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1970 World Cup Qualification

The qualification for the 1970 World Cup was used to determine the participants in the finals held in Mexico. A total of 71 teams had reported, including representatives from Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, and North and Central America.

Of these teams, 30 were from Europe, with England automatically qualifying as defending champion due to its status as the previous year's winner. The remaining 29 European teams were divided into eight groups, with five groups consisting of four teams each and three groups featuring three teams each. The winners of each group qualified for the World Cup in Mexico.

In Europe, Portugal was considered a strong contender, but it ultimately finished last in its group after losing to Greece and Romania. A decisive match between Romania and Greece ended 1-1, with both teams qualifying for their first World Cup finals since 1938. In contrast, England's qualification as the defending champion meant that only eight additional spots were available for European teams.

The African zone had a single representative, while Asia/Oceania featured one team from Australia, Japan, and South Korea, who played each other twice before being joined by Rhodesia in their final match. The North and Central American zone had two representatives, with the remaining 11 teams from Africa competing for the sole available spot.

In total, 68 teams participated in the qualification rounds, setting a new participation record. These teams competed across various zones, including Europe, South America, Africa, Asia/Oceania, and North and Central America, before being allocated spots in the final tournament.

The qualification process was marked by several notable events, such as the "One Hundred Hours War" between El Salvador and Honduras in July 1969. Ultimately, England's automatic qualification and Portugal's disappointing performance highlighted the challenges faced by teams seeking to qualify for the World Cup finals.