Which teams have qualified for the World Cup in 2022? Fixtures in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and North America
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ByEurosport
Updated 30/03/2022 at 19:23 GMT
The World Cup qualification process continues with teams across the globe observing and working out how they will make it to Qatar in 2022. Despite some teams looking set for a trip to the finals, others are looking fearfully over their shoulders. Here is a breakdown of the state of play in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 27: Canada celebrates after the final whistle following a 2022 World Cup Qualifying match against Jamaica at BMO Field on March 27, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
As we edge ever closer to the 2022 World Cup, more and more teams are closing in on qualification for the tournament in Qatar.
Several teams still find themselves with work to do however, and between now and the end of qualifying, there will be a number of twists and turns on the road to the Middle East.
Here's the state of play around the world as teams eye up a place in the finals.
Who are the teams who have qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
Qatar (hosts), Germany, Denmark, Brazil, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, Switzerland, Netherlands, Argentina, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Canada, Ghana, Senegal, Portugal, Poland, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon.
Europe - UEFA
The group stage concluded in November 2021 with Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Croatia, England and Germany advancing to the finals having topped their tables.
The second-placed teams to advance to the play-off round were Portugal, Scotland, Italy, Russia Sweden, Wales, Turkey, Poland, North Macedonia and Ukraine, with Czech Republic and Austria joining by virtue of their performance in the UEFA Nations League as the best group winners from that competition to finish outside the top two of their World Cup qualifying group.
The 12 teams were drawn into six semi-finals ahead of three finals, where the winners would be going to Qatar.
However, due to the ongoing political situation between Russia and Ukraine, the former have been disqualified from competing while the latter has seen their fixtures postponed until a later date.
Semi-finals (March 24)
Path A
- Wales 2-1 Austria
- Scotland v Ukraine*
Path B
- Russia v Poland**
- Sweden 1-0 Czech Republic
Path C
- Portugal 3-1 Turkey
- Italy 0-1 North Macedonia
Finals (March 29)
- Wales v Scotland/Ukraine***
- Poland 2-0 Sweden
- Portugal 2-0 North Macedonia
*Postponed until June due to ongoing political situation in Ukraine
**Russia disqualified over ongoing political situation in Ukraine, Poland receive bye
***Postponed until June due to ongoing political situation in Ukraine
Africa - CAF
The second round group stage of qualifying is complete. The winners of the ten four-team groups have now progressed into the final round of playoffs - resulting in five teams making it to Qatar.
The full results from the play-offs are below:
March 26 - Third round first legs
- Mali 0-1 Tunisia
- DR Congo 1-1 Morocco
- Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
- Cameroon 0-1 Algeria
- Egypt 1-0 Senegal
March 29 - Third round second legs
- Tunisia 0-0 Mali (1-0 on agg)
- Morocco 4-1 DR Congo (5-2 on agg)
- Nigeria 1-1 Ghana (1-1 on agg, Ghana progress on away goals)
- Algeria 1-2 Cameroon AET (2-2 on agg, Cameroon progress on away goals)
- Senegal 1-0 Egypt (1-1 on agg, Senegal win 3-1 on pens)
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Nigerian attacker Victor Osimhen (R) celebrate a goal with his teammates during the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between Nigeria and Lesotho at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos
Image credit: Getty Images
Asia - AFC
The Asian qualifying campaign is its third round. From the 46 who originally began the process, the teams have been whittled down to two groups of six.
The top two teams from each group advance to the finals to join Qatar who qualify automatically as hosts and the two third place teams then face off in a play-off of which the winner then faces the inter-confederation play-off against a team from CONCACAF, CONMEBOL or OFC.
After nine matches played, Iran and South Korea and are the runaway leaders in Group A on 25 and 23 points respectively, and have both booked their places in Qatar. UAE have secured third.
With a 2-0 victory over Australia on Thursday Japan secured their place in the finals from Group B and that meant that Saudi Arabia are also through. It is the same four automatic qualifiers that the AFC sent to the 2018 World Cup. Australia have taken third.
UAE and Australia will meet in a play-off on June 7, with the winners set to face Peru in an inter-confederation play-off for a spot in Qatar.
South America - CONMEBOL
Ten teams face off in a single group with the top four teams advancing to the finals and fifth place entering the inter-confederation playoff against a team from CONCACAF, AFC or OFC.
Brazil’s 45 points at the top of the table means they continue their perfect record of qualifying for every finals since the first tournament in 1930.
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Raphinha of Brazil celebrates with teammates after scoring the third goal of his team during a match between Brazil and Uruguay as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Arena Amazonia
Image credit: Getty Images
Arch rivals Argentina will also join them in Qatar having secured second place.
Ecuador and Uruguay are both through automatically as well after the latter beat Peru 1-0 which ensured that the Peruvians cannot catch the two teams ahead of them. This is despite Ecuador's 3-1 loss away in Paraguay.
Peru take the inter-continental playoff spot in fifth with 24 points.
North America - CONCACAF
The third round group consists of eight teams, with the top three qualifying for the World Cup and the fourth place team going into the inter-confederation playoff against a team from AFC, CONMEBOL or OFC.
Canada booked their place in Qatar and confirmed top spot courtesy of an emphatic 4-0 win over Jamaica. USA and Mexico are in second and third places respectively while Costa Rica currently occupy the fourth-place play-off spot.
It is now a three-way battle for the final two spots. In what should be a fascinating clash the USA travel Costa Rica whilst Mexico host El Salvador. Both the USA and Mexico need just a draw. But if Costa Rica win then things get interesting...
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Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States dribbles during a game between Honduras and USMNT at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano on September 8, 2021 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Image credit: Getty Images
Oceania - OFC
Qualification from the OFC confederation is being determined in the form of a centralised tournament currently taking place in Qatar between March 17 and March 30.
This originally consisted of eight teams until Vanuatu, and later the Cook Islands, withdrew from the process due to the majority of their squad testing positive for Covid-19.
New Zealand and Solomon Islands topped their groups setting up a playoff - although the latter only had to play one match after the above two withdrawals were both in their group.
Solomon Islands 0-5 New Zealand (advance to an inter-continental playoff, with the victors securing a place in Qatar).
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