The international qualifiers may not draw the same attention as a big-name league match but they can often have just as much importance for those involved. They can help highlight the potential of emerging nations, and prove just how much belief in the right systems and preparation can do.
While the Premier League was on pause, the men’s national teams were back in action for their World Cup qualifying campaigns. England impressed in Serbia, Northern Ireland and Scotland played vital group games while Wales took on Canada.
In the first round of qualifications the 54 European teams (excluding Russia which remains suspended due to the invasion of Ukraine) were drawn into groups of four or five with home and away matches taking place. The group winners then qualify directly for the Tournament, while the runners-up compete in inter-confederation play-offs to earn one of the final two berths at the tournament.
UEFA gets 13 of the 32 spots (with the top 4 in each group automatically qualifying, and the 5th place duking it out with AFC’s winner to give either continent 5), CONCACAF gets 3, and CAF and OFC get 1.
The second round of qualification ended on Tuesday and saw Japan, Iran, and Uzbekistan qualify from their groups. In the third place playoffs, South Korea beat Qatar to win their game, while Australia drew with Oman and failed to qualify.