The teams that will play the next World Cup football finals

HAMBURG - After Wednesday’s qualifying rounds, following are 23 teams that have qualified for the 2010 World Cup football finals in South Africa:

Africa:

Country Appearances Best finish in finals

Ghana 2nd Round of 16 (2006)

Ivory Coast 2nd Group Stage (2006)

South Africa 3rd Group Stage (1998, 2002)

Asia:

Country Appearances Best finish in finals

Australia 3rd Round of 16 (2006)

Japan 4th Round of 16 (2002)

North Korea 2nd Quarter-finals (1966)

South Korea 8th Fourth Place (2002)

Europe:

Country Appearances Best finish in finals

Denmark 4th Quarter-finals (1998)

England 13th Winners (1966)

Germany 17th Winners (1954, 1974, 1990)

Italy 17th Winners (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)

Netherlands 9th Runners-up (1974, 1978)

Serbia 11th Fourth Place (1930, 1962) (Competed as Yugoslavia from 1930-98, Serbia and Montenegro for 2006)

Slovakia 1st No previous performance

Spain 13th Fourth Place (1950)

Switzerland 9th Quarter-finals (1934, 1938, 1954)

North, Central America and Caribbean:

Country Appearances Best finish in finals

Honduras 2nd Group Stage (1982)

Mexico 14th Quarter-finals (1970, 1986)

United States 9th Third Place (1930)

South America:

Country Appearances Best finish in finals

Argentina 15th Winners (1978, 1986)

Brazil 19th Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994,2002)

Chile 8th Third Place (1962)

Paraguay 8th Round of 16 (1986, 1998, 2002)