View source for 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{short description|2002 football competition}}
{{Infobox international football competition
| tourney_name   = 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
| year           = 
| alt            =
| caption        =
| dates          = {{nowrap|4 March 2000 – 25 November 2001}}
| num_teams      = 199
| confederations = 6
| matches        = {{#expr: <!--AFC-->153 +<!--CAF-->145 +<!--CONCACAF-->125 +<!--CONMEBOL-->90 +<!--OFC-->22 +<!--UEFA-->238 +<!--play-off-->4}}
| goals          = {{#expr: <!--AFC-->587 +<!--CAF-->379 +<!--CONCACAF-->391 +<!--CONMEBOL-->232 +<!--OFC-->179 +<!--UEFA-->677 +<!--play-off-->7}}
| attendance     = {{#expr: <!--AFC-->2730506 +<!--CAF-->3593675 +<!--CONCACAF-->2329088 +<!--CONMEBOL-->3431386 +<!--OFC-->87894 +<!--UEFA-->4786293 +<!--play-off-->283194}}
| top_scorer     = {{fbicon|AUS}} [[Archie Thompson]]<br>(16 goals)
| prevseason     = [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification|1998]]
| nextseason     = [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification|2006]]
}}

The '''[[2002 FIFA World Cup]] qualification competition''' was a series of tournaments organised by the six [[FIFA]] [[FIFA#Structure|confederations]]. Each confederation — the [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] (Asia), [[Confederation of African Football|CAF]] (Africa), [[CONCACAF]] (North, Central America and Caribbean), [[CONMEBOL]] (South America), [[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] (Oceania), and [[UEFA]] (Europe) — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament. 199 teams entered the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|tournament]] [[FIFA World Cup qualification|qualification]] rounds, competing for 32 spots in the final tournament. [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] and [[Japan national football team|Japan]], as the co-hosts, and [[France national football team|France]], as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 29 spots open for competition.

