World Cup 2022

Heavyweights Germany and Spain have been drawn alongside each other in Group E at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. But based on FIFA rankings, Group B, ...

Should Wales, the highest ranked team in the UEFA playoff matches, qualify then Group B would have an average FIFA ranking of 14.75, making it the toughest group. In 2018, the only teams not in pots one or two to get past the group stage were Sweden, Denmark and Japan. Team value is very subjective and tough to calculate, but based on transfermarkt.com’s values, Group E, containing Germany and Spain, is the most valuable group. This year, England’s group of Iran, the USA, and one of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine looks a little bit easier. With Germany and Spain both being placed in Group E, could this be 2022’s “Group of Death”? But it is easier to go far in the competition if you have a kind draw.

England have been paired with the USA and Iran plus the winners of the delayed playoff … Scotland, Ukraine or Wales.

England have enjoyed favourable draws in recent tournaments but ended up second behind Belgium in their group in Russia four years ago after beating Tunisia and Panama in their first two matches. Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, said: “This World Cup will simply be the best World Cup ever, the greatest show on Earth. The world will be united in Qatar.” Elsewhere, the 2010 winners, Spain, were paired with the 2014 winners, Germany, in Group E along with Japan and the winners of the playoff between Costa Rica and New Zealand, while the five-time winners Brazil will be in Group G with Switzerland and Serbia, having been drawn with both countries in 2018.

The draw for the 2022 World Cup has now taken place, meaning it is now possible to predict which teams will move their way through the tournament to glory.

This would be a final decided in the middle of the pitch as Southgate likes his England team to play with a solid anchor. Spain's midfield might be the best at the 2022 World Cup, Sergio Busquets has been rejuvenated by Xavi Hernandez's appointment at Barcelona and that Camp Nou core could do as much for Spain in 2022 as it did in 2010. Germany will also have the experience to make it past a Uruguay team that is still a work-in-progress. If Spain can make the most of the chances they create, they should have the structure to control games. The 2022 World Cup will be a make-or-break tournament for Belgium which faces the prospect of a golden generation passing them by without ever winning a major title. Uruguay made the semi-finals of the World Cup as recently as 2010 with a generation that included Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez. Now, a new Uruguayan generation is emerging with Darwin Nunez, Fede Valverde and Ronald Araujo all key figures. Germany is also in the midst of a generational shift, but remains one of the most dangerous teams around in quick transition. Luis Enrique has rejuvenated a Spain side sorely in need of fresh ideas after a dismal 2018 World Cup. The likes of Pedri and Gavi make Spain one of the most exciting, youthful teams around and they shouldn't be counted out as potential winners. Euro 2020 saw Denmark make a run all the way to the semi-finals with Kasper Hjulmand's team building on that with an extremely impressive World Cup qualification campaign. Some may view 2018 finalists Croatia as the top contender to emerge from Group F with Belgium, but Zlatko Dalic's team is an aging one. A lack of tournament experience could be an issue for Gregg Berhalter and his young team, but it should have enough to make the Round of 16 even if Iran presents a much stiffer challenge than many might assume. Could this be Lionel Messi's best shot at the elusive World Cup glory?

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Who is presenting and conducting the World Cup 2022 draw? Who is presenting and conducting the World Cup 2022 draw? But that does not take anything away from the achievements of the former Bayern Munich and Hertha BSC striker, who appeared for Iran in the World Cup Finals in 1998 and 2006.

The teams in Group E at the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be determined by a draw taking place on April 1 in Doha, Qatar. The tournament will be hosted by Qatar ...

New Zealand will also get an opportunity to reach the World Cup for the third time in the country’s history, after coming through the OFC region. Costa Rica’s fate will be decided by playoff after finishing fourth in CONCACAF qualifying. The four teams selected into the group will play a round-robin format with each nation facing the other three. If teams are also tied in those categories another set of tiebreakers is applied. The first-place and second-place finishers in Group E will move on to the Round of 16 and will face off against the two teams to advance from Group F on Monday, Dec. 5, and Tuesday, Dec. 6. Japan will also see a chance to make the knockout phase, having qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup in three of the last five occasions.

Gregg Berhalter's side will face England, Iran and one of Wales or Scotland or Ukraine in their return to the World Cup after an eight-year absence.

This will be the third successive World Cup appearance for Iran, who ended up with the most points of any side in the final round of the Asian qualifiers. Though Iran will be taking part in their sixth World Cup, they’ve never gone beyond the group stage. They raised their game for a 2-1 extra-time win over Sweden in the first knockout round, but lost 4-0 to England. And they conceded only four goals as they topped their group’s table ahead of South Korea, who nonetheless beat them 2-0 in Seoul on 24 March. Bale will be 33 at kick-off in Qatar but the Real Madrid reserve remains a formidable talent, while the pace of Leeds United attacker Dan James tormented Austria. Wales, who beat Austria 2-1 in a playoff semi-final on 24 March courtesy of two superb goals from Gareth Bale, will face the winners of a match between Scotland and Ukraine.