2014 World Cup 2nd Group Phase: Players Distance Covered

Players who covered a distance of 11,500 meters (≈7.15 miles) or more in their second 2014 World Cup game.

12,721 - Matt McKay (Australia)

12,579 - Marcelo Díaz (Chile)

12,255 - Viktor Fayzulin (Russia)

12,224 - Thomas Müller  (Germany)

12,204 - Michael Bradley (USA)

11,892 - Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea)

11,862 - Mile Jedinak (Australia)

11,751 - Philipp Lahm (Germany)

11,704 - Marouane Fellaini (Belgium)

11,657 - Nabil Bentaleb (Algeria)

11,643 - Toni Kroos (Germany)

11,603 - David Silva (Spain)

11,541 - Islam Slimani (Algeria)

2014 World Cup 2nd Group Phase: Highest Top Speed

The players with the highest top speed (km/h) in the 2nd World Cup group phase.

33.52 - Aurier (Cote d'Ivoire)

33.08 - Pereira (Uruguay)

33.01 - Di Maria (Argentina)

32.98 - Srna (Croatia)

32.98 - Johnson (USA)

32.90 - Mustafi (Germany)

32.33 - Sissoko (France)

31.97 - Rodriguez (Uruguay)

31.79 - Perisic (Croatia)

31.79 - Fabian (Mexico)

31.79 - Bernard (Brazil)

31.79 - Mesbah (Algeria)

31.61 - Van Buyten (Belgium)

31.61 - Nounkeu (Cameroon)

31.61 - Martinez (Spain)

31.61 - Azpilicueta (Spain)

31.61 - Mehmedi (Switzerland)

31.61 - Coates (Uruguay)

31.61 - Almeida (Portugal)

31.46 - Abate (Italy)

31.43 - Luis Gustavo (Brazil)

31.39 - Alba (Spain)

31.25 - Montazeri (Iran)

31.25 - Matuidi (France)

31.25 - Lallana (England)

31.07 - Kanunnikov (Russia)

31.07 - Willian (Brazil)

31.07 - Nkoulou (Cameroon)

31.07 - Bolanos (Costa Rica)

31.03 - Bentaleb (Algeria)

30.92 - Hernandez (Mexico)

30.89 - Matip (Cameroon)

30.89 - Sammir (Croatia)

30.89 - Asamoah (Ghana)

30.89 - Dejagah (Iran)

30.85 - Guardado (Mexico)

30.85 - Lavezzi (Argentina)

30.85 - Onazi (Nigeria)

30.85 - Seferovic (Switzerland)

30.85 - Gimenez (Uruguay)

30.71 - Moukandjo (Cameroon)

30.71 - Serey (Cote d'Ivoire)

30.71 - Sanchez (Colombia)

30.71 - Gutierrez (Colombia)

30.71 - Nagatomo (Japan)

30.67 - De Bruyne (Belgium)

30.67 - Rooney (England)

30.67 - Yedlin (USA)

30.53 - Sanchez (Chile)

30.53 - Ibarbo (Colombia)

30.53 - Agyemang Badu (Ghana)

30.53 - Manolas (Greece)

30.53 - Godin (Uruguay)

30.49 - Zuniga (Colombia)

30.49 - Boateng (Ghana)

30.49 - Yun (South Korea)

30.35 - Fellaini (Belgium)

30.35 - Assou Ekotto (Cameroon)

30.35 - Zokora (Cote d'Ivoire)

30.35 - Costly (Honduras)

30.35 - Gago (Argentina)

30.35 - Chiellini (Italy)

30.17 - Armero (Colombia)

30.17 - Cuadrado (Colombia)

30.17 - Gyan (Ghana)

30.17 - Brahimi (Algeria)

30.17 - Barkley (England)

30.13 - Boye (Ghana)

30.13 - Ghoochannejad (Iran)

30.13 - Okazaki (Japan)

30.13 - Veloso (Portugal)

