A dramatic week in the battle for World Cup qualification lies ahead, with 29 of 32 spots for Qatar this winter set to be determined in the coming days.
The qualification process - which is split between six confederations - has been ongoing since the summer of 2019, but the majority of nations will imminently decide their fate with a number of key clashes ahead.
Some 11 European countries are still battling for three remaining spots, with 10 nations having already qualified, though the process has been extended following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the latter's clash against Scotland postponed until June.
It's not just those in Europe vying for an all-important plane ticket to Qatar, however, with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to go head-to-head once again as the African sides complete their qualification bids.
Canada meanwhile are on the brink of a historic qualification, while Australia face a fierce battle for an automatic spot.
Sportsmail takes you through the qualification processes across the globe, the nations battling to cement a place in Qatar, and the key clashes to look out for.
Who has already qualified?
Before we delve into the specifics across each confederation, let's firstly briefly outline exactly who has cemented a place at the ever-approaching tournament.
Being hosts, Qatar's qualification was never in doubt; they will be seeded and placed into Pot A for the impending World Cup group stage draw on April 1.
In Europe, it was Germany who first confirmed their qualification, with Denmark swiftly following. England also safely navigated their way through their group, remaining unbeaten throughout.
Joining them in the mix are Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Croatia, Serbia and Switzerland.
Outside of Europe, South American giants Brazil and Argentina will be present this winter, while Iran and South Korea have also confirmed their participation.
That leaves 17 places up for grabs in the coming weeks and months.
What's the state of play in Europe?
Two of the three remaining places up for grabs will be determined by this time next week, with a plethora of world-renowned stars set to miss out on a place.
The group stages saw the 10 winners automatically qualify for Qatar, while the runners-up - joined by the two highest-ranked Nations League sides who had otherwise failed to book a spot - were placed into the play-offs.
Russia were initially included in the list of 12 nations, split into three groups of four, but they have since been removed by FIFA due to the invasion of Ukraine.
It leaves 11 sides competing for three spots, notably with Italy and Portugal drawn into the same play-off path, meaning one of the two European giants will certainly miss out on a place.
It's a quite remarkable story, with Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, potentially fighting for his final World Cup opportunity, while Euro 2020 champions Italy could fail to qualify for back-to-back tournaments.
The European heavyweights are joined by Poland - who have received a bye to the final - alongside, Sweden, Ukraine, Wales, Scotland, North Macedonia, Austria, Czech Republic and Turkey.
Path C sides Portugal and Italy face clashes against Turkey and North Macedonia in their respective semi-finals, two sides who will be hell-bent on preventing a mouthwatering play-off decider.
Meanwhile, Scotland and Wales are on a collision course to face each other in their final, though standing in the way are Ukraine and Austria.
Finally, Sweden and Czech Republic are battling to join Poland in the final of Path B.
Aside from Scotland vs Ukraine, which as stated has been postponed until June, the semi-final clashes will all take place on Thursday, March 24, with each match kicking off at 7.45pm.
The winners of each one-legged game will progress to the final where they will meet the other victor from their respective path. These matches will all take place on Tuesday, March 29.
Upcoming fixtures:
Path A:
Semi-final 1: Scotland vs Ukraine - postponed until June
Semi-final 2: Wales vs Austria - Thursday, March 24 at 7.45pm
Path B:
Path C:
Africa: Salah and Mane go head-to-head
There will be five African nations competing at this year's World Cup, but astonishingly one of Senegal and Egypt - who competed in February's Africa Cup of Nations final - will be absent.
The nations were split into 10 qualifying groups, with the winners of each drawn into two-legged ties - which take place this week - to determine who qualifies.
Unfortunately, there will be a number of high-profile stars who will have to miss out on a place due to the nature of the draw.
The fixtures, all of which take place on Friday, March 25, are as follows:
The second-leg clashes will all take place on Tuesday, March 29.
Of course, Egypt vs Senegal is the pick of the bunch, with Liverpool team-mates Mane and Salah going to battle once more.
It was Mane who scored the decisive spot-kick as Senegal won a historic first-ever AFCON title on penalties, with both players desperate to perform after underwhelming outings in Russia four years ago.
The likes of Thomas Partey and Jordan Ayew of Ghana will come up against Nigeria's Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Indidi, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi.
Meanwhile, Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez could also miss out on a place.
