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The Socceroos’ first World Cup opponent will be confirmed next week as 22 nations vie for the final six places in this year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Australia’s World Cup campaign will begin against one of Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo in Vancouver on June 13 with their European opponent to be locked in on the morning of Wednesday 1 April AEDT.
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Sixteen European nations have been split into four groups of four with semi-finals to be played before a final determines the four countries who will go to the World Cup.
All semi-finals will be played on Friday morning AEDT with Socceroos boss Tony Popovic set to keep a close eye on Türkiye’s clash with Romania in Istanbul and Slovakia’s meeting with Kosovo in Bratislava.
Türkiye are the top ranked team in that quartet at 25th in the world, two places higher than the Socceroos.
Slovakia are ranked 44th, Romania are 49th in the FIFA standings, while Kosovo are the outsiders at 79th.
Meanwhile, New Caledonia, Jamaica, DR Congo, Bolivia, Suriname, and former Socceroos manager Graham Arnold’s Iraq compete in Mexico for two places in the global showpiece event.
As the two highest ranked countries DR Congo and Iraq have automatically progressed to their respective finals.
It gives Arnold the best possible chance of becoming the first ever Australian manager to take another nation to the World Cup.
All finals will be played on the morning of Wednesday 1 April AEDT.
Scroll down for every group of the World Cup playoffs.
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UEFA Playoffs Path A
Semi-finals:
Italy v Northern Ireland
Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina
Final:
Winner of Italy/Northern Ireland v winner of Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina
The winner of this section will join Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.
UEFA Playoffs Path B
Semi-finals:
Ukraine v Sweden
Poland v Albania
Final:
Winner of Ukraine/Sweden v Poland/Albania
The winner of this section will join the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in Group F.
UEFA Playoffs Path C
Semi-finals:
Türkiye v Romania
Slovakia v Kosovo
Final:
Türkiye/Romania v Slovakia/Kosovo
The winner of this section will join the United States, Paraguay and Australia in Group D.
UEFA Playoffs Path D
Semi-finals:
Denmark v North Macedonia
Czechia v Ireland
Final:
Denmark/North Macedonia v Czechia/Ireland
The winner of this section will join Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A.
Inter-Confederation Playoffs Pathway 1
Semi-final:
New Caledonia v Jamaica
Final:
DR Congo v winner of New Caledonia v Jamaica
The winner of this section will join Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan in Group K.
Inter-Confederation Playoffs Pathway 2
Semi-final:
Bolivia v Suriname
Final:
Iraq v winner of Bolivia v Suriname
The winner of this section will join France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.
