International qualifiers are a vital part of the path to the World Cup, shaping the landscape of the tournament. From rising talents to underdogs, the process adds a layer of intrigue and complexity that makes for compelling viewing. These high-stakes matches offer teams a testing ground to fine-tune their strategies, build team chemistry and prepare for the challenges of the final tournament. They also give fans the chance to watch world-class talent on a national stage, as players like Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane showcase their skills for their respective nations.
Over the years, the qualifying system has evolved along with the expansion of the final tournament, which now sees 48 teams competing for the title of world champion. Despite this, the basic format remains intact: the teams are divided into six zones that roughly correspond to the continents, and each zone gets a fixed number of spots into the competition. The best four finishers then compete in an inter-confederation play-off to determine the remaining berths.
Each qualifier is contested in a number of phases, and the schedule is based on FIFA-mandated dates for international match windows. These are typically set to allow players to be released from their club commitments and travel to represent their country. As such, the qualifiers are often played over a period of several years and are full of key dates that fans eagerly await.