2022 World Cup Play-off Draw: Italy And Portugal One Path, Potentially 'kill Each Other'

World Cup Illustration (Photo; Antara)

JAKARTA - The Italian and Portugal national teams are on the same path for the play-off phase of the 2022 World Cup in the European zone according to the draw results announced by FIFA on Friday night.

The two countries are in Line C, with Italy hosting North Macedonia in the semifinals while Portugal faces Turkey in the same round.

If they can get past their respective opponents, Italy and Portugal will meet in the final of the Path C play-offs.

Italy, which was brought by Roberto Mancini to win Euro 2020 yesterday, certainly do not want to miss appearances at the World Cup finals for the second edition in a row.

Another possibility is that Qatar's 2022 World Cup will not be marked by the presence of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, the draw for the semifinals of Path A pits Scotland with Ukraine and Wales against Austria.

While in the semifinals of Line B, Russia met Poland and Sweden against the Czech Republic.

The semi-finals of the European play-offs are scheduled for March 24 next year, followed by a series of finals five days later.

In addition to the European zone, FIFA also announced the results of the intercontinental play-off draw.

The Asian representatives will compete for one ticket with the Latin American team (CONMEBOL), while the other ticket will be contested by the North American team (CONCACAF) with the Oceania representatives.