WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: Italy is out. Four more teams joined the list of ‘qualified’ to leave thirteen spots left out of the thirty-two.

THE DIRECT QUALIFICATION SPOTS ARE DECIDED IN THE CONMEBOL AND IN THE AFC.

THIRTEEN MORE SLOTS LEFT.

Four teams joined the list of (15) qualified nations for the 2022 World Cup on March 24, 2022.

QUALIFIED NATIONS FOR THE 2022 WORLD CUP
{capitalize = new entry}

Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
Croatia
Denmark
ECUADOR
England
France
Germany
Iran
JAPAN
Netherlands
Qatar
SAUDI ARABIA
Serbia
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
URUGUAY




UEFA WCQ
(Back-to-back) Yes!. Italy will be missing out on another World Cup.

The highlighted result was Italy’s defeat to North Macedonia.

Not many would’ve thought that Italy will repeat their mistakes from the 2018 qualifiers.
The 4-time winner of the competition will miss out on the 2022 World Cup after becoming the continental champions just 8 months ago.

IN THE OTHER GAMES,
Gareth Bale sends Wales through Austria.
Second-half substitute Robin Quaison got the goal in the second half of extra time to get Sweden through Czech Republic.
Portugal did the expected in front of their home supporters.

March 24
Italy 0-1 North Macedonia
Portugal 3-1 Turkey
Sweden 1-0 Czech Republic (aet)
Wales 2-1 Austria

AFC WCQ
The direct qualification spots in AFC is decided. Iran, South Korea, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.

Japan clinched qualification for themselves and Saudi Arabia (in Group B) after beating Australia.
Australia enters the fourth-round playoffs.

SUCCESS IN THE FOURTH-ROUND PLAYOFFS WILL LEAD TO THE INTERCONTINENTAL PLAYOFFS WITH CONMEBOL’S 5TH PLACE TEAM.
A defeat against an eliminated Syria dented Lebanon’s chances of getting the playoff round, while Iraq’s win against UAE keeps the race for the fourth round playoff spot in Group A open.

March 24
GROUP A
South Korea 2-0 Iran
Lebanon 0-3 Syria
Iraq 1-0 United Arab Emirates

GROUP B
Australia 0-2 Japan
Vietnam 0-1 Oman
China 1-1 Saudi Arabia

CONMEBOL WCQ
The direct qualification spots in CONMEBOL are decided. Ecuador and Uruguay will tag along with Brazil and Argentina.

Ecuador clinched qualification despite a 3-1 defeat at Paraguay, while Uruguay clinched qualification by beating beat Peru.

March 24.
Brazil 4-0 Chile
Colombia 3-0 Bolivia
Paraguay 3-1 Ecuador
Uruguay 1-0 Peru

March 25.
Argentina 3-0 Venezuela

PERU, COLOMBIA, AND CHILE have one game to clinch the playoff spot. 
Peru vs Paraguay
Venezuela vs Colombia
Chile vs Uruguay

CONMEBOL STANDINGS
1| Brazil – 42 points
2| Argentina – 38 points
3| Ecuador – 25 points
4| Uruguay – 25 points
5| Peru – 21 points
6| Colombia – 20 points
7| Chile – 19 points
8| Paraguay – 16 points
9| Bolivia – 15 points
10| Venezuela – 10 points

CONCACAF WCQ
6 points clear off the playoff spot and a maximum of 6 points left for each team, it is confident to say that Canada has virtually qualified for the 2022 World Cup.

THE MEXICANS ARE STILL CHASING.
From their previous three meetings, Mexico has lost two titles (CONCACAF Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League) and the reverse fixture of this qualifier against United States. A goalless draw at home was not good enough for Mexico.

United States picked up a point away from home to stretch their unbeaten run against Mexico to four games. A goalless draw leaves both teams on 22 points.

Costa Rica is three points from direct qualification. They play El Salvador next.

March 24. 
Jamaica 1-1 El Salvador
Panama 1-1 Honduras
Mexico 0-0 United States
Costa Rica 1-0 Canada

CONCACAF STANDINGS
1| Canada – 25 points
2| United States – 22 points
3| Mexico – 22 points
4| Costa Rica – 19 points
5| Panama – 18 points
6| El Salvador – 10 points
7| Jamaica – 8 points
8| Honduras – 4 points

FIRST-LEG OF THE CAF WCQ

A little over a month ago, Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations at Egypt’s expense. A narrow ‘1-0’ win means Egypt is halfway from getting their revenge on Senegal. It will be up to Senegal to make home advantage count in the second leg.

The tie between Ghana and Nigeria will be decided in the second leg after the first leg produced an entertaining goalless draw. Nigeria takes a goalless draw home with the hope that the home support will make a difference.


Tunisia and Algeria took home 1-0 leads.
Morocco came from a goal down to get a draw in Congo.

March 25.
Congo DR 1-1 Morocco
Cameroon 0-1 Algeria
Mali 0-1 Tunisia
Egypt 1-0 Senegal
Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

The reverse fixtures are on March 29th.