SCOTLAND will have to go the play-off route if they are to qualify for the World Cup.

But their tie with Ukraine has been POSTPONED due to the Russian invasion of the Eastern European country.

FIFA have granted Ukraine's request to push their previous scheduled date of March 24 further back in the calendar.

Which has resulted in the play-off final against either Austria or Wales being delayed too.

When are the World Cup qualifying play-offs?

The World Cup qualifying play-offs will take place during the next international break, which will be held from March 24 to March 29, 2022.

Twelve teams will enter the play-offs – the ten runners-up from World Cup qualifying plus the best placed Nations League group winners to have not yet qualified.

However, just THREE will advance to the World Cup.

The draw for the play-offs was held on November 26 and saw the six best placed teams in World Cup qualifying handed home semi-final ties

World Cup play-off fixtures

The draw for the play-offs has now been made.

In each path, the winners of each semi-final will take on the other winners for a place in the World Cup.

As such, we could be looking at Scotland vs Wales and Italy vs Portugal for a place in the finals.

Path A

Thursday, March 24

• Scotland vs Ukraine (7.45pm)* – POSTPONED
• Wales vs Austria (7.45pm)

*Ukraine have asked for their play-off in Scotland to be moved to June

Tuesday, March 29

Final – Wales/Austria vs Scotland/Ukraine – DELAYED

Path B

Thursday, March 24

• Russia** vs Poland (5pm)
• Sweden vs Czech Republic (7.45pm)

**Russia have been suspended by Fifa and will be eliminated from the World Cup subject to an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport

Tuesday, March 29

Final – Russia/Poland vs Sweden/Czech Republic

Path C

Thursday, March 24

• Italy vs North Macedonia (7.45pm
• Portugal vs Turkey (7.45pm)

Tuesday, March 29

• Final – Portugal/Turkey vs Italy/North Macedonia

What happens next with the postponement of Scotland vs Ukraine?

Discussions are currently being held to sort out a new date which everyone involved can agree on.

The most likely time is expected to be within the window of the UEFA Nations League which takes place in June 2022.

Former Scotland international Mark McGhee agrees with FIFA's decision to postpone the play-off semi-final.

The 64-year-old said: "I think it is the right decision, we have got to respect what is going on over there and how it affects their players.

"Ukraine deserve equal opportunity, maybe even more so in the circumstances and at the moment, it would be such a big ask for their players to come and play a game at that level.

"So I don't think there is anything lost by it. Scotland fans obviously want to know what is happening but I think it is the right thing to do and I don't think anyone at the Scottish FA will have a problem with that."

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Are there any other World Cup qualifying play-offs?

Yes. The inter-confederation play-offs will take place under the usual two-legged format.

This will see the winner of Oceania qualifying, fourth place in North American qualifying, fifth place in South American qualifying and the best third place in the two Asian qualifying groups drawn into two two-legged ties.

The two winners of their ties will qualify for the World Cup.

In African qualifying the ten group winners will advance to two-legged continental play-offs.

The five winners of those African ties will then advance to Qatar.

Africa World Cup play-off fixtures

• DR Congo vs Morocco (3pm) – Friday, March 25
• Morocco vs DR Congo (8.30pm) – Tuesday, March 29

• Mali vs Tunisia (5pm) – Friday, March 25
• Tunisia vs Mali (8.30pm) – Tuesday, March 29

• Cameroon vs Algeria (5pm) – Friday, March 25
• Algeria vs Cameroon (8.30pm) – Tuesday, March 29

• Egypt vs Senegal (7.30pm) – Friday, March 25
• Senegal vs Egypt (6pm) – Tuesday, March 29

• Ghana vs Nigeria (7.30pm) – Friday, March 25
• Nigeria vs Ghana (6pm) – Tuesday, March 29

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