A total of 39 UEFA teams entered qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

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.

Germany, the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 12 spots open for competition between 37 teams.

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.