Subsequent week’s World Cup draw could have a few of its seedings skewed due to Russia’s battle with Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.
FIFA outlined the process Tuesday for the attract Qatar on April 1. Solely 29 of the 32 groups within the draw might be identified by then due to the battle and international well being disaster. The three remaining locations might be determined in June.
On the draw, the 29 certified groups might be put into 4 pots in line with their FIFA rating.
Host Qatar is in Pot 1 together with defending champion France, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina and England. Germany, the 2014 World Cup champion, has been ranked exterior the highest 10 for greater than three years and might be in Pot 2.
FIFA resolved the uncertainty round the best way to seed the three undecided entries by creating placeholder spots in Pot 4. The groups affected may land in a harder World Cup group than their rating deserves just because they may not full their video games as initially scheduled.
Among the groups that might be affected embrace Ukraine, Wales and Colombia. Every of the three, in the event that they have been to qualify, would doubtless have been in Pot 3.
Solely 15 groups have thus far certified for the World Cup forward of extra qualifying video games within the subsequent week.
Ukraine was scheduled to play at Scotland on Thursday with the winner advancing to play both Wales or Austria on March 29. Ukraine requested for a postponement as a result of it was not doable for home-based gamers to coach and journey in the course of the Russian invasion.
The pandemic pressured the intercontinental playoff spherical to be delayed. It’s now scheduled to be performed in Qatar on June 13-14. An Asian crew will play a South American crew, and the Oceania consultant will play a crew from the North American area.
The World Cup is scheduled to be performed from Nov. 21-Dec. 18 in eight stadiums across the Qatari capital of Doha.
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