30.00km/h ~ 18.64mph

31.00km/h ~ 19.26mph

32.00km/h ~ 19.88mph

33.00km/h ~ 20.51mph

Top 10 fastest players of the World Cup through the first 2 games of the group stage:

33.52 - Aurier (Cote d'Ivoire)

33.08 - Pereira (Uruguay)

33.01 - Di Maria (Argentina)

32.98 - Srna (Croatia)

32.98 - Johnson (USA)

32.90 - Mustafi (Germany)

32.33 - Sissoko (France)

32.33 - Varane (France)

32.29 - Hummels (Germany)

32.15 - Coentrao (Portugal)

2014 World Cup 1st Group Phase: Players Distance Covered

Players who covered a distance of 11,500 meters (≈7.15 miles) or more in their first 2014 World Cup game.

12,734 - Saphir Taider (Algeria)
12,730 - Michael Bradley (USA)
12,718 - Marcelo Diaz (Chile)
12,341 - Charles Aránguiz (Chile)
12,271 - Muhamed Besic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
12,182 - Miralem Pjanic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
11,747 - Luis Garrido (Honduras)
11,720 - Mile Jedinak (Australia)
11,701 - Toni Kroos (Germany)
11,687 - Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
11,622 - Viktor Fayzulin (Russia)
11,611 - Mario Götze (Germany)
11,577 - Khosro Heydari (Iran)
11,515 - Aleksandr Kokorin (Russia)

2014 World Cup: Highest Top Speed in 1st Group Phase

The players with the highest top speed (kph) in their 1st game of the World Cup group stage.

32.33 - Raphael Varane (France)
32.29 - Mats Hummels (Germany)
32.15 - Fabio Coentrao (Portugal)
31.93 - Pablo Armero (Colombia)
31.79 - Marcos Rojo (Argentina)
31.61 - Juan Cadrado (Colombia)
31.61 - Jordi Alba (Spain)
31.61 - Andy Najar (Honduras)
31.43 - Mathew Leckie (Australia)
31.43 - Victor Moses (Nigeria)

31.39 - Jermaine Jones (USA)
31.21 - Muhamed Besic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
31.07 - Angel Di Maria (Argentina)
31.07 - Ramires (Brazil)
31.07 - Alexis Sanchez (Chile)
31.07 - Yuto Nagatomo (Japan)
31.07 - Paul Aguilar (Mexico)
31.03 - Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
31.03 - Ron Vlaar (Netherlands)
31.03 - Souleymane Bamba (Cote d'Ivoire)

31.03 - Mesut Ozil (Germany)
30.89 - Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana)
30.85 - Jason Davidson (Australia)
30.85 - Martin Caceres (Uruguay)
30.71 - Yaya Toure (Cote d'Ivoire)
30.71 - Die Serey (Cote d'Ivoire)
30.71 - Georgios Samaras (Greece)
30.67 - Gervinho (Cote d'Ivoire)
30.64 - Eugenio Mena (Chile)
30.49 - Jose Cholevas (Greece)

30.49 - Faouzi Ghoulam (Algeria)
30.49 - Benedikt Hoewedes (Germany)
30.35 - Khosro Heydari (Iran)
30.31 - Victor Ibarbo (Colombia)
30.17 - John Boye (Ghana)
30.17 - Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)
30.17 - AndranikTimotian (Iran)
30.13 - Divock Origi (Belgium)
30.13 - Gamboa (Costa Rica)

Source: Official FIFA Documents

2014 World Cup: Player Representation by League

League systems with players represented at the 2014 World Cup.


