🇧🇪Belgium
With players such as de Bruyne, Courtois, Hazard and Carrasco, the Belgians have been at the top of world football for years. It isn’t surprising that they are currently number 1 in the FIFA rankings and were able to add themselves to the list of World Cup qualifiers fairly easily. In Qatar, Belgium will take part for the 14th time. Their best result was in 2018 when they finished third.
🇭🇷Croatia
The losing finalist of the 2018 World Cup managed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar in a blood-curdling match against Russia. The winner of that match would become the group winner and through an own goal in the 81st minute, lucky Croatia won the match and sent Russia to the play-offs. This World Cup will be Croatia’s 6th time competing.
🇩🇰Denmark
The Danes were almost unbeaten in their qualification for the World Championship. In the last match it went wrong and they lost 2-0 to Scotland. The defeat did not matter though as Denmark were already certain of qualifying. Denmark have participated five times before but have never gotten further than the quarter finals.
🏴England
The losing finalist of EURO 2020 joined the list of World Cup qualifiers without defeat. The Three Lions won the 1966 World Cup but after that, success has never followed for England. The country where football once originated is yearning for new success and they will be playing in Qatar for the 16th time.
🇫🇷France
In a group with Ukraine as its biggest rival, France managed to qualify easily. The reigning World Champions will be competing in Qatar for the 16th time. Apart from winning the World Cup in 2018, they also won it in 1998 when they were the host nation with a stunning final game against Brazil winning 3-0.
🇩🇪Germany
Die Mannschaft were the first country to add itself to the list of World Cup 2022 qualifiers. It is remarkable that Germany were surprised and defeated by Northern Macedonia at home during the qualifying round. Apart from that loss, Germany have managed to qualify without any mistakes. Germany have competed 19 times and won the football World Championship four times in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.
🇳🇱The Netherlands
The Dutch are the last to add themselves to the list of World Cup qualifiers. In the beginning it was exciting to be in the group with Norway and Turkey, until the last round. Norway ended up third and Turkey went to the play-offs. The Netherlands have reached the finals of the World Cup twice but never managed to win. They will be playing in the world football tournament for the 11th time.
🇷🇸Serbia
In Group A, there was enormous tension between Serbia and Portugal and in the last round of matches the countries played against each other. They both had 17 points in the group and in case of a draw, Portugal would qualify. Serbia had to win to qualify. In the very last minute of the match, Serbia scored the winning goal and qualified for the World Cup for the third time. This just shows how much the World Cup means to each and every team.
🇪🇸Spain
The 2010 World Champion will be competing for their 15th time in Qatar. In the past two World Cups, Spain have disappointed and were eliminated in the group stage and the first round of 16. Spain qualified easily but lost a World Cup qualifier for the first time since 1993, losing 2-1 against Sweden.
🇨🇭Switzerland
A surprising name in the list of World Cup qualifiers as everyone expected Italy, the reigning European Champions in Group C to be the winners. Italy drew their last two matches and now they are at the mercy of the play-offs. For Switzerland it is the 12th time that they will be participating.
🇵🇹Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo’s team managed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar via Turkey and Northern Macedonia. For Ronaldo, this will already be his 5th World Cup! An absolute phenomenon! Can Ronaldo win the World Cup in Qatar with his country?
🇵🇱Poland
Robert Lewandowski’s team finished second in the qualifying pool and managed to qualify via the playoffs at the expense of Sweden. It is the ninth time for Poland to be found at a World Cup. In 1974 and 1982, the country finished third. For Lewandowski (33), the World Cup in Qatar is probably the last World Cup he will participate in.
Written by Emma Berger
