1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 107 teams entered the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, which began with the preliminary qualification draw on 20 November 1975 at Guatemala City. Argentina, as the hosts, and West Germany, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.
The 16 places would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:
- Europe : 9 or 10 places. One place went to automatic qualifier West Germany, while nine places were contested by 31 teams. The team coming ninth in qualifying would advance to the intercontinental play-offs against a team from CONMEBOL.
- South America : 3 or 4 places. One place automatically went to host nation Argentina, while the other three places were contested by nine teams. The team coming third in qualifying would advance to the intercontinental play-offs.
- North, Central America and Caribbean : 1 place, contested by 16 teams.
- Africa : 1 place, contested by 26 teams.
- Asia and Oceania : 1 place, contested by 22 teams.
Qualified teams
The following 16 teams qualified for the 1978 FIFA World Cup:| Team | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Streak | Last appearance |
| 6 July 1966 | 7th | 2 | 1974 | |
| 30 October 1977 | 4th | 1 | 1958 | |
| 14 July 1977 | 11th | 11 | 1974 | |
| 16 November 1977 | 7th | 1 | 1966 | |
| 30 November 1977 | 7th | 1 | 1966 | |
| 25 November 1977 | 1st | 1 | — | |
| 3 December 1977 | 9th | 5 | 1974 | |
| 19 October 1977 | 8th | 1 | 1970 | |
| 26 October 1977 | 4th | 2 | 1974 | |
| 17 July 1977 | 3rd | 1 | 1970 | |
| 21 September 1977 | 3rd | 2 | 1974 | |
| 12 October 1977 | 4th | 2 | 1974 | |
| 30 November 1977 | 5th | 1 | 1966 | |
| 30 October 1977 | 7th | 3 | 1974 | |
| 11 December 1977 | 1st | 1 | — | |
| 7 July 1974 | 9th | 7 | 1974 |
Confederation qualification
AFC and OFC
Final round
Iran qualified.CAF
Final round
Tunisia qualified.CONCACAF
| Rank | Team | ||
| 1 | 10 | 5 | |
| 2 | 7 | 5 | |
| 3 | 5 | 5 | |
| 4 | 5 | 5 | |
| 5 | 3 | 5 | |
| 6 | 0 | 5 |
Mexico qualified.
CONMEBOL
Final round
Brazil and Peru qualified.Bolivia advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.
UEFA
Hungary advanced to the UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off.Inter-confederation play-offs: UEFA v CONMEBOL
The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.Top goalscorers
;9 goals;7 goals
;6 goals