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Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Portugal

FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying play-off guide: All you need to know

By Sporting Life
Football
Thu July 21, 2022 · 2y ago

Wales, Portugal, North Macedonia, Poland and Sweden have made it to the World Cup play-off finals, with Scotland still to play Ukraine, but what happens now?

When are the World Cup play-offs?

  • Play-off finals: Tuesday March 29 2022

How many teams compete in the World Cup play-offs?

Twelve teams advanced to the play-offs in total, but how they got there was a little complicated.

Ten group runners-up from qualifying were joined by two teams who qualified via the UEFA Nations League overall ranking.

How do they qualify?

They are the two best group winners from the Nations League who have not advanced via traditional World Cup qualifying - that is as either group winners or group runners-up.

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How do the World Cup play-offs work?

In the play-off draw, 12 teams are drawn into three play-off paths for one-legged semi-finals and finals.

The three winners reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Full World Cup play-offs semi-final results

World Cup play-offs final draw

  • Wales v Scotland or Ukraine - June* 2022 date to be confirmed
  • Poland v Sweden - 29th March 2022
  • Portugal v North Macedonia - 29th March 2022

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