World Cup 2022 European Qualifiers: Where and When, How It Works, Full Fixtures
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| Fifty-five teams, including giants France, Germany, Portugal and England, will be competing for 13 spots. |
Current World Cup holders France begin their title defense with an opening qualifying game against Ukraine. Other European behemoths England, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal will also be in action.
There are thirteen qualification spots up for grabs. With 55 teams competing for them, every game counts. We've got a full breakdown of how the qualification process works below as well as the upcoming fixtures and details of how to watch the games live.
FIFA World Cup 2022 European qualifiers: Where and when?
The first batch of FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers for the UEFA region take place in March 2021. March's fixture list sees three matchdays take place back-to-back from March 24 through March 31. See a full list of those fixtures further down this page.
There will then be a break in qualifying proceedings over the summer as the delayed Euro 2020 tournament takes place with nations turning their attention back to the World Cup from September 2021.
How do the FIFA World Cup 2022 European qualifiers work?
The FIFA World Cup 2022 European qualifiers will be played over two stages. The initial group stage sees the 55 European nations divided into 10 groups of either five or six teams.
Teams in each group will play each other in a round-robin format with the top team in each group qualifying directly for the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals. All straightforward so far.
It's a little more complex for the second-place finishers in the group stage. The ten runners up from each group will be given another chance at qualification in a play-off style second qualifying round alongside the two best group winners of the UEFA Nations League 2020-21.
Those twelve teams will be drawn into three pathways of four teams, each playing a knockout semi-final and final. The three resultant winners will qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Format
The FIFA World Cup 2022 European qualifiers will be contested in two stages. The group stage will see 55 teams divided in 10 groups of five or six teams each. Belgium, France, Italy, Spain – the four teams who reached the 2021 UEFA Nations League finals will comprise the smaller groups.
Group A: Portugal, Serbia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan
Group B: Spain, Sweden, Greece, Georgia, Kosovo
Group C: Italy, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania
Group D: France, Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan
Group E: Belgium, Wales, Czech Republic, Belarus, Estonia
Group F: Denmark, Austria, Scotland, Israel, Faroe Islands, Moldova
Group G: Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Montenegro, Latvia, Gibraltar
Group H: Croatia, Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta
Group I: England, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra, San Marino
Group J: Germany, Romania, Iceland, North Macedonia, Armenia, Liechtenstein
The group stage encounters will see each side take on each other twice with the eventual 10 group winners qualifying directly for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The second placed countries will meanwhile move onto the second round. There, they will be joined by the two best group winners of the UEFA Nations League 2020-21.
The 12 teams will then be drawn into three play-off groups constituted of four teams each. Each play-off path will see the teams play a one-off semi-final and a final with each other. The three winners from each play-off path will qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 to give us the final countries competing for a shot at glory.
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European nations' group stage fixtures at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
MATCHDAY 1
Wednesday 24 March
Group A: Portugal vs Azerbaijan, Serbia vs Republic of Ireland
Group D: Finland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, France vs Ukraine
Group E: Belgium vs Wales, Estonia vs Czech Republic
Group G: Gibraltar vs Norway, Latvia vs Montenegro, Turkey vs Netherlands
Group H: Cyprus vs Slovakia, Malta vs Russia, Slovenia vs Croatia
