2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
The 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification[b] is the qualifying tournament that decides 31 out of the 32 teams that will play in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the hosts who qualified automatically, Qatar.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6 June 2019 – 14 June 2022 |
| Teams | 211[a] (from 6 confederations) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 865 |
| Goals scored | 2424 (2.8 per match) |
| Attendance | 8,912,978 (10,304 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Ali Mabkhout(14 goals) |
← 2018 2026 → | |
Different tournaments were held by each of FIFA's six confederations. The qualifiers started on 6 June 2019 and is planned to end in June 2022.[1] The qualifiers has had many delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Qualified teams
| Team | Qualified as | Qualified on |
|---|---|---|
 Qatar
|
Hosts | 2 December 2010 |
 Germany
|
UEFA Group J winners | 11 October 2021 |
 Denmark
|
UEFA Group F winners | 12 October 2021 |
 Brazil
|
CONMEBOL winners | 11 November 2021 |
 France
|
UEFA Group D winners | 13 November 2021 |
 Belgium
|
UEFA Group E winners | 13 November 2021 |
 Croatia
|
UEFA Group H winners | 14 November 2021 |
 Spain
|
UEFA Group B winners | 14 November 2021 |
 Serbia
|
UEFA Group A winners | 14 November 2021 |
 England
|
UEFA Group I winners | 15 November 2021 |
 Switzerland
|
UEFA Group C winners | 15 November 2021 |
 Netherlands
|
UEFA Group G winners | 16 November 2021 |
 Argentina
|
CONMEBOL second place | 16 November 2021 |
 Iran
|
AFC third round Group A winners | 27 January 2022 |
 Korea Republic
|
AFC third round Group A second place | 1 February 2022 |
 Saudi Arabia
|
AFC third round Group B winners | 24 March 2022 |
 Japan
|
AFC third round Group B second place | 24 March 2022 |
 Uruguay
|
CONMEBOL third place | 24 March 2022 |
 Ecuador
|
CONMEBOL fourth place | 24 March 2022 |
 Canada
|
CONCACAF third round winners | 27 March 2022 |
 Ghana
|
CAF third round winners | 29 March 2022 |
 Senegal
|
CAF third round winners | 29 March 2022 |
 Poland
|
UEFA play-offs Path B winners | 29 March 2022 |
 Portugal
|
UEFA play-offs Path C winners | 29 March 2022 |
 Tunisia
|
CAF third round winners | 29 March 2022 |
 Morocco
|
CAF third round winners | 29 March 2022 |
 Cameroon
|
CAF third round winners | 29 March 2022 |
 Jamaica
|
CONCACAF third round third place | 30 March 2022 |
 Mexico
|
CONCACAF third round second place | 30 March 2022 |
 Wales
|
UEFA play-offs Path A winners | 5 June 2022 |
 Australia
|
AFC v CONMEBOL play-off winners | 13 June 2022 |
 Costa Rica
|
CONCACAF v OFC play-off winners | 14 June 2022 |
Confederation qualification
AFC
Main page: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
The opening two rounds was also qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. That means, Qatar, only plays in the first two rounds of qualifying.[2]
The qualification format is:[3]
- First round: 12 teams (ranked 35–46) played home-and-away over two legs. The six winners advanced to the second round.
- Second round: 40 teams (ranked 1–34, including Qatar the hosts, and the six winners from the first round) were divided into eight groups of five teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The seven group winners and the five best group runners-up advanced to the third round and also qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. Qatar finished as winners in their group, so the fifth-best runners-up advanced to the third round instead.[4]
- Third round: The 12 teams that advanced from the second round were divided into two groups of 6 teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top two teams of each group will qualify for the World Cup. The third-placed teams of each group will advance to the fourth round.
- Fourth round: The two third-placed teams in each group from the third round will play against each other in a single match to decide which team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Current stage (third round)
CAF
Main page: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
The qualification format is:[5]
- First round: 28 teams (ranked 27–54) played home-and-away over two legs. The fourteen winners advanced to the second round.
- Second round: 40 teams (teams ranked 1–26 and fourteen first round winners) were divided into ten groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The ten group winners advanced to the third round.
- Third round: The ten teams that advanced from the second round will play home-and-away over two legs. The five winners will qualify for the World Cup.
CONCACAF
Main page: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The qualification format is:[6][7][8]
- First round: CONCACAF teams ranked 6 to 35 in the July 2020 FIFA Rankings were drawn into six groups with five teams in each group and played single round-robin matches (two home and two away), the six group winners advanced to the second round.
- Second round: The six first-round group winners played in two-legged home-and-away games. The three winners advanced to the final round.
