width="100" |Teams started
! width="140" |Teams that secured qualification
! width="100" |Teams that were eliminated
! width="100" |Total places in finals
!Qualifying start date
!Qualifying end date
|-
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|AFC]]
|29
|2
|27
|2
|8 April 1993
|28 October 1993
|-
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|CAF]]
|40
|3
|37
|3
|9 October 1992
|10 October 1993
|-
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|CONCACAF]]
|22+1
|1+1
|21
|1+1
|21 March 1992
|15 August 1993
|-
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL]]
|9
|4
|5
|4
|18 July 1993
|17 November 1993
|-
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)|OFC]]
|7
|0
|7
|0
|7 June 1992
|17 November 1993
|-
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|UEFA]]{{Efn|Israel did not become a full member of [[UEFA]] until 1994, but competed in European qualification in the run-up to membership.}}
|38+1
|12+1
|26
|12+1
|22 April 1992
|17 November 1993
|-
!Total
!145+2
!22+2
!123
!22+2
!21 March 1992
!17 November 1993
|}
{{Notelist}}

=== Tiebreakers ===
For FIFA World Cup qualifying stages using a [[Round-robin tournament|league format]], the method used for separating teams level on points is the same for all Confederations. If teams are even on points at the end of group play, the tied teams will be ranked by:
# goal difference in all group matches
# greater number of goals scored in all group matches
For FIFA World Cup qualifying stages using a [[Two-legged tie|home-and-away knockout format]], the team that has the higher aggregate score over the two legs progresses to the next round. In the event that aggregate scores finish level, the [[away goals rule]] is applied, i.e. the team that scored more goals away from home over the two legs progresses. If away goals are also equal, then thirty minutes of [[Extra time (association football)|extra time]] are played, divided into two fifteen-minutes halves. The away goals rule is again applied after extra time, i.e. if there are goals scored during extra time and the aggregate score is still level, the visiting team qualifies by virtue of more away goals scored. If no goals are scored during extra time, the tie is decided by [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]].

== Confederation qualification ==

=== AFC ===
{{Main|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)}}Qualification for AFC teams consisted of two rounds. Round one saw the teams divided into 6 groups, each team playing the others in their group twice. The winner of each group then went into a final group where they played each other once.

The qualification process began with 29 national teams vying for two spots. Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic qualified.<ref name="Document"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!Legend
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|Countries that directly qualified for the 1994 World Cup
|}

==== Final positions (final round) ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width="30" |Rank
! width="165" style="text-align:left" |Team
! width="20" |Pld
! width="20" |Pts
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|'''1'''
| align="left" |{{fb|KSA}}
|5
|'''7'''
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|'''2'''
| align="left" |{{fb|KOR|1984}}
|5
|'''6'''
|-
|'''3'''
| align="left" |{{fb|JPN|1947}}
|5
|'''6'''
|-
|'''4'''
| align="left" |{{fb|IRQ|1991}}
|5
|'''5'''
|-
|'''5'''
| align="left" |{{fb|IRN}}
|5
|'''4'''
|-
|'''6'''
| align="left" |{{fb|PRK}}
|5
|'''2'''
|}

=== CAF ===
{{Main|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)}}Qualification for CAF teams also consisted of two rounds. Round one saw the teams divided into 9 groups, each team playing the others in their group twice. The winners of these groups then went into three final groups where they played each other twice.

The qualification process began with 40 national teams vying for three spots. Nigeria, Morocco and Cameroon qualified.<ref name="Document"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!Legend
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|Countries that directly qualified for the 1994 World Cup
|}

==== Final positions (final round) ====
{{Main|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF Final Round)}}
{| style="text-align:center;"
|'''Group A'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width="165" |Team
! width="20" |Pld
! width="20" |Pts
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| align="left" |{{fb|NGA}}
|4
|'''5'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|CIV}}
|4
|'''5'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|ALG}}
|4
|'''2'''
|}
|'''Group B'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width="165" |Team
! width="20" |Pld
! width="20" |Pts
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| align="left" |{{fb|MAR}}
|4
|'''6'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|ZAM|1964}}
|4
|'''5'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|SEN}}
|4
|'''1'''
|}
|'''Group C'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width="165" |Team
! width="20" |Pld
! width="20" |Pts
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| align="left" |{{fb|CMR}}
|4
|'''6'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|ZIM}}
|4
|'''4'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|GUI}}
|4
|'''2'''
|}
|}

=== CONCACAF ===
{{Main|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)}}There were three rounds of play for CONCACAF teams. Mexico and Canada received byes and advanced to the second round directly. The remaining teams were divided into Caribbean and Central American zones. In the Caribbean zone, 14 teams played in knockout matches on a home-and-away basis to determine three winners advancing to the second round. In the Central American zone, the six teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners advanced to the second round.

In the second round, the eight teams were divided into two groups of four teams each. They played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners and runners-up advanced to the final round.

