2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Second Round

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The UEFA Second Round of the qualification tournament for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, also known as the UEFA play-offs, is contested by twelve teams from the UEFA segment of qualifying. The play-offs will determine the final three European teams that will join the group winners at the World Cup in Qatar. The ten runners-up from the UEFA First Round groups participate in the play-offs, along with two group winners from the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. The teams were divided into three paths, each containing four teams, with each play-off path featuring two single-leg semi-finals, and one single-leg final. The nine matches will take place in March 2022.

Format[]

The qualification format was confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee during their meeting in Nyon, Switzerland on 4 December 2019.[1] The play-offs will depend, in part, on results from the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League, although to a lesser degree than play-offs of the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament.[2]

Unlike previous editions, the play-offs will not be contested in two-legged ties. Instead, the twelve teams were split into three play-off paths, each containing four teams. Each play-off path will feature two single-leg semi-finals on 24 March, and one single-leg final on 29 March 2022. The winner of the final in each play-off path will then qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[2] The semi-finals will be hosted by the six best-ranked runners-up of the qualifying group stage, while the host of the final was determined by a draw.[3]

The play-offs will be played in single-leg knockout matches. If scores are level at the end of normal time, 30 minutes of extra time is played, where each team is allowed to make a sixth substitution. If the scores remain tied, a penalty shoot-out is used to determine the winner.[4] Following approval from the UEFA Executive Committee in December 2019, the use of the video assistant referee system was approved for the entire World Cup qualification tournament.[2]

Qualified teams[]

Twelve teams advanced to the play-offs. Unlike previous editions, all participants were not decided solely on the results of the first round. Two of the twelve spots were allocated to group winners of the 2020–21 edition of the UEFA Nations League.[2]

Second-placed teams (all ten advance)[]

The ten runners-up from the UEFA First Round advanced to the play-offs. Based on the results from the qualifying group stage, the six best-ranked teams were seeded, while the bottom four were unseeded in the semi-final draw.[3]

Seed Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Seeding
1 A  Portugal 8 5 2 1 17 6 +11 17 Seeded in semi-final draw
2 F  Scotland 8 5 2 1 14 7 +7 17
3 C  Italy 8 4 4 0 13 2 +11 16
4 H  Russia 8 5 1 2 14 5 +9 16
5 B  Sweden 8 5 0 3 12 6 +6 15
6 E  Wales 8 4 3 1 14 9 +5 15
7 G  Turkey 8 4 3 1 18 16 +2 15 Unseeded in semi-final draw
8 I  Poland 8 4 2 2 18 10 +8 14
9 J  North Macedonia 8 3 3 2 14 11 +3 12
10 D  Ukraine 8 2 6 0 11 8 +3 12
Source: FIFA, UEFA
Rules for classification: Counting only matches against teams ranked first to fifth in the group, 1. Points; 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Away goals scored; 5. Wins; 6. Away wins; 7. Lower disciplinary points total; 8. Position in 2020–21 UEFA Nations League access list.[3]

Nations League group winners (best two advance)[]

Based on the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League overall ranking,[5] the best two Nations League group winners that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group advanced to the play-offs and were unseeded in the semi-final draw.[2][3]

UNL Rank UNL group winner Qualifying
group
A 1  France & D
2  Spain & B
3  Italy dagger C
4  Belgium & E
B 17  Wales dagger E
18  Austria double-dagger F
19  Czech Republic double-dagger E
20  Hungary I
C 33  Slovenia H
34  Montenegro G
35  Albania I
36  Armenia J
D 49  Gibraltar G
50  Faroe Islands F

Key

  •  &  Team qualified directly for World Cup as qualifying group winner
  •  dagger  Team advanced to the play-offs as qualifying group runner-up
  •  double-dagger  Team (in bold) advanced to the play-offs as one of the best two Nations League group winners outside top two of their qualifying group

Draw[]

Following the completion of the UEFA First Round, the twelve teams that advanced to the play-offs were drawn into three paths of four teams on 26 November 2021, 17:00 CET, in Zürich, Switzerland.[6][7][2][8] The following procedure was applied in the draw:[3]

  • The six seeded teams were allocated to semi-finals 1 to 6 as the host team in the order drawn.
  • The six unseeded teams were allocated to semi-finals 1 to 6 as the away team in the order drawn.
  • Play-off Path A was formed by semi-finals 1 and 2, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final A.
  • Play-off Path B was formed by semi-finals 3 and 4, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final B.
  • Play-off Path C was formed by semi-finals 5 and 6, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final C.
  • The semi-final winners that host play-off finals A, B and C were decided by a draw.

