All Whites’ daunting draw
The All Whites are one win away from the World Cup — but if they get there, they will be in the toughest group of the tournament.
New Zealand take on Costa Rica in a one-game intercontinental playoff in June, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup finals in Qatar in November-December.
The winner of that playoff will be in a difficult group alongside former World Cup champions Germany and Spain, as well as Asian giants Japan, following yesterday’s World Cup draw in Doha.
The most controversial World Cup will feature the most politicallycharged match-ups.
Just like in 1998, the United States will play Iran, with diplomatic relations yet to be restored between the nations. Throw into the mix in Group B England, whose government has also endured tense relations with Tehran.
The group could yet be completed by Ukraine, whose ability to qualify for the World Cup has been postponed after being invaded by Russia. The Ukrainians will have to overcome Scotland and then Wales in the playoffs to make the finals.
What is known is that Qatar will open the World Cup against Ecuador on November 21 after qualifying for the first time as hosts.
The draw in Doha delivered a thrilling match in Group E between Spain and Germany. Group C will see Lionel Messi’s Argentina drawn to play Robert Lewandowski’s Poland.
The world champions will be crowned in December for the first time due to the final being moved from its usual July slot to avoid Qatar’s summer heat.
Qatar have spent 12 years, since winning the World Cup bid, fighting to protect the hosting rights amid corruption investigations and regional disharmony.
The implausibility of Qatar staging such a mammoth event within the congested confines of Doha was clear in the desert imagery that flashed on the screens around the draw venue. Images of skyscrapers growing from the sand served as a reminder of the vast projects required to develop this gas-rich nation in recent decades.
“The world can see Qatar as promised,” the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, told the audience.
The suffering of low-paid migrant workers went unmentioned. There was an oblique reference before the draw by Fifa President Gianni Infantino to the war on Ukraine launched in February by 2018 host Russia.
“Our world is divided, our world is aggressive,” Infantino said, “and we need occasions to bring people together.”
There was a plea for peace. “To all the leaders and all the people of the world,” Infantino said. “Stop the conflicts and the wars. Please engage in dialogue. Please engage in peace. We want this to be a World Cup of unity and the World Cup of peace.”