The line-up for the World Cup finals is taking shape. We look at those teams who have booked their places.
Teams getting ready to make flight to South Africa
The line-up for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa is now starting to take shape following the conclusion of a number of qualifying groups.
Nine European teams, including England, have booked their place at football's top table while eight others face a nerve-jangling play-off in November.
There was drama in South America as Diego Maradona's Argentina scraped through to book the last confirmed place in next summer's showpiece. Opponents Uruguay must now take on Costa Rica over two legs to see if they can join Maradona's men.
North and South Korea join Japan and Australia as qualifiers from the Asia group while Mexico, Honduras and the USA have made it from north and central America.
There's still a round of games to go in the African groups with only hosts South Africa, Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast and Michael Essien's Ghana confirmed as finalists.
Here we look at who has qualified from each of the Fifa continental zones.
EUROPE
Denmark
The Danes came through a tough group containing Portugal and local rivals Sweden to book their place in South Africa. Their 3-2 win in Lisbon over Cristiano Ronaldo and co helped condemn the Portuguese to a nervy play-off next month.
England
But for a blip in Ukraine, Fabio Capello's men looked impressive throughout their qualifying campaign and won nine out of their ten matches. That 1-0 loss in Dnepropetrovsk was enough to earn Ukraine a play-off place at the expense of highly-fancied Croatia.
Germany
The Germans finished their qualifying campaign unbeaten with eight wins and two draws from their 10 games. When their supremacy of Group Four was challenged by Russia they produced a typical disciplined German performance to win 1-0 in Moscow, to consign Guus Hiddink's men to the play-offs.
Holland
The Dutch were the first European side to seal their place at next summer's finals having progressed through a fairly straight forward group. Eight wins from eight saw Holland finish a mammoth 14 points ahead of second place Norway. Bert Van Marwijk's team also boasted the most impressive defensive record in European qualifying with just two goals conceded from their eight games.
Italy
The World Cup holders secured the point they needed to qualify for South Africa at the weekend when they grabbed a last minute draw against second place Republic of Ireland in Dublin. The Azzurri remained unbeaten throughout the campaign and with Marcelo Lippi back in charge look real contenders to defend their title.
Serbia
Serbia finished above 1998 World Cup winners France to win Group Seven. The Serbs may not have too many household names but still outscored Les Bleus by four goals in qualifying, as well as conceding one fewer than the French. The Serbs could surprise a few people next summer.
Slovakia
The Slovaks confirmed top spot, qualifying for their first World Cup since gaining independence in 1993, with a hard-fought 1-0 win in a snow covered Poland on Wednesday. Vladimir Weiss' men looked to have fallen at the final hurdle when they lost at home to closest challengers Slovenia at the weekend but bounced back superbly against the Poles.
Spain
The Euro 2008 winners qualified in style boasting the only 100 per cent record in qualifying. The Spaniards dismantled their opposition in Group Five and any team fielding a strike force with the quality of David Villa and Fernando Torres stands a chance of winning the World Cup next year.
Switzerland
The Swiss finished top of a group bereft of any of Europe's big name countries beating off close competition from Greece - who will have to make do with a place in the play-offs. A 0-0 draw at home to Israel was enough to see Switzerland through.
Play-offs: France, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Russia, Slovenia, Greece
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina
Diego Maradona's men left it late to qualify by beating Uruguay 1-0 at the death in their final game, thus avoiding a tricky play-off encounter. Despite having a wealth of talent at their disposal the Argentine's were devoid of any confidence throughout qualifying.
Brazil
The five-time champions ensured their place in South Africa in emphatic style by beating arch rivals Argentina 3-1 in Buenos Aires in September. Dunga's men took their foot off the pedal, losing to Bolivia on Saturday and drawing with Venezuela last time out, but still finished on top.
Chile
The Chileans were perhaps the most impressive team in the South America section. Led by legendary Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, Chile finished second, one point behind Brazil, and even managed to beat Argentina 1-0 at home.
Paraguay
The early pacesetters in the group never looked in danger of missing out on the finals despite Brazil and Chile overtaking them in the standings. The Paraguayans may have lost five times in qualifying but managed one more win than Brazil with a total of 10 from their 18 games.
Play-offs: Uruguay v Costa Rica
AFRICA
South Africa (hosts)
The hosts have just friendlies to prepare them for the World Cup finals but did manage a fourth place finish in the Confederations Cup last summer which saw Brazil take the crown.
Ghana
The Black Stars have qualified with a game to spare having lost just one of their five qualifiers so far. Ghana have their miserly defence to thank for their progression having conceded only one goal in qualifying to date.
Ivory Coast
The Elephants have breezed through qualifying with four wins and a draw from their five games. Captain Didier Drogba believes his side can cause an upset in South Africa and challenge for the title but only time will tell how the Ivorians fair.
Still in with a chance: Cameroon, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt
ASIA
North Korea
North Korea qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1966 when they drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in June. However it was their 1-0 win over Saudi back in February that went a long way to ensuring they finished above the Green Falcons on goal difference, consigning their more illustrious opponents to the play-offs.
South Korea
The Tigers of Asia eased through qualification having remained unbeaten to top the group. South Korea memorably managed to beat local rivals North Korea at the third time of asking after two 0-0 draws when they won 1-0 in Seoul in April.
Australia
The Socceroos were the most impressive side in Asian qualifying with six wins and two draws from their eight matches. A 0-0 draw in Japan and a 2-1 win in Melbourne over their closest rivals ensured the Australia's dominance of the group.
Japan
The Japanese comfortably qualified in second place behind Australia with their only defeat of the group stages coming against the Socceroos in their final game, when qualification was already sewn up. Japan - along with Australia, South Korea and North Korea - were the first teams to qualify for the finals.
Play-off: New Zealand (Oceania group) v Bahrain
CONCACAF
Mexico
The Mexicans recovered from their disastrous start to qualifying under former manager Sven Goran Eriksson by finishing second behind USA. Mexico were unbeaten in their last six group games, winning five, to ensure their place in South Africa.
USA
The Americans finished top of an extremely tight group with just one point separating themselves and second place Mexico. The USA looked to have succumbed top spot when they lost 2-1 in Mexico in August but 10 points from a possible 12 from there on in made sure they kept hold of first place.
Honduras
The Hondurans were seconds from having to play Uruguay in a play-off to ensure their place at the World Cup finals until USA's Jonathan Bornstein struck a 95th minute equaliser against Costa Rica to make sure that Honduras finished above the Ticos on goal difference.
