The Portuguese women’s soccer team receives Iceland this Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in Paços de Ferreira, where it can seal an unprecedented qualification for the World Cup, scheduled for 2023, in a second-round match of the European qualifiers.
After the second place in Group H, behind Germany, and the victory over Belgium (2-1 in Vizela), on the first day of the playoffs, the Quineño team can make history with a victory over the 19th FIFA rankings team
To get to the 2023 World Cup, However, Portugal does not depend only on itselfas of the three second-round winners – Switzerland hosts Wales and Scotland hosts Ireland – only two go directly to Australia and New Zealand.
The two teams with the most points counting the group stage (with first, third, fourth and fifth) and this Tuesday’s game qualify, while the one with the fewest points plays an intercontinental play-off.
In these accounts, Portugal does not depend on itself, as it cannot qualify directly if Switzerland beats Wales at home, in a match also scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (in Lisbon), and Ireland wins in Scotland, starting at 8:00 p.m.
The Portuguese have 16 points (18-9 in goals), against 19 for the Swiss (23-4) and 17 for the Irish (26-4). Scotland also have 16 points and have the same goal difference (22-13), but win on goals scored, while the Welsh only have 14 (13-5).
If they beat Iceland, but with the worst record, Portugal will play an intercontinental playoff, which will dictate the last three places, in New Zealand (February 17-23, 2023), with Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Cameroon, Senegal, Papua New Guinea , Haiti, Panama, Chile and Paraguay.
For the final, 27 of the 32 teams are defined, nine from Europe, namely Sweden, Spain, England, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Holland and Italy.
The other formations already qualified are the hosts Australia and New Zealand, as well as China, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam (Asia), Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia (Africa), Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica and the United States. (CONCACAF) and Argentina, Brazil and Colombia (South America).
The 2023 Women’s World Cup Finals will take place in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.
The match between Portugal and Iceland will be refereed by the French Stéphanie Frappart, who will have the help of VAR.
Source: Observadora
