2018 FIFA World Cup third placed in 2014 the Netherlands (for the first time since 2002), and four reigning continental champions: 2017 Africa Cup of Nations winners Cameroon, two-time Copa América champions and 2017 Confederations Cup runners-up Chile, 2016 OFC Nations Cup winners New Zealand, and 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup champions United States (for the first time since 1986). The other notable qualifying streaks broken were for Ghana and Ivory Coast, who had both made the previous three tournaments. "Note: Numbers in parentheses indicate positions in the FIFA World Rankings at the time of the tournament." The draw was held on 1 December 2017
1978 FIFA World Cup Group B of Group 2 and 4 and the runners-up of Group 1 and 3 qualified for Group B of the second round. 1978 FIFA World Cup Group B Group B of the 1978 FIFA World Cup was one of two groups of nations competing for the "de facto" semi-finals of the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The group's first round of matches began on 14 June and its last matches were played on 21 June. All six group matches were played either at the Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza in Mendoza, or the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario. The group consisted of