England’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup were handed a boost after they were assigned a relatively easy-looking group for next summer’s finals.
Gareth Southgate’s men will face Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G. Belgium should provide a stern test given the strength of their squad, which boasts the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Thiabut Courtois, but given England could have been drawn in the same group as France, Argentina, Brazil or Germany, Southgate and his players will be relatively pleased. Panama are competing at their first World Cup while Tunisia have not featured at a finals since 2006.
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The World Cup 2018 draw
Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia Japan
England open their campaign against Tunisia on 18 June in Volgograd, before playing Panama in Novgorod on 24 June and Belgium in Kaliningrad on 28 June.
Elsewhere, the hosts, Russia, have been drawn in the same group – Group A – as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay, while the holders, Germany, are in Group F, alongside Mexico, Sweden and Costa Rica.
Five-time winners Brazil are in Group E, alongside Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia, while their South American rivals, Argentina, are in arguably the most intriguing group of all – Group D, which contains Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.
Spain, who won the World Cup in 2010, are in Group B and will open their campaign against Euro 2016 holders Portugal. The other two teams in the group are Morocco and Iran.
France, who were crowned world champions in 1998, are in Group C with Australia, Peru and Denmark. Group H, meanwhile, contains Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan.
The World Cup begins on 14 June, with the opening match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, which will be between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and runs until 15 July, the day of the final, which will also be held at the Luzhniki Stadium.