who are the qualified, continent by continent?

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This November international window makes it possible to see more clearly concerning the qualifications for the next World Cup, which will take place in Qatar in November and December 2022. 13 selections are now qualified, while many others will play play-offs in the spring. Didn’t you follow everything? We take stock, zone by zone.

In Europe, 10 qualified including France, England and Germany

The Europe zone is the most advanced, since 10 of the 13 representatives of the Old Continent are known. All ranked first in their respective pools, Germany, Denmark, France, Belgium, Switzerland, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Croatia and Serbia will be in Qatar. No big surprise, because with the exception of the Dutch, all these selections were already qualified in 2018.

The three remaining tickets will be distributed during the play-offs, contested in March. The ten runners-up in the qualifying pools (Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Ukraine, Wales, Scotland, Turkey, Russia, Poland and North Macedonia) are joined by two Nations League group winners (Austria and Czech Republic), for a mini-tournament. Do you want to understand the operation – particularly complex, it is true – of these dams? We explain it to you here, point by point.

In South America, it’s open behind Brazil and Argentina

The ten nations of the Conmebol zone compete in one and the same pool. This is dominated by Brazil (35 points) and Argentina (29 units), who have already qualified. The routine for the Seleção, the only nation to have never missed a World Cup. The Albiceleste, systematically present since 1958, is not to be outdone. Two other tickets remain to be distributed, while the fifth will face a selection from another confederation in round-trip play-offs.

And four days from the end, nothing is over. With 23 points, 6 more than the fifth, Ecuador has taken a step towards the World Cup. Behind “La Tri”, six teams stand on … four points. In order, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay are in the race. Only Venezuela, with 7 small points, is behind. The battle promises to be fierce, and the next two deadlines, scheduled for the end of January, will be closely scrutinized.

In Africa, 10 qualified for epic dams

Full of suspense, the Africa zone has not yet delivered its verdict. At the end of a preliminary group phase, ten selections remain in the race and will face each other in round-trip play-offs. The five winners of these direct clashes, the exact date of which has not yet been set by FIFA, will represent the continent in Qatar.

Even if Côte d’Ivoire is missing, there are a lot of people. Algeria, Tunisia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo will be the happy participants in these dams. The draw for these choppy matches, which often result in epic clashes, will take place on December 18.

In North America, Canada for a surprise?

Again, nothing is played in the Concacaf area. In this unique group of eight teams, resulting from two preliminary rounds, there are still six days to go. The first three will qualify, and the fourth will play an intercontinental jump-off.

So far, and it’s a surprise, Canada is leading with 16 points. Nothing definitive, since Panama, fourth, is only two units away. But a qualification of the Canadians, more invited since 1986, would represent a sacred event. The second and third places are occupied by the United States and Mexico. Behind Panama, Costa Rica and Jamaica can still believe it.

In Asia, Iran and South Korea are almost there

Only Qatar, the host country, has already qualified. Twelve Asian selections are still in contention, divided into two groups of six. The first two of groups A and B will be directly qualified, while the two third will face each other in the jump-off.

Four days from the end, the ax is close to falling in Group A. With ten and eight points ahead of third place, Iran and South Korea will be, barring a huge disaster, at the World Cup. The United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Iraq will compete for the ticket to the dams.

It is much closer in group B. If Saudi Arabia holds the rope with 16 points, Japan (12 points) and Australia (11 units), both used to world meetings, engage in a tenacious battle. Oman and China are far behind. See you in January for the continuation of hostilities.

In Oceania, the big question

While the other confederations are delivering their verdict, Oceania has still not started its qualification process. Delayed by the Covid-19, it should be held “in March 2022”, as the OFC (Oceania Confederation) indicated in September. The format was not specified.

Recall that Oceania does not have a direct ticket for the World Cup: the winner of the qualifications must play a jump-off against a nation from another confederation. New Zealand, who dominate the area, have only qualified twice.


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