Thank you for clicking on the Shout & Roar blog. Our purpose here is to give you a one-stop location to catch up on news about the Hoos from across the internet. We will publish new editions at 10 a.m. most weekday mornings, so please check VirginiaSports.com for new content.

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Congratulations to @UVAMensSoccer alum Joe Bell on scoring his first goal as a member of the New Zealand National Team. And congratulations to the whole All Whites squad who won the Oceania Qualifier and advance to June’s Intercontinental Play-off as they vie for a spot in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Normally, the entire field of 32 teams would have been decided this week, but three teams will still be determined at later dates, including New Zealand’s fate. Two intercontinental finals will be played in Qatar on 13 and 14 June. Costa Rica and New Zealand meet in one and in the other Peru will play the winner of the United Arab Emirates v Australia, who meet in the Asian play-off in Doha on 7 June. Those games were moved from March because of the scheduling and travel effects of the COVID pandemic in each continent. All the Oceania qualifiers were played from 17 to 30 March in a mini-tournament in Qatar. One of the three European play-off routes has been delayed because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Scotland’s semi-final against Ukraine at Hampden Park was postponed from March until an unspecified date in June when it is hoped Ukraine will be in a position to play. The winner of that game will face Wales, who beat Austria in their semi-final, in Cardiff a few days later for a place at the World Cup.