==Qualified teams==

[[File:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification.png|thumb|700px|center|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}}]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! Team
! style="width:265px; text-align:center;"|Method of<br />qualification
! Date of<br />qualification
! Finals<br />appearance
! style="width:80px; text-align:center;"|Last<br />appearance
! Consecutive<br />finals<br />appearances
! style="width:265px; text-align:center;"|Previous best<br />performance
! [[FIFA World Rankings|FIFA ranking]]<br />at start of event<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking (15 May 2002)|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=97/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026211858/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=97/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2015|work=FIFA.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=12 September 2013|date=15 May 2002}}</ref>
|-
|{{fb|JPN}} || rowspan="2" | Co-hosts || rowspan="2" | 31 May 1996 || 2nd || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 2 || Group stage ([[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) || 32
|-
|{{fb|KOR|1997}} || 6th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 5 || Group stage ([[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]], [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) || 40
|-
|{{fb|FRA|1974}} || Defending Champions || 12 July 1998 || 11th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 2 || '''Winners''' ([[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) ||1
|-
|{{fb|CMR}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF final round#Group A|CAF final round group A]] winners ||1 July 2001 || 5th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 4 || Quarter-finals ([[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]) || 17
|-
|{{fb|RSA}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF final round#Group E|CAF final round group E]] winners ||1 July 2001 || 2nd || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 2 || Group stage ([[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) || 37
|-
|{{fb|TUN}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF final round#Group D|CAF final round group D]] winners ||15 July 2001 || 3rd || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 2 || Group stage ([[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]], [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) || 31
|-
|{{fb|SEN}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF final round#Group C|CAF final round group C]] winners ||21 July 2001 || 1st || — || 1 || — || 42
|-
|{{fb|NGA}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF final round#Group B|CAF final round group B]] winners ||29 July 2001 || 3rd || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 3 || Round of 16 ([[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) || 27
|-
|{{fb|ARG}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL]] winners ||15 August 2001 || 13th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 8 || '''Winners''' ([[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]) || 3
|-
|{{fb|POL}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|UEFA Group 5]] winners ||1 September 2001 || 6th || [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]] || 1 || Third place ([[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]) || 38
|-
|{{fb|SWE}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|UEFA Group 4]] winners ||5 September 2001 || 10th || [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]] || 1 || Runners-up ([[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]) || 19
|-
|{{fb|SPA}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 7|UEFA Group 7]] winners ||5 September 2001 || 11th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 7 || Fourth place ([[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]]) || 8
|-
|{{fb|CRC}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF final round|CONCACAF final round]] winners ||5 September 2001 || 2nd || [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] || 1 || Round of 16 ([[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]) || 29
|-
|{{fb|RUS}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|UEFA Group 1]] winners ||6 October 2001 || 9th{{efn|This is the 2nd appearance of Russia at the FIFA World Cup. However FIFA considers Russia as the successor team of the [[Soviet Union national football team|USSR]].}} || [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]] || 1 || Fourth place ([[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]) || 28
|-
|{{fb|POR}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|UEFA Group 2]] winners ||6 October 2001 || 3rd || [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]] || 1 || Third place ([[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]) || 5
|-
|{{fb|DEN}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|UEFA Group 3]] winners ||6 October 2001 || 3rd || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 2 || Quarter-finals ([[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) || 20
|-
|{{fb|CRO}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 6|UEFA Group 6]] winners ||6 October 2001 || 2nd || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 2 || Third place ([[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) || 21
|-
|{{fb|ITA}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 8|UEFA Group 8]] winners ||6 October 2001 || 15th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 11 || '''Winners''' ([[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]], [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]) || 6
|-
|{{fb|ENG}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 9|UEFA Group 9]] winners ||6 October 2001 || 11th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 2 || '''Winners''' ([[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]) || 12
|-
|{{fb|CHN}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round#Group B|AFC second round Group B]] winners ||7 October 2001 || 1st || — || 1 || — || 50
|-
|{{fb|USA}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF final round|CONCACAF final round]] runners-up||7 October 2001 || 7th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 4 || Third place ([[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]]) || 13
|-
|{{fb|SAU}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round#Group A|AFC second round Group A]] winners||21 October 2001 || 3rd || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 3 || Round of 16 ([[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]) || 34
|-
|{{fb|ECU|1900}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL]] runners-up||7 November 2001 || 1st || — || 1 || — || 36
|-
|{{fb|PAR|1990}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL]] 4th place||8 November 2001 || 6th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 2 || Round of 16 ([[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]) || 18
|-
|{{fb|MEX}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF final round|CONCACAF final round]] 3rd place||11 November 2001 || 12th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 3 || Quarter-finals ([[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]], [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]) || 7
|-
|{{fb|BEL}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Play-offs|UEFA play-off]] winners||14 November 2001 || 11th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 6 || Fourth place ([[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]) || 23
|-
|{{fb|GER}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Play-offs|UEFA play-off]] winners||14 November 2001 || 15th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 12 || '''Winners''' ([[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]], [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]], [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]) || 11
|-
|{{fb|SLO}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Play-offs|UEFA play-off]] winners||14 November 2001 || 1st || — || 1 || — || 25
|-
|{{fb|TUR}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Play-offs|UEFA play-off]] winners||14 November 2001 || 2nd || [[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]] || 1 || Group stage ([[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]]) || 22
|-
|{{fb|BRA}}||[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL]] 3rd place||14 November 2001 || 17th || [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] || 17 || '''Winners''' ([[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]], [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]], [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]], [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]) || 2
|-
|{{fb|IRL}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–AFC play-off)|UEFA-AFC play-off]] winners||15 November 2001 || 3rd || [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]] || 1 || Quarter-finals ([[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]) || 15
|-
|{{fb|URU}}||[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL–OFC play-off)|CONMEBOL v OFC play-off]] winners||25 November 2001 ||10th|| [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] || 1 || '''Winners''' ([[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]], [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]]) || 24
|}
<div id="1"><sup>'''1'''</sup>Includes 10 appearances by [[German Football Association|DFB]] representing West Germany between 1954 and 1990. Excludes 1 appearance by ''DVF'' representing East Germany between 1954 and 1990.</div>

<div id="2"><sup>'''2'''</sup>Includes appearances by [[Soviet Union national football team|USSR]].</div>

