UEFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers: What to know about Italy, Portugal and how Europe will finish Qatar qualifying

The spring international break is upon us and that means that the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are here with all eyes on the UEFA teams given that Italy or Portugal will definitely miss out on the event in Qatar later this year after drawing each other in the same Path C.

Although this qualification phase will not be complete until Scotland’s clash with Ukraine is resolved, a match postponed due to Russia’s recent invasion, Paths B and C will be decided this month as Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic, and North Macedonia join the Italians and Portuguese in competing to qualify.

We explain the impact of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, why one of Italy or Portugal will not make it and why important players will be missing for certain games.

Situation

Russia’s war on Ukraine has impacted both Paths A and B with Poland receiving a bye to their Path B final, Russia suspended and the clash between Scotland and Ukraine postponed by FIFA with the blessing of the Scottish FA. Wales and Austria will go ahead this month due to potential fixture congestion with UEFA Nations League games also scheduled for this year’s summer international period.

UEFA World Cup qualifying draw

Ten teams from Europe have already qualified for the World Cup. Twelve more teams are competing for the remaining three slots. Those teams consist of the ten group stage runners-up as well as Austria and the Czech Republic who qualified based on their Nations League ranking. The 12 teams were then split into three groups of four on paths A, B and C which will each crown a qualifier after a semifinal and a final. 

Path A: Wales, Austria, Scotland, and Ukraine.

Wales and Austria play their semifinal this month, but the winner will have to wait to discover whether Scotland or Ukraine join them as finalists.

Routes: Wales and Austria meet in Cardiff this month to decide who will face Scotland or Ukraine in Cardiff or Vienna this June.

Path B: Sweden, Czech Republic, and Poland.

Russia was originally drawn to face Poland, but all three opposing soccer federations refused to face the Russian team after the invasion of Ukraine and the Court of Arbitration for Sport has since upheld both FIFA and UEFA suspensions of Russian teams from competition.

Routes: Poland go directly into the final in Chorzow while Sweden and Czech Republic clash in Solna to work out who will join the Poles.

Path C: Italy, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Turkey.

Despite their status as reigning European champions, there is no bye for the Italians into the World Cup, and they run the risk of missing out despite last summer’s success.

Routes: Italy must get past North Macedonia in Palermo before facing one of Portugal or Turkey in Porto or Konya with that heavyweight semifinal also taking place in Porto.

Rules for UEFA World Cup qualifying

These are single-leg semifinals and finals, and the Paths A, B and C winners will each qualify for the World Cup later this year. In the event of level scores after 90 minutes, there will be 30 minutes of extra time which will enable sixth substitutions. Should no team score in the additional 30-minute period, penalties will determine the winners. VAR has also been approved for use in these qualifiers.

Player suspensions

Suspensions for accumulated yellow cards have carried over into these games with Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Portuguese pair Joao Cancelo and Renato Sanches among those unavailable for their respective nations’ opening fixtures.