FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2022: Which Team has Qualified and Which Eliminated? Know Upcoming Fixtures

FIFA World Cup 2022 qualified teams: In the most shocking exit, European Champions Italy have been knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers after losing 1-0 to North Macedonia in their playoff semifinal on March 24, 2022. This will be the second consecutive time that Italy will not feature in the FIFA World Cup, as it did not qualify in the last edition as well, which was the first time they had failed to qualify for the tournament since 1958. 

Portugal won 3-1 against Turkey and will play against North Macedonia for a place at the FIFA World Cup 2022 on March 30th. Among other European teams, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Spain, England, Croatia, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Serbia have already qualified for the 2022 World Cup. Every region has a set number of teams that will qualify for the world cup. 

Among the Asian teams, Qatar has got an automatic qualification being the hosts, while Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and South Korea also qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022, filling up all the Asian slots. 

From South America, Brazil and Argentina qualified first and now Uruguay has booked its FIFA World Cup 2022 spot after winning its FIFA World Cup qualifiers match against Peru on March 24th, helping Ecuador also to qualify despite its 3-1 defeat against Paraguay. 

The following number of nations will qualify from each region:

Africa: 5

Asia: 4 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)

Europe: 13

North/Central America & Caribbean: 3 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)

Oceania: 1 playoff qualifier

South America: 4 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)

FIFA World Cup 2022- European Playoffs (UEFA)

Out of the total 13 European slots, 11 have been filled so far and three remain to be filled. The European playoffs have been the most complicated so far after FIFA and European body UEFA jointly suspended Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

Poland was initially scheduled to play against Russia in the playoffs but with its ouster, Poland will now face Sweden in the finals for a spot in the 2022 World Cup. Ukraine's playoff match against Scotland has also been postponed till June due to the war in Ukraine.

Italy, the current European Champions have been knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2022 after losing to North Macedonia in the semifinals. Portugal will now face North Macedonia to confirm its spot in the World Cup. 

Following are the three upcoming European playoff fixtures:

1.  Wales vs. Scotland or Ukraine (in June) 

2.  Poland vs. Sweden (March 30, 12.15 am)

3. Portugal vs. North Macedonia  (March 30, 12.15 am)

FIFA World Cup 2022: Full List of Qualified Teams

The FIFA World Cup 2022 will involve 32 teams, out of which 19 have qualified and 13 spots are yet to be filled. Brazil was the first team to qualify from South America and was later joined by Argentina. This will be the last FIFA World Cup featuring 32 teams, as the number of teams will be increased to 48 from the next edition.  The FIFA World Cup has featured 32 teams in the six editions since the 1998 France World Cup.

Check Full List of 19 qualified Teams

FIFA World Cup 2022 Upcoming Fixtures

A total of 36 teams are in the fray for the remaining 13 FIFA World Cup 2022 spots, out of which 10 spots are expected to be filled between March 24 and March 30. These include two in Europe, five in Africa and three in North America. 

Following are the upcoming fixtures-

European World Cup Playoff Finals 2022 ( 3 spots left)

March 30: Poland vs. Sweden

March 30: Portugal vs. North Macedonia

June: Wales vs. Scotland or Ukraine ( Sweden vs Ukraine World Cup playoff semifinal has been postponed to June due to the War in Ukraine so the final will be played after that, which will decide the last European spot).

Oceania World Cup Playoff Semifinals 2022 ( 1 spot)

Semifinal 1: New Zealand vs Tahiti

Semifinal 2: Solomon Islands vs Papua New Guinea

North America (CONCACAF) (4 spots)

The United States, Canada and Mexico are likely to take up first 3 spots.

Panama and Cost Rica will fight for fourth place, which will grant them a spot in an intercontinental playoff against Oceania team.

South America (CONMEBOL) ( 1 intercontinental playoff spot left)

Peru, Chile and Colombia will compete for fifth place to play the intercontinental playoff against Asian playoff team.

Africa Playoff Finals 2022 (CAF) ( 5 spots left)

Egypt v Senegal

Cameroon v Algeria

Ghana v Nigeria

DR Congo v Morocco

Mali v Tunisia 

Asia Playoff 2022 (AFC)  ( 1 intercontinental playoff spot left)

Australia will face either Iraq. Lebanon and UAE for a spot in the intercontinental playoff in June.

Intercontinental Playoffs 2022

Two Intercontinental Playoffs 2022 will be played between June 13-14 in Qatar. 

Intercontinental Playoffs 2022 1: Asian  Intercontinental qualifier vs South American 5th place team 

Intercontinental Playoffs 2022 2: North American Intercontinental qualifier vs. Oceania winner