==Qualification process==
The 32 spots available in the 2002 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:
* Europe ([[UEFA]]): ''14.5 places'', 1 of them went to automatic qualifier France, while the other 13.5 places were contested by 50 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from AFC)
* South America ([[CONMEBOL]]): ''4.5 places'', contested by 10 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from OFC).
* North, Central America and Caribbean ([[CONCACAF]]): ''3 places'', contested by 35 teams.
* Africa ([[Confederation of African Football|CAF]]): ''5 places'', contested by 51 teams.
* Asia ([[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]): ''4.5 places'', 2 of them went to automatic qualifiers South Korea and Japan, while the other 2.5 places were contested by 40 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from UEFA).
* [[Oceania]] ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]]): ''0.5 place'', contested by 10 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the intercontinental play-offs (against a team from CONMEBOL).

A total of 193 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 777 qualifying matches were played, and 2452 goals were scored (an average of 3.17 per match).

===Summary of qualification===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|colspan=9 bgcolor=white|[[File:FIFAmembers.png|450x450px]]
|-
!width=150|Confederation
!width=100|Available slots in finals
!width=100|Teams started
!width=100|Teams eliminated
!width=100|Teams qualified
!Qualifying start date
!Qualifying end date
|- 
|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|AFC]]||2+2 or 3+2||39+2||37||2+2||24 November 2000||15 November 2001
|- 
|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|CAF]]||5||50||45||5||7 April 2000||29 July 2001
|- 
|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|CONCACAF]]||3||34||31||3||4 March 2000||11 November 2001
|- 
|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL]]||4 or 5||10||5||5||28 March 2000||25 November 2001
|-
|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)|OFC]]||0 or 1||10||10||0||7 April 2001||25 November 2001
|- 
|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|UEFA]]||13+1 or 14+1||50+1||36||14+1||16 August 2000||15 November 2001
|-
!Total||29+3||193+3||164||29+3||4 March 2000||25 November 2001
|}

==Confederation qualification==

===AFC===
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)}}
The Asian Football Confederation was allocated four and half qualifying berths for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] and [[Japan national football team|Japan]], the co-hosts, qualified automatically, leaving two and half spots open for competition between 40 teams. [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]] withdrew from the tournament after being placed in group 2 but before any matches had been played, therefore reducing the group to three teams.

[[Afghanistan national football team|Afghanistan]], [[Bhutan national football team|Bhutan]] and [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]] chose not to participate.

Asia's two remaining automatic qualifying berths were taken by [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] and [[China national football team|China]]. [[Iran national football team|Iran]] lost their AFC–UEFA playoff against the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]].

There were three rounds of play:
*'''First round''': The 39 teams were divided into nine groups of four teams each, and one group of three teams. The teams played against each other twice, except in group 2, where the teams played against each other once. The group winners advanced to the final round.
*'''Second round''': The ten group winners from the first round were divided into two groups of five teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners qualified directly to the World Cup. The runners-up advanced to the AFC play-off.
*'''Play-off''': The two group runners-up from the second round played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner advanced to the UEFA–AFC inter-confederation play-off.

====Final positions (second round)====
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round}}
{|
|-valign=top
!align="center"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round#Group A|Group A]]
!align="center"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round#Group B|Group B]]
|-valign=top
|align="left"|{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|transcludesection=Group A|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|transcludesection=Group B|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|}

====AFC play-off====
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Play-off}}
{{TwoLegStart}}
{{TwoLegResult|'''{{fb-rt|IRN}}'''||4–0|{{fb|UAE}}||[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Play-off|1–0]]|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Play-off|3–0]]}}
|}

===CAF===
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)}}
The Confederation of African Football was allocated five qualifying berths for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]]. 51 teams entered the qualification process.

[[Burundi national football team|Burundi]] withdrew before the draw was made while [[Niger national football team|Niger]] and [[Comoros national football team|Comoros]] chose not to participate. 

[[Guinea national football team|Guinea]] was excluded from the competition during the final round for government interference with its national association, resulting in their results obtained in the final round being annulled.

Africa's five automatic qualifying berths were taken by [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]], [[Senegal national football team|Senegal]], [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]], [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]], and [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]].