GROUP A

Brazil
6 - England
4 - Brazil
3 - Italy
3 - Spain
2 - France
2 - Germany
1 - Russia
1 - Ukraine
1 - United States (1: Canada)

Cameroon
7 - France
6 - Turkey
3 - Spain
2 - Cameroon
2 - England
2 - Germany
1 - Belgium

Croatia
4 - Ukraine
3 - Croatia
3 - Germany
3 - Italy
3 - Spain
2 - England
2 - Greece
2 - Russia
1 - France (1: Monaco)

Mexico
15 - Mexico
3 - Spain
2 - Portugal
1 - England
1 - France
1 - Germany



GROUP B

Australia
6 - Australia
3 - England
3 - Germany
2 - Netherlands
2 - Switzerland
1 - Austria
1 - Belgium
1 - China
1 - Italy
1 - Qatar
1 - South Korea
1 - United States

Chile
5 - Chile
5 - Spain
4 - Italy
3 - Brazil
3 - England (1: Wales)
1 - Netherlands
1 - Sweden
1 - Switzerland

Netherlands
10 - Netherlands
6 - England (2: Wales)
3 - Germany
2 - Turkey
1 - Italy
1 - Ukraine

Spain
14 - Spain
6 - England
2 - Italy
1 - Germany



GROUP C

Colombia
6 - Italy
3 - Argentina
3 - Colombia
3 - France (1: Monaco)
2 - Portugal
2 - Spain
1 - England
1 - Germany
1 - Mexico
1 - Netherlands

Greece
9 - Greece
6 - Italy
2 - England
2 - Spain
2 - Turkey
1 - Germany
1 - Scotland

Cote d'Ivoire
5 - France
4 - Germany
4 - Turkey
4 - England (1: Wales)
2 - Switzerland
1 - Belgium
1 - Cote d'Ivoire
1 - Italy
1 - Norway

Japan
11 - Japan
7 - Germany
2 - England
2 - Italy
1 - Belgium



GROUP D

Costa Rica
9 - Costa Rica
3 - Norway
3 - United States
1 - Belgium
1 - Denmark
1 - Germany
1 - Greece
1 - Netherlands
1 - Russia
1 - Spain
1 - Sweden

England
22 - England
1 - Scotland

Italy
20 - Italy
3 - France

Uruguay
5 - Italy
4 - Spain
3 - Brazil
3 - England
2 - Portugal
1 - France
1 - Japan
1 - Mexico
1 - Paraguay
1 - Turkey
1 - Uruguay


GROUP E

Ecuador
8 - Ecuador
7 - Mexico
1 - Brazil
1 - Colombia
1 - England
1 - Germany
1 - Netherlands
1 - Russia
1 - Saudi Arabia
1 - UAE

France
9 - England
8 - France
3 - Spain
1 - Germany
1 - Italy
1 - Portugal

Honduras
11 - Honduras
4 - England
4 - United States
1 - Belgium
1 - China
1 - Costa Rica
1 - Scotland

Switzerland
9 - Germany
7 - Switzerland
5 - Italy
2 - Spain


GROUP F

Argentina
7 - Italy
4 - Spain
3 - Argentina
3 - England
3 - Portugal
2 - France
1 - Mexico

Bosnia and Herzegovina
7 - Germany
5 - Turkey
2 - Croatia
2 - England
2 - Italy
1 - Austria
1 - Bosnia and Herzegovina
1 - China
1 - Hungary
1 - Ukraine

Iran
14 - Iran
2 - England
1 - Germany
1 - Kuwait
1 - Netherlands
1 - Portugal
1 - Qatar
1 - Spain
1 - United States (1: Canada)

Nigeria
6 - England
3 - Nigeria
2 - Belgium
2 - France
2 - Israel
2 - Turkey
1 - Italy
1 - Netherlands
1 - Russia
1 - Scotland
1 - Spain
1 - Ukraine


GROUP G

Germany
17 - Germany
4 - England
1 - Italy
1 - Spain

Ghana
5 - Italy
5 - France
2 - Russia
2 - South Africa
1 - Belgium
1 - England
1 - Germany
1 - Ghana
1 - Greece
1 - Netherlands
1 - Norway
1 - Tunisia
1 - UAE

