Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden are among the possible opponents for Italy if the Azzurri fail to qualify for the World Cup by winning their group.
Roberto Mancini’s side are the Group C leaders, on even points with Switzerland, but with a better goal difference: 11 to 9.
They visit Northern Ireland tonight, while the Swiss host Bulgaria. After their 1-1 draw against Switzerland on Friday, the Azzurri’s fate is not entirely in their hands.
A win against Northern Ireland may not be enough tonight as they’d need to have a better goal difference than Switzerland after tonight’s games to secure their spot for Qatar 2022.
Roberto Mancini is confident the Azzurri will eventually qualify for the World, but what if they don’t?
Only the group winners qualify for Qatar 2022, while the runners-ups must go through the play-offs.
So, who are Italy’s potential opponents?
The best six runners-up are the top seeds and the draw will take place in Zurich on November 26.
The European play-offs will feature 12 teams, including the ten group runners-up from the first stage of qualifying. The remaining two spots will be taken by the best two 2020-21 UEFA Nations League group winners who did not finish in the top two in the first round of the Qatar 2022 preliminaries.
The nations will then be split into three four-team paths, with semi-finals and a final ensuing in each. The three triumphant sides will join the ten group winners from the first round in representing Europe at the World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden are among the most dangerous potential opponents for Italy. They’re both runners-up in their group, so they will surely be in the World Cup play-offs.
Finland or Ukraine could be runners-up in Group D, with France already qualified.
Belgium have booked their place in Group E from where Italy could pick Wales or the Czech Republic. Both teams will take part in the play-offs as they were among the best sides in the Nations League.
The Netherlands, Turkey or Norway are all in the race to win Group G, while Russia are the runner-up of Group H and so are North Macedonia in Group J and Scotland in Group F. Austria will take part in the World Cup play-offs as one of the best teams in the Nations League.
England will likely win Group I ahead of Poland as the Three Lions face San Marino tomorrow, while Poland host Hungary. Even if England lose to San Marino, they have a big advantage on Poland in terms of goal difference: +26 vs +20.