Senegal and Portugal became the latest teams to secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup after contrasting wins on Tuesday.
Portugal defeated the dangerous North Macedonia 2-0 in a European play-off on Tuesday, securing a fifth World Cup appearance. It was one of seven spots in football's premier tournament that were decided on the day.
Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty in the 50th minute as Poland made it to their straight World Cup berth with a 2-1 victory over Sweden in their European play-off.
Meanwhile, there was controversy in Dakar as Senegal advanced following a penalty shootout win over Egypt after fans pointed lasers to Mohamed Salah’s face while he stepped up to take his team's first penalty kick.
Earlier, Uruguay and Ecuador sealed their spots at Qatar 2022, joining Brazil and Argentina as the automatic qualifiers from the South American group.
Uruguay beat Peru 1-0 and Ecuador lost 3-1 to Paraguay, while Peru beat Paraguay 2-0 in the last round of South American World Cup qualifiers to secure fifth place in the standings and entry to an intercontinental play-off.
Also, the UAE handed South Korea a surprise 1-0 defeat in Dubai to set up a play-off clash with Australia as they kept alive their hopes of a first World Cup appearance in 32 years.
In other Asia qualifying, Saudi Arabia clinched a second successive global finals place even before their 1-1 draw with China after Japan beat Australia in Sydney.
Japan also secured their place in Qatar. South Korea and Iran have punched their tickets by taking the top two spots in Group A.
Thirty-two teams, including the hosts Qatar, will play the showpiece event which starts on November 21. So far, 29 teams have qualified. Two intercontinental playoffs will be held in June along with two games to determine the final European berth.
Qatar 2022 will be the last 32-team World Cup before the 2026 World Cup across North America expands to 48 teams.
The tournament takes place from November 21-December 18, 2022.
Allocation of spots
Thirteen spots go to Europe, five to Africa, four-and-a-half go to both Asia and South America, three-and-a-half to North and Central America and the Caribbean, and half to the Oceania region. Those "half" spots earned by teams send them to a pair of intercontinental play-offs for the last two places at Qatar 2022.
Uefa (Union of European Football Associations)
Portugal defeated North Macedonia 2-0 and Poland saw off Sweden by the same score in play-off finals.
Italy's shock exit had North Macedonia hoping of their first ever appearance at a World Cup finals but Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal proved a step too far in Porto.
Twelve European sides have now clinched a place at the World Cup.
Gareth Bales' Wales will take part in the other play-off final but that match is on hold until at least June after the war in Ukraine led to the postponement of the Ukrainians' semi-final against Scotland.
Asia (Asian Football Confederation)
Twelve teams advanced to the third round of Asian qualifying, divided into two groups of six teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top two from each group will qualify for the World Cup, and the third-placed teams will advance to the fourth round.
Harib Abdalla Suhail was the star as the UAE stunned South Korea 1-0 to advance to an Asian qualifying play-off against Australia.
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The UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates scoring the only goal of the game against South Korea in the World Cup qualifier at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. AFP -
UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa celebrates after the match. Reuters -
UAE players celebrate after the match. Reuters -
South Korea attacker Son Heung-min goes down under a challenge from Caio Canedo. Reuters -
UAE match-winner Harib Abdallah and South Korea's Nam Tae-Hee challenge for a header. Getty -
UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. EPA -
UAE's Caio Canedo on the attack. Getty -
Action during the game at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Getty -
UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa makes a save. EPA -
UAE's Mohammed Al Baloushi battles for the ball with South Korea forward Son Heung-min. AFP -
UAE defend a free-kick. Reuters -
UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates scoring the winning goal. AFP -
UAE's Abdulaziz Hussain. Getty -
UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. EPA -
South Korea's Son Heung-min holds off the challenge of Majed Hassan of the UAE. Reuters -
UAE attacker Caio Canedo fouls South Korea goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo. AP -
UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates with teammates after scoring. Reuters -
South Korea attacker Son Heung-min. EPA -
Kim Min-jae of South Korea and UAE's Caio Canedo battle for the ball. EPA -
South Korea's Hee-Chan Hwang battles for possession with Mohammed Al Baloushi of the UAE. Reuters -
South Korea's Kim Jin-su kicks the ball under pressure from Abdulaziz Hussain of the UAE. Reuters -
South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan on the ball against the UAE. Reuters -
UAE fans at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Reuters -
The UAE team before the match in Dubai. AFP
North America, Central America, Caribbean (Concacaf)
Three direct slots and one inter-confederation play-off slot in the final tournament were available for Concacaf teams.
