In the group stage of European qualifying, 54 teams will be divided into nine groups of six teams each to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The winners of each group will qualify for the 2018 Fifa World Cup, and the eight best runners-up will advance to the play-off round. The eight best runners-up from the first round will play home-and-away over two legs. The four winners will qualify for the 2018 Fifa World Cup.