Portugal
8 - Portugal
6 - Spain
3 - Turkey
1 - England
1 - France
1 - Germany
1 - Italy
1 - Russia
1 - Ukraine

United States
10 - United States (1: Canada)
4 - England
4 - Germany
1 - France
1 - Mexico
1 - Netherlands
1 - Norway
1 - Turkey


GROUP H

Algeria
4 - Italy
4 - Spain
3 - England
3 - France
3 - Portugal
2 - Algeria
1 - Bulgaria
1 - Croatia
1 - Qatar
1 - Tunisia

Belgium
11 - England
3 - Belgium
2 - Germany
2 - Russia
2 - Spain
1 - France
1 - Italy
1 - Portugal

Russia
23 - Russia

South Korea
6 - South Korea
6 - Germany
4 - England
3 - Japan
3 - China
1 - Saudi Arabia


Player Representation by League System

119 - England (4: Wales)
82 - Italy
79 - Germany
65 - Spain
46 - France (2: Monaco)
34 - Russia
26 - Mexico
26 - Turkey
22 - Portugal
21 - United States (3: Canada)
20 - Netherlands

15 - Japan
14 - Iran
13 - Greece
12 - Belgium
12 - Switzerland
11 - Brazil
11 - Honduras
10 - Costa Rica
9 - Ukraine
8 - Ecuador

7 - South Korea
6 - Argentina
6 - Australia
6 - China
6 - Croatia
6 - Norway
5 - Chile
4 - Colombia
4 - Scotland
3 - Qatar

2 - Algeria
2 - Austria
2 - Cameroon
2 - Saudi Arabia
2 - Sweden
2 - Tunisia
2 - UAE

1 - Bosnia and Herzegovina
1 - Bulgaria
1 - Cote d'Ivoire
1 - Denmark
1 - Hungary
1 - Kuwait
1 - Paraguay
1 - Uruguay

2014 World Cup: Foreign-Born Players

Players in the provisional 2014 World Cup squads that were born outside of the country they are representing.


GROUP A

Brazil
NONE

Cameroon
Charles Itandje (France)
Benoît Assou-Ekotto (France)
Allan Nyom (France)
Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik (France)
Raoul Loé (France)
Joël Matip (Germany)
Maxim Choupo-Moting (Germany)

Croatia
Dejan Lovren (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Vedran Ćorluka (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Nikica Jelavić (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Ivan Rakitić (Switzerland)
Mateo Kovačić (Austria)
Sammir (Brazil)
Eduardo (Brazil)
Mario Pašalić (Germany)

Mexico
Miguel Ángel Ponce (USA)
Isaác Brizuela (USA)



GROUP B

Australia
Dario Vidošić (Croatia)

Chile
Marcos González (Brazil)
Miiko Albornoz (Sweden)
Jorge Valdívia (Venezuela)
Pablo Hernández (Argentina)

Netherlands
Bruno Martins Indi (Portugal)
Jonathan de Guzmán (Canada)

Spain
Diego Costa (Brazil)



GROUP C

Colombia
NONE

Cote d'Ivoire
Sol Bamba (France)
Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (France)
Giovanni Sio (France)
Mathis Bolly (Norway)

Greece
Loukas Vyntra (Czech Republic)
José Holebas (Germany)
Panagiotis Kone (Albania)

Japan
Gōtoku Sakai (USA)


GROUP D

Costa Rica
Óscar Duarte (Nicaragua)

England
Raheem Sterling (Jamaica)

Italy
Gabriel Paletta (Argentina)
Thiago Motta (Brazil)
Rômulo (Brazil)
Giuseppe Rossi (USA)

Uruguay
Fernando Muslera (Argentina)


GROUP E

Ecuador
NONE

France
Patrice Evra (Senegal)
Rio Mavuba (Born at Sea; link)

Honduras
NONE

Switzerland
Valon Behrami (Kosovo)
Xherdan Shaqiri (Kosovo)
Blerim Džemaili (Macedonia)
Admir Mehmedi (Macedonia)
Gelson Fernandes (Cape Verde)
Johan Djourou (Cote d'Ivoire)


