Who has qualified for the 2022 World Cup?

By Nicholas MendolaMar 30, 2022, 11:30 AM EDT

Ready for the 2022 World Cup?

Well, you’re still going to have to wait quite a while to even know the entire field thanks to the uncertainty caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with The Blue and Yellow’s UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff ties set to be rescheduled.

[ MORE: Full USMNT World Cup qualifying schedule & results ]

And there will be inter-confederation playoffs as well, but the 32-team field is now more than half-full with the addition of two Asian teams and two South American sides on Thursday.

Here are all the teams set for the winter tournament in Qatar listed in their qualifying order from the hosts to the most recent addition to the field.

Who has qualified for the 2022 World Cup?

Qatar

Qualified: Hosts
Confederation: AFC
Previous World Cups: Debutant

Germany

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: 19
Best finish: Four-time champions

Denmark

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: Five
Best finish: Quarterfinalists, 1998

Brazil

Qualified: Top-four finish
Confederation: CONMEBOL
Previous World Cups: 21
Best finish: Five-time champions

France

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: 15
Best finish: Two-time champions

Belgium

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: 13
Best finish: Third-place, 2018

Croatia

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: Five
Best finish: Finalist, 2018

Spain

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: 15
Best finish: Champions, 2010

Serbia

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: 12
Best finish: Fourth-place

England

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: 15
Best finish: Champions, 1966

Switzerland

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: 11
Best finish: Quarterfinals

Netherlands

Qualified: Group winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: 10
Best finish: Three-time finalists

Argentina

Qualified: Top-four finish
Confederation: CONMEBOL
Previous World Cups: 17
Best finish: Two-time champions

Iran

Qualified: Top-two finisher, Group A
Confederation: AFC
Previous World Cups: Five
Best finish: Group stage

South Korea

Qualified: Top-two finisher, Group A
Confederation: AFC
Previous World Cups: 10
Best finish: Fourth place, 2002

Japan

Qualified: Top-two finisher, Group B
Confederation: AFC
Previous World Cups: Six
Best finish: Round of 16

Saudi Arabia

Qualified: Top-two finisher, Group B
Confederation: AFC
Previous World Cups: Five
Best finish: Round of 16, 1994

Ecuador

Qualified: Top-four finish
Confederation: CONMEBOL
Previous World Cups: Three
Best finish: Round of 16, 2006

Uruguay

Qualified: Top-four finish
Confederation: CONMEBOL
Previous World Cups: 13
Best finish: Two-time champions

Canada

Qualified: Top-three finish
Confederation: CONCACAF
Previous World Cups: One
Best finish: Group stage

Ghana

Qualified: Playoff winner
Confederation: CAF
Previous World Cups: Three
Best finish: Quarterfinals

Senegal

Qualified: Playoff winner
Confederation: CAF
Previous World Cups: Two
Best finish: Quarterfinals

Poland

Qualified: Playoff winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: Eight
Best finish: Third place (twice)

Portugal

Qualified: Playoff winner
Confederation: UEFA
Previous World Cups: Seven
Best finish: Third place (1966)

Morocco

Qualified: Playoff winner
Confederation: CAF
Previous World Cups: Five
Best finish: Round of 16 (1986)

Tunisia

Qualified: Playoff winner
Confederation: CAF
Previous World Cups: Five
Best finish: (1990)

Cameroon

Qualified: Playoff winner
Confederation: CAF
Previous World Cups: Seven
Best finish: Quarterfinals (1990)

Mexico

Qualified: Top-three finish
Confederation: CONCACAF
Previous World Cups: 16
Best finish: Quarterfinals (twice)

USMNT

Qualified: Top-three finish
Confederation: CAF
Previous World Cups: 10
Best finish: Third-place (1930)

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Arsenal title tracker – What do Gunners need to win the Premier League?

By Joe Prince-WrightMar 24, 2023, 12:25 PM EDT

Eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table with 10 games to go, what do Arsenal need to win their first Premier League title in 19 years?

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Mikel Arteta has his young side on the cusp of a pretty remarkable and very unexpected Premier League title win.

With a solid defensive unit, perfectly balanced midfield and the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard having fine campaigns in the final third, there is so much to love about this Arsenal team.

[ MORE: Latest Premier League table for 2022-23 season ]

But how, and when, can Arsenal seal the Premier League title they crave? How many points do they need to gain? What are the scenarios based on their huge game against Manchester City in April?

How many points do Arsenal need to win the Premier League title?

With 10 games remaining, there are many different ways the Gunners can win the Premier League title.

