Only one of Italy or Portugal can qualify for Qatar 2022 finals

European champions Italy or Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal won't be part of FIFA World Cup 2022 as both teams are in the same qualifying bracket.

Italy will face North Macedonia at home in a playoff semifinal next March, and the winner will play away at either Portugal or Turkey for a spot in the World Cup. Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup — losing in the playoffs to Sweden — and now will likely have to beat Portugal to avoid missing the tournament for a second straight time. Portugal has always qualified during Ronaldo's career. He first played at the 2006 World Cup.

Also read: Champions League: Manchester City sink Paris St Germain, both sides advance to Round of 16

The six playoff semifinals will be played as single-leg elimination games on March 24. The three finals are played five days later. The three winners will complete Europe's entry of 13 nations in the 32-team lineup in Qatar. FIFA will make the tournament draw on April 1 in Doha.