Summary

  • England in Group G with Belgium, Tunisia & Panama

  • England's first game against Tunisia in Volgograd

  • Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Egypt. Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

  • Russia v Saudi Arabia is first game of World Cup

  • 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 H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

  1. Smells like Tunisian spiritpublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    John Bennett
    BBC World Service

    Tunisia fansImage source, Getty Images

    One moment in qualifying summed up Tunisia's strong team spirit and character. 2-0 down against DR Congo in an intensely intimidating atmosphere in Kinshasa, they somehow managed to take a point after two goals in the last 13 minutes.

    This is a team without big stars but they have a strong sense of unity and spirit, with 15 of their last 23-man squad playing for three clubs from the Tunisian top flight.

    One player to watch is skilful winger Youssef Msakni, who plays in Qatar but could be playing at a much higher level. Former Sunderland winger Wahbi Khazri is also hugely important for this Tunisia team.

  2. Relive the magicpublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Goals, goals, goals, goals...

    The World Cup means plenty of them, so relive all 171 goals from the 2014 tournament in under three minutes.

    Media caption,

    Advent calendar: All the World Cup goals

  3. The stage is setpublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    ONE hour to go

    Gary Flintoff
    BBC Radio 5 live at the World Cup draw in Moscow

    DrawImage source, BBC Sport

    This is the view from the BBC Radio commentary position for the World Cup draw. John Murray will be commentating on 5 live from 15:20 GMT.

    It will not be long until the Russian President Vladimir Putin will be on that stage addressing the assembled audience.

  4. 'Aussies hold no fears'published at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    #bbcfootball or 81111 on text

    I'm half Australian and have seen a lot of talk about wanting to avoid the Aussies in the draw. The Socceroos failed to make it out of their final group and were lucky to beat Syria in their first playoff. They hold no fears.

    Alexi Demetriadi

  5. Who is in pot four?published at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    SerbiaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Serbia? In pot four?

    'No easy games' at this level, Clive.

    Serbia won their group in qualifying ahead of Wales and the Republic of Ireland but still can only get a spot down here in pot four. Ones to avoid.

    Pot four:

    Serbia

    Nigeria

    Australia

    Japan

    Morocco

    Panama

    South Korea

    Saudi Arabia

  6. Who are favourites?published at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Weltmeister

    Germany celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    Defending champions Germany are the bookmakers' favourites, followed by Brazil, Spain, Argentina, France, Belgium and then England.

    Joachim Low's Germany are bidding to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups since Pele's Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

  7. The hand of God - again!published at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    John Murray
    Radio 5 live football correspondent in Moscow

    The Hand of God will pick out England at the #worldcupdraw, external ...Diego Maradona has been assigned to draw from Pot Two - which contains England...

  8. Who are the new boys?published at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Panama fansImage source, Getty Images

    Iceland are the only country with a population of under one million to have ever reached a World Cup. The Nordic nation had never qualified for a major tournament before Euro 2016, when they beat England on their way to the quarter-finals.

    Central American nation Panama reached their first World Cup thanks to an 88th-minute winner against Costa Rica, which also eliminated the United States.

  9. My dream hatpublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Toyin IbitoyeImage source, Getty Images

    I mean, if we get a better image all day I'll be a happy man.

    Absolute 10/10 for Nigerian broadcaster Toyin Ibitoye...

  10. My dream drawpublished at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    #bbcfootball or 81111 on text

    David Melton: Let's get Germany as they can't win on penalties in the group stage, unless they get a penalty, Egypt for the Salah + Liverpool factor (no Suarez repeat please), anyone but Australia from pot 4.

    Sam Morgan: Iceland are more likely to win the World Cup than England, think England will be in the group of death and if lucky get to the knockouts but no further

  11. 'Morocco could cause an upset'published at 13:53 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    John Bennett
    BBC World Service

    MoroccoImage source, Getty Images

    Morocco could cause an upset or two in Russia. Their main strength is head coach Herve Renard. He won the Africa Cup of Nations title with Zambia and Ivory Coast and now he's guided Morocco to their first World Cup since 1998.

    They're very difficult to break down - during qualifying they didn't concede a single goal - and they have flair players who can change games like Hakim Ziyech who turned down a chance to play for the Netherlands.

    A weakness is up front where they don't have a star striker. I was in Ivory Coast when they qualified for Russia 2018 with a 2-0 away win in a really intimidating atmosphere. Their character and composure was extremely impressive.