In its simplest form: if Arsenal win nine of their final 10 games they will be crowned Premier League games.

The magic number for Arsenal to reach is 95 points. If they reach 95 points, Manchester City cannot catch them.

But if Man City beat Arsenal in their huge game at the Etihad on April 26 and win their game in-hand, Arsenal will need to win all nine of their other remaining game to be sure of the title. That would give them 96 points and Man City could only finish on 94.

If Arsenal drew against Man City then Man City could only finish on a maximum of 92 points. That means Arsenal would need eight wins from their remaining nine games to win the title as they would have 94 points.

If Arsenal win at Man City then Man City would only be able to reach 91 points. So, Arsenal would only have to win seven of their other nine remaining games to seal the title.

All of this proves just how massive the Manchester City vs Arsenal game on April 26 is in deciding the title winner.

When did Arsenal last win the Premier League?

They last won the Premier League title in the 2003-04 season, the famous ‘Invincibles’ campaign as they didn’t lose any of their 38 games that season.

Think Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg, Sol Campbell and Robert Pires in full flow and Arsene Wenger with a huge smile on his face on the sidelines. Magnificent.

When did Arsenal last win a trophy?

The last trophy Arsenal won was the FA Cup in the 2019-20 season, they also won the FA Community Shield in 2020.

Both of those trophies were won by current boss Mikel Arteta.

Which trophies have Arsenal won?

Here are the list of trophies the Gunners have won in their history:

FA Cup (14 – Record)
Premier League/First Division titles (13)
League Cup (2)
FA Community Shield (16)
European Cup Winners’ Cup (1)
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1)

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EURO 2024 qualification schedule: EURO qualifiers results, standings

By Nicholas MendolaMar 24, 2023, 12:23 PM EDT

EURO 2024 qualifying is here, and you’re in the right spot for groups, fixtures, and results.

Italy outlasted England in penalty kicks to win EURO 2020 and is bidding to become the first repeat winner since Spain in 2008 and 2012.

[ MORE: Breaking down Premier League title race ]

England is still seeking its first European Championship and will be favored to emerge from Group C with aforementioned Italy as well as Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Malta.

Netherlands and France are also in a spicy group that has dark horse Republic of Ireland and former champions Greece, as well as Gibraltar.

A number of nations have guaranteed themselves no worse than a playoff spot due to their performances in the UEFA Nations League: Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Georgia, Croatia, Turkey, Serbia, Kazakhstan.

EURO 2024 qualifying schedule

Thursday, March 23

Kazakhstan 1-2 Slovenia
Slovakia 0-0 Luxembourg
Italy 1-2 England – Video, player ratings as Kane breaks Rooney record
Denmark 3-1 Finland
Portugal 4-0 Liechtenstein
San Marino 0-2 Northern Ireland
North Macedonia 2-1 Malta
Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 Iceland

Friday, March 24

Bulgaria vs Montenegro — 1pm ET
Gibraltar vs Greece — 3:45pm ET
Moldova vs Faroe Islands — 3:45pm ET
Serbia vs Lithuania — 3:45pm ET
Austria vs Azerbaijan — 3:45pm ET
Sweden vs Belgium– 3:45pm ET
Czech Republic vs Poland — 3:45pm ET
France vs Netherlands — 3:45pm ET

Saturday, March 25

Scotland vs Cyprus — 10am ET
Israel vs Kosovo — 1pm ET
Armenia vs Turkey — 1pm ET
Belarus vs Switzerland — 1pm ET
Spain vs Norway — 3:45pm ET
Croatia vs Wales — 3:45pm ET
Andorra vs Romania — 3:45pm ET

Sunday, March 26

Kazakhstan vs Denmark — 9am ET
England vs Ukraine — Noon ET
Liechtenstein vs Iceland — Noon ET
Slovenia vs San Marino — Noon ET
Slovakia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 2:45pm ET
Northern Ireland vs Finland — 2:45pm ET
Luxembourg vs Portugal — 2:45pm ET
Malta vs Italy — 2:45pm ET

Monday, March 27

Montenegro vs Serbia — 2:45pm ET
Netherlands vs Gibraltar — 2:45pm ET
Poland vs Albania — 2:45pm ET
Austria vs Estonia — 2:45pm ET
Sweden vs Azerbaijan — 2:45pm ET
Moldova vs Czech Republic — 2:45pm ET
Hungary vs Bulgaria — 2:45pm ET
Republic of Ireland vs France — 2:45pm ET

