Explainers

MORE and more teams who will participate at the Qatar World Cup are becoming known, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are not yet one of them.The Euro 2016 champions were beaten by a last minute Aleksandar Mitrovic header as they went down 2-1 at home to Serbia.
Cristiano Ronaldo will have to take the play-off route if he is to play in the Qatar World CupCredit: Getty
Italy join Portugal in the World Cup play-offsCredit: Pacemaker
That means they will now have to overcome both a play-off semi-final and final in order to make it to Qatar.
And to make matters worse for Ronaldo and co, they have been joined by current European champions Italy.
The Italians were unable to find a way past Northern Ireland, meaning Switzerland progressed to the World Cup as group winners.
When are the World Cup qualifying play-offs?
The World Cup qualifying play-offs will take place during the next international break, which will be held from March 24 to March 29, 2022.
Twelve teams will enter the play-offs – the ten runners-up from World Cup qualifying plus the best placed Nations League group winners to have not yet qualified.
However, just THREE will advance to the World Cup.
The draw for the play-offs will be held on November 26 and will see the six best placed teams in World Cup qualifying handed home semi-final ties.
That draw will also decide who will play who in the three finals.
Gareth Bale and Wales will feature in the World Cup play-offsCredit: PA
Could Italy play Portugal?
Italy and Portugal will avoid each other in the play-off semi-finals as both finished among the six best group winners, meaning a home semi.
However, there is nothing to stop them playing each other in the final.
Which teams are in the World Cup qualifying play-offs and who is at home?
Here’s how the teams line up so far.
Home semi-finalists

Portugal
Russia
Italy
Scotland

Away semi-finalists

North Macedonia
Austria

TBC

Wales
Czech Republic
Sweden

The play-off entrants from two groups have yet to be decided.
In Group D, Ukraine need to win in Bosnia and hope Finland fail to beat France at home if they are to make the play-offs. France have already qualified for the World Cup.
In Group G, Netherlands, Turkey and Norway could all end up in first, second or third place.

Are there any other World Cup qualifying play-offs?
Yes. The inter-confederation play-offs will take place under the usual two-legged format.
This will see the winner of Oceania qualifying, fourth place in North American qualifying, fifth place in South American qualifying and the best third place in the two Asian qualifying groups drawn into two two-legged ties.
The two winners of their ties will qualify for the World Cup.
In African qualifying the ten group winners will advance to to two-legged continental play-offs.
The five winners of those African ties will then advance to Qatar. More

ENGLAND are taking on a new look San Marino side tonight, quite literally.Gone is the minnows’ trademark blue and white kit and in comes a new orange, white and burgundy look.
Follow all the action from San Marino vs England LIVE
San Marino are wearing this kit against England in World Cup qualifyingCredit: FSGC
And that means Three Lions fans who were baffled by the team’s decision to sport the blue away kit at home to Albania may be even more confused tonight.
Why are San Marino wearing an orange kit against England?
The one-off San Marino kit will be worn against England to celebrate 90 years since the founding of the San Marino FA (FSGC) in 1931.
The colours have been chosen as they are the colours of the country’s flag prior to the year 1797.
In a video posted on Twitter, the FSGC wrote: “Here is the surprise announced: a unique uniform, which the national team will wear exclusively with England.
“Are you wondering why these colours? Well, they were those of the flag of San Marino before coming to the white-blue!”
As per the post, this kit will only be worn in tonight’s game against Gareth Southgate’s side, with San Marino set to revert to blue and white for all future matches.