  12. Who is in pot three?published at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    IcelandImage source, Getty Images

    Some biggish hitters still lurking down here. England will want to avoid Iceland and Sweden for sure.

    Pot three:

    Denmark

    Iceland

    Costa Rica

    Sweden

    Tunisia

    Egypt

    Senegal

    Iran

  13. Nightmare scenariopublished at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    This is brilliant. Barry Davies getting angry, Sepp Blatter getting a sweat on, broken balls, knackered machines. You name it!

    Media caption,

    Chaos at the 1982 World Cup draw

    BBC Sport looks back at the chaotic draw for the 1982 World Cup, which suffered from a number of mishaps and technical problems while the then Fifa general secretary Sepp Blatter presided over the draw in Madrid.

  14. Russian rehearsalpublished at 13:47 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    England v Russia to kick the whole thing off?

  15. Splits in the Senegal squad?published at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    John Bennett
    BBC World Service

    SenegalImage source, Getty Images

    Senegal go into their second World Cup led by one of the heroes from the 2002 tournament, former Birmingham player Aliou Cisse. He has some real talent to choose from including Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli, Everton's Idrissa Gana Gueye and of course Sadio Mane of Liverpool who is extremely passionate about his country. On the negative side there is speculation that there have been some splits in the squad and Cisse's tactics have been questioned. They have more depth now than in 2002 when they shocked the world by beating France but the may not have the same strength in the first XI.

  16. Russia the pick from pot one?published at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    They may be hosts, but Russia are also only ranked 65 in the world.

    Zlatko Dalić, manager of the Croatian national team, told the sport pages of Croatian Jutarnji List (Morning Paper) that the best opponent from the first pot would be Russia.

    "It would be ideal for us if we get Russia. That means we'd play the opening game of the World Cup."

    But if you believe Serbian daily Telegraf, external (Telegraph), Croatia's manager fears Serbia.

    "I wouldn't like to draw Serbia," the paper quotes Dalic as saying. "Serbia has a good team full of players who play in strong European teams. On top of that, Croatia always motivates them. Against us they would have an enormous desire."

    Serbia are down in pot four!

  17. Have England improved since 2014?published at 13:41 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    England's last brush with tournament football was that harrowing night in Nice in June last year when they lost 2-1 to Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016 and manager Roy Hodgson effectively resigned on the spot.

    So, with Gareth Southgate putting his squad's quality into context, and looking back at previous selections, are England in any better shape to make an impact in Russia than they were in Brazil and France?

    Luke ShawImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    England's XI in their last World Cup game: Foster: Jones, Cahill, Smalling, Shaw; Wilshere, Lampard, Barkley; Milner, Sturridge, Lallana

    See what Phil thinks here...

  18. England have nothing to fear...published at 13:38 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    England
    World Cup winners 1966

    Roy HodgsonImage source, Getty Images

    Roy Hodgson was (briefly) in charge of England's last World Cup campaign and says that the Three Lions shouldn't fear anyone! That's despite Roy picking up a solitary point against Costa Rica in 2014...

    "I don't think Gareth Southgate or England will be bothered about a tough draw, they will have confidence about how the team is improving," said Crystal Palace boss Hodgson on Thursday.

    "They do not need to fear any of those scenarios or ideal groups. I would summarise my feelings that I am confident that no matter what group England find themselves in, it really won't matter.

    "I don't think it matters what draw England get, what matters is they will go there with a good team that I believe is capable of doing extremely well. It certainly doesn't go on Fifa rankings as there are a lot from the top 10 I would rather meet than 25 down."

  19. Postpublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Is every nation pessimistic about their own chances - apart from Germany?!

    Hang on - here's one Englishman in confident voice:

  20. 'Brazil still have work to do'published at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Brazil
    Five-time World Cup winners

    .Image source, Getty Images

    World Cup winner Rai has dismissed Brazil's chances of triumphing in Russia next summer and says he is still haunted by his country's 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany in 2014.

    "The semi-final was a disaster," he tells BBC World Service's World Football show.

    "I was at the stadium that day. I couldn't believe what my eyes were watching."

    Rai, 52, was part of the Brazil squad that won the 1994 World Cup, external in the United States.

    He believes Brazil have a better chance of winning the 2022 tournament in Qatar than the one coming up in six months.

    "I think they still have work to do to be a real favourite," added Rai.

    You can listen to Rai's full BBC World Service interview here.