All you need to know: how it works, match dates.

The identity of Europe's 14 representatives at next summer's FIFA World Cup is now known. We check out their pedigree.

Belgium, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Spain have won their groups to join Russia in the finals, with the eight play-off teams now also confirmed.

Portugal and France clinched their places at the FIFA World Cup, leaving Switzerland and Sweden settling for the play-offs, with Greece also one step closer to the finals after the group stage concluded.

The road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup resumes on Thursday with teams able to clinch places in Russia in the penultimate European Qualifiers double-header.

The European Qualifiers are back from Thursday, with the likes of France, Switzerland – one of only two teams with a perfect record – and Belgium looking to edge closer to a FIFA World Cup berth.

France were stunned by a last-minute Sweden winner, while Cristiano Ronaldo took his goal tally to 11 and Andorra recorded a famous victory, ending 66 matches without a win.

All you need to know after a busy weekend of European Qualifiers brought the teams to the halfway stage, with Germany and Switzerland perfect and Poland and England well set.

Who looks well set to reach the FIFA World Cup following the last set of European Qualifiers for 2016? We look at the story so far in the nine groups.

Belgium scored eight and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was busy as the last evening of European Qualifiers this year also brought wins for the likes of Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Portugal's free-scoring week could prove invaluable this time next year, Greece have found their form while the Netherlands are still searching: the key points from October's matches.