Explainers

WALES await the winners of Scotland and Ukraine in the play-off final after a thrilling win over Austria in Cardiff.The Dragons slayed the Austrians with a 2-1 victory courtesy of a stunning a delightful double from Gareth Bale.
Captain Gareth Bale’s double against Austria fired Wales to the play-off finalCredit: Reuters
Which has kept their dreams of playing in their first World Cup since 1958 alive.
However, the postponement of Ukraine’s fixture against Scotland – the other play-off semi-final, will mean that the Welsh are going to have to wait a little longer for one of the biggest games in the country’s history.
When could Scotland vs Ukraine happen?
FIFA have confirmed that they will try and find a date for the semi-final fixture between Scotland and Ukraine at some point in June.
But it may be proven difficult as both sides have four UEFA Nations League encounters to participate in that month.
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Cup.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}TOP DRAW .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}England’s World Cup draw details revealed including group of death and dream route
Also, it is dependant on the current situation of Ukraine at the time who required for the fixture to be postponed due Russia’s invasion of the country.
So there has been no clear date set for when the play-off semi-final will take place.
When could the play-off final be?
FIFA are determined to get the last UEFA World Cup qualifying spot wrapped up by the end of June.
The plan is for the semi-final and the final to both be pencilled in for the same month to speed up the process.
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Which could mean a very busy schedule for Wales who have UEFA Nations League fixtures to work around.
And for either Scotland or Ukraine who are exactly in the same boat.
What has been said?
Scotland boss Steve Clarke isn’t confident of his side’s game against Ukraine going ahead in June.
Clarke said: “If you’re asking me now will the game go ahead in June then it’s going to be difficult.
“I would imagine everyone is waiting until this round of matches is out of the way and then see how the situation develops.
“But obviously it’s not looking great at this moment. It’s a situation we can’t control
“Maybe in April, we can all sit down together, look at the schedule and how it’s going to pan out for us.” More

ENGLAND secured their World Cup qualifying spot back in November but they finally get to find out their group stage fate TOMORROW.The Three Lions comfortably topped Group I – going on an unbeaten 10-game run where they accumulated 26 points.
England annihilated San Marino 10-0 in their final World Cup qualifying matchCredit: Getty
And whilst a number of nations were battling it out for a plane ticket to Qatar within the last two weeks, Gareth Southgate’s men were securing international friendly victories against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.
But the countdown to the 2022 World Cup officially starts with the draw on Friday and here are the possible scenarios England could be facing.
What are the pots for the World Cup?
The pots are determined by current FIFA rankings.

Pot 1: Qatar, Brazil, Belgium, France, Portugal, England, Argentina, Spain.
Pot 2: Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Mexico, USA, Uruguay, Croatia.
Pot 3: Japan, Serbia, Iran, Morocco, South Korea, Senegal, Poland, Canada.
Pot 4: Ecuador, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Peru, Wales, Costa Rica.

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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The 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Which teams can be in England’s group?
England will avoid a lot of the big boys early on in the competition because FIFA state that teams in the same pot cannot be put into the same group.
However, with old foes Germany sitting in 12th spot on the FIFA leaderboards at the moment, they have gone into Pot 2 which could potentially see the Three Lions and the Germans paired in the same group.
Another potentially difficult group candidate are the Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal who beat Egypt over two legs to book their spot in footballs biggest competition.
And the tricky customers from Pot 4 could be Ghana who scraped a win over bitter rivals Nigeria in their qualifying match, along with England’s fellow British companions Wales.
But the Three Lions can only have wales in their group if they do not get any of the European sides in Pot 2 or Pot 3 because FIFA are wanting to separate teams geographically too.
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What is England’s best and worst case scenarios?
England will fancy themselves to get far in this edition of the World Cup based on their wide range of talented stars.
And the Three Lions have avoided teams such as Brazil, Portugal and the current holders France in the group stages.
But Gareth Southgate will still be hoping that his side can be put in the easiest group on paper possible.
Best case scenario: USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia
Worst case scenario: Germany, Senegal, Wales More

BRACE yourselves as we countdown to the beginning of the Qatar 2022 World Cup in November.This will be the first time in the tournament’s history that it will be contested for during the winter months.
The World Cup has never before been played in the wintery months of the calendar year
And it is set to be a condensed schedule with FOUR matches played on the opening match-day of the showpiece event.
However, fans of the competition will not have to miss a single minute of the action with all the details of the encounters detailed below.
What are the most important dates for the World Cup?

