FIFA changes two playoffs involving teams from Asia, South America, Oceania, and North American and Caribbean region to a single leg game
By Kehinde Okeowo
World football governing body, FIFA has changed the 2022 World Cup qualifying format for the intercontinental playoffs from a double header to a single-leg match at a neutral venue.
The two matches are expected to determine counties that will fill the last two spots of the 32 available spaces for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, and the playoffs are scheduled to be held on June 13 and 14, 2022.
In a statement on Friday, FIFA blamed the adjustment on COVID-19 pandemic concerns in the region and the world as a whole.
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The playoffs will involve teams from Asia (AFC) South America (CONMEBOL), Oceania (OFC), and the North American and Caribbean region (CONCACAF) who are expected to jostle for the two tickets.
The World Cup draw will be held on April 1 in Doha, Qatar and only 30 of the 32 teams to play at the World Cup will be known by then.
These two one-legged playoffs as prescribed by FIFA, are expected to help fill the two vacant positions after the World Cup draw had taken place.
Meanwhile, the draw for the playoffs in Africa has been scheduled by FIFA to hold on December 18, 2021, Eagles will know their opponent after the event.
The World Cup is scheduled to begin on November 21, 2022, in Qatar, while the final of the competition is on December 18, 2022.
