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2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round

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The second round of the qualification tournament for the 2022 FIFA World Cup from UEFA (also known as the UEFA play-offs) was contested by twelve teams from the UEFA segment of qualifying. The play-offs determined the final three European teams that joined the group winners at the World Cup in Qatar. The ten runners-up from the UEFA first round groups participated in the play-offs, along with two group winners from the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. The teams were divided into three paths, each containing four teams, with each play-off path featuring two single-leg semi-finals, and one single-leg final. The matches took place in March and June 2022.

Format

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The qualification format was confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee during their meeting in Nyon, Switzerland on 4 December 2019.[1] The play-offs depended, in part, on results from the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League, although to a lesser degree than play-offs of the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying tournament.[2]

Unlike previous editions, the play-offs were not contested in two-legged ties. Instead, the twelve teams were split into three play-off paths, each containing four teams. Each play-off path was planned to feature two single-leg semi-finals on 24 March, and one single-leg final on 29 March 2022. The winners of the final in each play-off path qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[2] The semi-finals were hosted by the six best-ranked runners-up of the qualifying group stage, while the host of the final was determined by a draw.[3]

The play-offs were played in single-leg knockout matches. If scores were level at the end of normal time, 30 minutes of extra time would be played, where each team was allowed to make a sixth substitution. If the scores remained tied, a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner.[4] Following approval from the UEFA Executive Committee in December 2019, the use of the video assistant referee system was approved for the entire World Cup qualification tournament.[2]

Qualified teams

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Twelve teams advanced to the play-offs. Unlike previous editions, all participants were not decided solely on the results of the first round. Two of the twelve spots were allocated to group winners of the 2020–21 edition of the UEFA Nations League.[2]

Second-placed teams (all ten advanced)

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The ten runners-up from the UEFA first round advanced to the play-offs. Based on the results from the qualifying group stage, the six best-ranked teams were seeded, while the bottom four were unseeded in the semi-final draw.[2][3]

Seed Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Seeding
1 A   Portugal 8 5 2 1 17 6 +11 17 Seeded in semi-final draw
2 F   Scotland 8 5 2 1 14 7 +7 17
3 C   Italy 8 4 4 0 13 2 +11 16
4 H   Russia 8 5 1 2 14 5 +9 16
5 B   Sweden 8 5 0 3 12 6 +6 15
6 E   Wales 8 4 3 1 14 9 +5 15
7 G   Turkey 8 4 3 1 18 16 +2 15 Unseeded in semi-final draw
8 I   Poland 8 4 2 2 18 10 +8 14
9 J   North Macedonia 8 3 3 2 14 11 +3 12
10 D   Ukraine 8 2 6 0 11 8 +3 12
Source: FIFA, UEFA
Rules for classification: Counting only matches against teams ranked first to fifth in the group, 1. Points; 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Away goals scored; 5. Wins; 6. Away wins; 7. Lower disciplinary points total; 8. Position in 2020–21 UEFA Nations League access list.[3]

Nations League group winners (best two advanced)

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Based on the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League overall ranking,[5] the best two Nations League group winners that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group advanced to the play-offs and were unseeded in the semi-final draw.[2][3]

UNL Rank UNL group winner Qualifying
group
A 1   France & D
2   Spain & B
3   Italy † C
4   Belgium & E
B 17   Wales † E
18   Austria ‡ F
19   Czech Republic ‡ E
20   Hungary I
C 33   Slovenia H
34   Montenegro G
35   Albania I
36   Armenia J
D 49   Gibraltar G
50   Faroe Islands F

Key

  •  &  Team qualified directly for World Cup as qualifying group winner
  •  †  Team advanced to the play-offs as qualifying group runner-up
  •  ‡  Team (in bold) advanced to the play-offs as one of the best two Nations League group winners outside top two of their qualifying group

Draw

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Following the completion of the UEFA first round, the twelve teams that advanced to the play-offs were drawn into three paths of four teams on 26 November 2021, 17:00 CET, in Zürich, Switzerland.[6][7][8][2][9] The following procedure was applied in the draw:[3][10]

  • The six seeded teams were allocated to semi-finals 1 to 6 as the host team in the order drawn.
  • The six unseeded teams were allocated to semi-finals 1 to 6 as the away team in the order drawn.
  • Play-off Path A was formed by semi-finals 1 and 2, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final A.
  • Play-off Path B was formed by semi-finals 3 and 4, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final B.
  • Play-off Path C was formed by semi-finals 5 and 6, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final C.
  • The semi-final winners that host play-off finals A, B and C were decided by a draw.

