English Section

Football: Poland to face Russia in World Cup playoffs

26.11.2021 19:15
Poland's national football team is set to play Russia in the playoffs for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after a draw was made in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday.  
Image: pzpn.pl
Image: pzpn.plpzpn.pl

Twelve European teams will vie for three remaining World Cup spots in two-stage, single-leg playoffs in March, the sport.tvp.pl website reported.

They include 10 runner-up teams from the qualifying groups, Poland among them, and a further two sides which performed well in the Nations League.

At the ceremony in Zurich, these 12 teams were divided into three "paths" of four.

Poland to play Russia 

Poland were drawn in path B and will play away to Russia in a "semifinal" on March 24.

If they win, they will face either Sweden or the Czech Republic in a "final" in Poland on March 29. Sweden and the Czech Republic have been drawn to play in path B's other "semifinal."

Elsewhere, soccer powerhouses Italy and Portugal were drawn together in path C, meaning at least one of these two sides will not qualify for the World Cup. 

Meanwhile, Wales and Scotland are on collision course in path A.

The playoff draw in full:

Path A: Scotland vs. Ukraine, Wales vs. Austria

Path B: Russia vs. Poland, Sweden vs. Czech Republic

Path C: Italy vs. North Macedonia, Portugal vs. Turkey

(pm/gs)

Source: TVP Sport