There were two rounds of play:
* '''First round''': The 50 teams were divided into five pools of ten teams each. In each pool, the 10 teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners advanced to the second round.
* '''Second round''': The 25 teams were divided into five groups of five teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners qualified.

====Final positions (second round)====
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round}}
{|
|-valign=top
!align="center"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round#Group A|Group A]]
!align="center"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round#Group B|Group B]]
!align="center"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round#Group C|Group C]]
|-valign=top
|align="left"|{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round|transcludesection=Group A|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round|transcludesection=Group B|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round|transcludesection=Group C|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|-
!align="center"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round#Group C|Group D]]
!align="center"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round#Group C|Group E]]
|-valign=top
|align="left"|{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round|transcludesection=Group D|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|align="left"|{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round|transcludesection=Group E|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}
|}

===CONCACAF===
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)}}
A total of 35 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. Mexico, USA, Jamaica and Costa Rica, the four highest-ranked teams according to FIFA, received byes and advanced to the semi-finals, while Canada advanced to the play-offs . The remaining teams were divided into  zones, based on geographical locations, as follows:
*Caribbean Zone: The 24 teams were divided into  groups of eight teams each. The teams played in a three-round knockout tournament. The winners would advance to the semi-finals, while the runners-up would advance to the play-offs.
*Central American Zone: The six teams are divided into  groups of three teams each. The teams played against each other. The winners of the group would advance to the semi-finals, while the runners-up would advance to the play-offs.
*Play-offs: the six teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. A team from North or Central America would play against a team from the Caribbean, and the winners would advance to the semi-finals.
*Semi-finals: the 12 teams were divided into three groups of four teams each. They played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners and runners-up would advance to the final round.
*Final round: the six teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top three teams would qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Legend
|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC
|Countries that qualified for the 2002 World Cup
|}

====Final positions (final round)====
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF final round}}
{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF final round|only_pld_pts=y|show_matches=n}}

===CONMEBOL===
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)}}
A total of 10 CONMEBOL teams entered the competition. competing for four and half places in the final tournament.

The 10 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top 4 teams qualified. The 5th-placed team advanced to the CONMEBOL / OFC Intercontinental play-off.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Legend
|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC
|Countries that qualified for the 2002 World Cup
|}

====Final positions====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=165 style="text-align:left;"|Team
!width=25|Pld
!width=25|Pts
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ARG}}
|18||'''43'''
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ECU|1900}}
|18||'''31'''
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|BRA}}
|18||'''30'''
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|PAR|1990}}
|18||'''30'''
|-
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|URU}}
|18||'''27'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|COL}}
|18||'''27'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|BOL}}
|18||'''18'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|PER}}
|18||'''16'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|VEN|1930}}
|18||'''16'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|CHL}}
|18||'''12'''
|}

===OFC===
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)}}
A total of 10 teams entered the competition. competing for a half place in the final tournament.

[[Papua New Guinea national football team|Papua New Guinea]] chose not to participate. 

There would be two rounds of play:
* '''First round''': The 10 teams were divided into two groups of five teams each. The teams played against each other once. The group winners would advance to the second round.  
* '''Second round''': The two teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would advance to the CONMEBOL/OFC inter-continental play-off.

[[Australia 31–0 American Samoa|Australia's 31–0 win over American Samoa]] established a [[FIFA World Cup records|World Cup record]] for the highest margin of victory in a qualifying match.

====Final positions (second round)====
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – OFC second round}}
{{TwoLegStart}}
{{TwoLegResult|{{fb-rt|NZL}}||1–6|'''{{fb|AUS}}'''||[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Second round|0–2]]|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Second round|1–4]]}}
|}

===UEFA===
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)}}
The European section acted as qualifiers for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], for national teams which are members of the [[UEFA|Union of European Football Associations]] '''(UEFA)'''. Apart from [[France national football team|France]], who qualified automatically as holders, a total of thirteen and half slots in the final tournament were available for UEFA teams.

The 50 teams were divided into nine groups, five groups of six teams and four groups of five teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify. Among the runners-up, the runner-up of group 2 was drawn randomly to advance to the UEFA–AFC Intercontinental play-off. The other runners-up would advance to the UEFA play-offs.