North, Central America and Caribbean
What a story we have brewing in the North, Central America and Caribbean qualification process, with Canada on the brink of a historic feat.
Two qualifying rounds have come and gone, with the third and final round - an eight-team league - coming to its conclusion on March 31.
Just three games remain for the eight sides to confirm a place in Qatar, though in truth just five teams - being Canada, USA, Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica - are still in the mix.
It's Canada who sit in pole position, four points above USA in second and eight ahead of Panama in fourth. Crucially, the top three automatically qualify, with the side in fourth going into the inter-confederation play-off.
Canada, guided by Englishman John Herdman, have qualified just once before for the World Cup - all the way back in 1986, where they lost all three games and went out without a point.
They now need just a single win from their remaining three encounters to confirm their qualification, with fourth-placed Panama then mathematically unable to catch them.
Canada come up against fifth-placed Costa Rica on Friday, with both teams desperate for a win.
Meanwhile, USA and Mexico - sat second and third respectively - square off, again on Friday, in another crunch clash.
Fixtures:
Asia: Australia in a battle for automatic qualification
Alongside Qatar, who as stated automatically qualified as hosts, Iran and South Korea are the Asian sides to have confirmed their places in Qatar.
There are a remaining four spots up for grabs, however, with Australia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Lebanon, Iraq and United Arab Emirates still in with a shout.
As in the North, Central America and Caribbean qualification process, two rounds have come and gone, with the 12 nations still standing drawn into two groups of six.
The two winners and runners-up in each group automatically qualify, with the two teams finishing in third progressing to a play-off, with the winner than going into the inter-confederation play-off, where they will play the fifth-placed side in South American qualifying.
The top two places have already been decided in Group A, with Iran and South Korea unable to be caught. But with two games to play, each of Iraq in fifth, Lebanon in fourth and United Arab Emirates in third can progress to the play-off.
As for Group B, the top three nations are already decided, with just the order still to be determined.
As it stands, it's Saudi Arabia in pole position, sat in top spot and four points ahead of Australia in third. Second-placed Japan are three points ahead of Australia.
Crucially, qualification is in Australia's hands. They play Japan on Thursday before a final encounter against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Yes, they're coming up against the top two, but victories in both will see them qualify for the World Cup.
Their preparations for the clashes were plunged into chaos as coach Graham Arnold tested positive for Covid last week, however, meaning he'll have to return a negative PCR test on Thursday to take his place on the touchline.
Meanwhile, Aaron Mooy (also out with Covid) and injured pair Adam Taggart and Riley McGree are among the absentees in an understrength squad for the two games, which was headlined by Bruno Fornaroli's shock inclusion.
Fixtures:
Thursday, March 24:
Tuesday, March 29
Oceania: Just one team will prevail... maybe
The situation in the Oceania qualifying process is slightly more complicated - both in structure and due to the fact it has been ravaged by Covid.
In terms of the structure, there is a mini-tournament currently underway in Doha.
The tournament consists of two groups, with the top two nations in each advancing to a semi-final and final play-off, and the winner then going through to the inter-confederation play-off.
There, they will play against the fourth-placed team from the CONCACAF region, featuring sides from North and Central America and the Caribbean.
This process has been disrupted by Covid, however, with a number of nations pulling out. FIFA on Wednesday changed the format after both the Cook Islands and Vanuatu were made to give up their places due to cases of Covid.
Both sides were in Group A, with the remaining nations - Solomon Islands and Tahiti - now set to play a single play-off clash on Thursday to determine to winner and runner-up of the group.
New Zealand have already advanced from Group B, with Papua New Guinea and Fiji -- level on three points each -- fighting for the second spot when they face each other.
Fixtures:
When does the World Cup start and how will it work?
The World Cup will take place between November 21 and December 18 next year with a total of 32 teams - initially split into eight groups of four - competing for the grand prize.
The group stages will begin on November 21 and will run for 12 days, with four matches being played on each.
Typically, the top two teams from each group will progress to the round of 16. There won't be any third-place teams progressing to the knockouts, as we saw at Euro 2020 this summer.
In another difference to Euro 2020, there also won't be a third-place play-off taking place at the World Cup.
The group stages will come to an end on December 2, with the round of 16 then played from December 3-6.
The quarter-finals will then take place from December 9-10, before the semi-finals are played on December 13 and 14.
The final of the 2022 World Cup will take place on Sunday, December 18.