GROUP F

Argentina
Gonzalo Higuaín (France)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Emir Spahić (Croatia)
Mensur Mujdža (Croatia)
Sead Kolašinac (Germany)
Zvjezdan Misimović (Germany)
Muhamed Bešić (Germany)
Izet Hajrović (Switzerland)

Iran
Daniel Davari (Germany)
Steven Beitashour (USA)

Nigeria
Peter Odemwingie (Uzbekistan)


GROUP G

Germany
Miroslav Klose (Poland)
Lukas Podolski (Poland)

Ghana
Adam Kwarasey (Norway)
Jeff Schlupp (Germany)
Kevin-Prince Boateng (Germany)
André Ayew (France)
Jordan Ayew (France)
Albert Adomah (England)

Portugal
Pepe (Brazil)
Nani (Cape Verde)
William Carvalho (Angola)
Éder (Guinea-Bissau)

United States
Fabian Johnson (Germany)
Timothy Chandler (Germany)
John Brooks (Germany)
Jermaine Jones (Germany)
Terrence Boyd (Germany)
Mix Diskerud (Norway)


GROUP H

Algeria
Raïs M'Bolhi (France)
Cédric Si Mohamed (France)
Carl Medjani (France)
Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaïba (France)
Faouzi Ghoulam (France)
Aïssa Mandi (France)
Medhi Lacen (France)
Adlène Guedioura (France)
Hassan Yebda (France)
Foued Kadir (France)
Mehdi Mostefa (France)
Sofiane Feghouli (France)
Ryad Boudebouz (France)
Saphir Taïder (France)
Yacine Brahimi (France)
Nabil Bentaleb (France)
Amir Karaoui (France)
Riyad Mahrez (France)
Rafik Djebbour (France)
Nabil Ghilas (France)

Belgium
Anthony Vanden Borre (DR Congo)

Russia
NONE

South Korea
NONE

Brazil 2014 World Cup Groups - April FIFA Rankings

GROUP A - 23.75 
6  Brazil
19 Mexico
20 Croatia
50 Cameroon

GROUP B - 22.25
1 Spain
14 Chile
15 Netherlands
59 Australia

GROUP C - 20.50
4 Colombia
10 Greece
21 Cote d'Ivoire
47 Japan

GROUP D - 14.75
5 Uruguay
9 Italy
11 England
34 Costa Rica

GROUP E - 21.00
8 Switzerland
16 France
28 Ecuador
32 Honduras

GROUP F - 28.25
6 Argentina
25 Bosnia and Herzegovina
37 Iran
45 Nigeria

GROUP G  - 14.00
2 Germany
3 Portugal
13 USA
38 Ghana

GROUP H - 27.75
12 Belgium
18 Russia
25 Algeria
56 South Korea


2014 World Cup Nations - April 2014 FIFA Rankings
1 Spain
2 Germany
3 Portugal
4 Colombia
5 Uruguay
6 Argentina
6 Brazil
8 Switzerland
9 Italy
10 Greece

11 England
12 Belgium
13 USA
14 Chile
15 Netherlands
16 France
18 Russia
19 Mexico
20 Croatia

21 Cote d'Ivoire
25 Bosnia and Herzegovina
25 Algeria
28 Ecuador

32 Honduras
34 Costa Rica
37 Iran
38 Ghana

45 Nigeria
47 Japan

50 Cameroon
56 South Korea
59 Australia

World Cup Teams - 2010 vs 2014

Qualified for 2010 and 2014:
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Cameroon
Chile
England
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Honduras
Italy
Ivory Coast
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
Nigeria
Portugal
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
United States
Uruguay

Qualified for 2014:
Belgium (2002)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (First Qualification)
Colombia (1998)
Costa Rica (2006)
Croatia (2006)
Ecuador (2006)
Iran (2006)
Russia (2002)

Qualified for 2010:
Denmark
New Zealand
North Korea
Paraguay
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa

World Cup 2014 Elimination Timeline

A timeline of the nations that have been eliminated from the 2014 World Cup starting with Timor-Leste, who were the first nation knocked out in July 2011.

