In this Sept 3, 2019 photo, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 logo is projected on the facade of the Algiers Opera House in the Algerian capital. (PHOTO / AFP)

RIO DE JANEIRO - Intercontinental playoffs to qualify for next year's World Cup in Qatar will be played over one leg, world football governing body FIFA said on Friday.

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The highest-ranking teams that miss automatic qualification from the African, Asian, South American and CONCACAF (North and Centra American and Caribbean) regions will contest the final two World Cup slots with a single match at a neutral venue.

FIFA said the decision was due to the "unprecedented disruption" caused by COVID-19.

It added that the matches are scheduled for June 13 and 14 but did not say where they would take place.

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The draw for the playoffs will be held on Friday.

Next year's World Cup is scheduled to run from November 21 to December 18.

A home and away format for World Cup playoffs had been in place since the qualifying periods for the 1986 tournament in Mexico.