Intercontinental WWC Playoffs: Cameroon Draws Thailand & Portugal In Group A

Cameroon will face Thailand and later Portugal in February for a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, after the draw of the interconfederation play-offs.

The Indomitable Lionesses are in for a tough one. Second in their qualifying group behind Germany, Portugal reached the UEFA play-offs and beat Belgium (2-1) and Iceland (4-1) after extra time. With the third best record of the three winners of the European play-offs, behind Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland, Portugal then qualified for the inter-confederate play-offs, which will be held in New Zealand.

Switzerland and Portugal, the top-seeded of the ten contenders, were seeded in three-team Group A and secured a bye to the final. Thus, while they will face New Zealand in a friendly on February 17 at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, the next day Cameroon and Thailand will meet on the same stage in the semi-finals of group A to win the right to face Portugal on February 22 for a place in the finals.

In total, the interconfederate play-offs will occupy the last three places of the 32 who will contest the final phase of Australia and New Zealand, from July 20 to August 20, 2023.