World Cup group stage draw as England study opponents and Scotland face Brazil
England and Scotland have learned their World Cup opponents after the draw was made at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on Friday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side sailed through the qualification campaign as they look to end 60 years of hurt when they travel to the USA, Mexico and Canada next summer. And Three Lions will start their campaign with clashes against Croatia, Panama and Ghana.
England have been in Brazil’s quarter of the draw and their first game will be on 17th June in either Dallas or Toronto. And if they win the group they’ll play a third place team in the brand new Round of 32.
(Image: AP)
Scotland will be making their return to the global stage – thanks to some heroics against Hungary last month – and the Tartan Army have been handed a nightmare draw against Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.
Wales and Northern Ireland still have a tough route to North America, as they were drawn in Path A of the European qualifiers last month.
The pair have to navigate clashes with Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina before the resulting final. And the winner of that path has been drawn in a group with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
(Image: AP)
Other standout clashes include Senegal and France meeting in the opening game – as they did in 2002, and Mexico and South Africa opening the tournament as they did in 2010.
Debutants Curucao will face off with Germany during their World Cup bow.
While France will have to meet Erling Haaland’s Norway in Group I.
(Image: AP)
World Cup group stage draw in full:
Group A
Mexico
South Africa
Korea Republic
Winner UEFA Play-Off D
Group B
Canada
Winner UEFA Play-Off A
Qatar
Switzerland
Group C
Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland
Group D
USA
Paraguay
Australia
Winner UEFA Play-Off C
Group E
Germany
Curacao
Cote d’Ivoire
Ecuador
Group F
Netherlands
Japan
Winner UEFA Play-Off B
Tunisia
Group G
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand
Group H
Spain
Cabo Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay
Group I
France
Senegal
Winner FIFA Play-Off 2
Norway
Group J
Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan
Group K
Portugal
Winner FIFA Play-Off 1
Uzbekistan
Colombia
Group L
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama
