The 21 matches that begin to define the last World Cup tickets in Qatar: the agenda and everything you need to know

The World Cup qualifying round will confirm new places in Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Concacaf

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Today will be a special day that the world of football will live. With 241 days left until the opening of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, duels will be played that will launch the definition of new teams that will be added to the final draw of 32 national teams that will participate in the Middle East starting on November 21.

So far, there are 15 countries that have already secured their presence in Qatar, if we add the host country of the World Cup. The draw for April 1 in the city of Doha will be held with 29 countries confirmed, another four waiting in the June playoffs to define the last two passes and an asterisk in the Ukrainian national football team, as their playoff series against Scotland was postponed due to the war that is going through the invasion of Russia.

Repechage in Europe: 4 matches

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Cristiano Ronaldo will seek to qualify Portugal to the World Cup

With 10 teams already confirmed, all that remains is to be known who will be the creditors of the last three tickets, which will be resolved through a new format determined by UEFA. Due to the war, Ukraine postponed its match against Scotland and the qualifier of the key that will also star Wales and Austria will be defined later. The duels will be played on March 24 and 29.

Key 1:

• Wales vs Austria

Scotland vs Ukraine (postponed due to war)

Key 2:

• Sweden vs Czech Republic

Poland (in the final after Russia's disqualification)

Key 3:

• Italia vs Macedonia

• Portugal vs Turkey

* The winners of each key face each other for the ticket to the World Cup

CONMEBOL Playoffs: 4 matches

Gustavo Alfaro, coach of Ecuador, giving directions in a 'Tri' match. | Photo: AFP
Ecuador is one step away from qualifying for Qatar 2022 (AFP)

With two dates left before the end of these qualifiers, Brazil and Argentina are already confirmed in Qatar 2022. There are two places left and one playoff to complete the roster, which will be resolved between March 24 and 29 with the double qualifying date. The table currently has Ecuador (25) and Uruguay (22) in the places of direct tickets to the World Cup, while Peru (21) is positioned in the repechage. But this will be one of the most attractive definitions, because Chile (19), Colombia (17) and even Bolivia (16) keep their mathematical chances intact.

Date 17:

• Colombia vs. Bolivia

• Paraguay vs. Ecuador

• Brazil vs. Chile

• Uruguay vs. Peru

* All matches will start at 20.30 (local time)

CONCACAF Qualifiers: 4 matches

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Canada and the United States, two that can seal their way to the World Cup by Concacaf (Reuters)

Concacaf awards three direct tickets and a playoff, but there is still no known qualifier in this region. The last three dates will take place between March 24 and 30. So far Canada (25 points), Mexico (21) and the United States (21) would have direct access and Panama (17) would go to the repechage. Costa Rica (16) and even El Salvador (9) are still waiting for what will happen in this key week with the three defining dates to see if they manage to make the jump to World Cup qualifying positions.

Date 12:

• Panama vs. Honduras

• Mexico vs. United States

• Costa Rica vs. Canada

• Jamaica vs. El Salvador

Africa standings: 5 matches

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After winning the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal will seek World Cup entry against Egypt (Photo: Reuters)

From 25 to 29 March, the five quotas that correspond to the African continent will be defined after the round trip matches between the 10 teams that finished first in the group stage of the qualifying rounds.

• Congo vs. Marruecos

• Mali vs. Tunisia

• Cameroon vs. Algeria

• Ghana vs. Nigeria

• Senegal vs. Egypt

Asian Playoffs: 4 matches

South Korea Qatar 2022
South Korea and Iran have already qualified. There are two tickets available and a pass to the playoff against a South American team

In the absence of two dates before the final of the qualifying rounds, only Iran and South Korea are qualified. Between March 24 and 29, the other two will be announced who will go straight to the World Cup and the fifth team that will face a playoff in June against a South American team.

Asia has two groups with six countries per side: the first two qualify directly and the third from each zone play a clash with each other to win the right to the international repechage.

Currently, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Iraq are fighting Pool A for third place. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia (19 points), Japan (18) and Australia (15) will share the other two direct passes and third place on these two final dates.

• Australia vs. Japan

• Lebanon vs. Syria

• China vs. Arabia Saudita

• Iraq vs. United Arab Emirates

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