A total of 199 teams entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 32 spots in the final tournament. Korea Republic and Japan, as the co-hosts, and France, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 29 spots open for competition.
The 32 spots available in the 2002 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:
- Europe (UEFA): 14.5 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier France, while the other 13.5 places were contested by 50 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from AFC)
- South America (CONMEBOL): 4.5 places, contested by 10 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from OFC).
- North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 places, contested by 35 teams.
- Africa (CAF): 5 places, contested by 51 teams.
- Asia (AFC): 4.5 places, 2 of them went to automatic qualifiers South Korea and Japan, while the other 2.5 places were contested by 40 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from UEFA).
- Oceania (OFC): 0.5 place, contested by 10 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from CONMEBOL).
A total of 193 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 777 qualifying matches were played, and 2452 goals were scored (an average of 3.17 per match).
Read more about 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualification: Continental Zones, Qualified Teams
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