FIFA Confirms Date for New Zealand, Costa Rica World Cup Playoff in Doha

Wellington, April 20 (QNA) - New Zealand will face Costa Rica in an intercontinental World Cup qualifier in Doha, Qatar on 14 June, New Zealand Football (NZF) said on Wednesday. The All Whites took a big step towards qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time since 2010 after progressing through Oceanias qualification with a 100% record. They will face Costa Rica, who finished fourth in the CONCACAF qualifying standings and are 31st in the FIFA rankings to New Zealands 101st. The winner of the playoff will enter Group E, which features four-times champions Germany, 2010 winners Spain and Japan. It is noteworthy that the identities of three of the 32 qualified teams for the finals scheduled between Nov. 21st and Dec.18th in Qatar have not yet been determined, and the remaining three teams will be identified by participating in three international supplements; In addition to the play-offs of New Zealand and Costa Rica, the UAE will face Australia in a continental play-off in Doha on June 7 to determine the fifth in Asia, and the winner will meet Peru fifth in South America on June 13 also in Doha, and the winner qualifies to Group D, which includes France, Denmark and Tunisia. As for the third supplement, which was delayed due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, it put Ukraine against its host Scotland on the first of June, and the winner of them meet Wales in Cardiff on the fifth of the same month to qualify for the world finals, where the winner will join a group that includes England, the United States and Iran. (QNA)