The 32 teams are divided into eight groups featuring four teams each and teams finishing first and second from each group will qualify for the Round of 16.
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The 2022 FIFA World Cup draw was held at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Qatar on Friday. The draw threw up some high-voltage encounters in the group phase with Spain taking on Germany in Grup E and Lionel Messi’s Argentina locking horns against Robert Lewandowski’s Poland. Meanwhile holders France will meet Denmark and Tunisia in Group D. The tournament will kick-off on November 21 with host nation Qatar playing Ecuador.
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The #FIFAWorldCup groups are set ?
We can’t wait! ?#FinalDraw pic.twitter.com/uaDfdIvbaZ
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) April 1, 2022
It appears the toughest group in Qatar is Group E consisting of Spain, Germany, Japan and the winner of inter-continental play-off match between Costa Rica and New Zealand. Spain were world champions in 2010 while Germany won the title in 2014, having won the trophy four times. However, both have suffered recent group stage exits, in 2014 and 2018 respectively.
Meanwhile they will be wary of Japan, arguably the strongest team from Asia. The Samurai Blue eased through their qualifying pool with a seven point lead over Australia and had an impressive World Cup four years ago in Russia when they reached the last-16 stage before going down fighting against the mighty Belgium.
The other highlight fixture will be Argentina facing Poland, which will see two of the best footballers playing against each other. Ballon D’Or winner Messi taking on FIFA Best award winner Lewandowski.
World’s number one ranked nation Brazil will feature in Group G alongside Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon. Neymar’s Brazil will be strongly fancies to go through to the knockout stages, but they will face stiff competition from the two European sides, who both finished above so-called superior teams in Portugal and Italy to qualify for the finals automatically.
The 32 teams are divided into eight groups featuring four teams each. The teams finishing first and second from each group will qualify for the Round of 16. All group-winners will take on a runner-up from another group in the pre-quarter-finals.
Two of the remaining three spots will be filled by the winners of the intercontinental Play-offs on 13 or 14 June. One of UAE and Australia will face Peru while Costa Rica will play New Zealand for a ticket to Qatar. Meanwhile the final berth is determined by Path A of the European qualifying play-offs, in which Wales will face either Ukraine or Scotland in the final.
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, European play-off*
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Intercontinental play-off 1**, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Intercontinental play-off 2***, Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Ghana, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Canada, Uruguay, South Korea
European play-off – Wales/Scotland/Ukraine
Intercontinental play-off 1 – United Arab Emirates/Australia/Peru
Intercontinental play-off 2 – Costa Rica/New Zealand
