The places were divided as follows: Dates : August 16, 1997 - December 19, 1998 The two African teams to qualify to the World Cup were the two finalists of the 1998 CAF Women's Championship, Nigeria and Ghana.
The three Asian teams to qualify to the World Cup were the two finalists and the third-placed of the 1997 AFC Women's Championship.
The runner-up Mexico qualified in two playoff-matches against the second-placed team of CONMEBOL – Argentina.
The third edition of the Sudamericano Femenino (Women's South American Championship) in 1998 determined the CONMEBOL's qualifier.
The runners-up of the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF qualification tournaments played for one berth.