top two from each of the five-team groups and the winner of the three-team group qualifying for the finals. Wales were seeded in Pot C and drawn into Group 3 along with Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, Turkey and Iceland. Wales opened their qualifying campaign with consecutive 4–0 wins (away to Iceland and at home to Turkey), followed by two more 1–0 wins (at home to Czechoslovakia and away to Turkey), before dropping their first points in a goalless draw at home to the Soviet Union in May 1981. They followed this up with a 2–0 loss away to Czechoslovakia, though a victory in their next game at home to Iceland, who had held Czechoslovakia to a 1–1 draw in Reykjavík, would have put Wales on the verge of qualification, with Czechoslovakia yet to play either of their matches against the Soviet Union. Robbie James put Wales 1–0 up 25 minutes into the game against Iceland, but Ásgeir Sigurvinsson equalised just after half-time; Alan Curtis then restored Wales' lead seven minutes later, only for Ásgeir to level the scores again just after the hour mark. The match finished 2–2, which meant Wales, expecting to lose to the Soviet Union, would need results to go their way in the matches between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia in order to qualify. The Soviet Union beat Czechoslovakia and then Wales in Tbilisi, and another win over Czechoslovakia in Bratislava would send Wales to the World Cup. Oleg Blokhin opened the scoring for the Soviet Union with less than 15 minutes played, only for Rostislav Vojáček to equalise 20 minutes later; it proved to be the last goal of the game, and the draw was enough for Czechoslovakia to overtake Wales in the group and qualify for the finals. Mexico 1986 For the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the 32 participating UEFA nations (excluding holders Italy) were drawn into seven qualifying groups (four of five teams, three of four), with the winners of all seven groups and the runners-up from the five-team groups qualifying directly for the World Cup; the runners-up from Groups 1 and 5 would then contest a play-off for a 12th spot, and the runners-up from Group 7 would play against the winners of the OFC qualifying process for the last place at the World Cup. Wales was seeded in Pot C and drawn into Group 7 along with Spain, Scotland