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FIFA changes play-off format for last 2 places at World Cup

Published:Friday | November 19, 2021 | 3:36 PM
Michail Antonio celebrates as he is approached by teammate Devon 'Speedie' Williams after scoring a goal against the United States during the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying football match at the National Stadium on Tuesday. FIFA yesterday announced that pla
Gladstone Taylor
Michail Antonio celebrates as he is approached by teammate Devon 'Speedie' Williams after scoring a goal against the United States during the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying football match at the National Stadium on Tuesday. FIFA yesterday announced that play-offs for a World Cup spot will be conducted over one, and not two legs, as is now customary.

ZURICH (AP):

FIFA changed the World Cup qualifying format for the intercontinental play-offs yesterday to be single-leg games at a neutral venue.

The winners of the matches will earn the final two spots at next year's World Cup in Qatar.

FIFA cited "unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic" when scheduling the games for June, more than two months later than the pre-pandemic schedule. Single games also avoid teams crossing several time zones for two-leg matchups.

A host was not announced for the two games, which will be played on June 13 and 14.

The play-offs will involve teams from Asia, South America, Oceania and the North American region. Three of the play-off teams should be known by the end of March. Asia's entry is scheduled to be decided in a regional play-off only days before the intercontinental play-offs.

Two-legged intercontinental play-offs were introduced for the 1986 World Cup and typically demand long-haul travel.

FIFA will make the World Cup tournament draw on April 1 in Doha. Only 30 of the 32 qualifiers will be known at the time, with the intercontinental play-offs still to come.

The draw for the intercontinental play-offs will be on November 26.

The World Cup is scheduled to start on November 21, with the final on December 18.

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