Thursday 25 March
Group B: Spain vs Greece, Sweden vs Georgia
Group C: Bulgaria vs Switzerland, Italy vs Northern Ireland
Group F: Israel vs Denmark, Moldova vs Faroe Islands, Scotland vs Austria
Group I: Andorra vs Albania, England vs San Marino, Hungary vs Poland
Group J: Germany vs Iceland, Liechtenstein vs Armenia, Romania vs North Macedonia
MATCHDAY 2
Saturday 27 March
Group A: Republic of Ireland vs Luxembourg, Serbia vs Portugal
Group E: Belarus vs Estonia (18:00), Czech Republic vs Belgium
Group G: Montenegro vs Gibraltar (15:00), Norway vs Turkey (18:00), Netherlands vs Latvia
Group H: Russia vs Slovenia (15:00), Croatia vs Cyprus (18:00), Slovakia vs Malta
Sunday 28 March
Group B: Georgia vs Spain (18:00), Kosovo vs Sweden
Group C: Bulgaria vs Italy, Switzerland vs Lithuania
Group D: Kazakhstan vs France, Ukraine vs Finland
Group F: Denmark vs Moldova (18:00), Austria vs Faroe Islands, Israel vs Scotland
Group I: Albania vs England (18:00), Poland vs Andorra, San Marino vs Hungary
Group J: Armenia vs Iceland (18:00), North Macedonia vs Liechtenstein, Romania vs Germany
MATCHDAY 3
Tuesday 30 March
Group A: Azerbaijan vs Serbia (18:00), Luxembourg vs Portugal
Group E: Belgium vs Belarus, Wales vs Czech Republic
Group G: Gibraltar vs Netherlands, Montenegro vs Norway, Turkey vs Latvia
Group H: Croatia vs Malta, Cyprus vs Slovenia, Slovakia vs Russia
Wednesday 31 March
Group B: Greece vs Georgia, Spain vs Kosovo
Group C: Lithuania vs Italy, Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria
Group D: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs France, Ukraine vs Kazakhstan
Group F: Austria vs Denmark, Moldova vs Israel, Scotland vs Faroe Islands
Group I: Andorra vs Hungary, England vs Poland, San Marino vs Albania
Group J: Armenia vs Romania (18:00), Germany vs North Macedonia, Liechtenstein vs Iceland
MATCHDAY 4
Wednesday 1 September
Group A: Luxembourg vs Azerbaijan, Portugal vs Republic of Ireland
Group D: Kazakhstan vs Ukraine (16:00), France vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group F: Denmark vs Scotland, Faroe Islands vs Israel, Moldova vs Austria
Group G: Latvia vs Gibraltar, Norway vs Netherlands, Turkey vs Montenegro
Group H: Malta vs Cyprus, Russia vs Croatia, Slovenia vs Slovakia
Thursday 2 September
Group B: Georgia vs Kosovo (18:00), Sweden vs Spain
Group C: Italy vs Bulgaria, Lithuania vs Northern Ireland
Group E: Czech Republic vs Belarus, Estonia vs Belgium
Group I: Andorra vs San Marino, Hungary vs England, Poland vs Albania
Group J: Iceland vs Romania, Liechtenstein vs Germany, North Macedonia vs Armenia
MATCHDAY 5
Saturday 4 September
Group A: Republic of Ireland vs Azerbaijan (18:00), Serbia vs Luxembourg (18:00)
Group D: Finland vs Kazakhstan (18:00), Ukraine vs France
Group F: Faroe Islands vs Denmark, Israel vs Austria, Scotland vs Moldova
Group G: Latvia vs Norway (18:00), Gibraltar vs Turkey, Netherlands vs Montenegro
Group H: Cyprus vs Russia (15:00), Slovenia vs Malta (18:00), Slovakia vs Croatia
Sunday 5 September
Group B: Kosovo vs Greece, Spain vs Georgia
Group C: Bulgaria vs Lithuania (18:00), Switzerland vs Italy
Group E: Belarus vs Wales (15:00), Belgium vs Czech Republic
Group I: Albania vs Hungary (18:00), England vs Andorra (18:00), San Marino vs Poland
Group J: Iceland vs North Macedonia (18:00), Germany vs Armenia, Romania vs Liechtenstein
MATCHDAY 6
Tuesday 7 September
Group A: Azerbaijan vs Portugal (18:00), Republic of Ireland vs Serbia
Group D: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Kazakhstan, France vs Finland
Group F: Austria vs Scotland, Denmark vs Israel, Faroe Islands vs Moldova
Group G: Montenegro vs Latvia, Netherlands vs Turkey, Norway vs Gibraltar
Group H: Croatia vs Slovenia, Russia vs Malta, Slovakia vs Cyprus
Wednesday 8 September
Group B: Greece vs Sweden, Kosovo vs Spain
Group C: Italy vs Lithuania, Northern Ireland vs Switzerland
Group E: Belarus vs Belgium, Wales vs Estonia
Group I: Albania vs San Marino, Hungary vs Andorra, Poland vs England
Group J: Armenia vs Liechtenstein (18:00), Iceland vs Germany, North Macedonia vs Romania
MATCHDAY 7
Friday 8 October
Group E: Czech Republic vs Wales, Estonia vs Belarus
Group G: Gibraltar vs Montenegro, Latvia vs Netherlands, Turkey vs Norway
Group H: Cyprus vs Croatia, Malta vs Slovenia, Russia vs Slovakia
Group J: Germany vs Romania, Iceland vs Armenia, Liechtenstein vs North Macedonia
