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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

World Cup 2022: Who has already qualified, play-off matches, who can still reach Qatar

The draw for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar takes place this afternoon, though unusually, there are still three places in the 32-team tournament up for grabs.

The USA and Mexico became the 28th and 29th teams to wrap up their respective spots on Wednesday night, with the Americans clinching qualification despite a loss in Costa Rica, who will now play in one of two inter-continental play-offs.

In addition to those games, there is still one European place to be decided, with Wales and Scotland both still in contention after their playoff pathway was delayed until the summer because of the situation in Ukraine, who are the third team still in with a chance.

While many of the usual suspects will be playing on the biggest stage at the end of the year, there will be some notable absences. Italy saw their bid to reach the World Cup sensationally ended by North Macedonia, while Mohamed Salah and Egypt will not be there after losing on penalties to Senegal.

Here are all the teams that have qualified so far, and who could be joining them in the near future.

Hosts

Qatar

As ever, the World Cup hosts do not have to worry about qualifying and automatically earn a spot at the tournament. Qatar won the Asia Cup for the first time in 2019, and this will be their maiden appearance at a World Cup.

UEFA

Germany, Denmark, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, Switzerland, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland

Of the 13 places at the World Cup available to European sides, 12 have now been decided.

10 went to the group winners in qualifying. Germany and Denmark were the first sides to book their places in Qatar, with 27 points out of a possible 30 in qualifying, while Serbia, Switzerland, France, Belgium and England were all unbeaten in their campaigns.

The remaining three places are decided by the play-offs. Portugal beat North Macedonia to book their place in Qatar, while Poland got the better of Sweden in another play-off final. Scotland and Ukraine’s semi-final has been postponed and scheduled for June, due to the Russian invasion. Wales await the winner in the final after seeing off Austria.

Italy were beaten by North Macedonia in their play-off semi final, and so the current European Championship holders will not be at the World Cup again.

(REUTERS)

CONMEBOL

Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay

Qualifying in South American is notoriously tricky, but the top four have been decided.

Brazil and Argentina still have to play each other again, though it is already certain they will finish as the top two. Neither side have lost a game so far in qualifying.

Uruguay have now gone above Ecuador into third, but neither can be caught and so have qualified for the World Cup at the end of the year.

Peru beat Paraguay to finish fifth and go through to a June inter-confederation play-off against either Australia or the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

CAF

Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon

The five African teams going to the World Cup were decided on Tuesday night, when the second legs of the play-off matches took place.

Nigeria missed out on their tournament ticket for the first time since 2006 after Thomas Partey’s goal knocked them out at the hands of Ghana, who qualified for their fourth World Cup on away goals.

Egypt led Senegal 1-0 after the first leg in Cairo but lost on penalties in Dakar after Sadio Mane’s decisive spot-kick settled the two-legged tie. Tunisia secured their qualification with a goalless draw in the second leg against Mali, which was enough as they led 1-0 following the first match.

Morocco cruised through their play-off against DR Congo, winning 5-2 on aggregate with Achraf Hakimi among the goalscorers.

Algeria’s tie with Cameroon went to extra-time, with it finishing 1-1 on aggregate after 90 minutes. Ahmed Touba looked to have won it in dramatic fashion for Algeria in the 118th minute, but Karl Toko Ekambi struck in the 124th minute in an extraordinary conclusion to give Cameroon victory on away goals and earn them a place in Qatar.

(AFP via Getty Images)

AFC

South Korea, Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia

After the second round of qualifying in Asia, 12 teams made it through to the next stage and were split into two groups. The top two from each of those earned a place at the World Cup.

South Korea went unbeaten and topped Group A, a point ahead of Iran, while Japan came out on top in Group B and Saudi Arabia finished second.

The two sides that finished third go through to a play-off match to face each other. That was Australia in Group B, while the third-placed team in Group A was the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The winner of the match between those two sides will then face the team that finished fifth in South America - Peru - for a place at the World Cup. That fixture will take place in Qatar.

CONCACAF

Canada, USA, Mexico

The top three sides in qualifying go straight through to the World Cup, and Canada assured their place in Qatar with a game to spare.

They have since been joined by the USA and Mexico, with the team that finished fourth - Costa Rica - facing Oceania winners New Zealand in an inter-confederation play-off in Qatar.

(Getty Images)

OFC

No sides yet qualified

The Oceania Football Confederation is the only one without a guaranteed place at the World Cup.

Qualifying in the region has now concluded, with the Solomon Islands beaten 5-0 by New Zealand on Wednesday.

New Zealand are now through to face Costa Rica in their inter-confederation play-off.

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