99 nations competed across six continental zones for 14 available spots in the 1974 FIFA World Cup final tournament.
Key Facts
- Teams entered
- 99
- Qualifying matches played
- 226
- Goals scored
- 620
- Average goals per match
- 2.74
- Automatic qualifiers
- West Germany (host), Brazil (defending champions)
- Spots open for competition
- 14
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
With the 1974 FIFA World Cup assigned to West Germany and Brazil holding the title from 1970, both nations received automatic berths, leaving 14 places to be contested across UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, and OFC qualifying zones.
99 teams entered the qualification process, with 90 playing at least one match across 226 games. Spots were allocated by confederation: 8.5 for UEFA, 2.5 for CONMEBOL, 1 each for CONCACAF, CAF, and the combined AFC/OFC zone, plus one Intercontinental Play-off spot between UEFA and CONMEBOL runners-up.
Fourteen nations earned places in the 1974 World Cup final tournament in West Germany alongside the two automatic qualifiers, producing a 16-team field. The qualification campaign generated 620 goals across six continents, reflecting the growing global reach of the competition.