For political reasons, matches between Russia and Ukraine were considered prohibited clashes, unable to be drawn into the same play-off path.[9] Armenia / Azerbaijan, Gibraltar / Spain, Kosovo / Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo / Serbia and Kosovo / Russia were also identified as prohibited clashes, but one or both of the teams did not advance to the play-offs.

The six runners-up with the best group stage performance were seeded in the semi-final draw, while the remaining four runners-up and two teams advancing via the Nations League were unseeded. The seedings were as follows:

Pot 1 (seeded)
Team Rank
 Portugal 1
 Scotland 2
 Italy 3
 Russia 4
 Sweden 5
 Wales 6
Pot 2 (unseeded)
Team Rank
 Turkey 7
 Poland 8
 North Macedonia 9
 Ukraine 10
 Austria NL–18
 Czech Republic NL–19

Schedule[]

The semi-finals will take place on 24 March, and the final matches on 29 March 2022.[10][11] The kick-off times were confirmed on 26 November 2021 following the draw.[12][13] As part of UEFA's scheduling, the losing semi-finalists of each path will play a friendly match against each other on the day of the play-off finals.[14]

Times are CET/CEST,[note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Path A[]

Bracket[]

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
24 March 2022 – Cardiff
 
 
 Wales
 
29 March 2022 – Cardiff or Vienna
 
 Austria
 
Wales or Austria
 
24 March 2022 – Glasgow
 
Scotland or Ukraine
 
 Scotland
 
 
 Ukraine
 

Summary[]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Semi-finals
Scotland  24 Mar (SF1)  Ukraine
Wales  24 Mar (SF2)  Austria
Final
Wales or Austria 29 Mar Scotland or Ukraine

Semi-finals[]

Scotland Semi-final 1 Ukraine
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Wales Semi-final 2 Austria
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Final[]

Path B[]

Bracket[]

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
24 March 2022 – Moscow
 
 
 Russia
 
29 March 2022 – Moscow or Chorzów
 
 Poland
 
Russia or Poland
 
24 March 2022 – Solna
 
Sweden or Czech Republic
 
 Sweden
 
 
 Czech Republic
 

Summary[]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Semi-finals
Russia  24 Mar (SF3)  Poland
Sweden  24 Mar (SF4)  Czech Republic
Final
Russia or Poland 29 Mar Sweden or Czech Republic

Semi-finals[]

Russia Semi-final 3 Poland
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Sweden Semi-final 4 Czech Republic
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Final[]

Path C[]

Bracket[]

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
24 March 2022 – Porto
 
 
 Portugal
 
29 March 2022 – Porto or Konya
 
 Turkey
 
Portugal or Turkey
 
24 March 2022 – Palermo
 
Italy or North Macedonia
 
 Italy
 
 
 North Macedonia
 

Summary[]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Semi-finals
Italy  24 Mar (SF5)  North Macedonia
Portugal  24 Mar (SF6)  Turkey
Final
Portugal or Turkey 29 Mar Italy or North Macedonia

Semi-finals[]

Italy Semi-final 5 North Macedonia
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Portugal Semi-final 6 Turkey
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Final[]

Discipline[]

A player is automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:[4]

  • Receiving a red card (red card suspensions may be extended for serious offences)
  • Receiving two yellow cards in two different qualifying group stage matches (yellow card suspensions are carried forward to the play-off semi-finals, but not the play-off finals, World Cup final tournament or any other future international matches)

