Before Fifa decides, perhaps this Friday, regarding the dispute between Ecuador and Chile, the Ecuadorian selection is still under the threat of exclusion from the 2022 World Cup for having fielded a possibly Colombian player. during qualifying. In this hypothesis, which country might join Qatar in November?
A new opponent for Qatar, the Netherlands and Senegal? The presence of Ecuador, 4th team in Group A at the World Cup, is no longer 100% assured since a complaint filed in May by Chile. The Chileans, 7th in the Amsud zone and therefore eliminated from the World Cup on the sports field, dispute, document in support, the qualification of Ecuador because of the participation of the right side Byron Castillo, who would not be of Ecuadorian nationality , but Colombian. According to Marca, FIFA might deliver its verdict this Friday. In the meantime, an exclusion of Ecuador cannot therefore be ruled out. But which country would then face Qatar on June 21 for the first day of the major competition of the year?
A tiny hope for Italy
Chile is clearly on pole. In 2016, Fifa pinned Bolivia for an almost similar reason. The Bolivian selection had lined up twice Nelson Cabrera, a player born in Paraguay, but who had a selection with Paraguay (Castillo does not have any with Colombia). Bolivia’s win and draw turned into a 3-0 loss on green carpet. If Fifa imposes the same sanction and Ecuador loses its eight qualifying matches played with Byron Castillo, Chile will drop from 7th to 4th place, synonymous with qualification for the World Cup.
Another possible option but very unlikely, Ecuador is simply eliminated from the Amsud zone qualifications. Peru, 5th and current play-off once morest Australia, passes 4th, qualifies directly by taking the place of Ecuador. Colombia, 6th, inherits 5th place, that of play-off once morest Australia in place of Peru.
Finally Italy also has a tiny hope of being in Qatar in November if Fifa decides to grant the unexpected sesame to the non-qualified nation best positioned in the Fifa ranking. The Nazionale, reigning European champion, is 6th.
