World Cup 2018 qualification: Where do things stand?
As qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia moves into the final straight, we take a look at which teams are on course to appear at the tournament.
AFC:
Qualified: Iran, Japan
Iran and Japan's qualification means that five sides (Syria, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Australia and Uzbekistan) are left competing for two automatic qualification places and two inter-confederation play-off places.
South Korea and Saudi Arabia are in pole position for the former, with Syria and Australia currently set for the latter.
CONCACAF:
Qualified: Mexico
Three concacaf sides will advance to the Wold Cup. Mexico have already qualified, with Costa Rica set to follow suit. The USA currently occupy the third automatic place but their hopes are under threat with Honduras (who occupy the play-off place) and Panama breathing down their neck.
CAF:
20 African sides have been split into five groups with each group winner qualifying for the World Cup.
The current group leaders are: Tunisia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Uganda, though of those teams, only Nigeria hold a cushion of more than three points on second place.
CONMEBOL:
Qualified: Brazil
Things are well poised in CONMEBOL qualification with just three games to go. Colombia, Chile and Uruguay are currently set to qualify, with Argentina going to a play-off. However, with just five points separating seven teams and with only three three automatic places left to fight for it promises to be an intriguing final few games in South America.
OFC:
New Zealand look set to qualify for an inter-continental play-off against the fifth-placed CONMEBOL side in November after taking a 6-1 first leg lead over the Soloman Islands in the clash between Oceania's two group winners.
UEFA:
Belgium could become the first European side to qualify for the finals if they avoid defeat against Greece on Sunday. They could soon be followed by Germany, Spain and England.
As things stand, France, Switzerland, Germany, Serbia, Poland, England, Spain, Belgium and Croatia will all qualify as group winners, with Portugal, Slovakia, Ukraine, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Greece, Italy and the Republic of Ireland set for play-off ties.