Tuesday, March 28

Georgia vs Norway — Noon ET
Wales vs Latvia — 2:45pm ET
Romania vs Belarus — 2:45pm ET
Switzerland vs Israel — 2:45pm ET
Kosovo vs Andorra — 2:45pm ET
Turkey vs Croatia — 2:45pm ET
Scotland vs Spain — 2:45pm ET

EURO 2024 qualifying standings

Group A

Spain
Scotland
Norway
Georgia
Cyprus

Group B

Netherlands
France
Republic of Ireland
Greece
Gibraltar

Group C

Italy
England
Ukraine
North Macedonia
Malta

Group D

Croatia
Wales
Armenia
Turkey
Latvia

Group E

Poland
Czech Republic
Albania
Faroe Islands
Moldova

Group F

Belgium
Austria
Sweden
Azerbaijan
Estonia

Group G

Hungary
Serbia
Montenegro
Bulgaria
Lithuania

Group H

Denmark
Finland
Slovenia
Kazakhstan
Northern Ireland
San Marino

Group I

Switzerland
Israel
Romania
Kosovo
Belarus
Andorra

Group J

Portugal
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Iceland
Luxembourg
Slovakia
Liechtenstein

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Folarin Balogun to USMNT? Discussions with US Soccer confirmed

By Joe Prince-WrightMar 24, 2023, 12:23 PM EDT

Folarin Balogun has been spotted in Orlando, Florida as the USMNT eligible striker being in the USA has caused quite a stir among the American fanbase.

He posted a photo on social media which shows he is near to the USMNT’s training camp in Florida and he has since been in and around Orlando ahead of the USMNT’s game against El Salvador there on Monday.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Balogun, 21, has scored 17 goals in France’s top-flight for Reims this season as his loan spell from Arsenal has gone incredibly well and only Jonathan David and Kylian Mbappe have scored more goals than him in Ligue 1 so far in 2022-23.

USMNT interim head coach Anthony Hudson was asked about Balogun being nearby to the training base and confirmed talks have been held: “We’ve had a dialogue. He is out here [in Orlando] having a bit of a break and training. We’ve had some discussions. It’s now just about him enjoying the rest of his trip… It has been an opportunity for us to share about our program, and that’s it. I hope we speak again.”

This heat! 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/N9C69NOLzm

— Balogun (@balogun) March 23, 2023

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Balogun it is believed he will watch the USMNT play against El Salvador in Orlando on Monday as he continues his talks with U.S. Soccer and assesses his options.

What are the chances he selects USMNT?

Internationally he is eligible to play for the USA, England and Nigeria and he has represented England’s youth teams in recent years and has previously played for the USA at U18 level.

Balogun was expected to play for the Three Lions during this international break as he is England’s main goalscoring threat at U21 level (coach Lee Carsley explains that below) but he pulled out of their squad due to injury.

He may have used that unexpected window of opportunity to fly to Orlando to meet with U.S. Soccer reps to discuss his potential future with the USMNT. So, will he switch his international allegiance?

Arsenal teammate and USMNT’s starting goalkeeper Matt Turner had this to say when asked about Balogun.

“Yeah, he’d be a great addition to our national team. I think he’s done really well, obviously, for his club on loan, and we’ll see. The decision has to come from the heart, because it’s not necessarily an easy task always, to come and play in these CONCACAF games, and it’s a tough region at times. So for us, we’d be really grateful to have him, but his heart needs to be in it,” Turner said.

🗣 "He's been an integral part of our campaign."

Lee Carsley highlights the importance of Folarin Balogun, with his international future up in the air pic.twitter.com/jDUvjktxlC

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 23, 2023

What does he think?

Balogun has spoken about this topic before as Pro Soccer Talk asked him about his international future in an interview at the start of last season.

We asked Balogun if other Arsenal academy graduates like Yunus Musah and Bukayo Saka being in similar situations has led to them discussing how they made their decision on which country to represent and if that would help him to decide who he plays for internationally.

“I haven’t spoken to any of them about the nationality situation,” Balogun said. “Even from just the way I’ve known them, it is not something they have put a lot of pressure on themselves about. I think it is a decision that comes naturally to them.

“I think I’m going to do the same and hopefully something will just come to me and then I will make a decision… I don’t want to put too much pressure on the situation. It is just something that will just come to me.”

Maybe that feeling will come to him while he is in Orlando area over the next few days.

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Three key questions for USMNT in March

By Nicholas MendolaMar 24, 2023, 12:23 PM EDT

The United States men’s national team returns to competitive action with an interim coach at the wheel and a spot in the CONCACAF Nations League finals still uncertain.

