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World Cup draw LIVE: Latest updates from World Cup draw
- World Cup draw 2018 LIVE from Russia
- TV coverage starts at 3pm on BBC, we expect draw to start at 3.30pm (UK times)
- Gary Lineker is hosting the draw
Group of Death?
16:19: The usual search for a “Group of Death” looks to be a fruitless one as, partly down to the new rankings-based format none of the “bigger” teams face more than one tough-looking rival.
Defending champions Germany probably have the most difficult of the top seeds as they face awkward games against Mexico and Sweden, with South Korea the outsiders in Group F.
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Croatia, debutants Iceland, and Nigeria will all fancy their chances of joining favourites Argentina in the knockout phase from Group D. It is the fifth time Nigeria have been grouped with Argentina in their six World Cups.
Group E has a similar look with Brazil hot favourites but little to choose between Switzerland and Costa Rica, who both qualified via the playoffs, and Serbia.
The hosts will be pleased with their group as they face Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, while Group H looks the most open with little on paper between Poland, Colombia, Senegal and Japan.
England will break new ground when they face Panama for the first time and with Belgium and Tunisia also in Group G, they will expect to advance.
England’s last-16 opponents
16:11: If England get through the group they will face a side from Group H in the last 16.
That is one of Poland, Senegal, Colombia or Japan.
World Cup fixtures
16:08: We can bring you the full list of World Cup fixtures here. England are first up against Tunisia on June 18, a Monday night.
It’s a kind draw for Gareth Southgate, with Tunisia and Panama real minnows of the tournament.
By the time we meet Belgium, our last group game, we should* be through….
World Cup draw
GROUP A: Russia, Uruguay, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
GROUP B: Portugal, Spain, Iran, Morocco
GROUP C: France, Peru, Denmark, Australia
GROUP D: Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria
GROUP E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
GROUP F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
GROUP G: Belgium, England, Tunisia, Panama
GROUP H: Poland, Colombia, Senegal, Japan
We’re nearly underway…
15:25: The legends are taking to the stage for the draw – followed by elaborately dressed women, in bizarre outfits as if they are auditioning for a Disney parade.
We have Cafu, Carles Puyol and Diego Maradona. Now Gary Lineker.
Won’t be long before we are underway.
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Vladimir Putin has delivered a speech at the World Cup draw
‘Don’t go to the toilet!’
15:19: Our man Matt Dunn is in Russia – but all is not well.
“The wifi is intermittent, mobile phones do not work and despite the mounting excitement, nobody is even allowed out to go to the toilet!
“Russia have had six years to prepare for this, it is not starting well on a logistical level.
“The room is in lockdown, we are told, because Vladimir Putin is on his way. Hopefully he arrives soon – fingers and legs crossed.
“In an ominous nod to the tournament, the WiFi has gone down.
“‘It does work, just not at the moment’ says a helpful organiser.
“Let’s hope the main computer works and that FIFA won’t have to do what I am doing and rely on an iPhone.”
30 of the 32 managers are there
15:16: Gareth Southgate is in position. Roberto Martinez is in position. And so are 28 other national team managers.
But two are not – so who are they?
Well, Australia (who have no boss) and Uruguay haven’t made it. Must have had something else on, eh.
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World Cup draw: The balls are drawn at 3.22pm
Pray for Big Sam
15:10: Sam Allardyce should have been out in Russia today, waiting to hear England’s fate.
Except he’s not. He’s in rainy, cold Everton – as opposed to snowy, cold Russia – on his unveiling as the new Toffees boss.
Oh what might have been. 12 minutes to go until those balls are drawn… Vladimir Putin is currently on stage in the Kremlin.
Super Al
15:05: One Match of the Day host in Russia – in Gary Lineker – and another in Alan Shearer in the studio for the BBC.
What a treat it’s going to be for us. Now hearing the draw will start at exactly 15:22.
We take no loss or responsibility for the fact FIFA may waffle on and on and this time could be drastically wrong.
Five minute warning
14:55: There’s five minutes to go until the coverage starts – but it’ll be another half hour until the balls get drawn.
Whatever happens today, England will base themselves in a remote hotel near St Petersburg for the duration of their Russia 2018 campaign.
Gareth Southgate has confirmed the FA had chosen the ForRestMix hotel in Repino, a village on the coastal road towards the Finnish border, because it offered the “right balance” of climate, comfort, security, training facilities and travel times.
Might pop over there, myself.
WARNING: Fashion police alert
14:30: Few dodgy outfits already spotted.
Tarik Najem, the General Secretary of the Moroccan Football Association, arrived in a distinctive (the best word we can describe it) jacket.
While Diego Maradona has been spotted early on with a gold bow tie.
He’s the second best Diego on show today – see 14:15.
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Tarik Najem, the General Secretary of the Moroccan Football Association
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While Diego Maradona rocked a gold bow tie
Diego helping out
14:15: Diego Forlan, the Manchester United legend*, is in place now in Russia to help out draw the World Cup balls.
There will also be another familiar face in Gary Lineker, who is hosting the draw.
So why is Gary Lineker at the World Cup draw, I hear you ask? Here’s a full rundown as to why.
What’s the line-up of pots?
Pot 1: Russia (hosts), Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France
Pot 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, Croatia
Pot 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran
Pot 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia
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Diego Forlan is helping at the World Cup draw
What must happen for England today
14:00: A bookies have been conducting a bit of research ahead of the draw – and they think they have found the four things that must go England’s way for us to have a chance of winning it. BetStars claim England MUST today avoid:
- Drawing hosts Russia
- Being drawn in Groups B and D
- Drawing any South American sides
- Being drawn with tournament specialists Brazil, Germany and Argentina
Easy, then!
Lineker to host the draw
13:30: Match of the Day and BT Sport football host Gary Lineker will be a familiar face to British audiences as he co-presents the draw with Russian journalist Maria Komandnaya.
He faced criticism for taking on the role after previously speaking out against FIFA over its various corruption scandals.
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The World Cup draw takes place in Russia
Best and worst draws for England
13:25: So, what’s the worst possible draw for England?
Based on the October FIFA rankings it would be Germany, Costa Rica and Nigeria. There are other nightmare scenarios too though – Brazil, Sweden and Nigeria would also be pretty unpalatable.
The easiest draw, based on the rankings, would be Russia, Senegal and Saudi Arabia. But England proved at the 2010 World Cup that any group can be tough, scraping through to the knockout stage with two draws and a win against the United States, Algeria and Slovenia respectively.
Who is missing out on the 2018 World Cup?
13:20: Well, a bloody good side. Our team have compiled a World Cup XI of missing players below. Decent line-up, eh?
Welcome
13:00: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2018 World Cup draw.
We’re expecting it to start at 15:00 UK time but, in the meantime, we have lots to keep you in touch with.
Our man Matthew Dunn is on the ground in Russia to bring you all the latest.
So, how does it work?
The 32 teams will be split into eight four-team groups.
Each team is in one of four pots, with their position in the FIFA world rankings for October determining which pot they occupy.
The exception to that is hosts Russia, who are in Pot One. England are in Pot Two. T
here can be a maximum of two European sides per group, but no other confederation can have more than one team in a group, so no South American sides will go head to head in the group phase for example.