November 27 – FIFA has confirmed the seedings for the European section of qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, with England, Belgium and reigning world champions France in Pot 1.
The seedings were allocated based on the latest FIFA ranking. In Pot 1, the world number one Belgium is joined by France, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
Switzerland narrowly missed out on making Pot 1 after poor results in the recent Nations League. Poland and Sweden are among the other heavyweights in Pot 2. The 2018 World Cup hosts Russia as well as Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland find themselves in Pot 3.
In Pot 4, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are the most prominent teams. The next pot contains more teams from the periphery of the European game, with among others Faroe Islands, Latvia and Lithuania.
Pot 6 groups all the minnows, including UEFA’s low-rankest country San Marino, and they will be drawn into sixth position in groups F to J.
The draw will take place on December 7 as a virtual event due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Europe will have 13 representatives at the next World Cup finals. The ten group winners will qualify directly for Qatar 2022, with the ten runners-up advancing to the play-offs.
Pot selections:
Pot 1: Belgium, France, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
Pot 2: Switzerland, Wales, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Turkey, Slovakia and Romania
Pot 3: Russia, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, Norway, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, Greece and Finland
Pot 4: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Israel, Belarus, Georgia and Luxembourg
Pot 5: Armenia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia and Andorra
Pot 6: Malta, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar and San Marino
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1735063574labto1735063574ofdlr1735063574owedi1735063574sni@o1735063574fni1735063574