1970 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 75 teams entered the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. Hosts Mexico and defending champions England qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition. For the first time, the winners of both the African zone and the Asian and Oceanian zone were guaranteed a direct place in the final tournament. The 16 spots available in the 1970 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows: A total of 68 teams played in at least one qualifying match. A  total of 172 qualifying matches were played, and 542 goals were scored (an average of 3.15 per match). Listed below are the dates and results of the qualification rounds. Key: Europe. "(30 teams competing for 8 berths)" FIFA rejected the entry of Albania. The remaining 29 teams were divided into 8 groups of 3 or 4 teams each (three groups with 3 teams and five groups with 4 teams). The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify. South America. The 10 teams were divided into 3 groups; two groups with 3  teams and one group with 4 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify. Group 1. Peru qualified. The Bolivia v Peru match on 10 August 1969 is infamous for being fixed by Argentina in favour of Bolivia. Match referee Sergio Chechelev annulled a valid goal from Peru without any justification, allowing Bolivia to win 2–1. Years later, Chechelev excused himself saying that Argentina had paid him to favour Bolivia. This has been the only time that Argentina failed to qualify to a World Cup tournament. Group 2. Brazil qualified . Group 3. Uruguay qualified. North, Central America and Caribbean. FIFA rejected the entry of Cuba. There would be three rounds of play: First round. Group 1. United States advanced to the Semifinal Round. Group 2. Haiti advanced to the Semifinal Round. Group 3. Honduras advanced to the Semifinal Round. Group 4. El Salvador advanced to the Semifinal Round. Semifinal Round. Group 1. Haiti advanced to the Final Round. Group 2. El Salvador and Honduras finished level on points, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would advance to the Final Round. El Salvador advanced to  the Final Round. Additionally, these matches featured prominently in the Football War. Final Round. El Salvador and Haiti finished level on points, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify. El Salvador qualified. Africa. FIFA rejected the entries of Guinea and Zaire. There would be three rounds of play: Final Round. Morocco qualified. Asia and Oceania. North Korea withdrew because they refused to play with Israel. There would be three rounds of play: First round. Australia advanced to the Second Round. Second round. Group 1. Australia and Rhodesia finished level on points, and a  play-off was played to decide who would advance to the Final Round. Australia advanced to the Final Round. Group 2. Israel advanced to the Final Round. North Korea, despite their good performance in the previous tournament staged in England in 1966, refused to play in Israel for political reasons. Final round. Israel qualified.