In 2002, there were nine teams that went undefeated in qualifying: Tunisia-26 pts (10 games) Sweden-26 (10) Portugal-24 (10) Slovenia-24 (12) Denmark-22 (10) South Africa-22 (8) Spain-20 (8) Italy-20 (8) China-18 (8) I'm only counting teams who actually qualified, and not those who drew twice in a playoff, like Cuba this year. The following 26 teams are still undefeated for 2006: Mexico-24 (8) Japan-18 (6) United States-18 (8) Saudi Arabia-18 (6) Uzbekistan-16 (6) Bahrain-14 (6) South Korea-14 (6) Australia-13 (5) Portugal-13 (5) Ukraine-11 (5) Angola-11 (5) Slovakia-10 (4) Serbia-10 (4) Netherlands-10 (4) England-10 (4) Ireland-8 (4) Lithuania-8 (4) France-8 (4) Israel-8 (4) Bulgaria-7 (3) Croatia-7 (3) Denmark-6 (4) Morocco-6 (4) Switzerland-5 (3) Spain-5 (3) Bosnia-2 (2)
Mexico-27 (9) Japan-21 (7) United States-21 (9) Saudi Arabia-19 (7) Uzbekistan-17 (7) South Korea-17 (7) Bahrain-15 (7) Ukraine-14 (6) Australia-13 (5) Portugal-13 (5) Angola-11 (5) Slovakia-10 (4) Serbia-10 (4) Netherlands-10 (4) England-10 (4) Morocco-9 (5) Ireland-8 (4) Lithuania-8 (4) France-8 (4) Israel-8 (4) Spain-8 (4) Bulgaria-7 (3) Croatia-7 (3) Switzerland-5 (3) Bosnia-2 (2) Denmark off the list.
And this list is why the ONLY thing that matters during qualifying is that you qualify. A great run in WCQs means zippy when you get to the real deal.
Warning: Results below. The United States, Angola, Japan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Bulgaria, and Bosnia-Herzegovina are no longer undefeated in qualifying. That leaves 18 undefeated teams, of which Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, Mexico, Switzerland, Netherlands, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Israel, France, Croatia, Slovakia, Portugal, Ukraine, Lithuania, and England play on Wednesday March 30. Australia and Ireland are the only undefeateds who don't play March 30. Serbia and Montenegro vs. Spain, Israel vs. France, and Slovakia vs. Portugal are the three games between two undefeated teams on March 30.
Leaders: Mexico-30 (10) Saudi Arabia-22 (8) Bahrain-18 (8) Ukraine-14 (6) Australia-13 (5) Portugal-13 (5) Slovakia-13 (5) Netherlands-13 (5) England-13 (5) Morocco-12 (6) Serbia-10 (4) Croatia-10 (4) Ireland-9 (5) France-9 (5) Israel-9 (5) Spain-8 (4) Lithuania-8 (4) Switzerland-6 (4)
Results below. All three of today's UEFA games between two undefeated teams were draws. Israel's 1:1 draw hosting France kept both teams undefeated and leaves Serbia and Montenegro as the only nation to have not allowed any goals. No teams got their first qualifying loss so far today.
Saudi Arabia has the chance to be the first team to finish qualifying undefeated on 8/17. They play @ South Korea in a meaningless match.
Saudi Arabia won 1-0 at South Korea, and they are the first team to finish qualifying undefeated. Code: W L D Pts GF GA GD 12 Saudi Arabia 10 0 2 32 24 2 22
One team done, ten still in the running Netherlands-28 (10) - @Czech, home to Maced. Australia-19 (7) - playoff w/ S. America Saudi Arabia-32 (12) DONE Croatia-20 (8) - Swed., @Hun. Portugal-24 (10) - home to Liech, Latvia Morocco-19 (9) - @Tunisia, must win to qualify Serbia-16 (8) - @ Lith. home to B-H France-16 (8) - @Switz, home to Cyprus Switzerland-16 (8) - France, IRELAND Spain-14 (8) - @Belg., @San Marino Israel-15 (9) - home to Faroes Mexico OUT - loss to US Bahrain OUT - loss to N. Korea Ukraine OUT - loss to Turkey Slovakia OUT - loss to Portugal England OUT - loss to N.Ireland Ireland OUT - loss to France Lithuania OUT - loss to Spain
Interesting fact, that after the completion of the world cup 98 finals and qualifiers, there where only two undefeated teams. France and Australia.
Italy was undefeated in qualifying and the finals, eliminated on penalties. I'm sure there were other teams who drew twice in a playoff or something.
Well Iran drew twice in the playoff (against Australia) but they had 4 or 5 previous losses and 2 other chances of making it to the world cup. Sorry, didnt know Italy stayed undefeated. Yeah i agree penalties dont count as losses. I wonder if there are anymore. Espeically from early rounds of the african and north american confederations.
Results below: In Africa, Morocco was the only nation to complete qualifying undefeated but they didn't qualify. In Europe, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Serbia and Montenegro, and Croatia went undefeated and won their groups. Switzerland and Spain went undefeated and finished second. Israel went undefeated and finished third and did not qualify (joining CONCACAF first round loser Cuba as undefeated teams that didn't qualify).
End of World Cup Qualifying Results below: Australia and Switzerland qualified but got their first WCQ losses in the playoffs. Spain qualified in the UEFA playoffs and finished undefeated.