The US and Mexico both booked their tickets for Qatar 2022. US lost 2-0 to Costa Rica but still progressed along with the Mexicans, who beat El Salvador 2-0 on Wednesday. Canada had already secured qualification.
Costa Rica finished fourth in the standings and will face New Zealand in an intercontinental qualifier in June for a spot in the main event.
South America (Conmebol)
Five-time world champions Brazil became the first team from South America to book their place in Qatar following a 1-0 win over Colombia on November 11.
Lionel Messi secured a fifth shot at getting his hands on a World Cup after Argentina's stalemate against Brazil on November 16.
The top four teams in the single table advance to the World Cup, while the fifth-place team goes to an intercontinental play-off. Peru defeated Paraguay 2-0 for fifth place, and will compete for a berth against the winner of Asia’s fifth-place playoff between Australia and the UAE on June 7.
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Brazil's Lucas Paqueta celebrates after scoring against Colombia during the South American qualifier at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 11, 2021. The 1-0 win secured Brazil's qualification to the 2022 World Cup. AFP -
Brazil's Lucas Paqueta, centre, celebrates with teammates Vinicius Junior and Neymar after scoring against Colombia. AFP -
Brazil's Lucas Paqueta celebrates scoring. AP Photo -
Brazil's Lucas Paqueta in action with Colombia's Gustavo Cuellar. Reuters -
Colombia's Juan Cuadrado and Brazil's Lucas Paqueta vie for the ball. AFP -
Lucas Paqueta and Neymar of Brazil celebrate. EPA -
Brazil's Neymar confronts Colombia's Miguel Angel Borja. AFP -
Brazil's Neymar falls during the South American qualifier against Colombia. AFP -
Brazil's Neymar. AFP -
Brazil's Neymar vies for the ball with Colombia's Jefferson Lerma, left, and Davinson Sanchez. AP Photo -
A pitch invader is seen holding Brazil's Neymar after the match. Reuters -
Brazil coach Tite. Reuters -
Brazil's Vinicius Junior and Colombia's goalkeeper David Ospina vie for the ball. AFP -
Brazil's Cunha and Colombia's Davinson Sanchez vie for the ball. AFP -
Colombia's Yairo Moreno in action. Reuters -
Brazil's Gabriel Jesus in action with Colombia's Yairo Moreno. Reuters -
Brazil's Raphinha and Colombia's Juan Cuadrado vie for the ball. AFP -
Colombia's Duvan Zapata in action with Brazil's Thiago Silva. Reuters -
Colombia's Juan Cuadrado and Brazil's Gabriel Jesus vie for the ball. AFP -
Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda. Reuters -
Brazil's Fred and Colombia's Yairo Moreno vie for the ball. Reuters
Oceania (OFC)
New Zealand took a big step towards qualifying for the finals for the first time since 2010 with a 5-0 win over the Solomon Islands in the Oceania qualifying final.
The All Whites will face Costa Rica in their intercontinental playoff.
Intercontinental play-off
One representative each from Asia, Concacaf, Oceania and South America will play two-legged ties to determine the last two World Cup berths. Those games are slated for June 2022.
Who won't be going to Qatar?
While there are still plenty of places to be decided, there will be plenty of big names that won't be at next year's World Cup.
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Leo Bonucci and Jorginho will not be in Qatar after Italy were eliminated in their World Cup play-off against North Macedonia. Getty Images -
David Alaba's Austria lost their World Cup Qualifier Semi-final match at Cardiff City Stadium to Wales 2-1. PA -
Tomas Soucek and Czech Republic lost their World Cup play-off match to Sweden. Getty Images -
Erling Haaland (Norway). AP Photo -
Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast). AFP -
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon). AFP -
Stefan Savic (Montenegro). AFP -
Jan Oblak (Slovenia). AP Photo -
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Armenia). AP Photo -
Salomon Rondon (Venezuela). AFP
