1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)

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The European (UEFA) zone of qualification for the 1970 FIFA World Cup saw 29 teams competing for eight places at the finals. UEFA members England qualified automatically as the defending champions. The qualification process started on 19 May 1968 and ended on 7 December 1969.

1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Tournament details
Dates	19 May 1968 - 7 December 1969
Teams	29 (from 1 confederation)
← 1966 1974 →

Format

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FIFA rejected the entry of Albania, while Iceland and Malta did not enter. The remaining 29 teams were drawn into eight groups, five groups of four teams and three of three teams. All eight group-winners qualified automatically.

Draw

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The draw for the qualifying groups took place in Casablanca on 1 February 1968. During the draw procedure, entrants were drawn into the 8 qualifying groups from the four pots of seeds.

Pot A	Pot B	Pot C	Pot D
Bulgaria France Hungary Italy Portugal Soviet Union Spain West Germany	Czechoslovakia East Germany Netherlands Northern Ireland Scotland Sweden Switzerland Yugoslavia	Austria Belgium Republic of Ireland Norway Poland Romania Turkey Wales	Cyprus Denmark Finland Greece Luxembourg

Groups

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Group 1

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Main article: 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Romania	6	3	2	1	7	6	+1	8	Qualify for the World Cup
2	Greece	6	2	3	1	13	9	+4	7
3	Switzerland	6	2	1	3	5	8	−3	5
4	Portugal	6	1	2	3	8	10	−2	4

Group 2

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Main article: 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1=	Hungary	6	4	1	1	16	7	+9	9
1=	Czechoslovakia	6	4	1	1	12	6	+6	9
3	Denmark	6	2	1	3	6	10	−4	5
4	Republic of Ireland	6	0	1	5	3	14	−11	1

Czechoslovakia and Hungary finished level on points, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify. Czechoslovakia won the play-off to qualify for the World Cup.