Qatar 2022

Wine is still only $20 a bottle there!

It isn't clear. However, the timeline certainly allows for it. The draw for the finals is not until April 2022.

Assuming a similar timeline to Euro 2020 qualifiers, it could work.

September to November 2020 - Nations League

March to November 2021 - Qualifiers proper

March 2022 - World Cup playoffs

April 2022 - World Cup Finals draw

Up to UEFA. However, I would imagine the playoffs would have to be linked to the qualifying groups proper, rather than to the Nations League. Also, with only 13 places for UEFA in the World Cup, there is a requirement for 9 qualifying groups rather than 10, which is a bit awkward with there now being 55 members, as it probably means one group of seven teams and eight of six. That is very awkward for scheduling as it requires extra matchdays (14 in total for the group of 7, instead of 10 for the groups of 6). That removes the matchdays required for the Nations League. The alternative is 13 groups, with winners only going through, and no playoffs.

I'm not sure what is going to happen, tbh.

Not definitive but it seems the draw will be in July this year.

Oh yeah, sorry, forgot about the Gib home game in June as well. That is quite handy.

Now, of course, a win against better opposition is worth more than a win against worse opposition, but it is still handy to have two close-to-guaranteed wins, plus Georgia at home, before then. Like we have our three most winnable games before the draw, which is probably fortuitous.

It'll probably depend on FIFA world rankings at that stage. Under the new ranking system, our ranking will changed based upon recent results.

It depends on the release date of the rankings, but I would imagine the rankings used will take account of all results up the end of the Copa America and CONCACAF Gold Cup which finish on 7 July.

We are currently ranked 20th in Europe so if we can get that up to 18th we could be second seeds. Under the new ranking system, every win is good and every loss is bad, no matter who they are against, so it is handy that we have Gibraltar and the home match against Georgia before then, assuming we can win both.