For political reasons related to the Russo-Ukrainian War, Russia and Ukraine could not be drawn into the same play-off path.[11] Armenia / Azerbaijan, Gibraltar / Spain, Kosovo / Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo / Serbia and Kosovo / Russia were also identified as prohibited clashes, but among these teams only Russia advanced to the play-offs.

The six runners-up with the best group stage performance were seeded in the semi-final draw, while the remaining four runners-up and two teams advancing via the Nations League were unseeded. The seedings were as follows:

Pot 1 (seeded)
Team Rank
  Portugal 1
  Scotland 2
  Italy 3
  Russia 4
  Sweden 5
  Wales 6
Pot 2 (unseeded)
Team Rank
  Turkey 7
  Poland 8
  North Macedonia 9
  Ukraine 10
  Austria NL–18
  Czech Republic NL–19

Effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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Paths A and B were affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine which began on 24 February 2022, a month before the semi-finals.

FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia on 28 February,[12][13] and announced on 8 March that their semi-final opponents Poland received a bye to the Path B final;[14][15] a request by the Russian Football Union for a temporary lift of the ban was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 18 March.[16][17] An initial decision by FIFA on 27 February had ruled that Russia had to compete under the name "Football Union of Russia" (RFU) and without its flag or anthem, and play its home matches on neutral ground without spectators.[18] By that point, the football associations of the other three teams in the Path (Czech Republic, Poland, and Sweden) had refused to play any matches against Russia, regardless of location,[19][20][21] a stance to which they remained committed following FIFA's initial decision.[22][23][24][25]

In Path A, following a request by the Ukrainian Association of Football,[26][15] on 8 March FIFA postponed the semi-final between Scotland and Ukraine until June 2022, along with the path final. In the interest of preventing further fixture congestion, the other semi-final match between Wales and Austria would go ahead as scheduled in March.[14]

Schedule

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Four of the semi-final matches took place on 24 March, and two of the final matches on 29 March 2022.[27][28] In Path A, one semi-final and the final were postponed to 1 and 5 June 2022, respectively, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[29] The kick-off times were confirmed on 26 November 2021 following the draw.[30][31] As part of UEFA's scheduling, the losing semi-finalists of each path played a friendly match against each other on the day of the play-off finals.[32]

Times are CET/CEST,[note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Path A

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Bracket

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
24 March 2022 – Cardiff
 
 
  Wales2
 
5 June 2022 – Cardiff
 
  Austria1
 
  Wales1
 
1 June 2022 – Glasgow
 
  Ukraine0
 
  Scotland1
 
 
  Ukraine3
 

Summary

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Home team  Score  Away team
Semi-finals
Scotland   1–3   Ukraine
Wales   2–1   Austria
Final
Wales   1–0   Ukraine

Semi-finals

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Wales  2–1  Austria
  • Bale   25', 51'
 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 32,053[33]
Scotland  1–3  Ukraine
 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 49,772[34]

Final

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Wales  1–0  Ukraine
 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 32,660[37]

Path B

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Bracket

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
Cancelled
 
 
  Russia
 
29 March 2022 – Chorzów
 
  Poland[note 5]w/o
 
  Poland2
 
24 March 2022 – Solna
 
  Sweden0
 
  Sweden (a.e.t.)1
 
 
  Czech Republic0
 

Summary

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Home team  Score  Away team
Semi-finals
Russia   w/o[note 5]   Poland
Sweden   1–0 (a.e.t.)   Czech Republic
Final
Poland   2–0   Sweden

Semi-finals

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Russia  Cancelled[note 5]  Poland
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Poland advanced on walkover.[note 5]

Sweden  1–0 (a.e.t.)  Czech Republic
 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 48,628[40]

Final

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Poland  2–0  Sweden
 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 54,078[42]

Path C

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Bracket

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
24 March 2022 – Porto
 
 
  Portugal3
 
29 March 2022 – Porto
 
  Turkey1
 
  Portugal2
 
24 March 2022 – Palermo
 
  North Macedonia0
 
  Italy0
 
 
  North Macedonia1
 

Summary

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Home team  Score  Away team
Semi-finals
Italy   0–1   North Macedonia
Portugal   3–1   Turkey
Final
Portugal   2–0   North Macedonia

Semi-finals

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Italy  0–1  North Macedonia
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 34,129[43]
Portugal  3–1  Turkey
 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 48,010[44]

Final

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Portugal  2–0  North Macedonia
 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Attendance: 48,010[45]

Goalscorers

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There were 18 goals scored in 8 matches, for an average of 2.25 goals per match.

