The ultimate image for the 2022 World Cup is starting to take form.
Whereas quite a lot of nations have already booked their place in Qatar, the complete, closing record is not going to be set in stone till June with two intercontinental play-off winners then finalizing the 32.
Intercontinental play-offs have thrown up some unbelievable video games in latest reminiscence, with nations from differing confederations pushing for a spot on the World Cup. Prior to now, the playoffs have been performed throughout two legs, however this yr, the matches are single, 90-minute affairs, lending to doubtlessly extra thrilling matchups.
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With 4 groups from 4 confederations battling for simply two World Cup spots, here is how the intercontinental playoffs will proceed.
Intercontinental playoff schedule
The 2 intercontinental World Cup play-off matchups in June will pit one nation from 4 confederations — AFC, CONCAF, CONMEBOL and OFC — in opposition to one other in a one-off recreation.
The id of three playoff members might be recognized by the top of March, however the AFC consultant will not be determined till June 7 with a playoff recreation between the 2 Asian nations who completed third of their teams scheduled for that date.
| Date | Crew 1 | Crew 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD (June 13/14) | Australia or UAE (AFC Playoff Winner) | vs. | Peru (CONMEBOL fifth Place) |
| TBD (June 13/14) | USA or Mexico or Costa Rica (CONCACAF 4th Place) | vs. | New Zealand or Solomon Islands (OFC Champions) |
FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff format
The construction of the FIFA World Cup play-off format has been simplified in latest qualification cycles to deliver it right into a one-game format.
Primarily based on the quantity of touring, typically mid-domestic season for gamers, objections had been raised with criticisms over unfair benefits to ‘stronger’ confederations.
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FIFA confirmed the intercontinental play-offs for 2022 will all be performed at impartial venues in Qatar with no controversy over venue selection. The governing physique additionally confirmed that because the matches might be performed in impartial venues, they are going to be accomplished throughout one 90 minute recreation slightly than two leg matches residence and away.
The one confederations with no spot within the intercontinental playoff are UEFA and CAF, who affirm all their direct locations outright by their qualification setups.
The matchups are re-drawn each cycle with a particular Intercontinental Playoff draw, with the 4 collaborating confederations (AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC) all drawn out of a pot and matched up in opposition to one another. This cycle’s draw, which befell in November of 2021, pitted the South American participant in opposition to the Asian participant, whereas the North American participant will tackle the Oceania winner.
How intercontinental playoff qualifiers have fared at World Cup
The intercontinental playoff construction has supplied nations an extra path to the largest competitors in worldwide soccer.
The vast majority of sides have bowed out within the group levels of the event itself however a shot on the World Cup has allowed followers from nations exterior of the established elite the possibility to be concerned within the biggest present on Earth.
| Certified Nation | Play Off Opponent | Play End result | Event stage reached | |
| 1974 | Chile | Soviet Union | 0-0/0-2* | Group Stage |
| 1978 | Hungary | Bolivia | 6-0/2-3 | Group Stage |
| 1982 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1986 | Scotland | Australia | 2-0/0-0 | Group Stage |
| 1990 | Colombia | Israel | 1-0/0-0 | Final 16 |
| 1994 | Argentina | Australia | 1-1/0-1 | Final 16 |
| 1998 | Iran | Australia | 1-1/2-2 | Group Stage |
| 2002 | Rep of Eire/Uruguay | Iran/Ausrtalia | 2-0/0-1 1-0/0-3 | Final 16/Group Stage |
| 2006 | Trinidad & Tobago/Australia | Bahrain/Uruguay |
1-1/0-1 1-0/1-0 (pens) |
Group Stage/Final 16 |
| 2010 | New Zealand/Uruguay | Bahrain/Costa Rica | 0-0/1-0 0-1/1-1 | Group Stage/Semi Ultimate |
| 2014 | Uruguay/Mexico | Jordan/New Zealand | 0-5/0-0 5-1/4-2 | Final 16/Final 16 |
| 2018 | Australia/Peru | Honduras/New Zealand | 0-0/1-3 0-0/0-2 | Group Stage/Group Stage |
Historical past of FIFA intercontinental playoffs
FIFA included intercontinental play-offs into World Cup qualification cycles forward of the 1974 event in West Germany.
Nonetheless, the inaugural recreation was dogged by political controversy after the Soviet Union facet refused to journey to Chile for the return leg in Santiago following a coup d’etat within the nation, with the Chileans given a walkover into the competitors.
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Since then, the intercontinental play-off construction has been an ever current a part of World Cup qualifying with 1982 the one exception with the match ups altering from 1986 onwards.
UEFA vs. CONEMBOL was changed by UEFA vs. OFC or CONEMBOL vs. OFC, earlier than changing into a 4 staff arrange forward of the 1994 World Cup, besides for one more short-term reversal forward of France ’98.
