Potentially all-British clash will be the final UEFA qualifying match for the Qatar World Cup
The final UEFA spot at the 2022 Qatar World Cup will be filled this Sunday (June 5) when Wales take on either Scotland or Ukraine at the Cardiff City Stadium. Their opponent will be decided tomorrow (Wed 1 June) at Hampden Park. If Scotland win, the UK will be treated to an all-British playoff final and the knowledge that either Wales or Scotland will arrive in Qatar.
In huge news for British football fans, Sky Sports have struck a deal with public broadcasters to allow the entire the nation the chance to watch the final completely free. Thanks to this agreement, Sunday's game will be shown on free-to-air television - S4C in Wales, STV in Scotland and ITV in England.
However, the semi final between Scotland and Ukraine will be shown on Sky Sports as originally planned. The game kicks off at Hampden Park at 19.45 tomorrow (June 1) and will be available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.
The final on Sunday will be in the hands of public broadcasters thanks to this agreement with Sky Sports. It opens up the match to a much larger audience, including people who may not be able to afford a Sky Sports subscription. The qualifying playoff final will kick off at 17.00 on Sunday across those free-to-air networks.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said:
“This agreement ensures free to air coverage for all football fans for the crucial World Cup Play-Off Final. The deal with Sky Sports will bring fans of the Home Nations the chance to watch their team progress to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which we hope our viewers will enjoy.”
Sian Doyle, S4C Chief Executive, shared in Sloane's enthusiasm:
“The play-off final is one of the biggest games in the recent history of the Welsh football team and one the whole nation will be watching with tremendous excitement,”
“S4C is here to provide a service to the people of Wales and we are proud to be a part of the Red Wall. We will be turning our channel red to show our support for the team and we will be behind them all the way. We hope Wales supporters will join us and enjoy our coverage. Yma o Hyd.”
To add further excitement to an event which may already be an all-British encounter on the most British of weekends - the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - the winner of the final will enter Group B at the World Cup, joining Iran, the United States and England. This means we might have another all British tie to look forward to, this time at the tournament itself, should Wales or Scotland qualify.
Standing in their way will be Ukraine. Considering what their nation has gone through and continues to go through, a very talented squad including the likes of Premier League stars Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko will be full of emotion and pride, and desperate to take their nation to the World Cup. Not only that but every neutral fan on the planet will be backing them. It could prove a lot for Scotland and Wales to overcome. Only time will tell.
Jonathan Licht, Managing Director of Sky Sports, said of the deal with public broadcasters:
“Next Sunday’s game is a huge fixture for Wales and Scotland supporters, and for football fans throughout the UK and Ireland.
“We are thrilled to make a game of such national sporting significance available to the widest possible audience, thanks to our partnership with ITV, S4C and STV.”
Despite its huge significance in the United Kingdom, this final actually won't complete the draw for the 2022 World Cup as there are still two other spots to be filled.
Australia, the UAE or Peru will be completing Group D. Next Tuesday (June 7) Australia travel to Al Rayyan to face the UAE. The winner of that match will meet Peru in the same stadium the following Monday (June 13) for the chance to qualify for the World Cup.
The final open slot is in Group E where New Zealand or Costa Rica will have the pleasure of joining Spain, Germany and Japan, in what looks to be the closest thing to a group of death in this tournament. The pair meet on June 14, also in Al-Rayyan, to decide who will be the final nation to qualify for the Qatar World Cup.
Within two weeks, we will know the exact and complete draw for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and we just might be seeing Wales or Scotland join England in Group B, adding a tonne of narrative to an already highly anticipated tournament.
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