SCOTLAND, Wales, Portugal and Italy have discovered their fate for the World Cup play-offs.
The Welsh will face Austria, while Scotland face a tricky home tie against Ukraine at Hampden Park.
Both nations are in Path A and could therefore then face-off for a place in Qatar if they make it through the semi-finals.
While Italy and Portugal have also been drawn in the same path, meaning at least one of them will miss out on the finals.
Path A:
- Scotland vs Ukraine
- Wales vs Austria
Path B:
- Russia vs Poland
- Sweden vs Czech Republic
Path C:
- Italy vs North Macedonia
- Portugal vs Turkey
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Wooooooow………
We MIGHT not see Cristiano Ronaldo at the Qatar World Cup, possibly his last!
Portugal might face European champions Italy in the play-off final with both being drawn in Path C.
Luckily for Portugal, should they get past Turkey, they’ll be the home team for the final.
A little bit closer to home, Scotland and Wales COULD battle it out for a spot in Qatar in Path A, but they have to get past Ukraine and Austria respectively.
Goodnight!
RON LAST TIME
If Portugal fail to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to play in 2026.
He will be 41-years-old by the time the next one comes around.
NAIL-BITER
Who’s your money on?
The Euro 2016 winners Portugal, or the Euro 2020 winners Italy?
Both, of course, have to beat Turkey and North Macedonia respectively to then face each other.
PLAY-OFF FINAL HOSTS
PATH A
The winner of Wales vs Austria will host the World Cup play-off final against either Scotland or Ukraine.
PATH B
Either Russia or Poland will host the play-off final from Path B, welcoming either Sweden or the Czech Republic.
PATH C
And finally, Portugal or Turkey will host the winner of Italy and North Macedonia.
- Wales or Austria vs Scotland or Ukraine
- Russia or Poland vs Sweden or Czech Republic
- Portugal or Turkey vs Italy or North Macedonia
PATHWAYS CONFIRMED
Wow……
Three very, very tough paths to the Qatar World Cup.
Path A:
- Scotland vs Ukraine
- Wales vs Austria
Path B:
- Russia vs Poland
- Sweden vs Czech Republic
Path C:
- Italy vs North Macedonia
- Portugal vs Turkey
PATH C
Italy will welcome North Macedonia.
And Portugal will play Turkey!
PATH B
Poland will take on Russia.
And Sweden will host Euro 2020 quarter-finalists Czech Republic.
PATH A
We’re now into the unseeded teams who will play their semi-final away from home.
Ukraine are drawn first and they will play Scotland!
Austria are out of Pot 2 next and they will take on Wales.
Path A looks interesting to say the least!
PATH C
Oh my……….
PORTUGAL and ITALY have been drawn into Path C!
Should they both win their semi-finals, they WILL face each other for a place at the Qatar World Cup.
PATH B
Russia and Sweden have been drawn into Path B.
PATH A
Scotland and Wales have been drawn into Path A, meaning they COULD face each other in the final for a place at the World Cup.
HERE WE GO!
THE DRAW IS ABOUT TO START!
WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
Whilst we wait for the official draw to get underway, here’s all the key dates you need to know for next year’s tournament.
TARTAN ARMY
Will Scotland reach their first World Cup in over two decades?
WHICH TEAMS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORLD CUP PLAYOFF DRAW?
Here’s a reminder of who’s in today’s draw:
SEEDED
Portugal, Italy, Scotland, Russia, Sweden, Wales
UNSEEDED
Austria, North Macedonia, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic
Just THREE teams will book their place in Qatar.
NOT LONG TO GO
The draw is due to start at 4PM UK time.
MIDFIELD MAESTROS
Jorginho could face Portuguese powerhouse Joao Palhinha in their World Cup play-off decider.
Despite Palhinha being the more defensive out of the two, he managed to chip in with two goals during qualifying.
HERO TO ZERO
Italy failed to qualify automatically for the World Cup after just winning Euro 2020.
They saw off England at Wembley on penalties to re-announce themselves as one of Europe’s heavyweights.
But it hasn’t quite gone to plan as they finished second in their qualifying group behind Switzerland.
Chelsea’s Jorginho missed a crucial penalty in the last round of fixtures this month which would’ve booked their place in Qatar.
Now, they have a real possibility of facing Portugal for a spot at the tournament.
HOW DOES THE DRAW WORK?
The play-off draw can be rather confusing, so here’s how it works:
- The last three European slots for the Fifa World Cup are allocated via a 12-team play-off system
- Ten runners-up from the group stage plus the next two best teams from the Uefa Nations League go into the hat
- The six highest-ranked runners-up from the group stage are seeded in Pot 1 and are guaranteed to play their semi-final at home
- The remaining six teams are unseeded in Pot 2 and will be drawn against the seeded nations in Pot 1
- The one-legged semi-finals are separated into three ‘Paths’ featuring four teams, leading to one-legged finals between semi-final winners
- A further draw will take place to decide which team plays at home in these finals
- The winners of the finals from the three ‘Paths’ will be the trio of additional European qualifiers for Qatar 2022
HORROR DRAW
Portugal and Italy COULD face each other if this simulated draw is right.
SunSport’s simulation would see Portugal face minnows North Macedonia, and Italy would take on Austria.
And if both get through the semis unscathed, they would then face each other in a blockbuster World Cup shootout.
LAST DANCE
After losing their last group game to Serbia, Portugal were dumped into the play-offs.
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo netting six during qualifying, it wasn’t enough to carry his Euro 2016 winners to the Qatar World Cup.
It may be Ronaldo’s last chance of World Cup glory.
WE CAN DO IT
Italy striker Domenico Berardi is confident that Italy can secure qualification from the World Cup play-off.
The Euro 2020 winners find themselves in a battle for a spot in Qatar, but Berardi reckons they’ve got enough in their tank to see them through no matter who they face.
Italy, along with Wales, Scotland and Portugal will find out their opponents in the next hour.
Speaking on Italy’s chances, Berardi said: “We have to roll up our sleeves and give our all in the play-offs to go to Qatar.
“We care a lot about the World Cup and I’m sure we will be able to qualify.”
WE’LL EARN IT
Wales legend Robert Earnshaw reckons his nation have nothing to fear going into the World Cup play-off.
The Welsh find out who they face in the draw for the next stage of qualifying in just a few hours.
But with Wales’ vast array of talent, Earnshaw is confident they can get through and clinch one of the three World Cup spots on offer.
He said: “Whoever we play we have to be positive in our approach because we have some very good players.
“It’s great we have the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale because they are great footballers.
“The one thing that doesn’t get highlighted is the amount of pressure and weight of the nation on their shoulders always, but they deliver consistently.
“Our approach has to be right with those great players. Going into the play-offs that’s where we can do well and qualify.”
WHICH TEAMS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORLD CUP PLAYOFF DRAW?
The draw will include ten nations who finished as runners up in qualifying, as well as two Nations League group winners who missed out on a spot in their respective group.
Just three sides will make it through the play-offs and play at the 2022 World Cup from the twelve who enter the play-off stage.
SEEDED
Portugal, Italy, Scotland, Russia, Sweden, Wales
UNSEEDED
Austria, North Macedonia, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic
WHO CAN SCOTLAND AND WALES PLAY?
Scotland and Wales can be drawn at home to any of the six unseeded teams in the semi-final, who they will play at home.
In the final, they can be drawn home or away to the winner of any of the other five ties.
The only teams who cannot meet each other in either the semi-final or final are Russia and Ukraine, who asked to be kept apart due to the conflict in Ukraine’s Donbass region.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
