Following the recent break, some of Arsenal’s internationals have learned their opponents for March’s World Cup qualification play-offs.
After the November internationals, 42 of the 48 teams to play in next summer’s World Cup tournament have now been confirmed, but there are still quite a few countries hoping to grab one of those final six spots.
Of those countries, Arsenal still have a stake in a number of European sides hoping to make the final tournament through the UEFA qualification play-offs in March.
Italy (Riccardo Calafiori), Denmark (Christian Norgaard), Ukraine (Oleksandr Zinchenko), Poland (Jakub Kiwior), Albania (Maldini Kacurri), and Sweden (Viktor Gyokeres) will all be involved in the play-offs, with the draw now having been confirmed.
In Path A, Italy will face Northern Ireland in the semi-finals, with Wales playing Bosnia & Herzegovina in the other game. Only one of those four teams will make the final tournament.
Italy will be at home to Northern Ireland due to being a Pot 1 side, but they’ll have to play away in the final (if they make it) as the other semi-final winner was drawn at home.
Path B easily has the strongest connection to Arsenal, with Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and Albania all involved. Sweden will play away to Ukraine in their semi-final, with Poland at home to Albania in the other game. Either Sweden or Ukraine will be at home in the final.
Arsenal don’t have any stake in Path C, containing Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. But in Path D, Denmark play at home to North Macedonia in the semi-finals, with the winner playing away to either the Czech Republic or the Republic of Ireland.
In terms of the countries who have already qualified with an Arsenal connection, Brazil, France, England, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Ecuador have all made it in.
Portugal have also qualified, which is worth mentioning on the off-chance Fabio Vieira gets a call-up.