North America, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 4.5 spots. 35 teams will compete for 4 direct places.
The winner of the other 0.5 place would progress to the Inter-confederation
playoff.
The first three rounds will be played as knockout rounds, while the last two rounds played as group stages.
FIRST ROUND: Playoff Format
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A total of 14 teams (teams ranked 22–35) will play home-and-away over two legs.
The draw for the first round was held on 15 January 2015 in Miami Beach, Florida, United States.
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Pot 1 contained the teams ranked 22–28 in the CONCACAF entrant list.
Pot 2 contained the teams ranked 29–35 in the CONCACAF entrant list.
St. Vincent / Grenadines won on away goal after regular time (6-6).
Antigua and Barbuda won on aggregate after regular time (5-4).
Grenada won on aggregate after regular time (2-1).
Canada won on aggregate after regular time (6-0).
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Belize won on aggregate after regular time (5-1).
Guatemala won on aggregate after regular time (1-0).
*Aruba won on aggregate after regular time (3-2). FIFA awarded Aruba a 3–0 win as a result of Barbados fielding the ineligible player Hadan Holligan. The match originally ended 1–0 to Barbados.
El Salvador won on aggregate after regular time (6-3)
Curacao won on away goal after regular time (1-1).
Nicaragua won on aggregate after regular time (4-1).
THIRD ROUND: Playoff Format
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A total of 12 teams (teams ranked 7–8 and ten second round winners) will play home-and-away over two legs.
The draw for the third round was held on 25 July 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
El Salvador won 2-0 on aggregate and advanced to the fourth round.
Canada won 4-1 on aggregate and advanced to the fourthround.
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Haiti won 6-1 on aggregate and advanced to the fourth round.
Jamaica won 4-3 on aggregate and advanced to the fourth round.
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines won 3-2 on aggregate and advanced to the fourth round.
Guatemala won 2-1 on aggregate and advanced to the fourth round.
FOURTH ROUND: Round-robin Format
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A total of 12 teams (teams ranked 1–6 and six third round winners) will be divided into three groups of four to play home-and-away round-robin matches, where the three group winners and the three group runners-up will advance to the fifth round
The draw for the fourth round was held on 25 July 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The six teams will play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top three teams will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the fourth-placed team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
