As ever there are plenty of Chelsea players who have joined up with their national teams, with some hoping to return to Cobham next week having helped their country secure a spot at Qatar 2022.

There are World Cup play-off matches in Europe and Africa, and more qualifiers in the Americas. Scotland’s play-off semi-final against Ukraine has been pushed back to June, so Billy Gilmour will instead be involved in friendlies in the next week, like much of the rest of Europe.

Here we outline which Blues are playing where and when, as well as what is at stake for those in competitive action…

World Cup qualifying – UEFA

Italy: Jorginho and Emerson Palmieri – the Italians have a home World Cup play-off semi-final against North Macedonia in Palermo on Thursday. Should they win that game, they will face either Portugal or Turkey on Tuesday, away from home, for a spot at the World Cup.

Wales: Ethan Ampadu – the Welsh, aiming to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 1958, have a play-off semi-final at home to Austria in Cardiff on Thursday. If victorious, they were scheduled to host the winner of the Scotland vs Ukraine play-off, but with that fixture postponed until June, Wales would contest any play-off final that same month. Next week they will instead play a friendly yet to be scheduled.

World Cup qualifying – CAF

Senegal: Edouard Mendy – The five African World Cup entrants are being decided by two-legged play-off finals. Senegal meet Egypt, the same nation they recently beat on penalties in the Africa Cup of Nations final when Mendy starred. The first leg is in Cairo on Friday, before they return home to the new 50,000-capacity national stadium in Diamniadio on Tuesday.

Ghana have not released their squad to try and ‘confuse’ their opponents Nigeria, so we cannot confirm if Baba Rahman is involved. The Black Stars are at home in the first leg on Friday, then away the following Tuesday.

World Cup qualifying – CONCACAF

USA: Christian Pulisic – CONCACAF qualification concludes in this international window, with the US requiring a minimum of five points from their three games to guarantee a top-three finish and a place in Qatar. They play Mexico away on Friday, Panama at home on Monday, and Costa Rica away on Thursday (UK times). They have never won a World Cup qualifier in Mexico or Costa Rica.

World Cup qualifying – CONMEBOL

Brazil: Thiago Silva – Brazil have long since qualified for the World Cup, but their campaign continues with games at home to Chile on Thursday and away to Bolivia in the early hours of next Wednesday morning UK time.

Friendlies

Croatia: Mateo Kovacic – Friendlies in Doha against Slovenia on Saturday and Bulgaria on Tuesday.

England: Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher – Friendlies at Wembley against Switzerland on Saturday and Ivory Coast on Tuesday. Reece James has withdrawn through injury.

France: N’Golo Kante – Friendlies against Ivory Coast in Marseille on Friday, and South Africa in Lille on Tuesday.

Germany: Toni Rudiger, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner – Friendlies at home to Israel in Sinsheim (home of Hoffenheim) on Saturday, and away to the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Tuesday. Rudiger's next appearance will be his 50th cap for his country.

Spain: Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso – Friendlies at home to Albania in Barcelona on Saturday and at home to Iceland in A Coruna on Tuesday.

Albania: Armando Broja – Friendlies away to Spain in Barcelona on Saturday and at home to Georgia in Tirana on Tuesday.

Belgium: Michy Batshuayi – Friendlies away to Ireland in Dublin on Saturday and at home to Burkina Faso in Anderlecht on Tuesday. No players with 50 caps or more have been selected by Roberto Martinez, hence Romelu Lukaku’s absence.

Scotland: Billy Gilmour – Friendly at home to Poland on Thursday and another on Tuesday away to either Wales or Austria.

Younger age groups

Austria U21s: Thierno Ballo – U21 European Championship qualifiers away to Croatia on Friday and at home to Norway on Tuesday.

England U21s: Levi Colwill – U21 European Championship qualifiers at home to Andorra on Friday and away to Albania on Tuesday.

Finland U21s: Lucas Bergstrom – friendlies against Romania on Friday and Croatia on Tuesday.

Netherlands U21s: Ian Maatsen – U21 European Championship qualifiers away to Bulgaria on Friday and at home to Switzerland on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland U21: Sam McClelland – U21 European Championship qualifier against Slovakia on Friday and a friendly against France on Monday.

England U20s: Tino Anjorin – friendlies away to Poland on Friday and at home to Germany on Tuesday.

England U19s: Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Harvey Vale and Bashir Humphreys – U19 European Championship elite round qualifiers at home to Ireland on Wednesday, Armenia on Saturday and Portugal on Tuesday.

England U18s: Lewis Hall and Charlie Webster – friendlies in Marbella against Sweden on Friday and Denmark on Monday.

Finland U18s: Jimi Tauriainen – friendlies against Wales on Friday and Monday.

England U17s: Ronnie Stutter, Leo Castledine and Tudor Mendel-Idowu – U17 European Championship qualifiers against France on Saturday and Luxembourg on Tuesday.