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Discipline

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A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:[4]

  • Receiving a red card (red card suspensions could be extended for serious offences)
  • Receiving two yellow cards in two different qualifying group stage matches (yellow card suspensions were carried forward to the play-off semi-finals, but not the play-off finals, World Cup final tournament or any other future international matches)

On 17 January 2022, following a UEFA request, FIFA announced the expiration of yellow cards received during the qualifying group stage, thus preventing suspensions in the play-off finals due to yellow cards received in the semi-finals. However, yellow card suspensions accumulated at the end of the qualifying group stage were still carried forward to the play-offs.[46]

The following suspensions were served during the second round qualifying matches:[47][48][49][50]

Team Player Offence(s) Suspended for match(es)
  North Macedonia Elif Elmas   vs Germany (31 March 2021)
  vs Iceland (14 November 2021)		 vs Italy (24 March 2022)
Tihomir Kostadinov   vs Armenia (11 November 2021)
  vs Iceland (14 November 2021)
  Poland Mateusz Klich   vs Andorra (12 November 2021)
  vs Hungary (15 November 2021)		 vs Sweden (29 March 2022)
  Portugal João Cancelo   vs Luxembourg (12 October 2021)
  vs Serbia (14 November 2021)		 vs Turkey (24 March 2022)
Renato Sanches   vs Luxembourg (30 March 2021)
  vs Serbia (14 November 2021)
  Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović   vs Georgia (25 March 2021)
  vs Spain (14 November 2021)		 vs Czech Republic (24 March 2022)
Emil Krafth   vs Spain (2 September 2021)
  vs Spain (14 November 2021)
  Wales Joe Morrell   vs Estonia (8 September 2021)
  vs Belgium (16 November 2021)		 vs Austria (24 March 2022)

Prior to their suspension, Russia were to serve the following suspensions in their semi-final:

Team Player Offence(s) Suspended for match(es)
  Russia Aleksandr Golovin   vs Slovenia (27 March 2021)
  vs Croatia (14 November 2021)		 vs Poland (24 March 2022)
Fyodor Smolov   vs Cyprus (4 September 2021)
  vs Croatia (14 November 2021)

Notes

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  1. ^ CET (UTC+1) for the matches on 24 March, and CEST (UTC+2) for the matches on 29 March and in June 2022.
  2. ^ The Scotland v Ukraine match, originally scheduled for 24 March 2022, 20:45 (19:45 UTC±0), was postponed to 1 June 2022, 20:45 (19:45 UTC+1), due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14][29]
  3. ^ The Path A final, originally scheduled for 29 March 2022, 20:45, was postponed to 5 June 2022, 18:00 (17:00 UTC+1), due to the postponement of the Scotland v Ukraine semi-final match.[14][29]
  4. ^ FIFA and UEFA initially awarded the goal as an own goal by Andriy Yarmolenko, but FIFA technical experts subsequently awarded the goal to Gareth Bale.[35][36]
  5. ^ a b c d Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia were suspended,[12][13] and Poland advanced to the final on a walkover.[14]
  6. ^ The Russia v Poland match, originally scheduled to be played at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow,[38] was later moved on 2 February 2022 to VTB Arena, Moscow, due to the epidemiological situation in Moscow and the possible limitations associated with it.[39]
  7. ^ The potential final match hosted by Poland, originally scheduled to be played at Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, was later moved on 19 January 2022 to Stadion Śląski, Chorzów, due to the presence of a temporary hospital at the Stadion Narodowy.[41]

