In the past World Cup qualification in Europe, the eight best runners-up played in playoffs for participation in the World Cup. This format will now be modified by resolution of the Executive Committee of the Uefa for the qualification for the World Cup 2022.
55 teams from Europe will play 13 World Cup places between March 2021 and March 2022. And that goes like this: the 55 teams are divided into ten groups according to the familiar pattern. After playing back and forth, the ten group winners qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
The remaining three places for Europe will be awarded in a playoff tournament. In this, the ten runners-up and the two best group winners from the League of Nations 2021/2022 part. Prerequisite: From the Nations League, only teams who are not already in the World Cup as group winners of the World Cup qualifying groups or who are among the runners-up of the World Cup qualifying groups, will take part.
These twelve teams will be split into three tournament paths, each with four teams. They meet in semi-finals that consist of just one game. The winners move into the three finals, which are also played in a game. The three winners of the finals qualify for the 2022 World Cup. A total of 32 teams will participate in the World Cup in Qatar.
In addition, the Uefa in Nyon decided that the video evidence in the World Cup qualifiers and at the European Championship playoffs should be used in the coming year. The World Federation Fifa still has to approve the decision.
