When is the Qatar World Cup 2022 draw and who are UAE's potential opponents?

National team remain in with a chance of making it to the finals after win over South Korea set up play-off against Australia

The UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates scoring the only goal of the game against South Korea in the World Cup qualifier at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. AFP

UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa celebrates after the match. Reuters

UAE players celebrate after the match. Reuters

South Korea attacker Son Heung-min goes down under a challenge from Caio Canedo. Reuters

UAE match-winner Harib Abdallah and South Korea's Nam Tae-Hee challenge for a header. Getty

UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. EPA

UAE's Caio Canedo on the attack. Getty

Action during the game at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Getty

UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa makes a save. EPA

UAE's Mohammed Al Baloushi battles for the ball with South Korea forward Son Heung-min. AFP

UAE defend a free-kick. Reuters

UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates scoring the winning goal. AFP

UAE's Abdulaziz Hussain. Getty

UAE manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. EPA

South Korea's Son Heung-min holds off the challenge of Majed Hassan of the UAE. Reuters

UAE attacker Caio Canedo fouls South Korea goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo. AP

UAE's Harib Abdallah celebrates with teammates after scoring. Reuters

South Korea attacker Son Heung-min. EPA

Kim Min-jae of South Korea and UAE's Caio Canedo battle for the ball. EPA

South Korea's Hee-Chan Hwang battles for possession with Mohammed Al Baloushi of the UAE. Reuters

South Korea's Kim Jin-su kicks the ball under pressure from Abdulaziz Hussain of the UAE. Reuters

South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan on the ball against the UAE. Reuters

UAE fans at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Reuters

The UAE team before the match in Dubai. AFP

The draw for the World Cup takes place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre at 8pm UAE time on Friday, April 1.

The UAE will be part of the draw, even though they remain two matches away from securing qualification for the competition.

After finishing third in their third round group in Asian qualifying, they face a play-off against Australia in Qatar on June 7.

Win that and they would go up against Peru, who finished fifth in South American qualifying, in a last-chance eliminator on June 13 or 14.

The national team are playing for one of just three spots which are as yet unconfirmed for the tournament, with 29 of the 32 qualifiers already sorted.

England seal World Cup spot

World Cup 2022 draw

The teams will be placed in four pots based on their position in the Fifa rankings – except for the hosts. Qatar will take position A1 in Pot 1.

There will be eight groups of four teams. In the draw, only European teams – who will account for 13 of the 32 qualified teams – can be drawn together, with a maximum of two per group.

All teams from other regional confederations cannot be drawn together. So, for example, UAE – should they make it through – can't be drawn in a group with South Korea, who they played in the final game of the third qualifying round on Tuesday.

Pot 1: Qatar, Brazil, Belgium, France, Argentina, England, Spain, Portugal

Pot 2: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Croatia

Pot 3: Senegal, Iran, Japan, Morocco, Serbia, Poland, South Korea, Tunisia

Pot 4: Cameroon, Canada, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Uefa play-off winner (Wales, Scotland or Ukraine), AFC v Conmebol play-off winner (UAE, Australia or Peru), Costa Rica v New Zealand play-off winner

Who might UAE face?

If the national team do successfully navigate the remaining playoff fixtures, the sternest test which could await them in group play might potentially be a pool made up of Brazil, Germany and Senegal.

Recent form would suggest a more manageable group could include Portugal, who required a last-chance playoff win over North Macedonia to make it through, United States and Tunisia.

How to watch the draw

It will be broadcast live on Fifa’s website, as well as on its social media accounts, from 8pm UAE time on Friday, April 1.

Tickets

Over 800,000 tickets were sold in the first sales period for the World Cup. The top 10 countries of residence to purchase tickets were Qatar, the United States, England, Mexico, the UAE, Germany, India, Brazil, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia.

The next selection period will go live on Tuesday, April 5, at 1pm UAE time, at FIFA.com/tickets.