Although Metropolis’s focus is firmly mounted on our return to Premier League motion once we go to Burnley on Saturday, a lot of Pep Guardiola’s squad can even be eagerly following Friday’s 2022 World Cup finals attract Qatar.
This is every little thing you should know forward of the occasion:
WHEN IS THE WORLD CUP DRAW?
The draw for the 2022 World Cup group stage will happen on April 1, 2022 in Doha.
The occasion is scheduled to start at 7pm native time (5pm BST).
WHO HAS QUALIFIED SO FAR?
As hosts, Qatar have obtained automated qualification whereas the vast majority of sides from the assorted qualifying associations across the globe have additionally now been confirmed.
Europe (UEFA) – Certified groups: Germany, Denmark, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, Switzerland, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal
UEFA has 13 members on the World Cup with 10 qualifiers confirmed on the again finish of 2021.
Germany and Denmark have been the primary to qualify earlier than being joined by France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, Switzerland and the Netherlands in November.
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Portugal and Poland secured their place in Qatar with victories of their World Cup play-offs on Tuesday, Portugal overcoming North Macedonia 2-0 with Poland beating Sweden by the identical scoreline.
UEFA’s closing qualifier is but to be decided.
The semi-final between Scotland and Ukraine will probably be contested in June and the winner will meet Wales within the closing, who noticed off Austria 2-1 of their semi-final.
South America (CONMEBOL) – Certified groups: Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay
CONMEBOL has 4 assured members on the World Cup.
Brazil and Argentina have been the primary nations to seal their qualification and so they have been joined earlier this month by Ecuador and Uruguay.
Peru completed in fifth-place, on the expense of Colombia and Chile, which implies they advance to the inter-confederation play-offs in June the place they’ll face an AFC competitor – both Australia or the United Arab Emirates, who face one another on June 7.
Africa (CAF) – Certified groups: Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia
CAF is assured 5 nations on the 2022 World Cup and people locations have been determined earlier this week, when 10 groups went head-to-head in two-legged play-offs.
Senegal overcame Egypt in a repeat of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations closing, whereas Cameroon beat Algeria, Ghana overcame Nigeria, Morocco noticed off the DR Congo and Tunisia overcame Mali.
Asia (AFC) – Certified groups: Iran, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia
AFC is assured 4 nations on the 2022 World Cup with Iran and South Korea first to qualify, earlier than Japan and Saudi Arabia adopted go well with earlier this month.
The 2 third-placed sides from every group, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia, will go head-to-head in a fourth-round play-off to resolve who advances by to the inter-confederation play-offs in June.
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The winner of that tie will then face the fifth-placed staff from South American qualifying, Peru, for one of many closing two spots on the World Cup. This match can even happen in Qatar.
North America (CONCACAF) – Certified groups: Canada, Mexico United States
CONCACAF has three assured spots on the World Cup. Canada have been the primary facet to seal their ticket earlier this month.
Zack Steffen and his United States colleagues adopted go well with within the early hours of Thursday regardless of a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica whereas Mexico additionally made it by by way of a 2-0 win over El Salvador.
Costa Rica, who completed in fourth place, will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs, the place they’ll face Oceania facet New Zealand to compete for one of many closing two spots in Qatar.
Oceania (OFC) – Certified groups: None
Oceania is the one continent to haven’t any assured spot on the FIFA World Cup.
Nevertheless, New Zealand have the prospect to achieve the showpiece having confirmed their place within the inter-confederation play-offs with a 5-0 win over the Solomon Islands earlier this week.
They’ll sort out Costa Rica for one of many closing two spots in Qatar in June.
Which Metropolis gamers may participate?
A bunch of Pep Guardiola’s squad will probably be hopeful of figuring in worldwide soccer’s most prestigious match.
Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden have all develop into key members of Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
In the meantime Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias proved instrumental in Portugal’s profitable passage.
Kevin De Bruyne stays one of many pivotal figures in Belgium’s set-up whereas Aymeric Laporte and Rodrigo have been necessary members of a proficient Spain squad.
Ilkay Gundogan has been a key cog in a resilient Germany facet for a number of years now, whereas central defender Nathan Ake has performed his half within the Netherlands’ path to Qatar.
Brazilian duo Ederson and Gabriel Jesus will probably be hoping to play their half within the South American giants’ bid to win a sixth World Cup.
Zack Steffen has additionally taken his place between the sticks for the USA of their profitable marketing campaign and Oleks Zinchenko will probably be a serious determine in Ukraine’s bid to qualify.
HOW DOES THE DRAW WORK?
The 32 groups that qualify for the World Cup will probably be divided into 4 pots, every of which is comprised of eight sides.
Groups will then be picked out from every pot and positioned into eight teams.
Pot 1 options hosts Qatar and the seven highest-ranked certified groups.
Pot 2 is made up of the following eight highest-ranked qualifiers, whereas Pot 3 contains the following eight best-ranked certified groups.
Pot 4 contains the following 5 highest-ranked certified groups, in addition to placeholders for the 2 intercontinental play-off winners and final UEFA play-off winner.
Who would be the seeded nations?
Scotland will probably be in with the lowest-ranked seeds, together with Wales.
FIFA has revealed that the three groups nonetheless in with an opportunity of progressing by the play-off path by the point of the draw will probably be handled as one entrant, and positioned in pot 4 with the lowest-ranked nations.
The seeding of different nations who’ve undoubtedly certified by the point of the draw will probably be decided by the FIFA rankings as a result of be printed on March 31.
The highest pot of seeds will characteristic the seven highest-ranked sides concerned, plus hosts Qatar. England are at the moment ranked fifth on the earth, with solely Belgium, Brazil, France and Argentina above them.
WHEN DOES THE WORLD CUP START?
The primary group stage fixture later this yr will probably be held on November 21.
That sport will characteristic hosts Qatar and one other facet from Group A, and can kick-off at 1pm native time (10am BST).
The match will run over one month, with the ultimate scheduled for December 18 and with a 6pm native time kick-off (3pm BST).
When will the matches kick off?
FIFA has confirmed the primary two rounds of matches will kick off at 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10pm native time (10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm in the UK).
Kick-off instances within the closing spherical of group video games and knock-out spherical matches will probably be at 6pm and 10pm native time (3pm and 7pm UK time).
The ultimate is scheduled to kick off at 6pm native time (3pm UK time)
TOURNAMENT KEY DATES
Group stage draw: April 1
Group stage: November 21 – December 2
Final-16: December 3-6
Quarter-finals: December 9-10
Semi-finals: December 13-14
Last: December 18