Football: Poland to take on Hungary in opening 2022 World Cup qualifier

Poland’s national football team will on Thursday open its 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a game against Hungary in Budapest.

Poland players in training ahead of the game against Hungary, in Budapest on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

Photo: PAP/Andrzej Lange

The match kicks off at 8:45 p.m. at Puskás Aréna in the Hungarian capital.

The Poles, captained by star striker Robert Lewandowski, are looking to earn a convincing win under their new Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa.

Ahead of the game, Poland's Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich tested positive for the coronavirus and was left out of the squad.

Poland are ranked 19th worldwide by football's governing body FIFA, while Hungary are No. 40 in the FIFA table.

Poland captain Robert Lewandowski seen on a screen during a virtual press conference in Warsaw on Monday. Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak

The Polish team will take on Andorra in its next World Cup qualifying fixture on home turf in Warsaw on Sunday.

Next Wednesday, March 31, Poland will play away against England in London.

Poland’s qualifying Group I also includes Albania and San Marino. 

The qualification stage for the 2022 World Cup will run from March to November 2021, while the tournament will be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022.

Poland failed to advance to the knockout phase of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, after losing 1-2 to Senegal and 0-3 to Colombia in the group stage. The Poles won their final game, beating Japan 1-0, but finished bottom of their Group H.

Poland finished third in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany and were also third in Spain in 1982.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP