Football: Poland to face Sweden in World Cup playoff

The Polish national soccer team is set to face Sweden on Tuesday in a playoff for a spot in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Poland players in training ahead of their World Cup playoff against Sweden.

Photo: PAP/Zbigniew Meissner

The game kicks off at 8:45 p.m. at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów, southern Poland.

The Poles, under manager Czesław Michniewicz, on Thursday drew 1-1 with Scotland in a friendly match in Glasgow, putting together an unconvincing performance ahead of their crucial clash against Sweden.

Poland are ranked 28th worldwide by football's governing body FIFA, while Sweden are No. 17 in the FIFA table.

Football’s world governing body FIFA earlier this month banned Russia from the play-offs for the World Cup in Qatar, giving Poland a bye to one of the playoff finals in European qualifying for the World Cup.

Sweden beat the Czech Republic 1-0 after extra time on Thursday to advance to the play-off final against Poland.

The 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18.

Poland had qualified for the previous World Cup in Russia, but suffered an early exit from the tournament in 2018. The Poles lost 1-2 to Senegal and 0-3 to Colombia in the group stage. They 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)

Source: PAP