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FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying guide: All you need to know for Qatar
The road to Qatar 2022 begins for European teams on Wednesday with World Cup qualifying getting under way. We have all you need to know.
Where and when did the World Cup qualifying draw happen?
As with most events in 2020, the draw ceremony was a virtual event. It was staged in Zurich, the home city and headquarters of world governing body and World Cup organisers FIFA, on December 7.
How did the World Cup qualifying draw work?
Fifty-five nations were split between 10 groups, five containing five teams and five containing six teams. The teams were placed in six seeding pots, with pot one containing the highest-ranked sides and pot six the lowest.
Who is in which World Cup qualifying group?
England were among the top seeds, with Wales in the second pot. Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland were all in the third pot, which opened up the possibility of some old rivalries being renewed; but none transpired.
- Group A: Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, *Qatar
- Group B: Spain, Sweden, Greece, Georgia, Kosovo
- Group C: Italy, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania
- Group D: France, Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia, Kazakhstan
- Group E: Belgium, Wales, Czech Republic, Belarus, Estonia
- Group F: Denmark, Austria, Scotland, Israel, Faroe Islands, Moldova
- Group G: Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Montenegro, Latvia, Gibraltar
- Group H: Croatia, Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta
- Group I: England, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra, San Marino
- Group J: Germany, Romania, Iceland, North Macedonia, Armenia, Liechtenstein
*World Cup hosts Qatar will take part in Group A as guests, but their results will not count towards qualification
World Cup 2022 Winner (latest odds via Sky Bet)
- Brazil, France - 11/2
- Germany - 8/1
- England, Spain - 9/1
- Argentina, Belgium - 12/1
- Italy, Netherlands - 16/1
- Portugal - 18/1
Odds correct at 12:40 GMT (22/03/2021)
Why do some groups have five teams and some have six?
Groups B to E feature five teams, with A and F to J containing six.
Top seeds Belgium, France, Italy and Spain, as Nations League finalists, were awarded places in five-team groups in order for them to also fit in the UEFA tournament in October next year.
Portugal were the other top seed to be drawn in a five-team group, but World Cup hosts Qatar were then added to Group A.
Why are Qatar part of European qualifying?
World Cup hosts Qatar were invited by UEFA to join European qualifying as part of their preparation for the tournament.
Their ‘home’ matches will take place in Europe, and as have automatically already qualified their results will not count towards qualification.
While it is out of ordinary for a non-European nation to take part in the qualification rounds, it is not the first time a host nation will play in what are essentially glorified friendlies.
Ahead of Euro 2016, France were the first host nation to take part in a European Championship qualification phase, with their group-stage contests serving as friendlies with no points awarded.
When will World Cup qualifying matches be played?
The games will take place between March and November next year. Qualification play-offs will be played in March 2022.
- March 2021: Matchday 1-3
- September 2021: Matchday 4-6
- October 2021: Matchday 7-8
- November 2021: Matchday 9-10
- March 2022: Playoffs
How many teams qualify for the World Cup?
In total, 13 European countries will feature at Qatar 2022. These will be the 10 group winners, plus three further countries via the play-offs.
The play-offs will feature the 10 group runners-up, alongside the two sides ranked highest in the 2020-21 Nations League who have not already qualified as a group winner or secured a runner-up spot.
Those 12 teams will be split into three separate paths, with the winner of each booking a ticket to Qatar.
When are where will the World Cup take place?
For the first time ever the World Cup will be played in November and December of 2022 to avoid the intense summer heat in the Middle East.
It is also set to be played in a reduced timeframe of 28 days, but there will still be 32 teams taking part.
There will be eight venues in five host cities across Qatar, with the final taking place in Lusail on December 18.