SOCCER
2022 World Cup inter-confederation play-off draw: fixtures and format
The draw for the World Cup inter-confederation play-offs, which will decide the final two spots at Qatar 2022, took place at FIFA HQ on Friday.
The draw for the 2022 World Cup inter-confederation play-offs, which will involve one team each from the AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and the OFC, was held at FIFA HQ in Zurich on Friday.
Play-offs to take place in Qatar in June 2022
Although we don’t yet know the identity of any of the participating countries, the draw was able to determine which confederation will face which in the play-offs, which will see the four nations paired off into two single-leg ties. The winner of each match will qualify for Qatar 2022.
Scheduled for 13 and 14 June 2022, the play-offs will be hosted by Qatar, it was confirmed during Friday’s draw. However, FIFA did not reveal the exact venue of either clash.
See also:
Inter-confederation play-offs: the draw
Play-off 1: AFC team vs CONMEBOL team
Play-off 2: CONCACAF team vs OFC team
When will we know who's in the inter-confederation play-offs?
AFC
Asia’s representatives in the inter-confederation play-offs will be decided in an AFC play-off held in May or June 2022, involving the teams that finish third in the region’s two third-round qualifying groups. At present, Australia and the United Arab Emirates are the countries in third.
CONCACAF
In CONCACAF, the team finishing fourth in the confederation’s eight-nation, third-round qualifying group will go into the inter-confederation play-offs. As things stand, that’s Panama. CONCACAF qualifying is due to conclude on 30 March 2022.
CONMEBOL
South America will send the fifth-placed finisher in its 10-team qualifying group to the inter-confederation play-offs. Peru currently occupy that play-off place. CONMEBOL qualifying is scheduled to be completed on 29 March 2022.
OFC
World Cup qualifying has not yet started in Oceania. In September, the OFC said it was “not possible at this time to organise a qualifying competition within the Oceania region” owing to “logistical challenges presented by the covid-19 pandemic”. The body plans to hold its qualifying in Qatar in “early 2022”.
On Friday, the OFC said the draw for its qualifying process is to take place on Monday 29 November, adding that information on the competition’s format and dates is to be provided before then. The winner of the region’s qualifying tournament - which on the last three occasions has been New Zealand - will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.