Allocation of places

After FIFA's announcement on 3 March 2011, the number of slots available to each confederation has been determined.

CONCACAF will retain 3.5 places.

CONMEBOL will retain 4.5 places.

UEFA will retain 13 places.

CAF will retain 5 places.

AFC will retain 4.5 places.

OFC will retain .5 places.

Brasil as hosts were allocated the 32nd place on 30 October 2007.

CONMEBOL come out the big winners from this announcement because they were able to retain all 4.5 places in spite of the fact that Brasil is host and Brasil has always accounted for 1 of the alloted South American places at the FIFA World Cup. Perhaps CONMEBOL will be able to send six representatives to the first finals played on South American soil since 1986.

In a new twist, the matchups for the two spots allocated for the winners of inter-confederation playoffs will be determined by random draw. Teams in 4th place in CONCACAF, 5th place in CONMEBOL, 5th place in AFC, and 1st place in OFC will participate in the draw, which will be a part of the main preliminary draw held on 30 July 2011 in Rio de Janeiro.