1 December 2017, 21:40 PM
So, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will kick off with Russia-Saudi Arabia match on June 14 next year in the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.
1 December 2017, 21:34 PM
A musical presentation and the draw comes to an end.
1 December 2017, 21:28 PM
So, the 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
1 December 2017, 21:27 PM
Japan in Group H, along with Poland, Senegal, and Colombia.
1 December 2017, 21:26 PM
Panama in Group F, with Germany, Mexico, and Sweden.
1 December 2017, 21:25 PM
Nigeria in Group D, along with Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.
1 December 2017, 21:24 PM
Australia in Group C, along with France, Peru, and Denmark.
1 December 2017, 21:23 PM
Morocco in Group B, along with Portugal, Spain, and Iran.
1 December 2017, 21:22 PM
Serbia in Group E, along with Brazil, Switzerland, and Croatia.
1 December 2017, 21:21 PM
Saudi Arabia in Group A, along with Russia, Egypt and Uruguay.
1 December 2017, 21:20 PM
Thar leaves with the final pot with: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korean, Saudi Arabia.
1 December 2017, 21:19 PM
Sweden land in Group F with Germany and Mexico. Then, Tunisia in Group G with Belgium and England. Another African outfit, Senegal in Group H, along with Poland and Colombia.
1 December 2017, 21:15 PM
Egypt join Russia and Uruguay in Group A. Denmark's turn, and it needs a skipping as they can't go to Group B as it already has Portugal and Spain. They are in Group C with Argentina and Croatia. Iran's turn, and the Asian giants go in Group B with Portugal and Spain. Iceland, the giant-killers, in Group D with Argentina and Crotia.
1 December 2017, 21:14 PM
Now, it's the turn of POT 3. And the teams are - Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Egypt, Senegal, Iran. And Cafu will pick the balls.
1 December 2017, 21:12 PM
Diego Maradona then picks Mexico, and in Group F with Germany. Joachim Low is already swooning. Then, it's England in Group G with Belgium. So, that leaves Colombia in Group H with Poland.
1 December 2017, 21:11 PM
Croatia in Group D with Argentina with Diego Forlan doing the honours of picking the ball. Switzerland in Group E with Brazil.
1 December 2017, 21:09 PM
Uruguay in Russia in Group A. Spain in Group B with Portugal. This group will have no more European teams. Then, Peru in France on Group C.
1 December 2017, 21:08 PM
Now we have the Pot 2 teams: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia.
1 December 2017, 21:06 PM
Brazil in E, Germany in F, Belgium in G, and that leaves Poland with automatically in H. These are the seeded teams, leading their respective groups.
1 December 2017, 21:03 PM
Russia at A1, as we all know. Portugal in Group B, France in C, Argentina in D.
1 December 2017, 20:54 PM
And exquisite ballet performance, followed by a video footages from the previous editions of World Cup on the giant screen for everyone to see. Game's greats at display. And with that starts the draw...
1 December 2017, 20:48 PM
Miroslav Klose with the trophy. What a sight. A World Cup legend. “It’s a wonderful trophy,” he says. By the way, he's the top scorer in the history of the World Cup.
1 December 2017, 20:43 PM
Infantino hopes for an "absolutely amazing experience" for everyone next summer, then Putin said, “friendship and fair play are eternal values".
1 December 2017, 20:38 PM
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to give the welcome address.
1 December 2017, 20:33 PM
Draw balls and trophy are in place:
All set ! #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/iygVHOzxYu
— BelgianRedDevils (@BelRedDevils) December 1, 2017
1 December 2017, 20:15 PM
Cafu just shared a backstage photo of living legends together, and FIFA asks, rightly: How much would this team be worth in today's transfer market?
Backstage!!! #WorldCup #FIFALegends pic.twitter.com/D5xYzougPO
— Cafu. (@officialcafu) December 1, 2017
1 December 2017, 19:30 PM
By the way, the World Cup kicks off June 14, with Russia’s first game, in Moscow. It concludes there on July 15. Germany are the defending champions.
1 December 2017, 19:27 PM
England international Gary Lineker will conduct the draw along with Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya. They will be assisted by Nikita Simonyan, Diego Forlan, Diego Maradona, Laurent Blanc, Gordon Banks, Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro and Carles Puyol. Besides, Miraslov Klose will also be present on the stage.
1 December 2017, 19:12 PM
The coaches are arriving thick and fast at the State Kremlin Palace! #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/OCafNKa8Zp
— #WorldCupDraw (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2017
1 December 2017, 19:08 PM
Let's have a look at all 32 teams qualified for the finals and the pots.
POT 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France.
POT 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia.
POT 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Egypt, Senegal, Iran.
POT 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korean, Saudi Arabia
1 December 2017, 18:56 PM
Here's how the draw will happen. Explained.
