SNS GroupScotland will be in with the lowest-ranked seeds for next week’s World Cup draw.
Their four-team World Cup play-off path had been due to be completed by March 29, but Scotland’s semi-final against Ukraine has been postponed until June due to the Russian invasion of the eastern European country.
Wales play Austria on Thursday in the other semi-final, but the winner of that match must then wait to play the winner of the Scotland-Ukraine tie.
Scotland are aiming to qualify for their first World Cup since France 1998.
Tournament organisers FIFA confirmed the procedure for the draw on Tuesday, and revealed that the three teams still in with a chance of progressing through the play-off path by the time of the draw on April 1 will be treated as one entrant, and placed in pot four with the lowest-ranked nations.
The seeding of other nations who have definitely qualified by the time of the draw will be determined by the FIFA rankings due to be published on March 31.
The top pot of seeds will feature the seven highest-ranked sides involved, plus hosts Qatar.
England are currently ranked fifth in the world, with only Belgium, Brazil, France and Argentina above them.
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