2022 FIFA World Cup
FIFA's six continental confederations have their own qualifying tournaments. All 211 associations are able to enter qualification. Qatar, qualified automatically because they are the hosts. Qatar still plays in the first two rounds of AFC qualification because it is also qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The previous World Cup champions France will participate in qualification as normal. Saint Lucia, North Korea, American Samoa, Samoa all withdrew because of safety reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with North Korea withdrawing after already playing matches. Tonga withdrew because of the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami. Russia was suspended by FIFA because of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Vanuatu and Cook Islands both withdrew because of COVID-19 cases in their squads, with  Cook Islands withdrawing after already playing matches.