World Cup 2022 qualification play-offs
Via the World Cup 2022 qualifying play-offs, 3 tickets for the main tournament can be won. 12 countries will compete for the last 3 places for the World Cup in Qatar.
The qualifying play-offs will be played by the 10 numbers 2 from the group stage + 2 nations from the 2020/21 Nations League.
- 10 runners-up from the qualifying group stage.
- 2 Nations League countries.
These 2 countries are the best teams according to the Nations League overall ranking, not finishing first or second in the group stage of the World Cup qualifiers. The numbers 1 in that group stage has been placed directly, while the numbers two have already been admitted to this play-off round.
Qualifying play-off winners
Wales, Portugal and Poland are the winners of the qualifying play-offs path A, B and C. They have thus qualified for the World Cup in Qatar.
Wales
Portugal
Poland
Russia banned from participation and Ukraine match moved because of war
Because of the war between Russia and Ukraine, FIFA has made a decision about the course of the qualifying play-offs.
Russia is seen as the cause of the war and has been banned from participating in these qualifiers and ultimately the World Championship in Qatar.
Ukraine is the victim of this war and keeps its chance of a place in the World Cup. The match against Scotland has therefore been moved to June 2022, as has the final of Pad A.
Qualifying playoffs schedule consists of 3 paths of 4 teams
The 12 countries are divided into 3 paths, from which the winner qualifies. Each path of 4 countries consists of two semi-finals and a final.
The playoffs therefore concern a few matches (home or away) on March 24 and 29, 2022. The three winners of the paths will qualify as the last European teams.
The winners of semifinals 1 and 2 will play against each other in the final. The same applies to the winners of semi-finals 3 and 4, and semi-finals 5 and 6. The draw determines which countries will play at home.
| 24 March 2022 20:45 | Path A | |||
| Wales | |
2-1 |  |
Austria |
| 24 March 2022 18:00 | Path B | |||
| Russia |  |
cancelled | |
Poland |
| 24 March 2022 20:45 | Path B | |||
| Sweden |  |
1-0 |  |
Czech Republic |
| 24 March 2022 20:45 | Path C | |||
| Italy |  |
0-1 |  |
Macedonia |
| 24 March 2022 20:45 | Path C | |||
| Portugal | |
3-1 |  |
Turkey |
| 29 March 2022 20:45 | Path B | |||
| Poland | |
2-0 | |
Sweden |
| 29 March 2022 20:45 | Path C | |||
| Portugal | |
2-0 | |
Macedonia |
| 1 June 2022 20:45 | Path A | |||
| Scotland |  |
1-3 |  |
Ukraine |
| 5 June 2022 20:45 | Path A | |||
| Wales | |
1-0 | |
Ukraine |
Participants in the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup
The 12 participants of the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup are:
- Italy
- Macedonia
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia (banned)
- Scotland
- Sweden
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Wales
- Austria (Nations League)
- Czech Republic (Nations League)
European play-off draw for 2022 World Cup
The draw for the European play-offs for the 2022 World Cup is on November 26, 2021 at 5:00 PM.
The draw will take place in Zurich, Switzerland, and will determine which countries will meet for the World Championship in Qatar.
Pot layout of the draw for the play-off round
Now that it is known which 12 countries will participate in the playoff matches, the pots will be allocated for the draw.
The 6 best numbers two from the World Cup qualifiers are placed in pot 1. These countries play the semifinals at home. The other 6 countries are placed in pot 2, and thus play out.
| Pot 1 |
|---|
| Portugal |
| Scotland |
| Italy |
| Russia |
| Sweden |
| Wales |
| Pot 2 |
|---|
| Turkey |
| Poland |
| Macedonia |
| Ukraine |
| Austria |
| Czech Republic |
The countries in pot 1 are drawn first for the semi-finals and play a home game. The first country drawn will play the semifinal 1, the second country the semifinal 2, and so on.
The countries from pot 2 are linked to the countries from pot 1, and thus play out. The first country drawn will play the semifinal 1, the second country the semifinal 2, and so on.
For political reasons, Russia and Ukraine cannot be drawn against each other.
Criteria for the best numbers 2
To determine who the best numbers 2 are, UEFA has drawn up criteria:
- Most points
- Best Goal Difference
- Most Goals Scored
- Most away goals scored
- Most number of games won
- Most number of away games won
- Lowest Disciplinary Points (Red = 3 Points, Yellow = 1 Point)
- Ranking for the Nations League 2020/21
Since one group consists of five and the other six teams, the results against the number six are scrapped. This makes it possible to compare the results between all numbers 2.
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In the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs the 10 numbers two + 2 nations from the Nations League will participate. 3 teams qualify for the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup.
About the author of 'World Cup 2022 qualifying play-offs - 3 World Cup tickets'
Author of this content is Patrick. I have been playing soccer for more than 25 years and follow the daily news closely. My hobbies include playing football, running and maintaining various websites, in addition to my job as a financial professional.
I do not work for any related company or institution, so the information is reliable and independent. The information has been collected accurately from reliable sources and is regularly updated.