World Cup Qualifiers Round-Up (Europe & Africa)

The International break is over for the year but it was a very important one as World Cup qualifiers resumed with teams across the world either making it to the World Cup directly or advancing to the next round of qualifiers. As of now, 12 teams have qualified for the World Cup next November. Germany, Denmark, Brazil, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, England, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Argentina are those that will be playing in Qatar next year with 19 slots still available as qualifiers will resume next year. This will be dwelling on UEFA (Europe) and CAF (Africa) as their round of qualifiers are over with the next round to start in March, which will determine those that will qualify for the World Cup. CONCACAF (North America), AFC (Asia) and COMMEBOL (South America) will resume in their present round of qualifiers in March as well while OFC (Oceania) will start their World Cup qualifying campaign in March next year.

UEFA (EUROPE)

The latest round of qualifiers in Europe had a lot riding on as countries still had a chance of automatic qualification or at least making it to the playoffs. In Group A, it was a battle for automatic qualification between Serbia and Portugal. Serbia shocked Portugal winning 2-1 at the Estadio da Luz to seal qualification with Aleksander Mitrovic scoring the winner in the 90th minute, meaning Portugal will play in the playoffs. A disappointing campaign for Portugal, dropping points against Ireland and Serbia having had automatic qualification in their hands before the Serbia game. Group B saw Spain qualify directly beating Sweden 1-0 in Seville. Back-to-back defeats were Sweden's downfall having topped the group for the final two games but a shock defeat to Georgia and losing to Spain means they go to the playoffs again, having qualified for the 2018 World Cup beating Italy in the playoffs. Speaking of the Italians, they will also be in the playoffs after dropping points to Switzerland and Northern Ireland as the Swiss qualified directly, finishing above the Azurri. The Italians should hope that history doesn't repeat itself. 

France qualified unbeaten with an emphatic 8-0 win over Kazahstan while Ukraine got the better of Finland and Bosnia and Herzegovina to make the playoffs. Wales' hopes of qualifying were boosted after a draw with Belgium, which means that they make it to the playoffs ahead of the Czech Republic. Scotland made it to the playoffs, increasing their chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, defeating Moldova and Denmark in their final two games. Norway's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were dashed as the Netherlands qualified with a 2-0 win while Turkey made it to the playoffs over the Norwegians. Croatia broke Russian hearts as they qualified for the World Cup while Russia will have to do it in the playoffs. North Macedonia and Poland will also be in the playoffs while England and Germany topped their group meaning straight qualification. So, Portugal, Scotland, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Wales, Turkey, Poland, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Austria and the Czech Republic will be in the playoffs with three slots available. The first six countries are seeded meaning they will have home advantage when they play in March and it is only one game which is different from the last playoffs as they were two-legged ties. There is no margin for error this time around.

CAF (AFRICA)

The second round of qualifiers in Africa is over with ten places booked for the final round of qualifiers. With ten groups from the second round, only the teams that finish top will advance. Algeria made it through in their group ahead of Burkina Faso, who was their closest competition. Tunisia edged past Equatorial Guinea to make it to the final round of qualifiers. Nigeria managed to prevent a scare from Cape Verde to make it to the final round as well. Cameroon knocked Ivory Coast out of the World Cup as the Indomitable Lions beat the Ivorians 1-0 to advance. Mali kept their World Cup hopes alive as they topped the group in hopes of a first World Cup appearance. Egypt advanced to the next round with minimal fuss, seeing off the likes of Gabon, Libya and Angola. Senegal qualified unbeaten, DR Congo also made it finishing ahead of the Benin Republic and Tanzania while Morocco went through with a perfect 100 per cent record, scoring twenty and conceding just once. There was a controversial penalty between Ghana and South Africa. Ghana won the game 1-0 from a penalty by Andre Ayew to finish above South Africa by goals scored as they had the same points and goal difference. The South Africans believe that there was some form of match-fixing in the game when the Senegalese referee Maguette  Ndiaye awarded Ghana a controversial penalty which Ayew scored. As of now, FIFA is considering South Africa's appeal and for the game to be played in a neutral venue. This scenario is nothing new as the 2018 World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal had to be replayed due to match-fixing. So, Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Mali, Morocco, DR Congo, Senegal and Ghana* will play in the final round of qualifiers, which will be a two-legged tie between them to advance to the World Cup. These playoff games will take place in March next year.