Saturday 9 October
Group A: Azerbaijan vs Republic of Ireland (18:00), Luxembourg vs Serbia
Group B: Georgia vs Greece (18:00), Sweden vs Kosovo (18:00)
Group C: Lithuania vs Bulgaria (15:00), Switzerland vs Northern Ireland
Group D: Kazakhstan vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (15:00), Finland vs Ukraine (18:00)
Group F: Scotland vs Israel (18:00), Faroe Islands vs Austria, Moldova vs Denmark
Group I: Andorra vs England, Hungary vs Albania, Poland vs San Marino
MATCHDAY 8
Monday 11 October
Group E: Belarus vs Czech Republic, Estonia vs Wales
Group G: Latvia vs Turkey, Netherlands vs Gibraltar, Norway vs Montenegro
Group H: Croatia vs Slovakia, Cyprus vs Malta, Slovenia vs Russia
Group J: Iceland vs Liechtenstein, North Macedonia vs Germany, Romania vs Armenia
Tuesday 12 October
Group A: Portugal vs Luxembourg, Serbia vs Azerbaijan
Group B: Kosovo vs Georgia, Sweden vs Greece
Group C: Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland, Lithuania vs Switzerland
Group D: Kazakhstan vs Finland (16:00), Ukraine vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group F: Denmark vs Austria, Faroe Islands vs Scotland, Israel vs Moldova
Group I: Albania vs Poland, England vs Hungary, San Marino vs Andorra
MATCHDAY 9
Thursday 11 November
Group A: Azerbaijan vs Luxembourg (18:00), Republic of Ireland vs Portugal
Group B: Georgia vs Sweden (18:00), Greece vs Spain
Group H: Russia vs Cyprus (18:00), Malta vs Croatia, Slovakia vs Slovenia
Group J: Armenia vs North Macedonia (18:00), Germany vs Liechtenstein, Romania vs Iceland
Friday 12 November
Group C: Italy vs Switzerland, Northern Ireland vs Lithuania
Group F: Austria vs Israel, Denmark vs Faroe Islands, Moldova vs Scotland
Group I: Andorra vs Poland, England vs Albania, Hungary vs San Marino
Saturday 13 November
Group D: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Finland (15:00), France vs Kazakhstan
Group G: Norway vs Latvia (18:00), Turkey vs Gibraltar (18:00), Montenegro vs Netherlands
Group E: Belgium vs Estonia, Wales vs Belarus
MATCHDAY 10
Sunday 14 November
Group A: Luxembourg vs Republic of Ireland, Portugal vs Serbia
Group B: Greece vs Kosovo, Spain vs Sweden
Group H: Croatia vs Russia (14:00), Malta vs Slovakia (15:00), Slovenia vs Cyprus (14:00)
Group J: Armenia vs Germany (18:00), Liechtenstein vs Romania (18:00), North Macedonia vs Iceland (18:00)
Monday 15 November
Group C: Northern Ireland vs Italy, Switzerland vs Bulgaria
Group F: Austria vs Moldova, Israel vs Faroe Islands, Scotland vs Denmark
Group I: Albania vs Andorra, Poland vs Hungary, San Marino vs England
Tuesday 16 November
Group D: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Ukraine, Finland vs France
Group E: Czech Republic vs Estonia, Wales vs Belgium
Group G: Gibraltar vs Latvia, Montenegro vs Turkey, Netherlands vs Norway
UEFA has invited the Qatar national team – the reigning champions of Asia – to prepare for the 2022 World Cup. Qatar will join Group A along with Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan and will play their 'home' matches in Europe in order to allow short travel times for their opponents. As the next World Cup host nation, Qatar are automatically in the tournament, meaning any of their results will not count towards qualification. Below is the full calendar of matches for Group A that results from this.
| Wednesday 24 March: Portugal vs Azerbaijan, Serbia vs Republic of Ireland, Qatar vs Luxembourg Saturday 27 March: Republic of Ireland vs Luxembourg, Serbia vs Portugal, Qatar vs Azerbaijan Tuesday 30 March: Azerbaijan vs Serbia (18:00), Luxembourg vs Portugal, Qatar vs Republic of Ireland Wednesday 1 September: Luxembourg vs Azerbaijan, Portugal vs Republic of Ireland, Qatar vs Serbia Saturday 4 September: Republic of Ireland vs Azerbaijan (18:00), Serbia vs Luxembourg (18:00), Qatar vs Portugal Tuesday 7 September: Azerbaijan vs Portugal (18:00), Republic of Ireland vs Serbia, Luxembourg vs Qatar Saturday 9 October: Azerbaijan vs Republic of Ireland (18:00), Luxembourg vs Serbia, Portugal vs Qatar Tuesday 12 October: Portugal vs Luxembourg, Serbia vs Azerbaijan, Republic of Ireland vs Qatar Thursday 11 November: Azerbaijan vs Luxembourg (18:00), Republic of Ireland vs Portugal, Serbia vs Qatar Sunday 14 November: Luxembourg vs Republic of Ireland, Portugal vs Serbia, Azerbaijan vs Qatar |
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