In the play-offs, the eight teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The four aggregate winners qualified. The qualifying process started on 2 September 2000, after [[UEFA Euro 2000]], and ended on 14 November 2001.

The [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] and [[Romania national football team|Romania]] both failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1986, the former finishing third in group 2 behind Portugal and Republic of Ireland and the latter suffering a shock loss to Slovenia in the play-offs.


{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Legend
|- bgcolor=#CCFFCC
|Countries that qualified for the 2002 World Cup
|- bgcolor=#BBF3FF
|Countries that advanced to the [[#Play-offs|Play-offs]]
|}

====Final positions (first round)====
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#First round}}
{|
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|Group 1]]
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|Group 2]]
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|Group 3]]
|-valign=top
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|RUS}}
|10||'''23'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|SVN}}
|10||'''20'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|FR Yugoslavia}}
|10||'''19'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|SUI}}
|10||'''14'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|FAR}}
|10||'''7'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|LUX}}
|10||'''0'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|POR}}
|10||'''24'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|IRL}}
|10||'''24'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|NED}}
|10||'''20'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|CYP|1960}}
|10||'''8'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|EST}}
|10||'''8'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|AND}}
|10||'''0'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|DEN}}
|10||'''22'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|CZE}}
|10||'''20'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|BUL}}
|10||'''17'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ISL}}
|10||'''13'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|NIR}}
|10||'''11'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|MLT}}
|10||'''1'''
|}
|-
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|Group 4]]
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|Group 5]]
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 6|Group 6]]
|-valign=top
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|SWE}}
|10||'''26'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|TUR}}
|10||'''21'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|SVK}}
|10||'''17'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|MKD|name=Macedonia}}
|10||'''7'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|MDA}}
|10||'''6'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|AZE}}
|10||'''5'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|POL}}
|10||'''21'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|UKR|1992}}
|10||'''17'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|BLR|1995}}
|10||'''15'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|NOR}}
|10||'''10'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|WAL}}
|10||'''9'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ARM}}
|10||'''5'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|CRO}}
|8||'''18'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|BEL}}
|8||'''17'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|SCO}}
|8||'''15'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|LVA}}
|8||'''4'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|SMR|1862}}
|8||'''1'''
|}
|-
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 7|Group 7]]
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 8|Group 8]]
![[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 9|Group 9]]
|-valign=top
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ESP}}
|8||'''20'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|AUT}}
|8||'''15'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ISR}}
|8||'''12'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|BIH}}
|8||'''8'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|LIE}}
|8||'''0'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ITA}}
|8||'''20'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ROU}}
|8||'''16'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|GEO|1990}}
|8||'''10'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|HUN}}
|8||'''8'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|LIT|1988}}
|8||'''2'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!width=165|Team
!width=25|{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}}
!width=25|{{Tooltip | Pts | Points}}
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ENG}}
|8||'''17'''
|- style="background:#BBF3FF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|GER}}
|8||'''17'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|FIN}}
|8||'''12'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|GRE}}
|8||'''7'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Fb|ALB|1992}}
|8||'''3'''
|}
|}

====Play-offs====
{{main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round}}
{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round}}

==Inter-confederation play-offs==
{{main article|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)}}

There were two scheduled inter-confederation playoffs to determine the final two qualification spots to the finals. The first legs were played on 10 and 20 November 2001, and the second legs were played on 15 and 25 November 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=International match Calendar 2013–2018|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/Document/WorldFootball/Calendar&Live/02/03/95/26/IMC2013-2018FIFAversionv28May2013_Neutral.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807003210/http://www.fifa.com/mm/Document/WorldFootball/Calendar&Live/02/03/95/26/IMC2013-2018FIFAversionv28May2013_Neutral.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2013|publisher=FIFA|date=1 May 2013|access-date=23 November 2013}}</ref>

===UEFA v AFC===
{{main article|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–AFC play-off)}}
{{#lst:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)|playoff1}}

===OFC v CONMEBOL===
{{main article|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC–CONMEBOL play-off)}}
{{#lst:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)|playoff2}}