The Yanks clobbered Grenada at home in their first CNL group match but could only manage a 1-1 draw with El Salvador thanks in no small part to a sloppy pitch and a red card. The USMNT was also down several first-choice players including Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

The U.S. will be favored to advance and will hope to be in the catbird seat following Friday’s match with Grenada at Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St. George’s.

Grenada lost 3-1 to El Salvador away but drew Los Cuscatlecos at home and need to beat the visiting U.S. to qualify for Gold Cup.

But the USMNT’s aforementioned 1-1 draw with El Salvador looms large: Even if the Yanks were to falter in Grenada, they’ll be the Group D winner by beating Los Cuscatlecos on March 27 in Orlando.

Three key questions for USMNT in March

1. Center forwards still needed, but is there anyone ready for the task? The Nos. 1, 2, and 3 non-Reyna-related question for Gregg Berhalter when the World Cup ended was why he chose his center forwards, how he used them, and why they didn’t score goals. Haji Wright was the only CF to score at the World Cup and that was the first center forward goal in six USMNT matches. Jesus Ferreira scored four the previous game, but that was against Grenada and the FC Dallas star has three more goals in his 15 other caps. And Timothy Weah, a danger up top when called upon but often a wide man, is injured and will miss the international break.

So where will interim coach Anthony Hudson turn against Grenada and El Salvador?

World Cup cut Ricardo Pepi is back and so is Daryl Dike.

Meet the candidates and their forms:

Pepi, 20, is on loan at Dutch side Groningen from Augsburg. He started off hot with Groningen and has nine goals, though he’s scoreless in his last three matches.
Dike, 22, is fit and firing for West Bromwich Albion, where he’s scored four times in his last five Championship appearances, all starts.

This is one of those “prove it” camps, with Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna among those helping to cue up chances for their center forwards. If you’re not gonna get the job done against Grenada and El Salvador, you’re missing the boat.

2. Who steps into the Tyler Adams role? Tyler Adams has unflinchingly been Leeds’ most consistent and steady player in a year of tumult, and he’s proven the same time and again in a USMNT shirt.

But he’s not here!

So there will be no “MMA” midfield of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and Adams. The first two pieces are here from Leeds and Valencia, but it’ll be a third piece to complete the trio. Luca de la Torre of Celta Vigo and Alan Sonora of Juarez have been called into camp and Johnny Cardoso is the most defense-minded of the bunch if the team is to go “like-for-like.” Cardoso, 21, is starting for Internacional in Brazil, who trails only Gremio on the Gaucho table.

3. What’s the state of mind? Look, the “youth soccer” and “extremely childish” incident has made for plenty of discussion online, but the U.S. group seemed plenty bonded after Giovanni Reyna’s World Cup camp incidents had happened but were yet to be exposed by Gregg Berhalter at a “private” speech.

So, in theory, Reyna will arrive back into a USMNT camp in need of consistent effort and good attitude but as a member of the fold. The problem may be that the fold thought it left the World Cup with Berhalter either returning as head coach or with a search being conducted for a new coach.

It turns out, it’s only mostly the latter; Berhalter remains a candidate for the U.S. job and has been in Europe to see his “former” players. His assistant, Anthony Hudson, remains in charge of the first team on an interim basis and who can really know how much input Berhalter may currently have on the group.

All of that said, the USMNT is better than both of its opponents, regardless of venues, and should look superior to them even without Adams and Weah. Should is still pretty conditional, so let’s see what statement comes out of these two games in the favorites role, because it’s going to be quite a while before the Yanks are a clear underdog again.

To add to this and following the release of the report: I understand Gregg Berhalter spoke to the #USMNT players after the Fulham vs Arsenal game yesterday. https://t.co/f6Xmhz78Ds

— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) March 13, 2023

Follow @NicholasMendola

[ MORE: Full USMNT World Cup qualifying schedule & results ]

Latest USMNT news

Who has qualified for the 2022 World Cup?

Qatar

Germany

Denmark

Brazil

France

Belgium

Croatia

Spain

Serbia

England

Switzerland

Netherlands

Argentina

Iran

South Korea

Japan

Saudi Arabia

Ecuador

Uruguay

Canada

Ghana

Senegal

Poland

Portugal

Morocco

Tunisia

Cameroon

Mexico

USMNT

Latest transfer news

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Latest Premier League news

How many points do Arsenal need to win the Premier League title?

When did Arsenal last win the Premier League?

When did Arsenal last win a trophy?

Which trophies have Arsenal won?

Premier League news

EURO 2024 qualifying schedule

EURO 2024 qualifying standings

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Group I

Group J

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

Latest USMNT news

What are the chances he selects USMNT?

What does he think?

More USMNT

Three key questions for USMNT in March