The contestants for the final two berths at this year's World Cup are set.
Costa Rica became the last nation to nab a place in the intercontinental playoffs, finishing fourth in CONCACAF qualifying after a 2-0 win over the United States on Wednesday night; the Americans, along with Mexico, secured automatic World Cup tickets.
Costa Rica, led by Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper Keylor Navas, will now meet New Zealand in June after Danny Hay's side beat the Solomon Islands 5-0 on Wednesday to once again carry the flag for Oceania in the playoffs.
The other fixture pits Peru, the fifth-place finisher from South American qualifying, against one of Australia or the United Arab Emirates. The latter pair are scheduled to tangle on June 6 or 7, with the winner representing the Asian confederation in the playoffs the following week.
Date | Match | Venue |
---|---|---|
June 13 or 14 | Costa Rica vs. New Zealand | TBD (Qatar) |
June 13 or 14 | Peru vs. Australia or UAE | TBD (Qatar) |
The two playoff winners will take part in the World Cup, which is slated to begin in November.
The intercontinental playoffs were originally intended to be two-legged, home-and-away affairs played in March, but the format was altered amid the sport's widespread calendar changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.