On 17 January 2022, following a UEFA request, FIFA announced the expiration of yellow cards received during the qualifying group stage, thus preventing yellow card suspensions for the play-off finals. However, yellow card suspensions accumulated at the end of the qualifying group stage are still carried forward to the play-off semi-finals.[21]

The following suspensions will be served during the second round qualifying matches:

Team Player Offence(s) Suspended for match(es)
 North Macedonia Elif Elmas Yellow card vs Germany (31 March 2021)
Yellow card vs Iceland (14 November 2021)		 vs Italy (24 March 2022)
Tihomir Kostadinov Yellow card vs Armenia (11 November 2021)
Yellow card vs Iceland (14 November 2021)
 Poland Mateusz Klich Yellow card vs Andorra (12 November 2021)
Yellow card vs Hungary (15 November 2021)		 vs Russia (24 March 2022)
 Portugal João Cancelo Yellow card vs Luxembourg (12 October 2021)
Yellow card vs Serbia (14 November 2021)		 vs Turkey (24 March 2022)
Renato Sanches Yellow card vs Luxembourg (30 March 2021)
Yellow card vs Serbia (14 November 2021)
 Russia Aleksandr Golovin Yellow card vs Slovenia (27 March 2021)
Yellow card vs Croatia (14 November 2021)		 vs Poland (24 March 2022)
Fyodor Smolov Yellow card vs Cyprus (4 September 2021)
Yellow card vs Croatia (14 November 2021)
 Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović Yellow card vs Georgia (25 March 2021)
Yellow card vs Spain (14 November 2021)		 vs Czech Republic (24 March 2022)
Emil Krafth Yellow card vs Spain (2 September 2021)
Yellow card vs Spain (14 November 2021)
 Wales Joe Morrell Yellow card vs Estonia (8 September 2021)
Yellow card vs Belgium (16 November 2021)		 vs Austria (24 March 2022)

Notes[]

  1. ^ CET (UTC+1) for the semi-finals (24 March), and CEST (UTC+2) for the finals (29 March).

References[]

  1. ^ "UEFA Executive Committee agenda for Nyon meeting". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Game changer: group stage for UEFA Women's Champions League". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Regulatory articles for the 2020–2022 European qualifiers play-offs" (PDF). FIFA. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Regulations FIFA World Cup 2022 Preliminary Competition: Including COVID-19 Regulations" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Overall ranking of the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League" (PDF). UEFA. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  6. ^ "2022 World Cup play-off draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  7. ^ "FIFA World Cup European play-off draw to take place on 26 November". FIFA. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  8. ^ "UEFA preliminary competition format for the FIFA World Cup 2022" (PDF). FIFA. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  9. ^ "European Play-Off Tournament for the FIFA World Cup 2022" (PDF). FIFA. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Regulations of the UEFA Nations League, 2020/21" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 13 October 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  11. ^ "2022 World Cup qualifying: all you need to know". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  12. ^ "2022 World Cup play-off draw: Scotland vs Ukraine, Wales vs Austria, Portugal vs Turkey". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  13. ^ "European Qualifiers 2020–22 – Play-offs" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  14. ^ "UEFA confirm friendly fixture for unsuccessful World Cup play-off semi-finalists". Scottish Football Association. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Cymru to meet Austria in FIFA World Cup Play-Off Semi-Final". Football Association of Wales. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Nationalteam kennt WM-Play-off-Gegner!" [National team knows World Cup play-off opponents!]. Austrian Football Association (in German). 26 November 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Сборная России проведет мартовские матчи на "Динамо"" [Russia national team will play March matches at Dynamo]. Russian Football Union (in Russian). 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Areny najbliższych domowych meczów reprezentacji Polski" [The stadiums of the upcoming home matches of the Polish national team]. Polish Football Association (in Polish). 19 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Portugal–Turquia no Estádio do Dragão" [Portugal–Turkey at Estádio do Dragão]. Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese). 15 December 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Portekiz–Türkiye karşılaşması Porto'da oynanacak" [Portugal–Turkey match will be played in Porto]. Turkish Football Federation (in Turkish). 15 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Yellow card amnesty agreed for World Cup playoffs in Europe". Associated Press. Zürich. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.

External links[]

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