The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is now less than eight months away, and the ongoing international break will see most of the remaining spots decided in qualifiers across the world.
Twenty teams have already booked their place on the plane to Qatar, although four-time winners and current European champions Italy are a noticeable absentee, having failed to qualify for the second time in a row.
Another 12 spots are still up for grabs over the coming months, while the draw for the group stage will take place on April 1, when the teams who have qualified at that stage will learn what awaits them this winter.
Here, Sports Mole looks at which teams have already qualified for the biggest football tournament on the planet.
UEFA QUALIFIERS
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Qualified: Germany, Denmark, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, Switzerland, Netherlands
Germany became the first nation other than hosts Qatar to qualify for the World Cup all the way back on October 11, followed a day later by Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark.
Defending champions France ensured that they would defend their title in the following international break, a month which also saw the remaining seven other qualifiers seal their tickets.
The world's number-one ranked team Belgium did so on the same day as France, while the following day saw Croatia, Spain and Serbia secure their place.
Euro 2020 runners-up England then stamped their ticket as Group I winners, on the same day Switzerland and Netherlands also sealed top spot in their groups.
Could still qualify: Scotland, Ukraine, Wales, Poland, Sweden, Portugal, North Macedonia
CONMEBOL QUALIFIERS
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Qualified: Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay
The four automatic qualification places have already been decided in South America, with five-time winners Brazil the first to book their place on November 11.
Lionel Messi's Argentina followed suit five days later, but it was not until Thursday that the other two automatic places were decided.
Ecuador qualified for just the fourth time in their history - the fewest of any of the confirmed qualifiers so far other than Qatar - despite losing to Paraguay, while two-time winners Uruguay beat Peru to wrap up a top-four spot and condemn their opponents to a playoff at best.
Could still qualify: Peru, Colombia, Chile
AFC QUALIFIERS
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Qualified: Qatar, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia
As the host nation, Qatar qualified for their first ever World Cup by default - one of five AFC nations to have already guaranteed their spot at the tournament.
Iran will be appearing at their third successive World Cup having qualified on January 27, and they were swiftly joined by fellow Group A side South Korea as the pair dominated their pool.
The two Group B places were not confirmed until Thursday, when Japan and Saudi Arabia secured automatic qualification spots at Australia's expense.
Could still qualify: United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Lebanon, Australia
CAF QUALIFIERS
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Qualified: None
No African nations have qualified for the World Cup as of yet, but that will change on Tuesday when the second legs of the five playoff ties take place.
Things are finely-balanced across all of the ties at the halfway stage; Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia all lead 1-0 against Senegal, Cameroon and Mali respectively, while Ghana and Nigeria drew their first leg 0-0 and DR Congo and Morocco shared a 1-1 draw.
Could still qualify: Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Cameroon, Tunisia, Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo DR, Morocco
CONCACAF QUALIFIERS
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Qualified: Canada
Canada booked their place at their first World Cup since 1986 with victory over Jamaica on Sunday night, becoming the only CONCACAF nation to guarantee their spot in Qatar so far.
Behind them, USA and Mexico look set to claim the other two automatic qualification places, holding a three-point lead and superior goal difference over Costa Rica with one game remaining.
Costa Rica are guaranteed at least a playoff spot and could still sneak into the top three, although they would need to beat USA by six goals or win and hope that Mexico lose to El Salvador, with a five-goal swing between the two results.
Could still qualify: USA, Mexico, Costa Rica
OFC QUALIFIERS
Qualified: None
Oceania are not guaranteed any places at the World Cup, with the winner of their section going into an intercontinental playoff against fourth place from the CONCACAF section.
A place in that playoff comes down to the final between Solomon Islands and New Zealand on Wednesday, with the winner most likely to face Costa Rica for a spot at the Qatar World Cup.
Could still qualify: Solomon Islands, New Zealand
Barney Corkhill
