Twelve teams from the UEFA phase of qualifying compete in the UEFA Second Round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament, also known as the UEFA play-offs. The play-offs will select the final three European teams that will compete in the World Cup in Qatar with the group winners. The play-offs feature the ten runners-up from the UEFA First Round groups, as well as two group winners from the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. The teams were split into three pathways, each with four teams, with two single-leg semi-finals and one single-leg final in each play-off path. In March and June of 2022, the matches will take place.
Path A: Wales vs Austria
Path B: Sweden vs Czech Republic
Path C: Italy vs North Macedonia, Portugal vs Turkey
Semi-final – postponed, date tbc
Path A: Scotland vs Ukraine
Finals – Tuesday 29 March 2022
Path B: Poland vs Sweden / Czech Republic
Path C: Portugal / Turkey vs Italy / North Macedonia
Final – postponed, date tbc
Path A: Wales / Austria vs Scotland / Ukraine
All confirmed kick-offs 20:45 CET.
In this thread, we shall be covering all the UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff matches. Join the discussion and share your views on the various matches.
Portugal and Turkey will both aim to move one step closer to World Cup 2022 qualification when they do battle in Thursday’s playoff semi-final at the Estadio do Dragao.
Fernando Santos’s side are forced to go down the playoff route after finishing second in Group A, while Turkey finished as runners-up to the Netherlands in Group G.
A potential meeting with Italy in the playoff final could follow for Portugal - assuming that the European champions can navigate their way past North Macedonia in the other Path C semi-final - meaning that at least one of the two European heavyweights will be watching on from home later this year.
Despite taking maximum points from their final three fixtures in the group phase, it was too little too late for Turkey to pip the Netherlands to the top spot in Group G, as Stefan Kuntz’s side seek just a third-ever appearance at the World Cup finals.
Since crashing out of Euro 2020 without a single point to their name, the Crescent-Stars have only suffered one defeat in seven games since - although it was a 6-1 humbling at the hands of the Dutch - and they marched to successive wins over Latvia, Gibraltar and Montenegro to round off Group G.
Portugal’s backline is significantly weakened, with Ruben Dias (injured), Joao Cancelo (suspended) and Pepe (Covid) all missing, while in midfield Wolves’ in-form Ruben Neves has pulled out injured.
Turkey have no such suspension or injury problems, welcoming back Mert Mulder, who was banned during the last international break.
UEFA Euro 2020 champions Italy are among the nations vying for a spot after finishing second in their group behind Switzerland. The underwhelming qualifying campaign has now forced Roberto Mancini’s men to battle it out for their participation in the coveted competition.
Italy start their playoff campaign on Thursday with a game against North Macedonia at Renzo Barbera Stadium in Palermo. Despite the home advantage, it is a tricky game for the Gli Azzurri, who had dropped points against the likes of Northern Ireland and Bulgaria during their group qualifying stage.
Macedonia are a daunting opponent, who had finished second behind Germany in Group J. They had finished ahead of established nations such as Romania and Iceland and had even beaten Germany once.
The winner of this tie will qualify for the playoff final against either Portugal or Turkey, who play each other on the same day at the iconic Estadio do Dragao.
If Italy are defeated in this tie, they could miss out on qualification for the FIFA World Cup for the second time in a row, after missing the 2018 edition in Russia.
North Macedonia, on the other hand, are only two wins away from qualifying for a World Cup for the first time since their independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
The last time Cristiano Ronaldo played in the FIFA World Cup play-off,he scored a hat-trick against Sweden.
Tonight he leads Portugal in yet another tough FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ play off game vs.Turkey!
Poland have a bye after Russia were disqualified due to the war in 
Ukraine.
Sweden vs. 
Czech Republic.
Turkey XI: Çakir; Kabak, Söyüncü, Demiral, Kutlu; Çelik, Kökçü, Çalhanoglu, Akturoglu; Cengiz Ünder; Yilmaz
vs. Qatar
