Australia’s path to the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been confirmed, with Asian and South American qualifying finishing today, locking in their opponents for June.
After finishing third in their group behind Japan and Saudi Arabia, Australia must play both the third-placed team in the other Asian qualifying group, and then, if victorious, the fifth-placed team in South America.
With a 2-0 win over Paraguay this afternoon, Peru locked up fifth spot, and will await the winner of Australia and UAE.
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Unlike in previous World Cups, these ties will not be played home-and-away in each respective nation. Instead, both will be single-game, sudden death matches at a neutral site in Qatar.
Many will remember Australia having to navigate their way through a two-legged play-off against Syria, and then doing the same against Honduras, back in 2017.
This time around, unfortunately, it will be a South American powerhouse rather than the fourth-best North American team, that awaits the Socceroos.
The two teams have met only once before – in the group stage of the most-recent World Cup – with La Blanquirroja winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Andre Carrillo and Paolo Guerrero.
Australia’s record against the UAE is slightly better, having won three times and drawn twice in six meetings. The one loss, however, was the teams’ most-recent meeting, at the 2019 Asian Cup.
The hosts knocked the Socceroos out of the tournament, after a moment of madness at the back from Milos Degenek in the second half gifted the Emiratis the only goal.
The draw for the tournament proper will be conducted this weekend, with 29 of the 32 teams now confirmed.
One of Australia, UAE, and Peru will make it, as well as the winner of the other inter-contintental play-off which will be either New Zealand or the Solomon Islands against one of Costa Rica, USA, or Mexico.
The final spot will go to either Ukraine, Scotland or Wales – with that section of the European qualifying play-offs delayed due to the ongoing conflict in eastern Europe.