Subj : World Cup 2022 lineup remarkably similar to World Cup 2022
To   : rec.sport.soccer
From : Raja Nadar
Date : Sun Nov 14 2021 11:10 am

 WC 2018 had major teams like Italy, Netherlands, USA and Ghana.... Ghana is in
 trouble and their fate will be decided soon. USA seems comfortable. And
Netherlands should easily get past Norway. Italy should make it unless
Switzerland plunders lots of game in their last game. Either way they should
make it through play offs (if somehow they don't directly qualify).
But look at the teams which qualified in WC2018, escpecially UEFA... Except
Iceland who are eliminated... almost all others are in reckoning or already
qualified. 
Would it be some kind of record if 13 out of 14 return (and this time there are
 only 13 spots for UEFA). So it could be 13 out of 13!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup#Teams
UEFA (14) - WC2018
 Belgium (3)
 Croatia (20)
 Denmark (12)
 England (12)
 France (7)
 Germany (1)
 Iceland (22)
 Poland (8)
 Portugal (4)
 Russia (70) (hosts)
 Serbia (34)
 Spain (10)
 Sweden (24)
  Switzerland (6)
The first six are already qualified (England is practically in). Poland/Russia
already in play offs. Portugal/Serbia either direct or playoffs. Spain/Sweden
the same as Portugal/Serbia. Switzerland will at least make play offs.
Now look at the other confederations...
AFC (looks like the same 5 teams - Australia, Japan, Iran, Saudi, S. Korea)
CONMEBOL (Brazil already qualified. Argentina will... but Colombia/Peru/Uruguay
 are in jeopardy)
OFC - none in 2018 and may be say me in 2022
CONCACAF - Costa Rica is not looking good. Mexico will qualify. Panama may make
 it... depends upon whether Canada can spring a surprise. USA might be the only
 difference (from 2018) here otherwise.
Now CAF seems the most likely of getting a new team courtesy Mali and Congo DR
making it to the final round... but the final round is a straight knockout so
no guarantee... Egypt, Senegal and Morocco already made it to final round.
Nigeria and Tunisia seem to have a good chance of making it... unless they draw
 each other... possibilty of all of 5 making an reappearance is high...
So how many new teams compared to WC2018? Only Qatar, USA, Italy and
Netherlands is a possibility!
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