play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify. Final positions (final Round) CONCACAF A total of 30 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. Mexico, the US, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Canada, the six highest-ranked teams according to FIFA, received byes and advanced to the third round directly. The remaining 24 teams were divided into two zones, based on geographical locations, as follows: Caribbean Zone: The 20 teams played in three rounds of knockout matches on a home-and-away basis to determine four winners advancing to the third round. Central American Zone: The four teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners would advance to the third round. In the third round, the 12 teams were divided into three groups of four teams each. They played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners and runners-up would advance to the final round. In the final round, the six teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top three teams would qualify. Final positions (fourth round) CONMEBOL A total of 10 CONMEBOL teams entered the competition. The South American zone was allocated 5 places (out of 32) in the final tournament. Brazil, the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 4 spots open for competition between 9 teams. The rules were very simple. The 9 teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top 4 teams would qualify. Final positions OFC A total of 10 teams entered the competition. The Oceanian zone was allocated 0.5 places (out of 32) in the final tournament. There were three rounds of play: First Round: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti, the four best ranked teams according to FIFA, received byes and advanced to the Second Round directly. The remaining 6 teams were divided into 2 groups of 3 teams each, namely the Melanesian Group and the Polynesian Group, based on geographical considerations. The teams played against each other once. The winner of the Melanesian Group would advance to the Second Round. The runner-up of the Melanesian Group and the winner of the Polynesian Group would advance to the First Round Play-off. In the Play-off, they played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would advance to the Second Round. Second Round: The 6 teams were divided into 2 groups of 3 teams each. The teams played against