1986 FIFA World Cup qualification — Series of qualifying tournaments for the 1986 FIFA World Cup
121 national teams competed across six continental zones for 22 available spots in the 1986 FIFA World Cup final tournament.
Key Facts
- Teams entered
- 121 teams
- Qualifying matches played
- 308 matches
- Goals scored
- 801 goals
- Average goals per match
- 2.60 goals/match
- Automatic qualifiers
- Mexico (hosts) and Italy (defending champions)
- Draw date
- 7 December 1983, Zürich
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, FIFA initiated qualification rounds to select 24 nations for the 1986 tournament in Mexico. Mexico qualified automatically as host, and Italy as defending champion, leaving 22 places to be decided across the six continental confederations.
Between 1984 and 1985, 121 teams entered qualification across UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, and OFC zones. A total of 110 teams played at least one match, producing 308 qualifying games and 801 goals. Intercontinental play-offs determined the final berths for the UEFA and OFC half-places.
Twenty-two nations earned their places in the 1986 FIFA World Cup final tournament in Mexico alongside automatic qualifiers Mexico and Italy. The qualification process produced a field of 24 teams representing all major football confederations for the tournament held in June 1986.