The first qualification phase for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is nearing its conclusion with the number of nations booking their spots at the finals increasing during the international break.
The tournament, scheduled to take place between Monday 21 November and Sunday 18 December next year, will be the last to feature 32 teams with that number being expanded to 48 for the 2026 World Cup which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Uefa will be the most represented confederation at the World Cup with 13 spots allocated for European nations. The 10 group winners will qualify automatically, with the final three places decided by a play-off round featuring the 10 runners-up and the two best-ranked group winners from the Nations League who finished third or below.
There are four guaranteed places for teams from CONMEBOL (South America) and three for CONCACAF (North America) with a team from both confederations featuring in a play-off to determine the final spot. CAF (Africa) will have five teams and there are four guaranteed places from AFC (Asia), with another inter-continental play-off to determine whether a fifth AFC team or a team from Oceania qualifies.
Which teams have qualified so far?
- Qatar (hosts)
- Germany
- Denmark
- Brazil
- Belgium
- France
- Croatia
England will secure their place at the finals by avoiding a defeat against San Marino, the lowest-ranked team in world football in their final qualifier. Gareth Southgate’s squad are among the favourites to win the competition after reaching the semi-final in Russia in 2018 and coming runners-up at Euro 2020 in the summer.
Scotland guaranteed a play-off spot with a game to spare after beating Moldova 2-0 in their penultimate match. The Scots ended their 23-year exile from a major tournament by featuring in Euro 2020 and will be hoping to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since France ’98.
Wales are also assured of a play-off spot with one game remaining, even if they slip to third position in their Group. Rob Pages’ side are second in the standings and face group winners Belgium in their final game with the Czech Republic three points behind them in third. However, Wales finished top of their Nations League group ensuring they will be involved in the play-offs next March.
Neither Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland will qualify, however, after finishing outside the top two in their respective groups.
Qatar will be making its debut in the competition after qualifying automatically as the host nation. As has been traditional since the 2006 World Cup in Germany, they will kick the tournament off as hosts in the first game.
The Gulf nation is currently the fifth-highest ranked team in the Asian Football Confederation and is ranked 46th in the world according to Fifa. Qatar have hardly set the world alight in the run-up to the tournament, though, losing six of their last seven games including 4-0 losses to Serbia and the Republic of Ireland.
Who will win the 2022 World Cup?
- Brazil – 11-2
- France – 6-1
- England – 7-1
- Spain – 8-1
- Italy – 10-1
- Germany – 10-1
- Argentina – 10-1
- Belgium – 11-1
- Portugal – 12-1
Odds via Sky Bet and correct as of November 14
Germany (World Cup winners in 2014) and Denmark were the next nations to qualify, doing so during the October international break. Five-time champions Brazil became the first South American side to qualify after a 1-0 win over Colombia in November and the reigning holders France will also be there after topping their group.
The full 32-team lineup for the World Cup will be complete by the end of March.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3qCCehC
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