The World Cup play-off draw to finalize the European Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 preliminary competition will be held in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday 26 November 2021 at 9:30 pm IST.
The final 3 teams who don't qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 after the end of the preliminary group stage get through a 12-team World Cup play-off draw.
What are the teams for the upcoming draw?
Pot 1: Italy, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Wales
Pot 2: Austria, Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine
The ten runners-up from the group stage of European qualifying are joined by two additional teams; selected based on the overall UEFA Nations League 2020-21 rankings: Austria and the Czech Republic. Specifically, these spots went to the two best-ranked UEFA Nations League group winners that neither qualified directly for the final tournament; as European qualifying group winners nor already entered the playoffs as European qualifying group runners-up.
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How does the draw work?
The six best-ranked runners-up from the group stage of European qualifying are allocated to Pot 1 and will play their play-off semi-final at home. The remaining six teams will be allocated to Pot 2.
To determine the six best runners-up allocated to Pot 1, firstly the results of the group runners-up against the teams in sixth place (for groups with six teams) were discarded; then the following criteria were applied in the order given:
a. higher number of points
b. superior goal difference
c. higher number of goals scored
d. The higher number of away goals scored
e. higher number of wins
f. higher number of away wins
g. lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials (red card = three points, yellow card = one point, sending-off for two yellow cards in one match = three points)
h. access list for the UEFA Nations League 2020/21 (see Annex C of the 20/21 regulations)
The draw will start by allocating the six best-ranked teams, i.e. the teams from Pot 1, to semi-finals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively as a home team.
Pot Allocation
The first team drawn will occupy the home position in semi-final 1, the second team drawn in semi-final 2, and so on until the pot is emptied.
The draw will then proceed to allocate teams from Pot 2 to semi-final pairings one by one. The first team drawn from Pot 2 will occupy the away position in semi-final 1; the second team drawn in semi-final 2, and so on until all semi-final pairings are determined.
Semi-finals 1 and 2 belong to the Play-off path A, semi-finals 3 and 4 form path B and semi-finals 5 and 6 constitute path C. To determine which semi-final winner will play at home in the final; an additional draw will be held for each path.
However, The "prohibited team clash" rule means that certain nations. Like for example, Ukraine and Russia, cannot be drawn together due to several reasons.
When do the play-offs take place?
Play-off semi-finals: Thursday 24 March 2022
Play-off finals: Tuesday 29 March 2022
UEFA will confirm the kick-off times after the draw.