 The current format allows for 12 of the 20 available positions to be filled by automatic qualification , as the teams who finish third or better in the group ( pool ) stages of the previous tournament enter its successor ( where they will be seeded ) . The qualification system for the remaining eight places is region @-@ based , with a total eight teams allocated for Europe , five for Oceania , three for the Americas , two for Africa , and one for Asia . The last place is determined by an intercontinental play @-@ off . 