- Third round: The three second round winners joined the top five CONCACAF teams (Mexico, United States, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Honduras)[9] The top three teams qualify for the World Cup, and the fourth-placed team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
CONMEBOL
Main page: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
The qualification format is:[10]
All ten CONMEBOL teams will play in a league of home-and-away round-robin matches. The top four teams qualify for the World Cup, and the fifth-placed team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Current stage
OFC
Main page: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)
The qualification format is:[11][12]
- Qualification match: A single-legged match between the two lowest-ranked OFC teams. The winner will advance to the group stage.
- Group stage: 8 teams (teams ranked 1–7 and one qualification match winner) was divided into two groups of four teams to play round-robin matches in one venue. Each team will play each other once. First and second place from each group advanced the final stage.
- Final stage: 4 teams will play in a semi-finals. The 2 winners play against each other in the final. The winner advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Current stage (qualification match)
UEFA
Main page: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The qualification format is:[13][14]
- First round (group stage): Ten groups of either five or six teams with group winners qualifying for the World Cup finals. The four teams in the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals (France, Belgium, Italy, and Spain) were put into the smaller groups.
- Second round (play-off stage): The ten group runners-up are joined by the best two Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League overall ranking, that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group. These twelve teams were drawn into three play-off paths, playing two rounds of single-match play-offs (semi-finals with the seeded teams to host, followed by finals, with the home teams to be drawn), with the three path winners qualifying for the World Cup.
- First round (group stage): Ten groups of either five or six teams. The 10 group winners qualify for the World Cup.
- Second round (play-off stage): The ten group runners-up are joined by the best two Nations League group winners, that did not finish top two of their group in the first round. These twelve teams were drawn into three play-off paths, playing two rounds of single-match play-offs (semi-finals and finals). The three path winners qualify for the World Cup.
Final positions (first round)
Second round
{{#section:2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Second Round|Bracket A}} {{#section:2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Second Round|Bracket B}} {{#section:2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Second Round|Bracket C}}
Inter-confederation play-offs
There will be two inter-confederation play-offs[c] to determine the final two qualification spots for the World Cup. They are scheduled to be played in Qatar on 13–14 June 2022.[15][16]
AFC v CONMEBOL
{{#lst:2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)|playoff1}}
CONCACAF v OFC
{{#lst:2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)|playoff2}}
Goalscorers
There have been 2197 goals scored in 765 matches, for an average of 2.87 goals per match. Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.
14 goals
12 goals
11 goals
9 goals
8 goals
Below are goalscorer lists for each confederations and the inter-confederation play-offs:
2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification Media
Status of countries with respect to the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Team qualified Team failed to qualify Team withdrew or suspended Not a FIFA member
Map of the members of FIFA according to their confederation, on the 1st January 2006 (before this date, see this map):*
Notes
References
- ↑ "2022 World Cup: How qualifying works around the world". ESPN FC (ESPN). 25 May 2019. https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/3860182/2022-world-cup-how-qualifying-works-around-the-world. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ↑ Palmer, Dan (31 July 2017). "Hosts Qatar to compete in qualifying for 2022 World Cup". inside the games. http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1053493/hosts-qatar-to-compete-in-qualifying-for-2022-world-cup. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ↑ "Pakistan to learn World Cup, Asian Cup qualifying fate on April 17". Dawn.com. 6 December 2021. https://www.dawn.com/news/1471045/pakistan-to-learn-world-cup-asian-cup-qualifying-fate-on-april-17. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ↑ "Groups finalised for Qatar 2022 & China 2023 race". China.org.cn. 18 July 2019. http://www.china.org.cn/sports/2019-07/18/content_75003983.htm. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ↑ "CAF reverts to previous format for 2022 African World Cup qualifiers". Ahram Online. 10 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ↑ "Concacaf Announces Format for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Confederation Qualifiers". Concacaf.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ↑ "CONCACAF confirms 2022 World Cup qualifying will change". TSN. Canadian Press. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ↑ "New Concacaf Qualifiers announced for regional qualification to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". Concacaf. 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ↑ Mendola, Nicholas (20 August 2020). "USMNT learns World Cup qualifying road including Mexico dates". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020 – via NBC Sports.
- ↑ "Clasificatorio sudamericano al Mundial de Qatar arrancará en marzo del 2020" (in español). Conmebol. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ↑ Savannah Tafau-Levy (16 September 2021). "OFC update on FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Oceania Qualifiers". Oceania Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "Update on FIFA Club World Cup and OFC preliminary competition for Qatar 2022". FIFA. 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ↑ Game changer: group stage for UEFA Women's Champions League. Union of European Football Associations. 4 December 2019. https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/newsid=2635809.html. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- ↑ "Regulatory articles for the 2020–2022 European qualifiers play-offs" (PDF). FIFA. 22 October 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ↑ "Draw date set for new-look FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 intercontinental play-offs". FIFA. 19 November 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ↑ Allen, William (26 November 2021). "2022 World Cup inter-confederation play-off draw: fixtures and format". as.com. https://en.as.com/en/2021/11/26/soccer/1637955253_226019.html. Retrieved 30 November 2021.