How can I buy the orange San Marino kit?
There is a section on the FSCG website in which the orange San Marino kit and other merchandise will be put on sale.
But be warned, you will have to be very quick if you want to buy one, as just 90 are set to be put on sale.
This page of the website currently reads: “In this category you will find the new line of products created to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the FSGC, founded in 1931.
The kit was unveiled by San Marino’s government last weekCredit: FSGC
“The line takes up the colours of the first historic flag of San Marino.
“And on the occasion of San Marino-England on November 15th the national team will wear a special jersey of these colours.
“All the products in this category can be found on sale in a limited edition of 90 pieces each.
“No products were found matching your selection.”
As of 3.45pm on Monday afternoon, the were 32 of the orange kits still available to purchase on the San Marino FA website for a price of 110 euros (£93.50) More

IT’S squeaky bum time in World Cup qualifying as teams look to book their places in Qatar.And in some groups, it could come down to the barest of margins.
Jorginho missed a penalty to send Italy to the World Cup and they could now finish level with SwitzerlandCredit: Reuters
Wales and Italy are among the teams who could finish level on points, goal difference and goals scored with their competitors as they look to advance to the World Cup.
What are the World Cup qualifying sorting rules?
The following factors are used to sort teams level on points in World Cup qualifying, in the order listed below:

Goal difference
Goals scored
Head-to-head results
Head-to-head away goals
Fair play points
Drawing of lots

Which teams could finish level on points, goal difference and goals scored?
Group C
Italy and Switzerland could finish level on points, goal difference and goals scored.
This would occur if Switzerland beat Bulgaria at home by a margin of two goals or more greater than any Italian win over Northern Ireland away (ie Northern Ireland 0 Italy 1, Switzerland 3 Bulgaria 0).
Should this happen, Switzerland would advance to the World Cup on away goals between teams, following their 1-1 draw in Italy.
Group D
Finland and Ukraine could finish level in their battle for second if Ukraine win in Bosnia by one goal and Finland draw at home to France (ie Bosnia 0 Ukraine 1, Finland 0 France 0).
Ukraine would then advance to the World Cup play-off on head-to-head, courtesy of their 2-1 win in Helsinki.
Group E
Wales and Czech Republic could finish level in their battle for second if Wales lose to Belgium by the exact same scoreline as any Czech win against Estonia (ie Wales 0 Belgium 1, Czech Republic 1 Estonia 0).
Should this happen, Wales would finish second on head-to-head, courtesy of their 1-0 win at home to Czech Republic and 2-2 draw away.
Both teams are among the best placed Nations League teams so will enter the World Cup play-offs regardless, but the second placed team are set for a home play-off whereas the third placed team will play away. More

THE World Cup is just over a year away with England on the verge of qualifying for the tournament.And fans will be watching the Three Lions game against San Marino tonight with thoughts of booking flights to Qatar for the massive showpiece.
Qatar hosts the World Cup in 2022 which starts in NovemberCredit: PA:Press Association
They could also be joined by home nations Wales and Scotland, but the two nations are guaranteed to have to go through some tricky play-offs, which will be a lottery.
Many nations are now getting their travel plans together after qualifying for Qatar and the fans are doing the same.
When is the next World Cup taking place and where is it being held?
The Fifa World Cup in 2022 is being hosted by Qatar.
The tournament kicks off on November 21, 2022 and the final is on December 18.
Where can I buy World Cup 2022 tickets?
You can get tickets through the Fifa.com website.
But tickets have not yet been made available for general sale with Fifa issuing a notice saying information “will be available in due course”.
Another way to give yourself a better chance of getting tickets for England matches at the World Cup is to join the England Supporters Club.
Needless to say, Fifa has been tight-lipped about how ticketing will work for the tournament across the eight stadia until now.
It is likely that ticket buyers will have to create an online profile that tickets will be associated with to prevent touting.
How much will World Cup tickets cost?
It is likely tickets for Qatar will be the most expensive ever, because each World Cup has been more expensive than the last.
The most affordable tickets for the 2018 World Cup were £80, with the most steep “category one’ tickets” around £840.
Expect those prices to go up when the ticket values are announced.

Will I be able to buy World Cup tickets on resale websites?
During the 2018 World Cup, Fifa filed a complaint against Swiss-based website Viagogo and cancelled any tickets purchased through the site.
While that might sound selfish, ticket touting at major tournaments has been a huge issue for decades and the practice appears to have simply moved online.
It is unlikely that if you buy tickets on resale sites like Viagogo for next year’s tournament that they will be recognised by Fifa. More