SO WHO WILL QUALIFY FOR RUSSIA 2018 ?

There are 31 remaining places up for grabs to join hosts Russia who qualify automatically. KIERAN GILL assesses the fortunes of countries across six confederations as they battle to reach next year’s World Cup finals.

AFRICAN (CAF)

53 teams competing for 5 places DR Congo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Egypt sit top of the five groups in the African section, with the winner from each to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Senegal, with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (right) one of their Premier League stars, are in danger of missing out. They are third in Group D behind Burkina Faso and South Africa. Among the other countries fighting for a spot are Cameroon, Uganda and Tunisia.

ASIAN (AFC)

45 teams competing for 4.5 places As it stands, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and

Japan would qualify automatically for Russia 2018. The Asian section is split into two groups. Iran, in particular, are cruising at the top of Group A. In Group B, Australia are unbeaten after six games but struggling in third, having won only twice. It means that Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy (left) and the Socceroos may miss out. There is also a World Cup spot available via the inter-confederation play-offs, which one team from the Asian section will be involved in.

NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN (CONCACAF)

35 teams competing for 3.5 places There are six countries fighting for three places at Russia 2018 here. Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama occupy first, second and third. In fourth is the United States, who beat Honduras 6-0 on Friday night after Clint Dempsey (right) scored a hat-trick. They are only one point behind Panama. It is tight, though, because Trinidad and Tobago and Honduras are on the same amount of points as the USA with seven games each still to play. The side that finishes fourth will go to the inter-confederation play-offs.

SOUTH AMERICAN (CONMEBOL)

10 teams competing for 4.5 places

Brazil, whose squad includes Neymar and Philippe Coutinho, are top of the South American table and heading to the 2018 World Cup. The top four automatically qualify and Uruguay,

Argentina and Colombia are in second, third and fourth. Lionel Messi’s Argentina were looking in trouble but they got the better of Alexis Sanchez (left) and his Chile team-mates last week to get back on track. Chile, Ecuador and Paraguay may miss out. The side that finishes fifth will go to the inter-confederation play-offs.

OCEANIAN (OFC)

11 teams competing for 0.5 places The Oceanian section sees six teams in two groups. The two teams who top their tables will play in a final, and the winner will then enter the inter-confederation play-offs. It is a tough task to qualify. Leeds United striker Chris Wood has fired New

Zealand six points clear at the top of Group A with five goals so far in qualifying. Tahiti are three points clear at the top of Group B. It is likely they will meet in the final, and then the winner of that will face the fifth-placed South American team.

EUROPEAN (UEFA)

54 teams competing for 13 places Nine groups, with the winner from each heading to Russia 2018. The countries top of their groups at the start of play yesterday were France, Switzerland, Germany, Serbia, Poland, England,

Spain, Belgium and Croatia. The eight best runners-up will be drawn in a two-leg play-off, with the four winners qualifying. Group G is certainly interesting, with Spain and Italy both on 13 points. Portugal, meanwhile, will hope Cristiano Ronaldo (left) can help them knock Switzerland off the top of Group B to qualify.