World Cup 2022 play-off draw LIVE: Stream FREE, UK start time, TV channel – Scotland, Portugal, Wales & Italy learn fate

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.

ON THE MEND

Portugal legend Tiago Mendes reckons Ukraine could be the surprise package in the World Cup play-off.

Ukraine are one of the 12 nations alongside Portugal who are fighting for a place in this competition.

Both countries will find out who stands in their way in the next round of qualifying today.

But Mendes doesn’t put it past the Ukrainian’s to secure on of the coveted three spots available.

He’s well aware of their capabilities as Portugal couldn’t beat them when they last faced each other.

Mendes said: “We know that in football anything can happen.

“But if I had to pick one I’d say Ukraine because they also have a lot of good players, they are very compact, and we suffered against them and couldn’t beat them in our two most recent games.”

RON HAS TO COME

The World Cup won’t be the same without Cristiano Ronaldo which is why Portugal have to qualify.

That’s the view of German icon Lothar Matthaus who thinks the tournament won’t be as good without Ronaldo, or Germany’s rivals Italy.

Both Portugal and Italy will find out who they will go up against in the World Cup play-off that takes place today.

Matthaus said to Fifa: “A personality like Cristiano Ronaldo just has to be part of the FIFA World Cup. The same applies to Italy.”

“I had a fantastic time at Inter, hence a part of my heart beats for the Azzurri.”

When is World Cup play-off draw?

• The draw for the play-off stage will be held at Fifa HQ in Zurich, Switzerland.
• It will take place on Friday, November 26 – TODAY.
• Things get underway at 4pm UK time, which will be 5pm in Switzerland.
• To follow all the ties as they are drawn, join us here on SunSport where we will be running a live blog.

ZOOM CALLS

The World Cup play-off draw will be held on Zoom due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The draw will be conducted by FIFA Director of Competitions Manolo Zubiria, and presented by Samantha Johnson and Adriano del Monte.

After the draw, the bosses of the 12 nations involved will share their feelings to Johnson and Del Monte.

GOOD AFTERNOON WORLD CUP FANS

The draw for the World Cup European play-off is now just hours away.

Twelve teams consisting of six seeded and unseeded nations will battle it out for the THREE remaining spots left at the Qatar tournament in 2022.

England have already automatically qualified for the first-ever winter edition of the tournament.

However, Wales and Scotland weren’t so lucky and will be on the edge of their seats to find out who they will face in the next stage of the two-round play-off.

There could be some thrills in the draw as Cristiano Ronaldo’s seeded Portugal side may be pitted against Robert Lewandowski’s Poland team, setting up a potential epic duel between the two footballing greats.

You can catch all the latest from the draw right here SunSport’s live blog.