Spain, England, Russia and Bosnians through

Holders Spain, former winners England, first-time qualifiers Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Russia booked their places at next summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil after clinching top spot in their groups in the last set of games.

Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland were already through before tonight – and Spain, England, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Russia joined them in the finals ahead of pool rivals France, Ukraine, Greece and Portugal. Meanwhile, Iceland and Romania sealed second position in their groups.

The eight runners-up with the best records against the sides finishing first, third, fourth and fifth in their section go into November's play-offs, the draw for which takes place at 14.00CET next Monday in Zurich. The four highest-placed nations in the October FIFA world rankings will be seeded for the play-off ties on 15 and 19 November.

Group winners: Belgium, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, England, Spain (holders)

Play-offs: Croatia, Sweden, Romania, Iceland, Portugal, Greece, Ukraine, France

World Cup finals draw: 6 December (17.00CET), Bahia

Qualified teams: Brazil (hosts), Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, Spain (holders), Switzerland, United States + 14 more

Four teams went into the night knowing certain results would rubber-stamp their tickets to Brazil – and this quartet all delivered. It was nervy for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Lithuania but Vedad Ibišević found the target with 22 minutes left to ensure a final tournament debut and, by virtue of goal difference, leave Greece second in Group G.

Russia required only a draw in Azerbaijan to win Group F ahead of Portugal and the 1-1 scoreline in Baku made sure of that. A point was also enough for Spain, though they beat Georgia 2-0 to consign France to second in Group I. England overcame Poland by the same margin to head Group H despite an 8-0 Ukraine victory in San Marino.

Five groups were already settled, yet in three others second place was up for grabs. Iceland were a point above Slovenia in Group E at kick-off and although they drew 1-1 in Norway, the Icelanders came in as runners-up because Slovenia lost 1-0 to table-topping Switzerland.

In Group D, Romania trailed Turkey on goal difference entering the concluding fixtures. But while Romania saw off Estonia 2-0, Turkey succumbed by an identical result at home to already qualified Netherlands. In Group B, Denmark's 6-0 triumph over Malta allowed them to vault Bulgaria, beaten 1-0 in the Czech Republic, yet the Danes are the worst-performing runners-up and miss out on the play-offs.