Fifty-five teams, including giants France, Germany, Portugal and England, will be competing for 13 spots.
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.

Read More: How To Watch FIFA World Cup 2022 European Qualifiers From Anywhere: Quick Links, Guide to Live Stream

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.

World Cup 2022 European Qualifiers: Where and When, How It Works, Full Fixtures

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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