World Cup Qualifying: Picking the Winners of All Four European Playoffs | OneFootball

Qualifying for next summer's FIFA World Cup is officially in the books, with just a handful of playoff ties remaining to determine the final six teams that will make up the 48 heading to North America. Throughout the final round of qualifiers, fairytales were the order of business. 

In Europe, Scotland stole the show. After Denmark's shock home draw with Belarus in their penultimate game, the door was open for the Tartan Army, and beating the Danes on the final day would see them qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998. And a door slightly ajar was all they needed, with stunning late goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean, the latter from the halfway line no less, securing a thrilling 4-2 victory and a return to football's grandest stage. 

Over in the Caribbean, both Haiti and Curacao completed their Cinderella stories. The former managed to beat Nicaragua 2-0 to secure their first return to the World Cup in half a century. The latter's 0-0 draw in Jamaica, meanwhile, secured Curacao's maiden World Cup voyage and sealed their spot in the history books as the smallest nation ever to qualify. 

Now, the playoffs are upon us, with six final spots to be decided. Two of those will be determined in the intercontinental playoffs, while four will be settled in Europe. The draw for those European playoffs was made on November 21st, and here are our picks of the final four European teams who will punch their tickets to North America. 

Path A - Italy

It's scarcely believable that next summer will mark 12 long years since Italy last featured at the World Cup. This is a country that boasts one of the world's best rivalries, according to the popular Bodog News site, in the form of AC Milan vs Inter, as well as other heavyweight names such as Juventus and Napoli. Not only that, but the Azzurri are four-time world champions, making them the joint-second most successful nation in history behind five-time champs Brazil. But despite all the superlatives, the Italians have known nothing but pain over the last decade.

Back in 2018, they were stunned by Sweden in the playoffs en route to the Russia-hosted World Cup. Four years later, it was lowly North Macedonia who ended their Qatari dreams, also in the playoffs. Now, the Azzurri will be hoping it's their third time lucky. 

In qualifying, Italy were outclassed by an Erling Haaland-inspired Norway, losing home and away to the Nordic nation, including a 4-1 drubbing on the final matchday in Milan, the Azzurri's biggest home defeat in 70 years. Now, they have been drawn in a qualifying path alongside Northern Ireland, who they will face in the semifinals, as well as Wales and Bosnia. We expect Italy to progress past the Boys in Green, with Wales getting the better of Bosnia, setting up a crunch clash between the Azzurri and the Red Dragons, which Italy will eventually win... narrowly. 

Path B - Poland

Poland has been a mainstay at the World Cup, qualifying for each of the last two tournaments. They impressed in their qualifying campaign, finishing just three points behind the Netherlands and even managing to pick up draws home and away against the Oranje. They will face off against the dangerous Albania across two legs, and we expect them to narrowly edge out a Balkan outfit looking to book its place at the World Cup for the first time ever. 

The opposite semifinal will see Ukraine and Sweden face off. Many would expect the Swedes to be the favorites, especially with the fearsome strike force of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres. However, they didn't manage a single win throughout their qualifying campaign, losing home and away to group winners Switzerland, as well as losing at home to lowly Kosovo. We can see the Ukrainians progressing to the final before being narrowly edged by the Poles in Path B's final. 

Path C - Turkey

We expect Turkey to dominate the Playoff Path C. The Turks were unlucky to be drawn with reigning European Champions and World Cup favorites Spain in their group, and La Roja duly romped to top spot. However, the Crescent-Stars did manage to claim an impressive point against the Spanish on the road, as well as beating both Georgia and Bulgaria home and away. 

They will face Romania in the semifinals, a contest we expect them to breeze through. We expect Slovakia to beat Kosovo in their Path C semifinal, setting up a final against Turkey, which the latter will ultimately come through to secure a return to the World Cup for the first time since reaching the semifinals back in 2002. 

Path D - Denmark

Denmark should have already secured their spot at the World Cup; of that there is no doubt. They were massive favourites to beat Belarus in their penultimate game and thus punch their tickets, but unforgivably succumbed to a 2-2 draw. Then, a red card cost them dearly on their trip to Scotland as they ultimately fell to a 4-2 defeat and into the playoffs. 

They will meet North Macedonia in the semifinals and will once again be huge favorites to progress. The Czech Republic and the Republic of Ireland will meet in the opposite semifinal in a contest too close to call. Regardless of the winner, we expect the Danes to emerge victorious in the final and thus seal their spot at a third straight World Cup