FIFA World Cup 2022 draw: who Scotland will face in their qualifying group - and fixture dates for each game week
Scotland's 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign will begin and end at home.
The Tartan Army, fresh from qualifying for Euro 2020, now know who stands in the way between them and a place at the Qatar tournament.
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Hide AdSteve Clarke's side have been drawn against Denmark, Austria, Israel, Faroe Islands and Moldova in Group F - with the Scotland boss typically down to earth about the draw.
He said: “I think the fact we have managed to break the hoodoo and qualify for a tournament that we can all look forward to in the summer is great.
“But I tend to look at the last two games and I’m a little disappointed that we finished with two defeats because we had been on such a good run going into the match against Serbia.”
Denmark
Scotland fans could be excused for licking their lips at the prospect of facing Denmark - a side they've beaten twice in two friendly matches in the past decade - but they'll know that will count for nothing when the two lock horns once more.
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Hide AdThe Danes have a host of familiar names at their disposal, including Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel, Tottenham Hotspur's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Inter Milan's Christian Eriksen.
Under the coaching of Kasper Hjulmand, Denmark have won five, drawn one and lost twice.
Austria
Coach Franco Foda has assembled a well-drilled side who lost just once as they topped their Nations League group for a play-off route, if they are unsuccessful in the qualifying campaign.
The two sides last met in 2007, Scotland winning 1-0, but the last competitive fixture between the nations came in 1997 as the Tartan Army qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France.
A lucky omen perhaps?
Israel
Yes, really.
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Hide AdIsrael are well known to Scotland after five meetings over the past two years, with the head-to-head record evenly poised at two wins a piece and a draw.
Scotland beat Israel on penalties to reach the Euros play-off final against Serbia, who Clarke's side also beat to qualify for the 2020 Euros.
But Israel got the upper hand the last time the two met to deny Scotland top spot in their Nations League group and the chance for a place in the World Cup play-offs in November 2020.
Faroe Islands
Scotland have never lost to the Faroe Islands in seven international matches between the two nations, yet that doesn't tell the whole story.
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Hide AdBack in September 2002, the part-timers led Scotland 2-0 before Paul Lambert's deflected goal and Barry Ferguson's equaliser eight minutes from time saved coach Berti Vogts' blushes.
They last faced in 2010, with Scotland winning 3-0, and are now ranked by FIFA outside the top 100. Head coach is Hakan Ericson.
Moldova
Moldova are placed even further down the pecking order in FIFA's rankings, at 177.
They finished bottom of their Nations League group, with just a point to their name, under coach Engin Firat.
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Hide AdThe two nations have met before in World Cup qualifying, drawing 1-1 in October 2004 before a 2-0 Scotland win in June 2005.
Who is in Scotland’s World Cup 2022 qualifying group?
Group F: | |
Denmark Austria SCOTLAND Israel Faroe Islands Moldova |
What are Scotland’s World Cup 2022 qualifying fixtures?
Thursday 25 March 2021 - 7.45pm Scotland v Austria Sunday 28 March 2021 - 7.45pm Israel v Scotland Wednesday 31 March 2021 - 7.45pm Scotland v Faroe Islands Wednesday 1 September 2021 - 7.45pm Denmark v Scotland Saturday 4 September 2021 - 7.45pm Scotland v Moldova Tuesday 7 September 2021 - 7.45pm Austria v Scotland Saturday 9 October 2021 - 5pm Scotland v Israel Tuesday 12 October 2021 - 7.45pm Faroe Islands v Scotland Friday 12 November 2021 - 7.45pm Moldova v Scotland Monday 15 November 2021 - 7.45pm Scotland v Denmark | |