Italy’s Possible Opponents in 2022 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs: The List

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - NOVEMBER 15: Players of Italy line up for the national anthem prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Northern Ireland and Italy at Windsor Park on November 15, 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Italy finished second in their 2022 World Cup qualifying group, meaning that they will need to win two playoff games to qualify for the tournament.

As noted by Italian media outlet LazioNews24 earlier today, the Azzurri’s painful 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland means that they finished behind Switzerland in Group C on goal difference.

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Italy’s first match in the playoffs will be against one of the following unseeded opponents: 

  • Sweden
  • Macedonia
  • Austria
  • Wales
  • Czech Republic 
  • Ukraine

The winner of this match will then progress to a playoff final against the victor of the other playoff semi-final, which will also be between an unseeded and a seeded team.

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Below are the six seeded teams:

  • Italy
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Turkey
  • Poland
  • Scotland

The draw for these games will take place on 26th November, when two seeded teams and two unseeded teams are grouped together in the semi-finals.

Italy famously missed out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing to Sweden in the playoff final.

Tags 2022 world cup qualifier 2022 world cup qualifiers Azzurri Biancocelesti Italy Lazio Mancini Roberto Mancini Rome Serie A