What happens to the play-off if they expel Russia?

FIFA and UEFA are close to announcing the expulsion of the Russian teams from all competition on a provisional basis. In this way, they now face a new problem: what is going to happen with the qualifying play-off for the World Cup in Qatar, which will be played next March for the three remaining places in Europe. Russia is drawn in Path B, along with Sweden, the Czech Republic and semi-final rival Poland.

Now, with his more than possible elimination, it remains to be seen what will happen with that semifinal. The circumstance is not included in the regulations of the soccer regulatory bodies and they must make a decision against the clock, because there is barely a month left for the playoffs. Under this situation, there are four possibilities:

1- The direct classification of Poland. The semifinal, scheduled for March 24, will not be played and Lewandowski and his compatriots, who had already refused to play the game before Russia’s elimination, would go directly to the final. A decision that would be controversial, because Sweden and the Czech Republic would have to face a direct duel before the grand final.

2- Slovakia could also enter, ranked third in Group H, in which Russia entered the playoffs as second in the table. The possible new member is tied with Slovenia, but with a better overall goal average, which gives her the third place on the podium and an opportunity hitherto unsuspected.

3- Due to the strangeness of the situation, the option that the third of the Russian group would not enter, but the best third of all the groups, would be considered. This is Erling Haaland’s Norway, which added 18 points and was left out due to the good work of the Netherlands and Turkey. It has the same points as Albania, from Group I, but with a better overall goal difference. It also has a better coefficient (1.8 points per game) than the Czech Republic, third in Group E (1.75).

4- One last alternative would be to complete the play-off with the League of Nations. It should be remembered that the new competition guarantees two double opportunities to the best two of the edition who have not qualified or obtained a new option with the traditional qualifying phase. In this case, Hungary would obtain such a privilege, as champion of Group 3 within League B of the League of Nations. Austria and the Czech Republic earned the place, because they added more points (13 and 12, respectively) than the aforementioned Hungary (11).

The headquarters, another problem

Russia-Poland in the first semifinal of the League of Nations was scheduled for March 24 at the Dynamo Central Stadium in Moscow. Of course, whatever happens, it will not be played in such a stadium, nor will the Champions League final in St. Petersburg. They have already announced that the matches would be at a neutral venue. In case of exclusion, UEFA must decide against the clock not only rival but also where the qualifiers are played. It is an issue that should not go on too long: there is less than a month left and the teams must plan trips, calls…