JAKARTA -- One year before the kick-off of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there are nine countries that have confirmed themselves to be on the biggest football stage in the world. Representatives from Continental Europe dominated so far.

Spain and Serbia became the two latest European countries to win one ticket each to the preliminary round. Spain and Serbia followed Germany, Belgium, France, Denmark, Croatia.

Other continents that have made sure to qualify so far are Brazil from South America and host Qatar representing Asia.

Spain managed to set foot in next year's World Cup after overthrowing Sweden with a narrow score 1-0 in the qualifying match for Group B at the Estadio La Cartuja, Seville, Monday (15/11) early morning hrs. Alvaro Morata became the hero of the match with his goal in the 86th minute.

The team nicknamed La Furia Roja qualified as group winners thanks to 19 points. While the opponent, Sweden, had to fight in the international play-offs because it only earned 15 points and was perched in second place.

While in Group A, Serbia managed to qualify for the World Cup in a dramatic way. Serbia managed to beat Portugal through the only goal in the 90th minute.

Had fallen behind early due to Renato Sanchez's goal in the ninth minute, Serbia managed to rise through goals from Dusan Tadic and Aleksandar Mitrovic in injury time .

The result made Serbia automatically stroll into the World Cup because of the status of group winners. Meanwhile, Portugal, which was defeated by Serbia, had to accept the reality of competing in the international play-offs.

Portugal was only able to collect 17 points from a total of eight matches. The defeat against Serbia was the first during qualifying Group A.

Apart from Portugal, there are several countries that must try harder because they have not yet confirmed their steps to the World Cup. They are even star-studded teams like Italy, Holland and Argentina.

The Netherlands is actually leading the Group G standings. However, when they faced Montenegro last week, De Oranje was only able to draw 2-2.

The result makes Matthijs De Ligt and his friends potentially be shifted by Turkey or Norway, who are ranked second and third because they are only two points apart.

The Netherlands is actually still top of the standings with 20 points. However, because Turkey and Norway both collected 18 points, there is no safe word for the Netherlands until the decisive match against Norway on November 17, 2021.