28 of the 48 teams for next year's FIFA World Cup are now known...

Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and South Africa punch tickets but for the likes of Gennato Gattuso's Italy, the qualification sweat is likely to go all the way to the play-offs next March

SWEATING: Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso is facing the likelihood of another play off to get to the 2026 World Cup finals. Pic: Stefano Rellandini, Getty Images

WORLD Cup 2022 hosts Qatar are among the nations who booked the spot for next year’s FIFA finals following the most recent round of qualifying matches. It is Qatar's first time qualifying as of right for the finals after they beat the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

South Africa also clinched a tight group, with fellow African giants Nigeria pushed to the playoffs, on a tense final day of group stage qualifiers on the continent. This came a day after Cape Verde’s first qualification for the World Cup finals.