1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)


Listed below are the dates and results for the qualification to the 1978 FIFA World Cup rounds for the European zone in association football. For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification.
A total of 32 UEFA teams entered the competition. The European zone was allocated 9.5 places in the final tournament. West Germany, the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 8.5 spots open for competition between 31 teams.
The 31 teams were divided into 9 groups of 3 or 4 teams each. The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify, with the worst recorded group winner advancing to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.

Summary

Below is a table containing all nine qualifying groups. Teams that qualified and secured a place in the final tournament are highlighted in green, while teams who were eliminated are highlighted in red. The team that secured a place in the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off is highlighted in blue. Teams are ordered by final group position.
Group 1Group 2Group 3Group 4Group 5Group 6Group 7Group 8Group 9










Key:

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Group 5

Group 6

Group 7

Group 8

Group 9


Hungary advanced to the [|UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off].

Inter-confederation play-offs

Goalscorers

;9 goals
;7 goals
;5 goals
;4 goals
;3 goals
;2 goals
;1 goal
;1 own goal