UEFA Qualifying

This sector is to underline the European teams route to Qatar in 2022.

The qualifying draw has been made for the European segment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification#UEFA

Group I

England are in group I alongside, Poland, Hungary, Albania and the European minnows of; Andorra and San Marino.

Group E

Belgium, number one in the world lay in group E and have teams such as; Wales, Czechia, Belarus and Estonia.

Game 1 (Qualifying)

Day one of qualifying for England was a comfortable five nil win over the ‘world’s worst team’, San Marino. Poland drew with fellow group participant, Hungary, 3-3.

In Zlatan’s return to international action after a change of heart on his retirement, saw his Sweden side edge out Georgia with a 1-0 win.

Spain struggled against the Greeks with a one all draw. The other British nations are winless after Scotland drew whereas Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales all lost their opening games.

France drew their first game, 1-1 with the Ukraine.

Liechtenstein lost 1-0 against Armenia.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 25: Raheem Sterling of England scores his team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between England and San Marino at Wembley Stadium on March 25, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
VADUZ, LIECHTENSTEIN – MARCH 25: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Aron Sele of Liechtenstein and Sargis Adamyan of Armenien battle for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Liechtenstein and Armenia on March 25, 2021 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. (Photo by DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

3rd September 2021 Update:

England:

Undefeated in group I with victories against, San Marino, Albania, Poland and Hungary with Andorra to come on Sunday 5th September 2021.

England beat Hungary 4-0 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest last night (UK time). Racism was visible in the game sadly as numerous England players were victims to racism from the Hungarian support.

Elsewhere in group I, Poland beat Albania 4-1 last night and the minnows, Andorra and San Marino played with the latter losing 2-0 in the Pyrenees.

ANDORRA LA VELLA, ANDORRA – SEPTEMBER 02: Max Llovera of Andorra competes for the ball with Nicola Nanni of San Marino during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying Group I match between Andorra and San marino on September 02, at Estadi Nacional 2021 in Andorra la Vella, Andorra. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Northern Ireland:

Revitalised their campaign with a 4-1 victory over the eastern Europeans, ‘Lithuania’ despite the Irish having a depleted side.

Germany

Germany beat minnows, Lietchenstein 2-0 last night in Switzerland which moved the Germans up to second place, one point behind group leader, ‘Armenia’. Germany have put more goals past their opponents in the past, nine was counted in their 1996 international friendly fixture.

ST GALLEN, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 02: Joshua Kimmich of Germany runs with the ball during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Liechtenstein and Germany at Kybunpark on September 02, 2021 in St Gallen, Sankt Gallen. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

10th October 2021 update:

England comfortably beat minnows Andorra, 5-0 yesterday in their seventh game of a ten game qualifying league. Albania play Poland in their next game on Tuesday 12th October. A draw here and England win at home against Hungary, would guarantee England a play off spot. (England can’t qualify on Tuesday, they will be in a position to automatically qualify on match day 9).

Poland also were comfortable winners when they put aside San Marino with a 5-0 win.

Denmark beat Moldova, 4-0. (Moldova though have had some good press in the recent weeks with their first ever club side beating former Champions League winner, Real Madrid, in an astonishing shock victory.)

England’s midfielder James Ward-Prowse (foreground) scores a goal during the World Cup 2022 qualifier football match between Andorra and England at Estadi Nacional stadium in Andorra la Vella, on October 9, 2021. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP) (Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)

Kazkahstan famously beat Scotland a year or two ago in a qualifying game but yesterday they were beaten 2-0 by the Balkan nation of, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – OCTOBER 09: Nuraly Alip (3) of Kazakhstan in action during 2022 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group D match between Kazakhstan vs Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Astana Arena in in Astana, Kazakhstan on October 09, 2021. (Photo by Turar Kazangapov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

13th November 2021 update.

All European teams are nine games in to this qualification process and the end of round one is coming, as all teams only have one match left to play.

England are assured of at least a play off berth after their five nil win yesterday against Albania at Wembley.

Poland are the other team in contention for automatic qualification, though they require England to lose against the world’s worst football international team, San Marino. Poland would have to win their final game to grab the top spot.

(Number one in a group is an automatic route to the world cup)

Denmark and Germany are the only two nations who have already confirmed their place in next year’s tournament from Europe.

Scotland are in the play offs as they finished second in their group, Wales are third in their respective group, tied on 11 points with the Czech Republic. If they fail to win their two games, then their Nations League endeavours will catch their fall and enter the play offs. (This would only materialise if France finishes in the top two of their group)

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 12: Harry Kane of England is challenged by Kastriot Dermaku of Albania during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on November 12, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

26th November 2021 Update:

England are among the European nations that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2022 via thrashing the world’s lowest ranked nation, San Marino 10-0.

SAN MARINO, SAN MARINO – NOVEMBER 15: Nicola Nanni of San Marino battles for the ball with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher of England during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between San Marino and England at San Marino Stadium on November 15, 2021 in San Marino, San Marino. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Portugal/Italy and Scotland are some of the nations that have to go through the arduous process of the play offs.

Today also sees the play off picture becoming clearer as at 4pm (GMT), the draw for the play off round will commence.

(C) FIFA.com

Pot one contains the seeded teams whereas pot 2 contains the unseeded nations.

24th March 2022 UEFA qualification update!

This part of the qualification process is to determine the remaining European sides that have not automatically won a place at the finals in Qatar.

Due to the invasion of Ukraine from Russia, Ukraine’s play off against Scotland has been postponed and shall be played in June. Russia has been kicked out of qualifying which means Poland gets a bye.

Italy got knocked out by the team ranked 67th in the world, ‘North Macedonia’. North Macedonia scored late on in stoppage time to beat the Azzuri 1-0.

Portugal made hard work but won in the end with a 3-1 scoreline.

Bale scored twice to help Wales edge further to their first world cup participation since the 50’s. Wales are one match away from making history.

PALERMO, ITALY – MARCH 24: Kire Ristevski of North Macedonia, Stefan Spirovski of North Macedonia and Kire Ristevski of North Macedonia celebrates after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Italy and North Macedonia at Stadio Renzo Barbera on March 24, 2022 in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

29th March 2022 – World Cup Play Off Finals

There were two games that were played today, to decide two spots for the World Cup in November.

Giant killing North Macedonia beat Italy 1-0 in their previous game that set up this final against a Portuguese team that includes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Man Utd team mate, Bruno Fernandes. It was a Fernandes double that downed North Macedonia 2-0 in the play off final.

Poland received a bye to reach this stage after the Ukraine invasion by Russia. Poland were meant to play Russia in a semi final. Russia was disqualified from qualifying after the invasion came to light.

Poland beat Sweden 2-0 in their respective final to send Poland to the World Cup.

Wales will play the winners of the Ukraine/Scotland game that was postponed because of the crisis in Ukraine currently.

PORTO, PORTUGAL – MARCH 29: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Aleksandar Trajkovski of North Macedonia in action during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Portugal and North Macedonia at Estadio do Dragao on March 29, 2022 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)