Sports: World Cup qualifier playoffs draw: Final Qatar 2022 spots around world & Europe

Rivalry means everything when USA and Mexico meet, even if World Cup qualifying is at stake

When the USA and Mexico meet at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, the match will be about much more than the World Cup qualifying points with both teams in decent shape to advance to Qatar.What was the occasion? The CONCACAF Nations League? The Gold Cup? Call it what you will, but what mattered was this: USA-Mexico.

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.

Bundesliga: FCB: Planned sales probably difficult

The Intended sale of Michael Cuisance turns out because of its claims to Bayern Munich apparently difficult. Manuel Neuer to Bayern Munich with Qatar in the management of the club have scrutinized the partnership. Robert Lewandowski was rested in the final World Cup qualifier of the Polish national team against Hungary. There is news and rumors for FCB. © Contributed by SPOX The Intended sale of Michael Cuisance apparently designed to be difficult because of its claims for Bayern Munich.

MORE: Which teams have qualified to the 2022 World Cup?

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.

Canada vs. Mexico: Time, TV, streaming, betting odds for CONCACAF World Cup qualifier

The pressure is mounting on Gerardo "Tata" Martino after only his first loss in qualifying, but his third straight to archrivals USA. Another misstep against Canada could make for a cold, cold winter.Canada scheduled its two November home qualifiers in Edmonton hoping for the weather to provide it with a decided home-field advantage. The setting worked Friday in a 1-0 win over Costa Rica. A second straight home victory over a favorite for one of the three automatic berths would considerably boost Canada’s chances to qualify for its first World Cup since 1986. And if it came against longtime regional power Mexico, it would legitimize Canada as a new CONCACAF force.

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.

MORE: Could Cristiano Ronaldo miss out on the World Cup?

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.

A year to go, Qatar World Cup still feels heat of scrutiny

The eight stadiums — all within a 30-mile radius of Doha — are now largely complete. The 2022 World Cup has been preserved after fending off hostility from neighbors, corruption investigations and concerns about worker abuses. And a clock on the Corniche waterfront in the Qatari capital was unveiled on Sunday to count down one year until kickoff. Expect another 12 months of pressure from rights groups — fueled by player protests — and indignation from some World Cup organizers. “Qatar has been unfairly treated and scrutinized for a number of years,” organizing committee CEO Nasser Al Khater said Saturday.

Home teams listed first

Bracket (Path) A - 1 World Cup berth

Date	Match	Time (ET)	TV channels	Stream
Thurs/Fri, March 24/25	Semi #1: Scotland vs. Ukraine	TBD	TBD
Thurs/Fri, March 24/25	Semi #2: Wales vs. Austria	TBD	TBD
Mon/Tues, March 28/29	Final (Wales vs. Austria winner will host)	TBD	TBD

Bracket (Path) B - 1 World Cup berth

Date	Match	Time (ET)	TV channels	Stream
Thurs/Fri, March 24/25	Semi #1: Russia vs. Poland	TBD	TBD
Thurs/Fri, March 24/25	Semi #2: Sweden vs. Czech Republic	TBD	TBD
Mon/Tues, March 28/29	Final (Russia vs. Poland winner will host)	TBD	TBD

Bracket (Path) C - 1 World Cup berth

Date	Match	Time (ET)	TV channels	Stream
Thurs/Fri, March 24/25	Semi #1: Italy vs. North Macedonia	TBD	TBD
Thurs/Fri, March 24/25	Semi #2: Portugal vs. Turkey	TBD	TBD
Mon/Tues, March 28/29	Final (Portugal vs. Turkey winner will host)	TBD	TBD

© Provided by Sporting News Euro playoff draw with hosts - 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar

World Cup Intercontinental Playoffs (2 berths)

There are four national teams that will advance to the FIFA intercontinental playoffs:

• Asia: Winner of match between 3rd-place teams (currently UAE and Australia)
• North America: 4th-place team (currently Panama)
• Oceania: Qualifying winner TBD (schedule coming Nov. 29)
• South America: 5th-place team (currently Peru)

The Nov. 26 draw determined which continents will face off in each knockout match in June 2022 to complete the field of 32 World Cup teams. In the past, these were held over two legs, but due to schedule congestion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they will be single-game knockout playoffs at a neutral venue.

Canadiens' Cedric Paquette could be back as early as Wednesday

Joel Edmundson and Jake Allen were both on the ice Monday as well, although the former isn’t expected to play just yet and an update on the latter won’t come until Tuesday. While much of the focus Monday was on the news that Kevin Hayes re-injured himself and is out week-to-week, there were some other updates out of the Philadelphia Flyers organization. Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Wade Allison has resumed skating and has been cleared for practice with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Unfortunately for the Flyers, Tyson Foerster could miss five months with a shoulder injury.

Date	Match	Time (ET)	TV channels	Stream
Mon/Tues, June 13/14	Asia vs. South America	TBD	TBD
Mon/Tues, June 13/14	North America vs. Oceania	TBD	TBD

© Provided by Sporting News 2022 World Cup Intercontinental playoff - Qatar - FIFA World Cup

When does the FIFA World Cup start?

• Inaugural matches: Monday, Nov. 21, 2022
• World Cup final: Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will kick off on a Monday with four matches in Qatar.

The World Cup final will still be held on a Sunday, as per tradition. The trophy will be hoisted by the winner on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.

Which teams have qualified for the World Cup?

A total of 13 teams have officially qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including the host nation. That leaves 19 spots to be filled in the upcoming months.

In addition to host nation Qatar, there have been 10 nations from Europe to qualify for the tournament (the 10 qualifying group winners). Brazil was the first to earn a berth from South America with five qualifying matches left, and it was later joined by Argentina.

No.	Nation	Region	How qualified
1	Qatar	Asia	Host
2	TBD	Asia	1st - Asia Grp A
3	TBD	Asia	2nd - Asia Grp A
4	TBD	Asia	1st - Asia Grp B
5	TBD	Asia	2nd - Asia Grp B
6	TBD	Africa	Winner - Africa Series 1
7	TBD	Africa	Winner - Africa Series 2
8	TBD	Africa	Winner - Africa Series 3
9	TBD	Africa	Winner - Africa Series 4
10	TBD	Africa	Winner - Africa Series 5
11	TBD	N. America	1st - CONCACAF
12	TBD	N. America	2nd - CONCACAF
13	TBD	N. America	3rd - CONCACAF
14	Brazil	S. America	Top 4 - South America
15	Argentina	S America	Top 4 - South America
16	TBD	S. America	Top 4 - South America
17	TBD	S. America	Top 4 - South America
18	Serbia	Europe	1st - Europe Group A
19	Spain	Europe	1st - Europe Group B
20	Switzerland	Europe	1st - Europe Group C
21	France	Europe	1st - Europe Group D
22	Belgium	Europe	1st - Europe Group E
23	Denmark	Europe	1st - Europe Group F
24	Netherlands	Europe	1st - Europe Group G
25	Croatia	Europe	1st - Europe Group H
26	England	Europe	1st - Europe Group I
27	Germany	Europe	1st - Europe Group J
28	TBD	Europe	Europe Playoff Bracket #1 Austria, Scotland, Ukraine or Wales
29	TBD	Europe	Europe Playoff Bracket #2 Czech Rep., Poland, Russia or Sweden
30	TBD	Europe	Europe Playoff Bracket #3 Italy, N. Macedonia, Portugal or Turkey
31	TBD	TBD	Intercontinental Playoff #1 Asia or South America
32	TBD	TBD	Intercontinental Playoff #2 North America or Oceania