A total of 39 UEFA teams entered qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. However, Liechtenstein withdrew before the draw was made. The CIS, then Russia took the Soviet Union's spot after the Soviet Union dissolved while FIFA suspended Yugoslavia due to United Nations sanctions stemming from the Yugoslav wars. The European zone was allocated 13 from 24 places in the final tournament. Germany, the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 12 spots open for competition between 37 teams.
The 37 teams were divided into six groups, five of six teams each and one of seven teams (though Group 5 ended up with just five teams following Yugoslavia's suspension). The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis with the group winners and runners-up qualifying for the final tournament.
San Marino and Faroe Islands competed in World Cup qualifiers for the first time, and Israel moved to UEFA after competing in Oceanian zone for 1986 and 1990 qualification, while Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia competed separately after playing as a part of the Soviet Union from 1958 to 1990.
Greece qualified for the first time, while England and France, traditionally two of Europe's strongest teams, both failed to qualify.
The draw was made on 8 December 1991.
The following 13 teams from UEFA qualified for the final tournament.