The World Cup 2022 Qualifier

First of all, we as bettors must of course ask ourselves who is qualified for the World Cup in the first place? If you already want to bet on a World Cup winner, you have to keep an eye on the current standings in the World Cup qualifying groups and include them in your bet.

At the moment, for example, Portugal and Italy are struggling to qualify.  The two heavyweights are two of twelve teams that still have to qualify via the detour of the play-offs. A bet on one of the play-off participants is of course more risky than on an already qualified association.

A total of 32 nations will compete in Qatar. The places will be divided between the federations as follows:

• Europe: 13 starting places
• Asia/Australia: 4 or 5 starting places
• Africa: 5 starting places
• South America: 4 or 5 starting places
• North and Central America: 3 or 4 starting places
• Oceania: 0 or 1 starting place

Two World Cup participants will be played in the so-called intercontinental play-offs. One team each from Asia/Australia, South America, North and Central America and Oceania will qualify.

Here you can find an overview of the play-offs:

Path A:

Semifinal 1: Scotland – Ukraine (POSPONED)

Semifinal 2: Wales – Austria (24.03.2022) 2:1

Path B:

Semifinal 1: Russia – Poland (Russia excluded)

Semifinal 2: Sweden – Czech Republic (24.03.2022) 1:0

Path C:

Semifinal 1: Italy – North Macedonia (24.03.2022) 0:1

Semifinal 2: Portugal – Turkey (24.03.2022) 3:1

Finals (path B and path C): 29.3.2022

Ukraine’s play-off match against Scotland has been moved to the summer due to the war. The match is expected to take place in June. Consequently, the winner of the Wales – Austria match will also have to be patient. The final match will also be rescheduled. 

Im Finale steht bereits Polen. Nach dem Ausschluss Russlands wartet das Team um Lewandowski auf Schweden oder Tschechien.

Mit einer Ausnahme werden also alle europäischen Teilnehmer am 29.3. feststehen.

Qualified Nations:

Some nations are already qualified. We have listed them here for you:

• Qatar (host)
• Germany
• Denmark
• France
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Spain
• Serbia
• Switzerland
• England
• Netherlands
• Brazil
• Argentina

Status: 15.03.2022

Africa

In the final stage of World Cup qualifying, the 10 group winners from the preliminary round will play for the five African starting places for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The play-off matches will be played with first and second legs. The five play-off winners qualify directly. They will be played from 24 to 29 March 2022, i.e. at the same time as the European duels.

Play-off matches Africa:

• Egypt – Senegal
• Cameroon – Algeria
• Ghana – Nigeria
•  DR Congo – Morocco
•  Mali – Tunisia

In Africa, too, it will be one of the favourites. In the rematch of the final of the continental championship, Egypt has the chance to take revenge against Senegal. Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Morocco are the other top names among the African football nations. Only Côte d’Ivoire had to pull out of the group stage. Cameroon won this “group of death”.

Asia

Already qualified:

• Qatar (Host)
• Iran
• South Korea

In Asia, the decisive qualifying round will be played in two groups of six teams each. In Group A, Iran and South Korea are already the group winners with two match days to go.

In Group B, three teams still have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup:

• Saudi Arabia – 19 points
• Japan – 18 points
• Australia – 15 points

Status: 15.03.2022

The two third-placed teams will play another deciding match. The winner can then fight for another ticket to Qatar in the intercontinental duel against the fifth-placed South American group.

South America

Already qualified:

• Brasil
• Argentina

Here, the heavyweights have already fought their way through. The fight for places 3 and 4, however, is still completely open. Four nations still have hope:

• Ecuador – 25 points
• Uruguay – 22 points
• Peru – 21 points
• Chile – 19 points

Status: 15.03.2022

With 17 points, Colombia only have a theoretical chance of finishing fourth. Fifth place is also likely to be out of reach for the 2014 quarter-finalists. This place gives them a second chance at a World Cup ticket. In the duel with the Asian representative, another starting place awaits. 

North and Central America

Three match days remain and no team has qualified yet. Canada, however, has the best chance. One point is still missing to make the dream of their first World Cup participation since 1986 come true. The top three will get a ticket to Qatar. Still in the race are:

• Canada – 25 points
• USA – 21 points
• Mexico – 21 points
• Panama – 17 points
• Costa Rica – 16 points

Status: 15.03.2022

The fourth-placed team gets a second chance and plays against the Oceania representative for a starting place.

Oceania

Here, three rounds are still to be played in the knockout system. New Zealand reckons it has the best chance of winning the intercontinental match. But the Kiwis will also go into this duel as underdogs. 

Allocation of places between the federations:

A total of 32 nations will compete. The places will be divided between the federations as follows:

• Europe: 13 starting places
• Asia/Australia: 4 or 5 starting places
• Africa: 5 starting places
• South America 4 or 5 starting places
• North and Central America: 3 or 4 starting places
• Oceania: 0 or 1 starting place

Two World Cup participants will be determined by the so-called intercontinental play-offs. One team from each of Asia/Australia, South America, North and Central America and Oceania will qualify. The draw determines who will meet whom. The draw of the opponents in particular makes it difficult for us bettors to make concrete predictions here.

Our tip: Wait with your prediction until a nation has qualified.