The last two World Cup tickets came through a six-team intercontinental play-off: Bolivia (CONMEBOL), DR Congo (CAF), Iraq (AFC), Jamaica and Suriname (CONCACAF) and New Caledonia (OFC).
Iraq and DR Congo prevailed to claim the final two places at the finals — landing in Group I and Group K respectively. For the rest, it was heartbreak at the very last step.
The play-off winners in numbers
Iraq last 12 months · 15 matches| Goals for/game | 1.1 |
| Goals against/game | 1.0 |
| xG for/game | 0.8 |
| xG against/game | 1.1 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 33% |
| Both teams score | 47% |
| Corners/game | 4.0 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.4 |
| Shots on target/game | 3.1 |
What the numbers say
- tilts under: under 2.5 goals in 67% of games
- blunt in attack — only 1.1 goals per game
- few corners — 4.0 per game
- toothless: just 0.8 xG per game
Source: ScanGoal database (national-team matches, last 12 months)
DR Congo last 12 months · 15 matches| Goals for/game | 1.2 |
| Goals against/game | 0.6 |
| xG for/game | 1.3 |
| xG against/game | 0.6 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 27% |
| Both teams score | 40% |
| Corners/game | 4.4 |
| Yellow cards/game | 0.8 |
| Shots on target/game | 3.8 |
What the numbers say
- tilts under: under 2.5 goals in 73% of games
- a tight defence — just 0.6 conceded per game
- disciplined — only 0.8 yellows per game
Source: ScanGoal database (national-team matches, last 12 months)
See them in the group stage: Iraq (Group I), DR Congo (Group K). Source: Wikipedia.