RUSSIA 2018: Which Teams are Likely to Qualify for the Tournament.

The race to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is drawing to a dramatic conclusion around the globe. Russia qualify as hosts, and four other nations — Brazil, Iran, Japan and Mexico — have already made it.

Here Jay looks at how each region is shaping up...

*AFC - 46 teams competing for 4.5 places Qualified: Iran, Japan

War-torn Syria are remarkably still in contention to reach a first World Cup — but on Tuesday they realistically need a result against Iran to keep their dream alive. Iran and Japan have qualified, leaving five nations — Syria, Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Korea and Uzbekistan — chasing four slots: two to reach Russia, two for a final to reach a play-off against a CONCACAF side.

Australia, with Aaron Mooy of Huddersfield, go to Thailand and need to better Saudi Arabia’s result at home to Japan by more than two goals for automatic qualification.

*CONCACAF - 35 teams competing for 3.5 places Qualified: Mexico ((Mexico, with West Ham striker Javier Hernandez, booked their spot in Russia with a 1-0 win on Friday against Panama, but United States are in trouble after losing 2-0 at home to Costa Rica.

There are two more automatic places and one play-off berth against an AFC country, with Costa Rica in pole position for an automatic spot.

Honduras could also pip the USA to automatic qualification while Panama and Trinidad & Tobago are in contention in a qualifying fight that ends on October 10.

*CAF - 54 Teams competing for 5 places There are 20 teams in five groups chasing Africa’s five places in this third and final qualifying phase. Everything is up for grabs, no group is past halfway.

Nigeria have the only 100 per cent record (three wins from three, three to play) and look likely to book their place at next years showpiece after demolishing 2017 African Champions 4-0 in Akwa Ibom if they win in Yaounde on Monday.

DR Congo and Uganda are surprise early leaders in other groups.

*CONMEBOL - 10 teams competing for 4.5 places Qualified: Brazil Lionel Messi and Argentina are still struggling to qualify after a 0-0 draw with Uruguay last week.

Rivals Brazil have already qualified though and six other nations, including Argentina, in the 10-team section are still in contention for the three other automatic slots and a play-off berth against an Oceania team, probably New Zealand.

Five points separate those seven with three games left. Second-placed Colombia, with Tottenham new boy Davinson Sanchez, face Brazil on Tuesday.

Uruguay and Chile are one and two points behind them, and Arsenal’s wantaway forward Alexis Sanchez will need to be focused when Chile travel to out-of-contention Bolivia this midweek.

*OFC - 11 teams competing for 0.5 places A hat-trick from Burnley’s new £15million striker Chris Wood means New Zealand are as good as qualified for an intercontinental play-off against the fifth-best side in South America in November.

The prize is a place in Russia. Thanks to Wood’s heroics, the Kiwis are 6-1 up against Solomon Islands after one leg of their two-legged play-off final.

If (when) they finish the job on Tuesday, Argentina remain a possible final, sizeable hurdle.

*UEFA - 54 teams competing for 13 places Romelu Lukaku and his highly rated Belgium team-mates will become the first European nation to qualify for the tournament (aside from Russia, who are in as hosts), on Sunday if they avoid defeat against Greece in Piraeus. Germany could follow them as early as Monday, other results depending.

Spain and Italy met on Saturday and look to share the top two places in Group G, the winner definitely going to Russia and the other into the play-offs.

England can move within sight of automatic qualification with a win.