While the number of teams which qualified for the finals has increased steadily, from 16 between 1934 and 1978, to 24 between 1982 and 1994, and finally to 32 starting from 1998, the qualification format has been basically the same throughout the history of the World Cup.
Mens antallet af hold, som kvalificerer sig til slutrunden er steget støt fra 16 mellem 1934 og 1978, til 24 mellem 1982 og 1994, og endelig 32 hold fra 1998, har kvalifikationens format stort set været den samme igennem VM's historie.