Either Italy's frenetically acclaimed European champions or Portugal's star Cristiano Ronaldo have to stay at home and watch the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

This was the result of the draw for the European playoffs in Zurich on Friday.

In path C, there could be a showdown between the European champions from 2016 and the successor from this summer on March 29th - provided Italy (at home against North Macedonia) and Portugal (at home against Turkey and coach Stefan Kuntz) do their duty on March 24th fulfill.

In the duel between the two football giants, Portugal would have home rights.

“It's very difficult for us.

North Macedonia is a good team and then we have to play the final away, in Portugal or in Turkey.

It's very tricky, ”said Italy coach Roberto Mancini during the draw.

The Squadra Azzurra could miss the final tournament for the second time in a row, after it already happened at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

It will be particularly tricky for the former German U-21 coach Kuntz.

His Turkey would have to defeat Portugal and Italy one after the other to qualify for the final tournament in winter 2022 (November 21 to December 18).

“This is definitely the most difficult path.

The biggest wish is to bring the grand final to Turkey so we can see what is possible for us, ”said Kuntz.

In path A, the semi-final duels are Scotland against Ukraine and Wales against Austria.

If Austria makes it to the final for former Bayern star David Alaba, they would have home rights.

Poland and world footballer Robert Lewandowski will initially be in Russia on Path B.

In a possible final there could be a duel between Lewandowski's Poles and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Swedes.

Sweden previously hosted the Czech Republic in the semi-finals.

A total of twelve nations play the three remaining European places for the final tournament in 2022.

Defending champions France, Germany, Belgium, England, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Serbia, the Netherlands and Croatia had already qualified as group winners.

The draw at a glance:

Path A:

Scotland - Ukraine

Wales v Austria (winner has home rights in the final)

Path B:

Russia - Poland (winner has home rights in the final)

Sweden - Czech Republic

Path C:

Italy - North Macedonia

Portugal v Turkey (winner has home rights in the final)

But tickets are not only issued in Europe.

New Zealand can hope, Asia's representatives will be hit harder on the way to the World Cup: The world association FIFA also drew the intercontinental play-offs for qualifying for the final tournament on Friday in Zurich.

As a result, the fifth from Asia meets the fifth from South America and the fourth from North and Central America meets the best nation from Oceania.

None of the four representatives has yet been determined.

According to the current status, Australia or Japan could get the playoff place for Asia and should then face a strong South American representative such as Colombia, Peru, Chile or Uruguay.

Panama currently ranks fourth in North and Central America, with a likely opponent from Oceania being New Zealand. 

Unlike in the past, this time only one game will be played on neutral ground.

The games will increase on June 13th and 14th and thus also significantly after the World Cup draw on April 1st, in which only 30 out of 32 participants will be determined by then.