The final five spots in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be decided by five different playoffs held around the world in 2022. And there will be plenty of drama in store after the draw on Nov. 26.
FIFA held the draw at its Zurich headquarters to determine the matchups that will assign the final three World Cup berths in Europe, as well as the two intercontinental playoff berths (details below). What's certain is that one of Italy or Portugal will definitely miss out on Qatar 2022.
A total of 32 nations will participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup that will be held in Qatar beginning in November 2022. Qatar automatically qualifies as host and the other 31 finalists will emerge from regional qualifying held around the globe.
There are 13 countries that have already booked their ticket to Qatar, and others will lock up spots during qualifying in January and February. Not including host Qatar, here's how the 31 direct berths are split up around the world:
Africa (CAF): 5
Asia (AFC): 4 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)
Europe (UEFA): 13 (including 3 playoff winners)
North/Central America & Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)
Oceania (OFC): 1 playoff qualifier
South America (CONMEBOL): 4 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)
The four playoff qualifiers noted above from the Asia, South America, North America and Oceania continents were drawn in two separate "intercontinental" playoff knockout matches that will be played in a neutral venue with a ticket to Qatar on the line.
Europe has its own playoffs involving 12 countries. They were drawn into three "final four" brackets. The survivor of each bracket will head to Qatar.
World Cup European Playoffs (3 berths)
The draw split the 12 European playoff teams (10 group runners-up and two Nations League group winners) into three different brackets.
The six best teams based on qualifying points total (minus points earned against last-placed teams for those nations that played in six-team groups) were allocated to Pot 1, and the remaining six nations went into Pot 2.
Pot 1 (seeded teams): Italy, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Wales
Pot 2 (unseeded teams): Austria, Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine
The teams in Pot 1 will host the knockout semifinal in their respective bracket (or "path", as FIFA calls it). The host of the final was determined by a draw.
Home teams listed first
Bracket (Path) A - 1 World Cup berth
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | TV channels | Stream |
| Thurs, March 24 | Semi #1: Scotland vs. Ukraine | 2:45 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Thurs, March 24 | Semi #2: Wales vs. Austria | 2:45 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Tues, March 29 | Final (Wales vs. Austria winner will host) | 2:45 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
Bracket (Path) B - 1 World Cup berth
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | TV channels | Stream |
| Thurs, March 24 | Semi #1: Russia vs. Poland | 12 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Thurs, March 24 | Semi #2: Sweden vs. Czech Republic | 2:45 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Tues, March 29 | Final (Russia vs. Poland winner will host) | 2:45 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
Bracket (Path) C - 1 World Cup berth
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | TV channels | Stream |
| Thurs, March 24 | Semi #1: Italy vs. North Macedonia | 2:45 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Thurs, March 24 | Semi #2: Portugal vs. Turkey | 2:45 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Tues, March 29 | Final (Portugal vs. Turkey winner will host) | 2:45 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