The group stages will open its curtains on November 21.
Round of 16 will be on December 3 – December 6.
Quarter-final stages begin on December 9 – December 10.
Semi-finals are taking place on December 13 – December 14.
The World Cup final will be participated on December 18.

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What are the kick-off times for the World Cup?
The Qatar time zone is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time which means that games will be played earlier in the UK than locally.
FIFA have stated that the first two rounds of games will kick-off at 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10pm local time – 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm UK time.
However, the kick-off timings in the final round of group fixtures and knock-out ties will be at 6pm and 10pm local time – 3pm and 7pm UK time.
Leaving the final to be scheduled at 6pm local time – 3pm UK time.
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THE World Cup play-offs are in full swing as we find out who will be in Qatar.European Champions Italy will NOT be there after being stunned at home to North Macedonia.
Cristiano Ronaldo has guided Portugal to the Qatar World Cup via the play-offsCredit: AFP
European champions Italy are outCredit: AFP
But Portugal are safely through to the World Cup after beating the North Macedonians.
Wales are also one game away from Qatar, but they don’t yet know when their final will be.
When are the World Cup qualifying play-offs?
The World Cup qualifying play-offs are taking place between March 24 and March 29, 2022.
Twelve teams will entered the play-offs – the ten runners-up from World Cup qualifying plus the best placed Nations League group winners to have not yet qualified automatically
However, just THREE will advance to the World Cup.
The draw for the play-offs was held on November 26 and saw the six best placed teams in World Cup qualifying handed home semi-final ties
Garath Bale helped Wales to the verge of a first World Cup spot since 1958Credit: AFP
World Cup play-off fixtures
Path A
Thursday, March 24

Tuesday, March 29
Final – Wales vs Scotland/Ukraine – DELAYED
Path B
Thursday, March 24

Tuesday, March 29
Final – Poland** 2-0 Sweden (7.45pm)
**Russia have been suspended by Fifa and will be eliminated from the World Cup subject to an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Path C
Thursday, March 24

Tuesday, March 29

Final – Portugal 2-0 North Macedonia

What happens next with the postponement of Scotland vs Ukraine?
Discussions are currently being held to sort out a new date which everyone involved can agree on.
The most likely time is expected to be within the window of the UEFA Nations League which takes place in June 2022.
But Steve Clarke has floated the possibility that the match may not take place until September, given the progression of the conflict in Ukraine.
He said: “Is that [a further delay] looking more and more likely given the situation on the ground?
“If you’re honest about the situation, then, yes.
“It’s difficult to see how we’ll be playing them in June. It’s not just about the fixture.
“It’s the fact they need to get together, have a training camp and get players on the pitch with a proper period to prepare for such an important game.
“Andriy Shevchenko, who I know from my time at Chelsea, spoke well about the situation and said they’d want to play.
“But the way the situation is, I think they should get as much time as possible to try to make our game happen.
“It’s a horrible situation and the quicker we know we’re going to play Ukraine at Hampden the better, because it’ll mean the war has stopped and we’re all trying to move forward.”
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Are there any other World Cup qualifying play-offs?
Yes. Asia has a World Cup play-off between the third placed teams in each of their two qualifying groups.
This year’s play-off will see Australia take on the United Arab Emirates.
The winner qualifies for the inter-confederation play-offs.
Australia have been confirmed as one of the teams who will take place in the fixture, which will be held at a neutral venue that has yet to be decided.
The inter-confederation play-offs will be held over a single leg in Qatar.
The ties will take place in June and will be as follows:

Australia or United Arab Emirates vs Peru
North America fourth place vs Oceania winner

Africa has also introduced its own World Cup play-offs which sees the ten group winners face off in two-legged ties.
Away goals will count double for these games.
Africa World Cup play-off fixtures

DR Congo 1-1 Morocco
Morocco 4-1 DR Congo

Mali 0-1 Tunisia
Tunisia 0-0 Mali

Cameroon 0-1 Algeria
Algeria 1-2 (aet) Cameroon (a)

Egypt 1-0 Senegal
Senegal 1-0 Egypt (3-1 pens)

Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
Nigeria 1-1 Ghana (a) More