Excitement is building for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, with all 32 teams now confirmed for the next edition of football’s showpiece event.
As part of our build-up, we take a closer look at the teams that will appear at Russia 2018 in our colorful and interactive guide!
Each slide show includes a profile on the coach and the star of each qualified team, as well as a video of the top goal scored by most of the teams in qualifying.
Click on the links below to learn more about the 32 teams that will contest world football’s top prize in Russia!
AFC
AUSTRALIA – The Socceroos are making their fifth appearance at a World Cup
IRAN – Team Melli were the first Asian team to qualify for Russia 2018
* JAPAN* – The Japanese have made the Round of 16 on two occasions
KOREA REPUBLIC – The Taeguk Warriors have been a World Cup ever-present since 1986
SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudis made their World Cup debut at USA 1994
CAF
EGYPT – The Pharaohs are making their first world finals appearance since Italy 1990
* MOROCCO* – The Atlas Lions topped African zone Group C in qualification
* NIGERIA* – The Super Eagles have only missed one tournament since their debut at USA 1994
SENEGAL – In their debut at Korea/Japan 2002, the Lions of Teranga reached the quarter-finals
TUNISIA – At Argentina 1978, the Carthage Eagles became the first African team to win a World Cup match
CONCACAF
COSTA RICA – Los Ticos impressed at Brazil 2014, making the quarter-finals
* MEXICO* – The Mexicans lost just once in qualifying for Russia 2018
PANAMA – The central Americans are making their World Cup debut in Russia
CONMEBOL
ARGENTINA – The two-time champions appeared at the inaugural edition at Uruguay 1930
* BRAZIL* – A Seleção were the first team to qualify after hosts Russia
COLOMBIA – Los Cafeteros coach Jose Pekerman was in charge of his native Argentina at Germany 2006
* PERU* – The Peruvians return to the world finals for the first time in 36 years
URUGUAY – La Celeste were world champions as hosts in 1930 and at Brazil 1950
UEFA
BELGIUM – The Belgians went undefeated in topping UEFA Group H in qualifying
* CROATIA* – The Croatians finished third in their World Cup debut at France 1998
* DENMARK* – The Danes secured qualification with a comfortable play-off win over Republic of Ireland
* ENGLAND* – The Three Lions have made the finals 14 times from 16 qualifying campaigns
* FRANCE* – Les Bleus are making a sixth-straight world finals appearance
* GERMANY* – The defending world champions registered a 100 per cent record in qualifying
* ICELAND* – The smallest country by population ever to qualify for a World Cup
* POLAND* – The Poles finished third at Germany 1974 and Spain 1982
* PORTUGAL* – A Seleção das Quinas are making a fifth-straight finals appearance
* RUSSIA* – As the Soviet Union, the World Cup hosts finished fourth at England 1966
* SERBIA* – The Serbs topped UEFA Group D in qualification with only one defeat
* SPAIN* – Champions in 2010, Spain’s World Cup debut was at Italy 1934
* SWEDEN* – The Swedes were runners-up as World Cup hosts in 1958
* SWITZERLAND* – The Swiss have reached the quarter-finals on three occasions
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