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When is the 2022 World Cup draw?

The 2022 World Cup is now a matter of months away and the majority of the remaining places at the tournament are set to be decided during this international break. Hosts Qatar was the first nation to qualify, while the majority of the big-hitters - including England - have already secured their places at the tournament, which begins on November 21, but the likes of Portugal and Italy are among those still battling for a place. This will be the last World Cup to follow a 32-team format before Fifa’s planned expansion to 48 teams at the 2026 World Cup, with countries split into eight groups of four, as has been the case at every tournament since the last expansion ahead of the 1998 tournament. Unusually, the draw will go ahead with only 31 of the participating nations confirmed, after Ukraine’s qualifying playoff semi-final against Scotland was postponed until June in the wake of Russia’s invasion. 2022 World Cup draw date, time, and venue The draw is scheduled to take place on Friday, A...
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Morocco’s Hakimi in Ten Players to Watch in Africa’s World Cup Playoffs

Moroccan international and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Achraf Hakimi appeared in the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) list of ten players to watch in the World Cup qualifying playoffs. The African football body released on March 23 a list of “ten players to watch” in the continent’s qualifying playoffs for the FIFA World Cup, to be hosted in Qatar in 2022. Hakimi appeared in a list that included ten players from ten African teams vying to qualify for the world’s most prestigious tournament to be held this year. The list includes Algeria's Riyad Mahrez, Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, DR Congo’s Theo Bongonda, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Ghana’s Thomas Partey, Mali’s Yves Bissouma, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Senegal’s Sadio Mane, and Tunisia’s Youssef Msakni. Africa’s playoffs will include two-legged thrilling games to decide which five teams will book a ticket to this year’s World Cup. CAF’s statement highlighted Hakimi’s spectacular performance and good form, both with the Fre...
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Japan and Saudi Arabia qualify for football World Cup

Substitute Kaoru Mitoma scored twice in the dying minutes as Japan beat Australia 2-0 to book their place at a seventh straight World Cup and in doing so also helped Saudi Arabia qualify. It was a crushing blow for an understrength Socceroos who now face a perilous playoff to keep alive their hopes of making it to the tournament in Qatar. The game in a wet Sydney on Thursday looked destined for a draw before Mitoma converted from close range on 89 minutes, and then again after a mazy run in injury time to prompt joyous celebrations from the visitors. “I knew it was going to be a close match so when I was on the bench all I was thinking was, when I got on the field of play I just had to do my job and score a goal,” said Mitoma, 24, who plays for Belgium’s Union SG on loan from Premier League Brighton. “I feel really happy for the players and people back in Japan, and everyone who is a Japanese fan.” The victory pushed the Blue Samurai to the top of Asian Group B qualifying on 21 points,...
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BYJU’S new official sponsor of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

BYJU’S, a world-leading EdTech company based in India, has been announced as an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The FIFA World Cup Qatar will be held from November 21 to December 18 and the draw for the same will take place on April 1. “FIFA is dedicated to harnessing the power of football towards the goal of enacting positive societal change. We’re delighted to be partnered with a company like BYJU’S, which is also engaging communities and empowering young people wherever they may be in the world,” said Kay Madati, FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer. “We look forward to supporting the promotion of BYJU’S educational learning opportunities, as well as having them join the global drumbeat of excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2022 through its association with this groundbreaking tournament,” he added. Byju Raveendran, BYJU’S founder and CEO, said: “We are excited to be sponsoring the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the biggest single-sport event in the world. It is a matter of...
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