Fifa world cup. On the fifa page it says that only the nation is guaranteed a birth. Isn't last world cup

Question

winner guaranteed a birth?

Answer 1

Nope they threw that rule out of the book after 2002 where France made fools out of themselves by losing 2 matchs and coming up with a draw for there only points for the reigning champions that year.Since then the rule has only allowed the host nation as guaranteed. Everyone must qualify.The only world tournament that guarantees the winner of the last tournament is the Euro's even though they still have to play in a group play.  

Answer 2

Not any longer, they stopped doing that after the 2002 World Cup, so it was instated in the 2006 version.  South Africa is also guaranteed a birth, but they have to still participate in the CAF qualifiers, as these qualifiers also pertain to the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Answer 3

No...they did away with that. Italy will have to qualify like everybody else.