In the final round, the four teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner qualified. The runner-up advanced to the CONCACAF–OFC intercontinental play-off. Mexico took the guaranteed spot and Canada qualified for the play-off.<ref name="Document"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!Legend
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|Countries that directly qualified for the 1994 World Cup
|- bgcolor="#BBF3FF"
|Countries that advanced to the [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF–OFC play-off)|CONCACAF–OFC play-off]]
|}

==== Final positions (final round) ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width="30" |Rank
! width="165" style="text-align:left" |Team
! width="20" |{{tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
! width="20" |{{tooltip|Pts|Points}}
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|'''1'''
| style="text-align:left" |{{fb|MEX}}
|6
|'''10'''
|- bgcolor="#BBF3FF"
|'''2'''
| style="text-align:left" |{{fb|CAN}}
|6
|'''7'''
|-
|'''3'''
| style="text-align:left" |{{fb|SLV}}
|6
|'''4'''
|-
|'''4'''
| style="text-align:left" |{{fb|HON|1949}}
|6
|'''3'''
|}

=== CONMEBOL ===
{{Main|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)}}Nine CONMEBOL teams entered the competition (Chile was banned by FIFA due to the [[El Maracanazo|1989 Maracanazo incident]]). The nine teams were divided into two groups. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. Group A had one guaranteed place and one play-off spot, while Group B had two spots for the finals. Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia qualified automatically and Argentina qualified for the play-off.<ref name="Document"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!Legend
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|Countries that directly qualified for the 1994 World Cup
|- bgcolor="#BBF3FF"
|Countries that advanced to the [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC–CONMEBOL play-off)|CONCACAF/OFC–CONMEBOL play-off]]
|}

==== Final positions (group stage) ====
{| style="text-align:center;"
|'''Group A'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width="165" style="text-align:left" |Team
! width="20" |{{tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
! width="20" |{{tooltip|Pts|Points}}
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| style="text-align:left" |{{fb|COL}}
|6
|'''10'''
|- bgcolor="#BBF3FF"
| style="text-align:left" |{{fb|ARG}}
|6
|'''7'''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |{{fb|PAR|1990}}
|6
|'''6'''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |{{fb|PER}}
|6
|'''1'''
|}
|'''Group B'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width="165" style="text-align:left" |Team
! width="20" |Pld
! width="20" |Pts
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| align="left" |{{fb|BRA}}
|8
|'''12'''
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| align="left" |{{fb|BOL}}
|8
|'''11'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|URU}}
|8
|'''10'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|ECU}}
|8
|'''5'''
|-
| align="left" |{{fb|VEN|1930}}
|8
|'''2'''
|}
|}

=== OFC ===
{{Main|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)}}Qualification for OFC teams consisted of two rounds. Seven teams entered initially and were divided into two groups, but Western Samoa withdrew. The two group winners then played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner advanced to the CONCACAF–OFC intercontinental play-off. Australia won the tie and advanced.<ref name="Document"/>

==== Second round ====
{{main|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – OFC second round}}

{{TwoLeg start}}
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=== UEFA ===
{{Main|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)}}

38 were initially involved in UEFA qualifying, but Liechtenstein withdrew and Yugoslavia was suspended.

The thirty-six teams were divided into six groups: one group of five teams, four groups of six teams each, and one group of seven teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners and runners-up qualified.

Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Romania, Belgium, Greece, Russia, Sweden, and Bulgaria all qualified.<ref name="Document"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!Legend
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|Countries that directly qualified for the 1994 World Cup
|}

==== Final positions (group stage) ====
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
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{{:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|title=[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|Group 1]]|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n|show_positions=n}}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
{{:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|title=[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|Group 2]]|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n|show_positions=n}}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
{{:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|title=[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|Group 3]]|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n|show_positions=n}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
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{{:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|title=[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|Group 4]]|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n|show_positions=n}}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
{{:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|title=[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|Group 5]]|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n|show_positions=n}}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
{{:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 6|title=[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 6|Group 6]]|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n|show_positions=n}}
{{col-end}}

== Inter-confederation play-offs ==
{{main article|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)}}

For the first time ever, there were two rounds of play in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams from CONCACAF and OFC first played each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner then played against the team from CONMEBOL on a home-and-away basis. The winner qualified.

===Bracket===
{{#lst:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)|Bracket}}

===First round: CONCACAF v OFC===
{{main article|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF–OFC play-off)}}
{{#lst:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)|playoff1}}

===Second round: OFC v CONMEBOL===
{{main article|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC–CONMEBOL play-off)}}
{{#lst:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)|playoff2}}

==Top goalscorers==

;13 goals
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kazuyoshi Miura]]

;9 goals
*{{flagicon|ROM}} [[Florin Răducioiu]]

;8 goals
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Alaa Kadhim]]
*{{flagicon|NGA}} [[Rashidi Yekini]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Ha Seok-ju]]
*{{flagicon|THA}} [[Piyapong Pue-On]]
*{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ian Rush]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070712090957/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=84/preliminaries/index.html 1994 FIFA World Cup USA Preliminaries]
* [https://www.rsssf.org/tables/94q.html RSSSF - 1994 World Cup Qualification]

{{1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers}}
{{1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{FIFA World Cup}}
{{1993 in Japanese football}}

[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification| ]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup|Qualification]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup qualification]]