1. Timor-Leste
2. Sri Lanka
3. Mongolia
4. Chinese Taipei
5. Macau
6. Cambodia
7. Afghanistan
8. Pakistan
9. Turks and Caicos
10. British Virgin Islands
11. Anguilla
12. Aruba
13. Montserrat
14. Nepal
15. Laos
16. Philippines
17. Kyrgyzstan
18. Hong Kong
19. Bangladesh
20. Turkmenistan
21. Vietnam
22. Malaysia
23. India
24. Palestine
25. Maldives
26. Yemen
27. Myanmar
28. Syria
29. Bahamas 
30. US Virgin Islands
31. Barbados
32. St. Lucia
33. Curaçao
34. Cayman Islands
35. Dominican Republic
36. Bermuda
37. Puerto Rico
38. Dominica
39. Nicaragua
40. Belize
41. Grenada
42. Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
43. Tajikistan
44. North Korea
45. UAE
46. Singapore
47. Indonesia
48. Haiti
49. Suriname
50. Saint Kitts and Nevis
51. Trinidad & Tobago
52. Burundi
53. Madagascar
54. Chad
55. Seychelles
56. Eritrea
57. São Tomé and Príncipe
58. Swaziland
59. Guinea-Bissau
60. China
61. Comoros
62. Djibouti
63. Somalia
64. Cook Islands
65. Tonga
66. American Samoa
67. Thailand
68. Saudi Arabia
69. Kuwait
70. Bahrain
71. Papua New Guinea
72. Samoa
73. Vanuatu
74. Fiji
75. Cuba
76. Antigua and Barbuda
77. Guyana
78. Tahiti
79. Solomon Islands
80. Canada
81. Guatemala
82. El Salvador
83. New Caledonia
84. Scotland
85. Lebanon
86. Kenya
87. Sudan
88. San Marino
89. Lesotho
90. Central African Republic
91. Gambia
92. Zimbabwe
93. Mozambique
94. Niger
95. Rwanda
96. Iraq
97. Qatar
98. Faroe Islands
99. Namibia
100. Togo
101. Angola
102. Sierra Leone
103. Tanzania
104. Morocco
105. Guinea
106. Benin
107. DR Congo
108. Liberia
109. Equatorial Guinea
110. Mali
111. Oman
112. Luxembourg
113. Azerbaijan
114. Zambia
115. Wales
116. Andorra
117. Moldova
118. Belarus
119. Lithuania
120. Liechtenstein
121. Kazakhstan
122. Macedonia
123. Serbia
124. Bolivia
125. Botswana
126. South Africa
127. Malawi
128. Gabon
129. Congo
130. Cape Verde Islands
131. Uganda
132. Libya
133. Northern Ireland
134. Uzbekistan
135. Georgia
136. Malta
137. Cyprus
138. Estonia
139. Latvia
140. Slovakia
141. Finland
142. Paraguay
143. Peru
144. Poland
145. Albania
146. Norway
147. Austria
148. Ireland
149. Czech Republic
150. Israel
151. Venezuela
152. Jamaica
153. Bulgaria
154. Denmark
155. Hungary
156. Turkey
157. Slovenia
158. Armenia
159. Montenegro
160. Panama
161. Ethiopia
162. Senegal
163. Tunisia
164. Egypt
165. Burkina Faso
166. Romania
167. Iceland
168. Sweden
169. Ukraine
170. New Zealand

*Bhutan, Guam, Brunei Darussalam, and Mauritania did not attempt to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.  Mauritius entered qualification but were forced to withdraw before ever playing a game so they were not included in this list.

World Cup Qualifier Upsets - September 2013

Upsets from the last round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (September, 2013).

