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:

Qualified teams

Confederation qualification

AFC and OFC

North Korea withdrew because they refused to play Israel. There would be three rounds of play:

First round

Second round

Group 1

Play-off

Group 2

Final round

CAF

FIFA rejected the entries of Guinea and Zaire. There would be three rounds of play:

First round

Second round

Final round

CONCACAF

FIFA rejected the entry of Cuba. There would be three rounds of play:

First round

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Second round

Group 1

Group 2

Play-off

Third round

Play-off

CONMEBOL

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

Group 2

Group 3

UEFA

(30 teams competing for 8 berths) FIFA rejected the entry of Albania. The remaining 29 teams were divided into 8 groups, 3 groups with 3 teams and 5 groups with 4 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.

Goalscorers