References

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  1. ^ "UEFA Executive Committee agenda for Nyon meeting". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Game changer: group stage for UEFA Women's Champions League". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Regulatory articles for the 2020–2022 European qualifiers play-offs" (PDF). FIFA. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Regulations FIFA World Cup 2022 Preliminary Competition: Including COVID-19 Regulations" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Overall ranking of the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League" (PDF). UEFA. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  6. ^ UEFA.com (26 November 2021). "2022 World Cup play-off draw | European Qualifiers". UEFA.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  7. ^ UEFA.com. "2022 World Cup play-off draw | European Qualifiers". UEFA.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  8. ^ "FIFA World Cup European play-off draw to take place on 26 November". FIFA. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  9. ^ "UEFA preliminary competition format for the FIFA World Cup 2022" (PDF). FIFA. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  10. ^ "European Play-Off Tournament for the FIFA World Cup 2022: Draw Procedures" (PDF). FIFA. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  11. ^ "European Play-Off Tournament for the FIFA World Cup 2022" (PDF). FIFA. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  12. ^ a b "FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions". FIFA. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  13. ^ a b UEFA.com (28 February 2022). "FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions | Inside UEFA". UEFA.com. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Decisions taken concerning FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers". FIFA. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Poland advanced, Ukraine postponed: How UEFA World Cup playoffs schedule & format change after FIFA suspends Russia". www.sportingnews.com. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Ukraine crisis: Russia to appeal against football ban imposed by Fifa and Uefa". BBC Sport. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  17. ^ "War in Ukraine: Russia request to suspend Fifa ban for World Cup play-offs rejected". BBC Sport. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Bureau of the FIFA Council takes initial measures with regard to war in Ukraine". FIFA. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Komuniké z mimořádného zasedání VV FAČR ze dne 27. 2. 2022" [Communiqué from the extraordinary meeting of the FAČR SC of 27 February 2022]. Football Association of the Czech Republic (in Czech). 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Poland does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia". Polish Football Association. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  21. ^ "SvFF: herrlandslaget kommer inte att spela mot Ryssland" [SvFF: the men's national team will not play against Russia]. Swedish Football Association (in Swedish). 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Bekräftat: Fifa exkluderar inte Ryssland – får spela på neutral plan" [Confirmed: FIFA does not exclude Russia – can play on neutral ground]. Fotbollskanalen (in Swedish). 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  23. ^ McLaughlin, Luke (26 February 2022). "Poland and Sweden will refuse to play Russia in World Cup 2022 playoffs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic refuse to play Russia in FIFA World Cup qualifiers: 'We all want war to end'". CBSSports.com. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic will refuse to play World Cup play-offs with Russia in opposition to invasion of Ukraine". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  26. ^ "World Cup qualifying: Ukraine seek play-off semi-final with Scotland postponement". BBC Sport. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Regulations of the UEFA Nations League, 2020/21" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 13 October 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  28. ^ "2022 World Cup qualifying: all you need to know". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  29. ^ a b c "Dates set for remaining European qualifying play-off path involving Ukraine". FIFA. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  30. ^ "2022 World Cup play-off draw: Scotland vs Ukraine, Wales vs Austria, Portugal vs Turkey". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  31. ^ "European Qualifiers 2020–22 – Play-offs" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  32. ^ "UEFA confirm friendly fixture for unsuccessful World Cup play-off semi-finalists". Scottish Football Association. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Wales vs. Austria" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Scotland vs. Ukraine" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Wales 1–0 Ukraine: Dragons seal last World Cup spot". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  36. ^ "Gareth Bale awarded goal against Ukraine that sent Wales to World Cup following review". ITV News. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  37. ^ "Wales vs. Ukraine" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  38. ^ "Сыграем стыковые матчи в "Лужниках"" [We'll play play-offs at Luzhniki]. Russian Football Union (in Russian). 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  39. ^ "Сборная России проведет мартовские матчи на "Динамо"" [Russia national team will play March matches at Dynamo]. Russian Football Union (in Russian). 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  40. ^ "Sweden vs. Czech Republic" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  41. ^ "Areny najbliższych domowych meczów reprezentacji Polski" [The stadiums of the upcoming home matches of the Polish national team]. Polish Football Association (in Polish). 19 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  42. ^ "Poland vs. Sweden" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  43. ^ "Italy vs. North Macedonia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  44. ^ "Portugal vs. Turkey" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  45. ^ "Portugal vs. North Macedonia" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  46. ^ "Yellow card amnesty agreed for World Cup playoffs in Europe". Associated Press. Zürich. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  47. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2022: Booking List before Play-off" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  48. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2022: Booking List before Play-off Finals" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  49. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2022: Booking List before Play-off" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 31 May 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  50. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2022: Booking List before Play-off Final" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 June 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
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