Brazil head to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup chasing a sixth Fifa title, but who could Tite’s Selecao side face in the knockout stages – including possible ties with Germany and Spain?
No nation has won as many World Cup titles so far as Brazil, who have won five of the past 21 editions of the tournament. But the record champions have not conquered the world in 20 years, with the Selecao last lifting the title at the 2002 edition in Japan and South Korea.
Since then, Italy and Germany have moved to within a title of matching Brazil, with success in 2006 and 2014. Yet only Die Mannschaft can now pull level in 2022, as the Azzurri failed to qualify for the Qatar edition after defeat in the semi-finals of the UEFA Path C play-offs.
Brazil will remain the only country to have played at all 22 editions of the Fifa World Cup in Qatar. Their tournament begins with a Group G match with Serbia on Thursday, November 24 before facing Switzerland on Monday 28th and lastly Cameroon on Friday, December 2.
Who could Brazil face in the first knockout stage of the 2022 Qatar World Cup?
Topping Group G would see Brazil meet the runners-up from Group H, or face the winners of Group H should they progress behind one of Serbia, Switzerland or Cameroon. Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea will be competing for a knockout stage place in Group H.
Brazil have advanced beyond the first knockout stage at each of the past seven World Cups with their last Round of 16 defeat coming in 1990 to Argentina. The Selecao topped Group C at the tournament Italy hosted with a perfect 100% win rate across their three matches.
The Selecao have taken the top seed in their group at the 1994 World Cup in America, plus France 1998, in 2002, at Germany 2006, in South Africa in 2010, on home soil in 2014 and in Russia last time out in 2018. They last finished as group stage runners-up back in 1978.
Who could Brazil face in the quarter-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup?
If Brazil top Group G and beat the runners-up from Group H, the Selecao will feature in the quarter-final against either the Group E winner or the runner-up from Group F. This fixture could be one of the ties of the tournament depending on who progresses in Group E and F.
Spain and Germany meet in one of the fixtures of the group stage alongside ties with Costa Rica and Japan in Group E. Meanwhile, 2018 runners-up Croatia will face Belgium, Canada, and Morocco in Group F before their path could converge with a nation playing in Group E.
Should Brazil fail to win their group for the first time in 44 years but overcome the winner of Group H, they would meet either the Group F winner or Group E runners-up in the final eight. The last 16 and quarter-final ties would also be a day later than as Group G winners.
Who could await the Selecao in the semi-final on December 13 or 14?
A team from Group A, B, C or D would meet Brazil in the semi-final if the Selecao can make the final four for only the second time since winning the 2002 World Cup. They last played in the penultimate round in 2014, around quarter-final showings during 2006, 2010 and 2018.
Winning Group G, seeing off the Group H runners-up and either the Group E winner or the Group F runners-up would see Brazil meet either the Group A winner, Group B runners-up, Group C winner or Group D runners-up in the Path A semi-final on December 13 in Lusail.
While finishing as Group G runners-up, beating the Group H winner plus either the Group F winner or Group E runners-up leads to a Path B semi-final on December 14 in Al Khor with the Group B winner, Group A runners-up, Group D winner or the runners-up from Group C.
Host nation Qatar will contest Group A with Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands, while England, Wales, Iran and the USA feature in Group B. Argentina, Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia meet in Group C, while France, Australia, Denmark and Tunisia meet in Group D.
When and where is the final for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar?
Regardless of Brazil progressing through the knockout stages to the Path A or Path B semi-finals, they would play the final of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar on December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium – venue for their opening Group G tie with Serbia on November 24.
Losing their semi-final tie, meanwhile, would send Brazil to the third-place play-off in Al-Rayyan on December 17. The Selecao could also play the Path A quarter-final at the Khalifa International Stadium, should they win their group, in Brazil’s only other potential visit.
Brazil’s possible knockout stage paths to 2022 Qatar World Cup final
So, it is possible that Brazil face some of the world’s biggest names and best nations over the knockout stages at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar. A Round of 16 tie with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal could await, before facing either Spain or Germany in the quarters.
Say Brazil win their group, Portugal would follow if runners-up in Group H, before Spain, Germany, Belgium or Croatia could await. A semi-final with the Netherlands, the USA or Wales, Argentina or Denmark may then stand between the Selecao and a spot in the final.
If Brazil only finish as runners-up in Group G, on the other hand, a last 16 tie with Uruguay or Portugal would follow as Group H winners. Their final eight game is unlikely to be much easier, too, with Spain, Germany, Belgium or Croatia still in the Selecao’s side of the draw.
One of England, Senegal or Ecuador, Poland or France would likely then meet Brazil in the semi-final. So, no matter if Brazil win Group G or finish as runners-up, Tite’s team are likely to face a fraught path throughout the knockout stages at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
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