==Top goalscorers==
{{goalscorers
|goals=2452 |matches=777

|16 goals=
*{{fbicon|AUS}} [[Archie Thompson]]

|15 goals=
*{{fbicon|HON|1949}} [[Carlos Pavón]] 

|14 goals=
*{{fbicon|AUS}} [[David Zdrilic]] 

|11 goals=
*{{fbicon|HAI}} [[Golman Pierre]] 
*{{fbicon|CIV}} [[Ibrahima Bakayoko]] 
*{{fbicon|OMA}} [[Hani Al-Dhabit]]
*{{fbicon|OMA}} [[Yaqoob Juma Al-Mukhaini]]
*{{fbicon|KSA}} [[Talal Al-Meshal]] 
*{{fbicon|SYR|1980}} [[Said Bayazid]] 

|10 goals=
*{{fbicon|CRC}} [[Rolando Fonseca]]
*{{fbicon|IRN}} [[Ali Daei]] 
*{{fbicon|KSA}} [[Obeid Al-Dosari]] 
*{{fbicon|THA}} [[Kiatisuk Senamuang]]
*{{fbicon|UKR}} [[Andriy Shevchenko]]
*{{fbicon|UAE}} [[Yaser Salem Ali]] 
*{{fbicon|UZB}} [[Jafar Irismetov]]
}}
Below are goalscorer lists for all confederations and the inter-confederation play-offs:
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Top goalscorers|AFC]]
*[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)#Top goalscorers|CAF]]
*[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)#Top goalscorers|CONCACAF]]
*[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)#Goalscorers|CONMEBOL]]
*[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Goalscorers|OFC]]
*[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Top goalscorers|UEFA]]
*[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)#Goalscorers|Inter-confederation play-offs]]
{{div col end}}

==Trivia==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}
*On their way to the 2002 World Cup, [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] endured their worst qualifying campaign ever, losing 6 matches (the only time they have lost more than 2 games in a qualifying campaign) and finishing 3rd of the South American qualifying group (the only time they have not emerged as leaders of their qualifying group). However, Brazil went on to win the 2002 World Cup with a record-breaking tally of 7 wins in 7 matches in the final competition, without facing [[Overtime (sports)|extra time]] or [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-outs]]. The following teams also won all their final competition matches: [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] in 1930 (4 games), [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in 1938 (4 games, 1 of which after extra time), Brazil in 1970 (6 games) and [[France national football team|France]] in 1998 (7 games, of which 1 with a [[golden goal]] during extra time and 1 on penalties). In 1970, Brazil had also won all of their 6 preliminary competition matches. Uruguay did not play any preliminary round for 1930, as there was none, and Italy did not either for 1938 as they were automatically qualified for the World Cup as title holders.
*After finishing second in the group, where they [[2001 Germany v England football match|famously lost 1–5 to England]], [[Germany national football team|Germany]] had to play qualifying play-offs for the only time in their history.
*[[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] netted 31 goals against newcomers American Samoa, setting the record of the highest-scoring match and biggest margin of victory in an international match ever. This was only two days after Australia thrashed Tonga 22–0, a then international record. Also, [[Archie Thompson]]'s 13 goals in the match against American Samoa surpassed the previous record of 10.
*[[Souleymane Mamam]] of [[Togo national football team|Togo]] became the youngest player ever to play in a World Cup qualifying match at the age of 13 years and 310 days in the match against Zambia, in May 2001. He subbed in for [[Komlan Assignon]], three minutes from full-time.
*The fastest-ever [[hat-trick]] in an "A" international was set when [[Abdul Hamid Bassiouny]] of [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] needed only 177 seconds to bag his three goals in a game against Namibia.
*[[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]'s [[Kubilay Türkyilmaz]] scored a [[hat trick]] exclusively from [[penalty kick (football)|penalties]] against the Faroe Islands. Brazil's [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] would equal this against Argentina in his team's 3–1 win in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] qualifying round.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2002q.html RSSSF – 2002 World Cup Qualification]

{{2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers}}
{{FIFA World Cup}}

[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification| ]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup|Qualification]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup qualification]]