Wednesday March 24th 2021
Qatar plays in Europe and ….
The most important answers to the World Cup qualification
55 contenders, 13 places: The European qualification for the 2022 World Cup is highly competitive, the DFB-Elf cannot afford to slip up. Host Qatar is also playing along, but the effects of the pandemic are already being felt.
The qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup begins on Wednesday for the 55 national associations of the European Football Union. For the DFB selection, national coach Joachim Löw will play against Iceland, Romania and North Macedonia. Further opponents in Group J will then be Armenia and Liechtenstein in late summer and autumn. Excitement is required, only 13 World Cup tickets will be given to the strongest football continent.
In which mode is the qualification played?
March 25, 2021 in Duisburg: Germany – Iceland (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
March 28, 2021: Romania – Germany (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
March 31, 2021 in Duisburg: Germany – North Macedonia (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
June 7, 2021 in Düsseldorf: Germany – Latvia
June 15, 2021 in Munich: France – Germany (European Championship preliminary round, 9 p.m.)
June 19, 2021 in Munich: Portugal – Germany (European Championship preliminary round, 6 p.m.)
June 23, 2021 in Munich: Germany – Hungary (European Championship preliminary round, 9 p.m.)
September 2, 2021: Liechtenstein – Germany (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
September 5, 2021: Germany – Armenia (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
September 8, 2021: Iceland – Germany (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
October 8, 2021: Germany – Romania (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
October 11, 2021: North Macedonia – Germany (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
November 11, 2021: Germany – Liechtenstein (World Cup qualification, 8.45 p.m. / RTL)
November 14, 2021: Armenia – Germany (World Cup qualification, 6 p.m. / RTL)
Joachim Löw and his not-yet-named successor cannot afford to slip up. Europe only has 13 places available. The 55 participants were drawn into ten groups of five or six. Only the ten group winners are directly qualified for Qatar. For the three remaining places, the ten runners-up will play in playoffs in March 2022, together with the two best not yet qualified group winners of the Nations League. In these three groups, four teams each play in the semifinals and finals for the trip to Qatar. One defeat and you’re out.
When will it be played?
The international three-pack in the coming days is the start of a total of four time windows for the group stage. After the EM this summer, there will be three game days from September 1st to 8th, followed by two game days from October 8th to 12th and finally from November 11th to 16th. The playoffs will be played from March 24th to March 29th, 2022. The kick-off in Qatar is on November 21st, the final will take place on December 18th. The World Cup draw is due to take place in April 2022.
Why is the World Cup host playing in Europe?
The team from Qatar is sure to be at the World Cup and was assigned to Group A with Portugal, Ireland, Serbia, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan. Otherwise, the World Cup host would not have an adequate opportunity to play against good competition in the tight FIFA calendar. The Asian qualification does not make such a guest role possible. However, the games are not rated. So you have no influence on the outcome of the qualification.
What are the effects of the corona pandemic?
The crisis also has a massive impact on the qualifying matches. So far, according to UEFA, three games have been relocated to other countries in order to escape the corona restrictions. If the professionals have to go to an officially ordered quarantine when they return to their clubs, there is no obligation to park. For example, Borussia Dortmund will not allow the two Belgians Thorgan Hazard and Thomas Meunier to travel to the game in the Czech Republic, which is classified as a virus variant area.
Why was the World Cup awarded to Qatar?
The decision of the then FIFA Executive Committee is one of the most controversial in the history of the world association. There are a number of theories as to who drew whom and in particular with what and why to this or that side. These include, for example, a dinner by then UEFA President Michel Platini in the Élysée Palace with France’s ex-head of state Nicolas Sarkozy and the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Shortly afterwards, on December 2, 2010, the emirate won the award in the fourth round with 14 to eight votes against the USA. The election was secret, and many of the former Exko members have now been banned for various offenses. The body, to which Franz Beckenbauer also belonged, is now a symbol of the corruption scandals at FIFA.
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