World Cup 2022

ENGLAND will be in pot one for next Friday’s World Cup draw, but could still draw a nightmare group including arch rivals Germany.With the count down to the World Cup well and truly underway, ahead of the draw we take a look at who England could be facing this November.
England boss Gareth Southgate will be eagerly awaiting the draw next Friday.Credit: Reuters
Who could England play at the World Cup?
After qualifying top of there group, England will miss out on facing a number of top sides in the group stages.
Those sides include World Cup winners France, Roberto Martinez’s Belgium and South American big boys Brazil and Argentina.
However England must still anticipate a curveball with Germany in pot two and the prospect of either Italy or Portugal making it through the qualifiers.
Wales could also qualify which could set up a fiery affair in a repeat of Euro 2016 where Daniel Sturridge’s last minute winner broke Welsh hearts.
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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;}WORLD CUP 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;}All the info on draw for Qatar 2022 where England find out who they can face
What seeding will England have at the World Cup?
England have been confirmed as top seeds after FIFA confirmed the criteria for the pots will be the world rankings published the day prior to the draw.
England will be joined by Belgium, France, Brazil, Argentina, Spain and either Italy or Portugal providing one of them qualifies.
If Italy or Portugal were to fail in qualifying then either Denmark or Holland would take their place in pot one.
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When is the World Cup?
The 2022 World Cup group stages will kick off on November 21.
The final of the 2022 World Cup will be played on December 18 – just one week before Christmas.
How can I buy tickets to the World Cup?
Tickets for the Qatar 2022 World Cup go on sale on March 29, 2022, before the World Cup draw on April 1.
This is the second phase of tickets and FIFA has said they will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis.
You can get tickets through the Fifa.com website. More

THE World Cup is eight months away and England have qualified for the big tournament.A 10-0 victory over San Marino means fans can now book their tickets to the Middle East.
Qatar hosts the World Cup in 2022 which starts in NovemberCredit: PA:Press Association
England could also be joined by home nations Wales and Scotland, but the two nations are guaranteed to have to negotiate some tricky play-offs.
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.
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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;}all to play for .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;}World Cup qualifying play-offs fixtures, draw date and schedule
What date are World Cup 2022 tickets going on sale?
Qatar 2022 tickets are on sale on March 29, 2022, before the World Cup draw on April 1.
This is the second phase of ticket sales and offers fans the best chance to see specific teams that they want.
Fifa say the tickets will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Any fan who has applied for tickets for Glastonbury or a big boxing match will know, you have to be sat at your computer screen, ready to pounce.
Where can I buy World Cup 2022 tickets?
You can get tickets through the Fifa.com website.
According to the world football governing body, there are four different types of tickets you can apply for:

Individual match tickets
Team specific tickets
Four-stadium tickets
Accessibility tickets

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.
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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

THE World Cup play-offs are almost here and we now know that one of football’s giants will not make it to Qatar.European champions Italy surprisingly failed to qualify for the tournament as qualifying group winners following a 0-0 draw in Northern Ireland.
And if they triumph at home to North Macedonia, they will meet Euro 2016 winners Portugal, or Turkey, in the play-off final.
Cristiano Ronaldo will need to guide Portugal to the Qatar World Cup via the play-offsCredit: AFP
European champions Italy will also have to brave the play-offs.Credit: AFP
Meanwhile Scotland will have to go the play-off route if they are to qualify for the World Cup.
But their tie against Ukraine has been POSTPONED due to the Russian invasion of the Eastern European country.
FIFA have granted Ukraine’s request to push their previous scheduled date of March 24 further back to June.
This has resulted in the play-off final against either Austria or Wales being delayed too.
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 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 secure a first World Cup qualifying spot since 1958Credit: AFP
World Cup play-off fixtures
The draw for the play-offs has now been made.
In each path, the winners of each semi-final will take on the other winners for a place in the World Cup.
As such, we could be looking at Scotland vs Wales and Italy vs Portugal for a place in the finals.
Path A
Thursday, March 24

*Ukraine have asked for their play-off in Scotland to be moved to June
Tuesday, March 29
Final – Wales/Austria vs Scotland/Ukraine – DELAYED
Path B
Thursday, March 24

Tuesday, March 29
Final – Poland** vs Sweden/Czech Republic
**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/Turkey vs Italy/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.
Former Scotland international Mark McGhee agrees with FIFA’s decision to postpone the play-off semi-final.
The 64-year-old said: “I think it is the right decision, we have got to respect what is going on over there and how it affects their players.
“Ukraine deserve equal opportunity, maybe even more so in the circumstances and at the moment, it would be such a big ask for their players to come and play a game at that level.
“So I don’t think there is anything lost by it. Scotland fans obviously want to know what is happening but I think it is the right thing to do and I don’t think anyone at the Scottish FA will have a problem with that.”
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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.
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:

Asia play-off winner vs South America fifth place
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 vs Morocco (3pm) – Friday, March 25
Morocco vs DR Congo (6.30pm) – Tuesday, March 29

Mali vs Tunisia (4pm) – Friday, March 25
Tunisia vs Mali (7.30pm) – Tuesday, March 29

Cameroon vs Algeria (5pm) – Friday, March 25
Algeria vs Cameroon (7.30pm) – Tuesday, March 29

Egypt vs Senegal (8.30pm) – Friday, March 25
Senegal vs Egypt (4pm) – Tuesday, March 29

Ghana vs Nigeria (6.30pm) – Friday, March 25
Nigeria vs Ghana (5pm) – Tuesday, March 29 More