Click the relevant link in the box below for results and fixtures. The 8 quarter-finalists from the 1999 finals do not have to qualify for the finals and are entered automatically. The qualification process follows the same structure as for the 1999 tournament.
Qualification starts with the lowest ranked nations taking part in elimination pool matches.
This system helps to avoid gross mismatches. The best placed teams in the final elimination rounds that miss out on automatic qualification will have another chance in a 'repechage' round, where 2 more places in the finals are available. Elimination pool matches are already underway in the African, Americas, European and Oceania Zones. The Asian eliminators start in 2002. The first match took place in Norway on September 23rd, 2000.