This weekend, the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers reach boiling point.
As we now reach the play-offs stage for some confederations, there’s a ‘sudden death’ aroma to each and every game. Soon we will know who will be heading to Qatar in November. Here are the main talking points from every continent.
These fans were supposed to see their team playing a crucial qualifier, but won’t. Iraqi fans in Baghda (Photo: Iraqi football association)
Asia: AFC
The story in Asia is pretty much over, but there are still one and a half tickets for the finals left to play for.
In group A, Iran has already qualified, alongside South Korea. The two will play each other, while the real fight will be for third place, and a spot in the Asian Qualifiers play-off. On paper, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Iraq, are all in with a chance to get this spot, but politics are an ever-present part of the game in the Middle East.
Iraq, who’ve waited 20 years to host a game in Baghdad, saw FIFA moving their crucial clash against the UAE to Saudi Arabia. The Iraqis need two wins, and will also be hoping for the fall of the Emiratis and the Lebanese. The Eyal Zayed (UAE) host the South Koreans in the last matchday, while Lebanon will hope to beat Syria in the Shami derby. Hot!
A different story is playing out in Group B. While Saudi Arabia is set to clinch a World Cup spot on their trip to China, Australia and Japan will fight for their lives on the ninth matchday, as they both strive to guarantee their place in the finals after a problematic third round. If the Aussies win, group B will dramatically go down to the final day for the second qualification spot.
Europe: UEFA
It's play-off time in the old continent. The war in Ukraine has caused some plans to change, with Russia being suspended from the competition, Poland advances to the next phase. They’ll meet the winner of the game between the Czech Republic and Sweden to battle it out for that pivotal spot in the finals.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s match against Scotland has been postponed until June as a result of the conflict. Either Austria or Wales, who face the winner, will have to wait for the summer to play for their World Cup spot.
But the real action will occur in the games between Portugal and Turkey, and Italy and North Macedonia. The Turks damaged their reputation severely last summer in their horrific showing at Euro 2020, and will hope to prove many pundits wrong against one of the most talented national teams in Europe. It’ll likely be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to play in a World Cup too.
North Macedonia will experience their first real crucial football match without the legendary Goran Pandev in the side. Facing European champions Italy won't be an easy task, but for a team that has beaten Germany in Germany, and produced an inspiring Euro campaign, there’s no such thing as 'impossible'.
The football world is waiting desperately for a clash between Portugal and Italy on the 29th, but surprises could easily get in the way. One thing’s for sure, at least one of these two will miss the flight to Qatar - who will it be?
South America: CONMEBOL
While Brazil and Argentina are already guaranteed their World Cup spots, and Ecuador seems comfortably at the third place, four teams are fighting for the remaining one and a half places. Uruguay, Peru, Chile and Colombia have two games left to win a spot in the finals, or the intercontinental play-offs in June.
Uruguay will be at the centre of things, with two clashes against their fellow competitors for fourth place, Peru and Chile. If the Celeste come out as winners in both games, it will be one of the most remarkable comeback journeys in years.
The Peruvians are still full of hope to make it to a second successive finals, while Chile and Colombia will be hoping for a miracle, in the hope that it would see them surprisingly grab a spot. Colombia will be happy just to score, something they haven't done in their last seven games in the tournament, dating all the way back to September 2021. Fuego, Fuego, Fuego!
North America: CONCACAF
With all due respect to the 'usual suspects', this March window is all about one team: Oh, Canada!
The Canucks are ready to complete their mission and qualify for only their second-ever World Cup. A victory over Costa Rica away, or against Jamaica in Toronto, will see them celebrating one of the most inspiring World Cup qualification campaigns in history.
The US and Mexico are pretty comfortable in second and third place respectively, but in three games everything can change - and with a match between the two of them, it could get pretty intense.
It's CONCACAF’s money time, only three and a half places in the finals, and one of these North American giants may find themselves battling it out in the play-offs. Or worse still, failing to make it to the World Cup finals.
Africa: CAF
All of Africa will be glued to their TV screens this week, as the most prominent national teams in the continent lock horns.
The main event will be the second and third episodes in the most fascinating trilogy in world football at the moment: North Africa v Sub Sahara, champions of Africa v the runners-up, Mohammed Salah v Sadio Mané, Egypt v Senegal.
But it’s not just this hectic doubleheader providing all the entertainment.
Cameroon, under new coach Rigobert Song, will play Algeria, who have a lot to prove after a poor AFCON campaign. A ‘Jollof derby’ between Ghana and Nigeria aims to bring down the Twitter servers forever. And Morocco play DR Congo without Nousseir Mazaraoui and Hakim Ziyech, who received the call ups to join from coach Vahid Halilodžić, but refused. It exposed the mild chaos behind the scenes at the Atlas Lions, with federation president, Fouzi Lekjaa, intervening in the coach's professional calls due to supporter pressure. Yet the players' reaction touched an open wound in the always-changing reality of the Moroccan-origin Europeans who represent the national team. If Morocco qualifies for the World Cup, what will happen with Ziyech and the rest? A lot is on the table.
Somewhere towards the back of the mind, Mali and Tunisia will battle for the fifth ticket, hoping that this time the referee will blow the whistle to end the game on time - and not in the 85th minute.
Oceania: OFC
For a couple of years, the Oceania qualifiers were the most significant question mark in world football. They finally started in Qatar earlier this month, but the situation worsened. Players are testing positive for Covid-19 left, right, and centre, Vanuatu already withdrawn, and postponed games have given way to an uneasy atmosphere.
While everyone is waiting for New Zealand to inevitably win their place in the intercontinental playoffs, Fiji and New Caledonia haven't given up just yet. Will we witness a shock in the most predictable confederation in football?
Edited by Alex Smith.
