1978 FIFA World Cup qualification 723 goals were scored (an average of 2.87 per match). To see the dates and results of the qualification rounds for each continental zone, click on the following articles: The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify. <onlyinclude> </onlyinclude> The following 16 teams qualified for the 1978 FIFA World Cup: (h) - qualified automatically as hosts (c) - qualified automatically as defending champions "5 of the 16 teams subsequently failed to qualify for the 1982 finals: Iran, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia." 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification A total of 107 teams entered
1982 FIFA World Cup Group A 1982 FIFA World Cup Group A Group A was one of four groups of national teams competing in the second stage of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. The group's three matches were staged at the Nou Camp in Barcelona. The group consisted of three teams advancing from the first group stage: Group 1 winners Poland, Group 3 winners Belgium and Group 6 runners-up the Soviet Union. Poland topped the group and advanced to the semi-finals, where they were defeated by eventual champions Italy. The winners of Group 1 and 3 and the runner-up of Group 6 qualified for Group A