Either Italy or Portugal will not appear in the 2022 World Cup. This is after the draw for the European zone playoffs. Whoops!
Italy as European champions only finished second in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers two weeks ago, after losing out to Switzerland. Portugal was the same after losing to Serbia on the last matchday, which made them runners-up.
Therefore, Italy and Portugal must pass the playoffs first to win tickets to Qatar next year. Looking at the drawing scheme, the public is worried that Italy and Portugal will “kill each other” in the playoffs.
Because there will be two seeded teams and two non-seeded teams in each playoff path which is divided into three. That concern then occurred after the draw at FIFA headquarters, Friday (11/26/2021) night WIB.
Italy and Portugal are on track C along with Turkey and North Macedonia. Italy will meet North Macedonia, while Portugal host Turkey. If Portugal and Italy beat their opponents, then both will fight for the World Cup ticket in the playoff final.
It would be surprising if next year’s World Cup was not attended by one of the last two European champions. Then, what about the other two paths?
In Line A, Scotland meets Ukraine and Wales meets Austria. The two members of Great Britain could compete against each other in the final. In Line B, there are Russia against Poland and Sweden against the Czech Republic.
All European zone playoff semi-finals are played on 24 March and the final on 29 March. Meanwhile, the other two playoffs, which pitted Asian representatives against South American representatives and North, Central, and Caribbean representatives against Oceania representatives, were held in one leg on June 13-14 in Qatar.
2022 World Cup Playoff Schedule
JALUR A
Semifinal
Scotland vs Ukraine
Wales vs Austria
Final
Winner Wales vs Austria to host
JALUR B
Semifinal
Russia vs Poland
Sweden vs Czech Republic
Final
Winners Russia vs Poland to host
JALUR C
Semifinal
Italy vs North Macedonia
Portugal vs Turkey
Final
Portugal vs Turkey winner to host
(mrp/bay)
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