2022 World Cup qualifying: Wales to host Austria in play-off semi-final

Wales will host Austria in their 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final.

If they are victorious on Thursday, 24 March 2022, Wales will be at home to Scotland or Ukraine in a play-off final on Tuesday, 29 March.

The winner of that final will qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Both the semi-finals and finals are played over one leg.

"You're anticipating in your head the best scenario. I think if I'm honest we got it," said Wales boss Robert Page.

"That's no disrespect to the opposition we're up against. With regards to the home ties, we've managed to avoid Italy and Portugal, two of the strongest teams. They're in the same group, which is great for us.

"That leaves two other places for the rest of us and we'll give everything to make sure that happens."

Wales finished second in Group E and lost only one qualifier - away to group winners Belgium - and got over the line by taking four points from their final two group games.

"If you had a wish, you'd want two home games," Page added.

"We had to work hard for one and we got the luck of the draw for the second one, so the incentive is there for us.

"We'll have two packed houses. We've seen the impact supporters can have on us in the recent campaign. In the last two games, the stadium was rocking.

"We've given ourselves a great opportunity, haven't we? It's all there to play for."

Wales' only appearance at the World Cup finals was in 1958, when they reached the quarter-finals.

Wales last faced Austria in a World Cup qualifier in September 2017 when debutant Ben Woodburn hit the winner in a 1-0 victory at Cardiff City Stadium.

Austria are in the play-offs courtesy of winning their Nations League group ahead of Norway, Romania and Northern Ireland.

Franco Foda's side finished fourth in their World Cup qualifying group, behind Denmark, Scotland and Israel.

They were well beaten at home by the Danes and in Israel, and lost at home to Scotland in September.

Asked about the prospect of potentially facing Scotland in a play-off final, Page said: "It puts a little bit more spice on it, doesn't it?

"When you get one of the home nations, a potential play-off final to get through to the World Cup, it doesn't get better than that.

"Full focus will be on the first game and we've got to earn the right to get to that final, and Scotland will have to do the same."