FIFA Rank difference -- Score -- Home Team (Rank) v Away Team (Rank)

Upset Wins (25+ FIFA rank difference) 
49 -- 0:1 -- Bosnia-Herzegovina (13) v Slovakia (62)
43 -- 2:1 -- Macedonia (89) v Wales (46)
40 -- 1:2 -- Czech Republic (26) v Armenia (66)
35 -- 2:0 -- Gambia (163) v Tanzania (128)
32 -- 2:1 -- Iceland (70) v Albania (38)
31 -- 3:2 -- Luxembourg (140) v Northern Ireland (109)
25 -- 2:3 -- Sudan (135) v Lesotho (160)

Upset Draw (40+ FIFA rank Difference)
80 -- 2:2 -- Estonia (85) v Netherlands (5)
74 -- 0:0 -- Georgia (97) v France (23)
57 -- 1:1 -- Cote d'Ivoire (18) v Morocco (75)
55 -- 4:4 -- Switzerland (15) v Iceland (70)
52 -- 1:1 -- Israel (63) v Azerbaijan (115)
47 -- 1:1 -- Bolivia (64) v Ecuador (17)
44 -- 1:1 -- Poland (72) v Montenegro (28)



In case CONCACAF fans are wondering, Honduras (43) over Mexico (20) and Costa Rica (42) over USA (19) didn't make the list as both matchups had a FIFA rank difference of 23, just short of the 25+ cutoff.

2014 World Cup Qualifying Leading Goal Scorers

Players that have 5 or more goals in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying games.

11 goals
Deon McCaulay - Belize

10 goals
Peter Byers - Antigua and Barbuda
Blas Pérez - Panama

9 goals
Gonzalo Higuain - Argentina

8 goals
Lionel Messi - Argentina
Luis Suárez - Uruguay
Edin Džeko - Bosnia-Herzegovina
Georges Gope-Fenepej - New Caledonia

7 goals
Álvaro Saborío - Costa Rica
Clint Dempsey - USA
Lê Công Vinh - Vietnam
Shinji Okazaki - Japan
Jerry Bengston - Honduras
Chris Wood - New Zealand
Younis Mahmoud - Iraq
Hassan Abdel-Fattah - Jordan
Jacques Haeko - New Caledonia

6 goals
Tamarley Thomas - Antigua and Barbuda
Osael Romero - El Salvador
Radamel Falcao - Colombia
Vedad Ibišević - Bosnia-Herzegovina
Carlos Ruiz - Guatemala
Park Chu-Young - South Korea
Rocky Siberie - Curaçao
Tomer Hemed - Israel
Ahmad Hayel - Jordan

5 goals
Hao Junmin - China
Hassan Maatouk - Lebanon
Nasser Al-Shamrani - Saudi Arabia
Keisuke Honda - Japan
Amer Deeb - Jordan
Khalfan Ibrahim - Qatar
Lee Keun-Ho - South Korea
Islam Slimani - Algeria
Lesly St. Fleur - Bahamas
Jean-Eudes Maurice - Haiti
Erick Ozuna - Dominican Republic
Luis Tejada - Panama
Javier Hernandez - Mexico
Felipe Caicedo - Ecuador
Bertrand Kaï - New Caldonia
Shane Smeltz - New Zealand
Lorenzo Tehau - Tahiti
Wayne Rooney - England
Mesut Özil - Germany
Marco Reus - Germany
Robin van Persie - Netherlands
Hélder Postiga - Portugal

Nations in Qualifying Position for Brazil 2014

There's still a long way to go before the final field is set for Brazil 2014 but this is a list of nations that are currently in "qualifying position" at this early stage of final round World Cup qualifying.

