Scotland's World Cup play-off fate to be decided this week

SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has flown to UEFA's headquarters in Switzerland to finalise Scotland's World Cup play-off fate.

A UEFA decision on the date for the delayed semi-final clash with war-torn Ukraine will be taken this week.

Sportsmail understands Europe's governing body will ratify a plan for the winners of the Scotland-Ukraine tie to play Wales in the final in Cardiff on Sunday, June 5.

Talks continue, however, over a rearranged date for the semi-final against Oleksandr Petrakov's side at Hampden.

The options on the table for the showdown with Ukraine - which was delayed following the Russian invasion - are Tuesday, May 31 or Wednesday, June 1.

May 31 would grant the semi-final victors more preparation time for a winner-takes-all meeting with Wales, with qualification for Qatar up for grabs.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke harbours concerns, however, over captain Andrew Robertson's potential involvement in a Champions League final with Liverpool in Paris on May 28.

And, with the English Championship play-off final scheduled for May 29, Bournemouth's Ryan Christie or Scott McKenna of Nottingham Forest could be required to go straight from a lucrative promotion game at Wembley to one of the biggest Scotland internationals in a generation.

UEFA have offered Scotland and Ukraine June 1 as an alternative. 

And, while the SFA are unhappy at the prospect of either nation being granted less time between the semi-final and final than the five days Portugal or North Macedonia were afforded last month, a later date would ease any potential strain on the likes of Robertson, Christie or McKenna.

Scotland are already scheduled to play Ukraine in a Nations League game in Glasgow on June 7.

And Maxwell has outlined the SFA's