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.
Lazio Star Immobile Couldn’t Help but Remember “What Happened in 2017” After Italy’s Draw
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.
Lazio Defender Acerbi Disappoints in Italy’s Goalless Draw vs Northern Ireland
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.