CONCACAF (3.5 teams qualify)
USA (33)
Panama (41)
Costa Rica (53)
Honduras (49) (Intercontinental Playoff with Oceania)

AFRICA (5 teams qualify: 5 home-and-away series)
Cote d'Ivoire (13)

Nigeria (30)

Algeria (34)

Zambia (36)

Tunisia (44)
Egypt (75)
Cameroon (79)
Senegal (82)
Congo (101)
Ethiopia (112)

ASIA (4.5 teams qualify)
Japan (26)

South Korea (47)

Uzbekistan (59)
Jordan (90)

Australia (39) (Playoff - then Intercontinental Playoff with South America)
Iran (57) (Playoff - then Intercontinental Playoff with South America)

EUROPE (13 teams qualify)
Spain (1)
Germany (2)

Italy (5)

Netherlands (8)

Russia (10)

Switzerland (14)

Belgium (19)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (23)
Montenegro (28)

Playoff Positions (The 8 best group runners-up will play Round 2 in 4 home-and-away series)
England (4)
Croatia (9)
Greece (12)
France (17)

Hungary (32)

Bulgaria (46)
Albania (64)
Israel (74)

OCEANIA
New Zealand (88) (Intercontinental Playoff with CONCACAF)

SOUTH AMERICA (Brazil + 4.5 teams qualify)
Brazil (18) (Automatic Qualification Home Nation)

Argentina (3)
Colombia (6)
Ecuador (11)
Chile (22)

Venezuela (43) (Intercontinental Playoff with Asia)

UEFA: 2014 WCQ Groups by FIFA Ranking

A look at Europe's 2014 World Cup Qualifying groups with July 2011 FIFA Rankings.

Group A 
9 - Croatia
27 - Serbia
37 - Belgium
61 - Scotland
96 - Macedonia
112 - Wales

Group B 
8 - Italy
21 - Denmark
38 - Czech Republic
48 - Bulgaria
70 - Armenia
173 - Malta

Group C
3 - Germany
19 - Sweden
33 - Republic of Ireland
66 - Austria
112 - Faroe Island
126 - Kazakhstan

Group D
2 - Netherlands
24 - Turkey
47 - Hungary
53 - Romania
79 - Estonia
203 - Andorra

Group E
12 - Norway
22 - Slovenia
30 - Switzerland
59 - Albania
80 - Cyprus
121 - Iceland

Group F
7 - Portugal
18 - Russia
32 - Israel
62 - Northern Ireland
111 - Azerbaijan
128 - Luxembourg

Group G
13 - Greece
29 - Slovakia
41 - Bosnia and Herzegovina
58 - Lithuania
83 - Latvia
118 - Liechtenstein

Group H
6 - England
17 - Montenegro
45 - Ukraine
69 - Poland
85 - Moldova
203 - San Marino

Group I
1 - Spain
15 - France
42 - Belarus
57 - Georgia
75 - Finland


Group Average Rank - All Teams Included
38.0 - I (Spain)
54.0 - E (Norway)
57.0 - G (Greece)
57.0 - A (Croatia)
59.7 - F (Portugal)
59.8 - B (Italy)
59.8 - C (Germany)
68.0 - D (Netherlands)
70.8 - H (England)

Group Average Rank - Excluding Bottom Team
28.8 - I (Spain)
37.0 - B (Italy)
40.6 - E (Norway)
41.0 - D (Netherlands)
44.4 - H (England)
44.8 - G (Greece)
46.0 - A (Croatia)
46.0 - F (Portugal)
46.6 - C (Germany)

Top 3 Average Rank
18.3 - C (Germany)
19.0 - F (Portugal)
19.3 - I (Spain)
21.3 - E (Norway)
22.3 - B (Italy)
22.7 - H (England)
24.3 - A (Croatia)
24.3 - D (Netherlands)
27.7 - G (Greece)

Rank Difference Between Nations 1-5 in Each Group (Excluding Bottom Team)
62 - B (Italy)
68 - E (Norway)
70 - G (Greece)
74 - I (Spain)
77 - D (Netherlands)
79 - H (England)
87 - A (Croatia)
104 - F (Portugal)
109 - C (Germany)